1059. is overronne, that is, ‘has passed beyond.’
1110. descryve, apparently ‘understand,’ ‘discern,’ perhaps by that confusion with ‘descry’ which is noted in the New Engl. Dictionary.
1149 f. These two lines are omitted without authority by Pauli.
1176. That is, though they had rendered no services for which they ought to be so distinguished.
1180. sojorned: the word is used in French especially of a horse kept in stable at rack and manger and refreshed for work: see Mirour, Glossary.
1216. ‘So that that pleasure should not escape him.’
1245. out of feere, ‘without fear.’
1262. unwar, here ‘unknown’: cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, B 427, ‘The unwar wo or harm that comth behinde.’
1295. Originally geomancy seems to have been performed, as suggested in this passage, by marks made in sand or earth, then by casual dots on paper: see the quotations under ‘geomancy’ in the New Engl. Dictionary. Gower here mentions the four recognized kinds of divination, by the elements of earth, water, fire, and air.
1306 ff. It is practically certain that Gower was acquainted with the treatise ascribed to Albertus Magnus, called Speculum Astronomiae or De libris licitis et illicitis (Alberti Magni Opera, v. 655 ff.), since he seems to follow it to a great extent not only here, but also in his list of early astronomers (vii. 1449 ff.). There are however some things here which he must have had from other sources; for there is no mention in the above-mentioned treatise of ‘Spatula,’ ‘Babilla,’ ‘Cernes,’ ‘Honorius.’