176. þat at ȝe moun, 'what you can'. At as a relative appears usually to be from Old Norse at, with the same sense, and it is not uncommon in Northern English. But þat at here is more likely the normal development of þat þat ≻ þat tat (note to II 102) ≻ þat at.
179. sumoun is infin. not sb.: 'he had (them) summoned'; cp. note to VIII a 79.
192. 'It seems to us we ought to receive more.' Vus þynk is a remnant of the old impersonal construction of þynceþ 'it seems'. In this phrase, probably owing to confusion with we þynk(en), the verb often has no flexional ending; cp. l. 192. vus oȝe is formed by analogy, the verb being properly personal; cp. must vs XVII 292, 334.
200. And, 'If'.
205-8. More, which is necessary for the metrical form, is best taken as conj. 'moreover', 'further'; weþer introduces a direct question (note to V 118). louyly is perhaps miswritten for lauly 'lawful', as the Pearl-Gawayne group often show the converse au, aw for normal ou, ow, e.g. bawe for bowe, trawþe for trowþe. 'Further, is my power to do what pleases me with my own lawful?' The meaning is fixed by Matthew xx. 15 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good?'
212. mykeȝ. In the few recorded examples mik, myk seems to mean 'an intimate friend'. Here it is used for the sake of rime in an extended sense 'chosen companion of the Lord'.
221 f. Wheþer, &c., 'Although I began <only> just now, coming into the vineyard in the eventide, <yet>', &c.
224. Note the rime (OE. sŭm) with ON. blóm(i), OE. dōm, cōm. Such rimes occur occasionally in Northern texts of the fourteenth century—never in the South.
233. Psalm lxii. 12 'Also unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy; for Thou renderest to every man according to his work.'
237-40. Loosely constructed. 'Now, if you came to payment before him that stood firm through the long day, then he who did less work would be more entitled to receive pay, and the further <it is carried>, the less <work>, the more <claim to be paid>.'