Simplicity. ↩
Think. ↩
Odd little tricks. ↩
Bran. ↩
In the Cento Novelle Antiche, the story is told of a mule, which pretends that his name is written on the bottom of his hind foot. The wolf attempts to read it, the mule kills him with a kick in the forehead; and the fox, looking on, remarks that “every man of letters is not wise.” A similar story is told in “Reynard the Fox.” ↩
An arbour; Anglo-Saxon, lefe-setl, leafy seat. ↩
Business; German, noth, necessity. ↩
Jested. ↩
Lost. ↩
Careful watch over the corn. ↩
Run. ↩
Ill luck, a curse. ↩
Swift. ↩
Knows. ↩
Both; Scottice, baith. ↩
Horse; French, cheval; Italian, cavallo, from Latin, cavallus. ↩
Barn. ↩
Fool. ↩
Cheat a scholar; French, faire la barbe; and Boccaccio uses the proverb in the same sense. ↩
Turn. ↩
Catch, intercept; Scottice, kep. ↩
Mockery. ↩
Fool. ↩
Especially. ↩
The bay horse. ↩
Found. ↩
Proceed on their way. ↩
Lodging and entertainment. ↩
Payment. ↩
Fashion. ↩
Gar is Scotch for cause; some editions read, however, “get us some.” ↩
Allure. ↩
Blankets, coverlets, made at Chalons. ↩
Side by side. ↩
Roomier lodging. ↩
Drunk, and without his wits about him. ↩
Hiccuped. ↩
Inarticulate sound accompanying bodily exertion. ↩
Catarrh. ↩
Jolly. ↩
Pitcher, cruse; Anglo-Saxon, crocca; German, krug; hence crockery. ↩
Nightshade, solanum somniferum, given to cause sleep. ↩
Certainly. ↩
Heed. ↩
Bass; burden of a song. It originally means the drone of a bagpipe; French, bourdon. ↩
Snoring. ↩
Evensong in the church service; chorus. ↩
Among. ↩
Strange. In Scotland, a ferlie is an unwonted or remarkable sight. ↩
Comes to me. ↩
Matter. ↩
Enjoy carnally. ↩
Some satisfaction, pleasure, has law provided. ↩
Have a care. ↩
Awaked. ↩
Mischief. ↩
Wail. ↩
Trick, befooling. ↩
Adventured. ↩
A coward, blockhead. ↩
A term of contempt, probably borrowed from the kitchen; a cook, in base Latin, being termed coquinarius. Compare French coquin, rascal. ↩
The cowardly is unlucky; “nothing venture, nothing have;” German, unselig, unhappy. ↩
Took. ↩
Left off. ↩
Had no suspicion. ↩
Long. ↩
Laboured. ↩
Health. ↩
Sweetheart; the word was used of either sex. ↩
Giddy, tottering, with my hard work. ↩
Thought. ↩
Afraid. ↩
Disgrace, do indignity to. ↩
The protuberance in the throat, called “Adam’s apple.” ↩
Seized. ↩
Angrily. ↩
Stumbled. ↩
While. ↩
Woke. ↩
A common adjuration at that time; the cross or rood of the priory of Bromholm, in Norfolk, was said to contain part of the real cross and therefore held in high esteem. ↩
Apartment. ↩
Certainly. ↩
Supposed. ↩
Nightcap. ↩
Nearer and nearer. ↩
Bald. ↩
Make ready, dress. ↩
Every bit. ↩
Also. ↩
It behoves; from the Anglo-Saxon, thearflian, to be obliged. ↩
Gain; obtain good. ↩
Made myself quits with, paid off. ↩
Lodging. ↩
A man should take good heed. ↩
Since my name was. ↩
Better handled. ↩
Trick. ↩
Stop. ↩
An article of cookery. ↩
Be not angry with my jesting. ↩
True jest no jest. ↩
Else we part company. ↩
Innkeeper. ↩
Assuredly. It may be remembered that each pilgrim was bound to tell two stories; one on the way to Canterbury, the other returning. ↩
French, fit bonne mine; put on a pleasant countenance. ↩
Lively, gay. ↩
Shade, grove. ↩
Daintily. ↩
Cheapside, where jousts were sometimes held, and which was the great scene of city revels and processions. ↩
Company of fellows like himself. ↩
Made appointment. ↩
And, moreover, he spent money liberally
