Glosses for quiz #1 on the General Prologue (Lines I.1-269)

Compare your translations with the glossed text:

27 That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.

      wolden: desired, intended to

31 So hadde I spoken with hem everichon
      everichon: every one

38 To telle yow al the condicioun
      condicioun: state, circumstances

49 As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse,
      hethenesse: heathen lands

54 In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce,
      reysed: ridden on raids

65 Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
      Somtyme: once, at one time 

71 In al his lyf unto no maner wight.
      no maner wight: any sort of person

85 And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie
      in chyvachie: on a cavalry expedition

94 Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde.
      koude: knew how to

101 A YEMAN hadde he and servantz namo
      Yeman: yeoman: freeborn servant;  namo: no other

114 Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere;
      Harneised: ornamented

121 And she was cleped madame Eglentyne.
      cleped: called

124 And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
      fetisly: elegantly

132 In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest.
      Her greatest pleasure (lestwas in good manners (curteisie).

152 Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas,
      tretys: well formed

155 It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe;
      spanne brood: about seven to nine inches wide;  trowe: believe 

167 A manly man, to been an abbot able.
      manly: generous, virile

189 Therfore he was a prikasour aright:
      prikasour: horseman, hunter on horseback;  aright: certainly

192 Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.
      lust: pleasure

205 He was nat pale as a forpyned goost.
      forpyned goost: tormented spirit

211 So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage.
      muchel: much;  daliaunce: sociability

217 And eek with worthy wommen of the toun;
      eek: also

224 Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce.
       pitaunce: gift

227 For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt,
      For if a man gave, he (the Friar) dared to assert 

232 Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres.
      moote yeve: must give

267 His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght
      eyen: eyes

Award yourself 4 points for each correct answer; if you did well (got 80 or better), go on with your reading of The General Prologue. If you had a bit of trouble (got 79 or less), you should go back and again read carefully through this part (lines 1-269 of the General Prologue).