#  Glosses for quiz #1 of the Knight's Tale (Lines I.859-1354) 

 



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**Compare your translations with the glossed text:**

859 Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,  
 **Whilom**: once **stories**: histories  
  
875 And certes, if it nere to long to heere,  
 **certes**: certainly **nere**: (*= ne were*, were not **heere**: hear  
  
885 But al that thyng I moot as now forbere.  
 **moot as now forbere**: must now forgo  
  
902 That herde swich another waymentynge;  
 **waymentynge**: lamentation  
  
909 Or who hath yow mysboden or offended?  
 **mysboden**: injured  
  
918 But we biseken mercy and socour.  
 **biseken**: beseech, ask for  
  
945 And wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent,  
 **suffren** hem: allow them  
  
957 And in his armes he hem alle up hente,  
 **hem alle up hente**: picked them all up  
  
963 How Creon was of Theseus yserved  
 **of Theseus yserved**: served, treated by Theseus  
  
972 And Emelye, hir yonge suster sheene,  
 **sheene**: bright  
  
1008 After the bataille and disconfiture.  
 **discomfiture**: defeat  
  
1024 Perpetuelly -- he nolde no raunsoun.  
 **nolde no raunsoun**: would not accept any ransom  
  
1032 For everemoore; ther may no gold hem quite.  
 **may ... hem quite**: can ransom them  
  
1040 Er it were day, as was hir wone to do,  
 **wone**: custom, wont  
  
1075 That thurgh a wyndow, thikke of many a barre  
 **thikke of**: thick(ly set) with  
  
1082 That art so pale and deedly on to see?  
 **on to see**: to look upon  
  
1101 I noot wher she be womman or goddesse,  
 **noot** (=ne woot), know not **wher**: whether  
  
1140 I woot right wel, thou darst it nat withseyn.  
 **darst it nat withseyn**: dare not deny it  
  
1154 And thou art fals, I telle thee outrely,  
 **outrely**: utterly, flatly  
  
1184 And soothly, leeve brother, this is al.  
 **leeve**: dear  
  
1208 In swich a gyse as I you tellen shal.  
 **gyse**: manner  
  
1216 Ther nas noon oother remedie ne reed;  
 **reed**: course of action  
  
1236 Ful blisfully in prison maistow dure --  
 **maistow dure**: you can live  
  
1265 And certes, in this world so faren we;  
 **certes**: certainly  
  
1278 Resouneth of his youlyng and clamour.  
 **Resouneth of**: resounds with youlyng: howling  
  
1334 Now wol I stynte of Palamon a lite,  
 **stynte of**: cease (speaking) of

Score 4 points for each correct answer; if you made an 80, you are doing well. Go on to read Part II of the Knight's Tale.

If you scored 76 or less, go back and again read carefully through this part (lines I.859-1354), paying close attention to meaning.