Glosses for quiz #1 of the Shipman's Tale (Lines VII.1-160)
Compare your translations with the glossed text:
4 And compaignable and revelous was she,
compaignable: sociable revelous: convivial, fond of revelry
5 Which is a thyng that causeth more dispence
dispense: expense
6 Than worth is al the chiere and reverence
chieire: attention
8 Swiche salutaciouns and contenaunces
contenaunces: courtesies
11 The sely housbonde, algate he moot paye,
sely: poor, simple
13 Al for his owene worshipe richely,
worshipe: honor
20 This noble marchaunt heeld a worthy hous,
heeld a worthy hous: maintained his household generously
21 For which he hadde alday so greet repair
alday: daily so gret repair: so many visitors
22 For his largesse, and for his wyf was fair,
largesse: generosity
26 I trowe a thritty wynter he was oold --
a thritty wynter: about thirty years
27 That evere in oon was drawynge to that place.
evere in oon: always
29 Aqueynted was so with the goode man,
aqueynted: acquainted with goode man:the goodman, head of the houschold
30 Sith that hir firste knoweliche bigan,
knoweliche: acquaintance
36 The monk hym claymeth as for cosynage,
cosynage: kinship
42 Of bretherhede whil that hir lyf may dure.
bretherbede: sworn brotherhood
43 Free was daun John, and manly of dispence,
manly: generous
45 To doon plesaunce, and also greet costage.
doon ... greet costage: spend much money
54 Shoop hym to make redy his array
shoop hym: prepared
56 To byen there a porcioun of ware;
porcioun: quantity ware: merchandise
65 And eek an officer, out for to ryde,
officer: official
66 To seen hir graunges and hire bernes wyde,
graunges: outlying farms
69 Oure deere cosyn, ful of curteisye?
cosyn: kinsman
70 With hym broghte he a jubbe of malvesye,
jubbe: a large container,jug malvesye malmsey
71 And eek another ful of fyn vernage,
vernage: white Italian wine (vernaccia)
72 And volatyl, as ay was his usage.
volatyl: game fowl
76 And on his nedes sadly hym avyseth,
nedes: business, duties
86 And eek he nolde that no man sholde hym lette
lette: disturb
88 And thus he sit til it was passed pryme.
prime: 9 A.M.
91 And hath his thynges seyd ful curteisly.
thynges: duties, devotions
97 For yet under the yerde was the mayde.
under the yerde: subject to (adult) authority
99 "What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse?"
rathe: early
100 "Nece," quod he, "it oghte ynough suffise
nece: kinswoman
102 But it were for an old appalled wight,
appalled: pallid, feeble
103 As been thise wedded men, that lye and dare
dare: lie motionless or dozing
104 As in a fourme sit a wery hare,
fourme: form (a grassy, often sheltered, hollow)
105 Were al forstraught with houndes grete and smale.
forstraught: distraught
108 Hath yow laboured sith the nyght bigan
laboured: put to work
116 In al the reawme of France is ther no wyf
reawme: realm
117 That lasse lust hath to that sory pley.
lust: pleasure
130 Al youre anoy, for it shal been secree.
anoy: trouble
131 For on my portehors I make an ooth
portehors: breviary
133 Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye."
biwreye: expose, betray
139 Nat for no cosynage ne alliance,
cosynage: kinship
140 But verraily for love and affiance."
affiance: trust
143 "Cosyn," quod she, "if that I hadde a space,
space: time, space of time
145 Thanne wolde I telle a legende of my lyf,
legende: saint's life, tale of suffering
155 This swere I yow on my professioun.
professioun: monastic vows
159 Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde,
Ful lief were me: I would very much like
Score 4 points for each correct answer (if you made an 80 or more go on to Quiz #2 ; if you scored 76 or less, go back and again read carefully through this part (lines VII,1-160I) of the Shipman's Tale, paying close attention to meaning and availing yourself of the page glosses, the explanatory notes, and the glossary.
If you did well (got the great majority right), go on to Quiz #2; if you had a great deal of trouble (got only a few right), you should go back and read carefully through this part of the Shipman's Tale, paying close attention to meaning and availing yourself of the page glosses, the explanatory notes, and the glossary.