#  Glosses for quiz #1 of the Shipman's Tale (Lines VII.1-160) 

 



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**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.