#  Glosses for quiz #2 of the The Miller's Tale (Lines I.3397-3854) 

 



 ##  

  expand\_more  

 
  

 

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

3418 He nolde answere for thyng that myghte falle.  
 **falle**: befall, happen  
  
3462 Me reweth sore of hende Nicholas.  
 **Me reweth sore of**: I feel sorry for   
  
3463 He shal be rated of his studiyng,  
 **rated of**: scolded for  
  
3473 And evere caped upward into the eir.  
 **caped**: gaped  
  
3510 Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe.  
 **nam nat lief to gabbe**: do not like to gab  
  
3521 Thus shal mankynde drenche, and lese hir lyf."  
 **drenche**: drown **hir lyf**: their lives  
  
3532 I undertake, withouten mast and seyl,  
 **undertake**: affirm, declare  
  
3562 Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute.  
 **speed thee**: hurry heer-aboute: about this matter  
  
3584 Be wel avysed on that ilke nyght  
 **wel avysed**: well warned  
  
3596 Go now thy wey; I have no lenger space  
 **space**: time  
  
3619 He siketh with ful many a sory swogh;  
 **swogh**: groan  
  
3628 With breed, and chese, and good ale in a jubbe,  
 **jubbe**: large container, jug  
  
3646 For travaille of his goost he groneth soore,  
 **travaille of his goost**: suffering of his spirit, mental anguish  
  
3663 And he drough hym apart out of the chirche,  
 **drough**: drew  
  
3677 That stant ful lowe upon his boures wal.  
 **stant** (*= stondeth*), stands  
  
3684 Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste.  
 **me mette**: I dreamed  
  
3704 I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete.  
 **moorne**: yearn  
  
3713 And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey!"  
 **a twenty devel wey**: in the name of twenty devils  
  
3727 The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste.  
 **undoth**: opens  
  
3738 He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd,  
 **long yherd**: long-haired  
  
3746 And to hymself he seyde, "I shal thee quyte."  
 **quyte**: pay back (revenge)  
  
3753 Allas," quod he, "allas, I ne hadde ybleynt!"  
 **ybleynt**; turned away  
  
3772 This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene  
 **roghte nat a bene**: cared not a bean (i.e., nothing)  
  
3807 As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,  
 **thonder-dent**: thunderstroke  
  
3827 In ronnen for to gauren on this man,  
 **ronnen**: ran **gauren on**: stare at  
  
3792 "Why, nay," quod he, "God woot, my sweete leef,  
 **woot** knows: **leef**: dear one, sweetheart

Score 4 points for each correct answer; if you made an 80 or more, congratulations! If not, go back and again read carefully through the The Miller's Tale, paying close attention to meaning.