#  Glosses for quiz #2 of the Reeve's Tale (Lines I.4046-4324) 

 



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

4050 For al the sleighte in hir philosophye.  
 **philosophye**: learning  
  
4063 He strepeth of the brydel right anon.  
 **strepeth of**: strips off  
  
4071 This John goth out and fynt his hors away,  
 **fynt** (*= findeth*), finds  
  
4079 The wyf cam lepynge inward with a ren.  
 **with a ren**: at a run, running  
  
4096 Yet kan a millere make a clerkes berd,  
 **make a ... berd**: outwit, fool  
  
4100 Thise sely clerkes rennen up and doun  
 **Thise sely clerkes**: these poor, hapless clerks  
  
4119 Of herberwe and of ese, as for hir peny.  
 **herbewe**: lodging **ese**: refreshment, food  
  
4143 Right in the same chambre by and by.  
 **by and by**: side by side  
  
4145 Ther was no roumer herberwe in the place.  
 **roumer**: larger **herberwe**: lodging  
  
4157 To rokken, and to yeve the child to sowke.  
 **sowke**: suck  
  
4165 His wyf bar hym a burdon, a ful strong;  
 **burdon**: bass accompaniment  
  
4167 The wenche rowteth eek, par compaignye.  
 **rowteth**: snores **par compaignye**: for fellowship's sake, to keep them company  
  
4178 If that I may, yon wenche wil I swyve.  
 **swyve**: copulate with  
  
4184 And we han had an il fit al this day;  
 **il fit**: hard time  
  
4190 "And gif that he out of his sleep abreyde,  
 **abreyde**: start, awake  
  
4200 And to hymself he maketh routhe and wo.  
 **maketh routhe**: pities (feels sorry for himself)  
  
4201 "Allas!" quod he, "this is a wikked jape;  
 **jape**: trick  
  
4208 I sal been halde a daf, a cokenay!  
 **halde a daf**: considered a fool **cokenay**: weakling  
  
4226 But faire and wel she creep in to the clerk,  
 **creep**: crept  
  
4235 For he had swonken al the longe nyght,  
 **swonken**: worked  
  
4254 That makes me that I ga nat aright.  
 **ga nat aright**: lose my way  
  
4274 And he hente hym despitously agayn,  
 **hente hym**: fetched him, struck him despitously: angrily  
  
4278 They walwe as doon two pigges in a poke;  
 **poke**: bag  
  
4307 That doun he gooth, and cride, "Harrow! I dye!"  
 **Harrow!**: Help!  
  
4321 A gylour shal hymself bigyled be.  
 **gylour**: deceiver

Score 4 points for each correct answer; if you made an 80 or more, congratulations! If you scored 76 or less, go back and again read carefully through this part (lines I.4046-4324) of the Reeve's Tale, paying close attention to meaning and availing yourself of the page glosses, the explanatory notes, and the glossary.