Glosses for quiz #2 of the Shipman's Tale (Lines VII.161-303)
Compare your translations with the glossed text:
163 But sith I am a wyf, it sit nat me
sit nat me: is not suitable for me (sit = "sitteth")
166 God shilde I sholde it tellen, for his grace!
shilde: forbid
172 But yet me greveth moost his nygardye.
nygardye: miserliness
176 Hardy and wise, and riche, and therto free,
hardy: vigorous free: generous
177 And buxom unto his wyf and fressh abedde.
buxom: obedient
181 An hundred frankes, or ellis I am lorn.
An hundred frankes: about fifteen pounds sterling
183 Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileynye;
sclaundre: disgrace
185 I nere but lost; and therfore I yow preye,
nere but: would be (nothing else) but, would surely be
206 For by my chilyndre it is pryme of day.
chilyndre: portable sundial
209 And forth she gooth as jolif as a pye,
pye: magpie
213 And knokketh at his countour boldely.
countour: counting house
216 How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste
caste: calculate
219 Ye have ynough, pardee, of Goddes sonde;
Goddes sonde: what God has sent
222 Shal fasting al this day alenge goon?
alenge: miserable
225 The curious bisynesse that we have.
curious bisynesse: worrisome preoccupations
231 And dryve forth the world as it may be,
dryve forth: endure
234 A pilgrymage, or goon out of the weye.
goon out of the weye: disappear
236 Upon this queynte world t' avyse me,
queynte: tricky
238 Of hap and fortune in oure chapmanhede.
hap: chance happening chapmanhede: business dealings
243 And for to kepe oure good be curious,
curious: diligent, careful
246 That to a thrifty houshold may suffise.
thrifty: prosperous, thriving
248 Of silver in thy purs shaltow nat faille."
faille: lack
262 Atemprely, and namely in this hete.
atemprely: moderately
263 Bitwix us two nedeth no strange fare;
strange fare: elaborate courtesies
264 Farewel, cosyn; God shilde yow fro care!
shilde: protect
273 To stoore with a place that is oures.
To stoore with: with which to stock
276 Nat for a thousand frankes, a mile way.
a mile way: by (so much as) twenty minutes
280 Graunt mercy of youre cost and of youre cheere."
graunt mercy: thank you
284 My gold is youres, whan that it yow leste,
whan that it yow leste: when ever you please
285 And nat oonly my gold, but my chaffare.
chaffare: goods, merchandise
289 We may creaunce whil we have a name,
creaunce: borrow money, obtain credit
294 And prively he took hem to daun John.
took: gave
295 No wight in al this world wiste of this loone
loone: loan
303 Aboute his nede, and byeth and creaunceth.
creaunceth: obtains credit
How did you do? It is not necessary to get every line right to do well; some of the words in any passage from Chaucer are likely to be quite rare even in his own usage. Likewise, you need not supply exactly the same translation as that in the gloss; a number of different words can be used to translate almost any one of these glosses. If in doubt consult the glossary in The Canterbury Tales Complete and look at the notes on pages 435-37.
In you did well (got the great majority right), go on to Quiz #3; 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.