#  Glosses for quiz #2 of the Shipman's Tale (Lines VII.161-303) 

 



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**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.