#  Test your reading of The Merchant's Prologue and Tale (Lines 1213-1440) 

 



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**Translate each of bold-face words in the following lines into clear modern English (it is best to write out your translation):**

1269 And namely whan a man is oold and **hoor**;  
  
1295 **What force** though Theofraste liste lye?  
  
1314 Or **moebles** -- alle ben yiftes of Fortune  
  
1332 His **paradys terrestre**, and his disport.  
  
1361 Do alwey so as wommen wol thee **rede**.  
  
1410 And I wol **fonde t'espien**, on my syde,  
  
1458 I feele my lymes **stark** and suffisaunt  
  
1512 Crist **halt hym** of this conseil **ful wel apayd**.  
  
1591 For hire **sadnesse** and hire benyngnytee  
  
1598 For love is blynd **alday**, and may nat see.  
  
1658 He wolde noon auctoritee **allegge**,  
  
1671 She may be Goddes **meene** and Goddes whippe;  
  
1714 The mooste **deyntevous** of al Ytaille.  
  
1753 That he that nyght in armes wolde hire **streyne**  
  
1786 Lyk to the **naddre** in bosom sly untrewe,  
  
1847 He was al **coltissh**, ful of **ragerye**,  
  
1911 And therto manly, and eek **servysable**,  
  
2061 O **brotil** joye! O sweete venym queynte!  
  
2198 Or elles I **empeyre** so my name,  
  
2262 Thanne shal he knowen al hire **harlotrye**,  
  
2331 I moste han **of the peres** that I see,  
  
2367 "O **stronge lady stoore**, what dostow?"  
  
2402 Ne may nat sodeynly so wel **yse**,  
  
2413 He kisseth hire and **clippeth** hire ful ofte,

**Compare your translation with the page** [**glosses**](/glosses-quiz-merchants-prologue-tale-and-epilogue-lines-iv1213-1440) **for these lines.**