THE CLERKS TALE（第3页）

aproem，inthewhichdescribethhe

piednt，andofsa露ces

thecountry，

andspeakethofthepenninehilleshigh，

thatbetheboundsofallwestlombardy:

andofuntvesu露sinspecial，

whereasthepooutofawellesmall

takethhisfirstespringingandhissource

thateastwardayeincreasethinhiscourse

temilia-ward，

toferraro，andvenice，

thewhichalongthingweretodevise.**narrate

andtruely，astomyjudgement，

methinkethitathingimpertinent，**irrelevant

savethathewouldconveyehismattere:

butthisisthetale，whichthatyeshallhear."

underyouryerd:underyourrod;astheemblefgovernmentordirection.

francescopetrarca，born1304，died1374;forhislatinepicpoenthecarerofscipio，called"africa，"hewassolemnlycrownedwiththepoeticlaurelinthecapitolofrome，oneaster-dayof1341.

linian:aneminentjuristandphilosopher，nowalstforgotten，whodiedfourorfiveyearsafterpetrarch.

sa露ces:sa露zzo，adistrictofsavoy;itsmarquiseswerecelebratedduringthemiddleages.

emilia:theregioncalledaemilia，acrosswhichrantheviaaemilia—madebyaemiliuslepidus，whowasconsulatromeb.c.187.itcontinuedtheflaminianwayfromariminum（rimini）acrossthepoatplacentia（piacenza）tomediolanum（milan），traversingcisalpinegaul.