THE TALE（第10页）

thatservantwasuntothisappius，

wasdoomedfortohanguponatree;

butthatvirginius，ofhispity，

soprayedforhim，thathewasexild;

andellescerteshadhebeenbeguild;**seenote

theremenantwerehanged，reandless，

thatwereconsentothiscursedness.**villainy

heremenmayseehowsinhathhismerite:**deserts

beware，fornomanknowshowgodwillsmite

innodegree，norinwhichmannerwise

theworfconsciencemayagrise*frighten，horrify

ofwickedlife，thoughitsoprivybe，

thatnomanknowsthereof，savegodandhe;

forbehelewed*manorellesleard，***ignorant**learned

heknowsnothowsoonheshallbeafeard;

thereforeirede*youthiscounseltake，*advise

forsakesin，eresinneyouforsake.

livy，bookiii.cap.44，etseqq.

faconde:utterance，speech;fromlatin，"facundia，"eloquence.

slothe:otherreadingsare"thought"and"youth."

meschance:wickedness;french，"mechancete."

thislineseemstobeakindofasidethrowninbychaucerhimself.

thevariousreadingsofthiswordare"churl，"or"cherl，"inthebestmanuscripts;"client"intheneditions，and"clerk"supportedbytwoimportantmanuscripts."client"wouldperhapsbethebestreading，ifitwerenotawkwardforthemetre;butbetween"churl"andclerk"therecanbelittledoubtthatmrwrightchosewiselywhenhepreferredthesecond.

judgesxi.37，38."andshesaiduntoherfather，let...mealowonths，thatimaygoupanddownupontheuntains，andbewailmyvirginity，iandmyfellows.andhesaid，go."

beguiled:"castintogaol，"aordingtourrysexplanation;thoughweshouldprobabl玉nderstandthat，ifclaudiushadnotbeensentoutofthecountry，hisdeathwouldhavebeensecretlycontrivedthroughprivatedetestation.