[Footnote 21: This couplet is an addition by Pope. The manly Justinus says nothing in the original about "offending his noble lord."]
[Footnote 22: Chaucer is more particular in his description:
He portrayed in his heart, and in his thought Her fresche beauty, and her age tender, Her middle small, her armes long and slender, Her wise governance, her gentilnesse Her womanly bearing, and her sadnesse.--BOWLES.]
For when that he himself concluded had, He thought each other mannes wit so bad, That impossible it were to replie Against his choice; this was his fantasie.]
[Footnote 24: In seeking a wife for him.]
Placebo came, and eke his friendes soon, And althirfirst he bad them all a boon, That none of them no argumentes make Against the purpose which that he had take; Which purpose was pleasaunt to God said he, And very ground of his prosperite.]
[Footnote 26: "And may serve my turn" is one of Dryden's familiar colloquial terms, happily used. Dryden among other excellencies of a varied style was happy in the use of such terms.--WARTON.
The phrase fails to convey the conception of Chaucer, that the knight too much smitten by the charms of May to consider anything else of the slightest importance.
All were it so she were of small degree, Sufficeth him her youth and her beaute.]
[Footnote 27: The humour is brought out by Chaucer with increased force from his dwelling with greater detail on the fond conviction of January that the only risk he runs in marriage is from the excess of the felicity. He says he stands aghast when he contemplates passing his life in that perfect peace, and blessedness,
and trembles to think that he shall have his heaven upon earth.
This is my dread, and ye my brethren twey Assoileth me this question I you pray.]
And when they saw that it must needis be, They wroughten so by sleight and wise treate, That she, this maiden, which that Maybus hight, As hastily as ever that she might, Shall wedded be unto this January.]
[Footnote 29: Dryden's Palamon and Arcite:
For women to the brave an easy prey, Still follow fortune where she leads the way.]
[Footnote 30: Dryden's Palamon and Arcite:
I pass their warlike pomp, their proud array.]
[Footnote 31: This line has no warrant from Chaucer.]