Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ... NOTES NOTES TO THE PROLOGUE. Line i. Soft, mild. It seemed a pity to alter here this characteristic word. 14. It is explained afterwards (Pass. i. 12) that 'the tower on the hill-top ' is the abode 0! Truth, or of God the Father. The ' dungeon ' in 1. 15 is the Castle of Care, or the abode of Satan. The 'fair field' in 1. 17 represents the world, and 'the folk ' are its inhabitants. 20. The poet describes the various classes of mankind. It is quite likely that Chaucer obtained from Langland the general AA DEGREES idea for his Prologue to the Canterbury Tales; in which he describes these various classes in a still more vivid manner, by selecting in each case a single representative. 34. Guiltless. The poet accepts the fact-that a few minstrels were honest; imp their general reputation was bad, as he proceeds to make clear. 38. Paul. The text of St. Paul which Langland refers to, but does not quote, is written (in Latin) in the margin of the Oriel MS.: --"If any would not work, neither should he eat;" 2Thess. iii. xo. He says he u ill not quote it lest he should be regarded as a speaker of evil. 47. He refers to the frequent pilgrimages to the shrine of St. James at Compostella in Spain, and to various churches in Rome. 54. Our Lady's shrine, at Walsingham in Norfolk, was also a favourite place of pilgrimage. The 'milky way' was sometimes called ' Walsingham way, ' because it is as full of stars as that road was of pilgrims. 58. The four orders {of friars). These were the Carmelites (the white friars), the Augustines (Austin friars), the Jacobins or Dominicans (black friars), and the Minorites (gray friars). 64. I.e. since Love has turned pedlar. This alludes to the money received by friars for hearing confessions. Besides this, the friars...
