s 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,

As alle wedded men do with their wives,

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.]

[Footnote 28:

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.]

[Footnote 32: Here followed a bad couplet, which Pope afterwards
omitted:

Expensive dainties load the plenteous boards,
The best luxurious Italy affords.]

[Footnote 33: Joab, the leader of the Israelites in battle, blew the
trumpet, as is recorded in the Bible, to gather them together. Theodomas
is thought by Tyrwhitt to be a character in some fictitious history
which was popular in the days of Chaucer.]

[Footnote 34: Chaucer says that the bed was blessed by the priest, and
the form used on these occasions may be seen in the old Latin service
books.]

[Footnote 35: Dryden's Sigismonda and Guiscardo:

What thoughts he had beseems me not to say.]

[Footnote 36: A circumstance is added by Chaucer which brings vividly
before the reader the advanced age of the knight:

The slacke skin about his necke shaketh
While that he sung.]

[Footnote 37: Chaucer had previously mentioned that it was the usage for
newly married wives to keep their