[171] A planet was said to be _combust_ when its light was extinguished by proximity to the sun. When Venus and Mercury were 'combust' their influence was lost. [172] III. 712-718. It is sometimes hard to determine whether the beings prayed to are pagan gods and goddesses or heavenly bodies. This passage makes it clear that the planets were identified with the pagan divinities. In the rest of this prayer Troilus addresses Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, etc., as gods, referring in each case to some love affair, from ancient myth, that may win the god's sympathy and help. [173] III. 1254-1257. The "wel-willy planete" means the propitious or favorable one. [174] V. 638-644. Troilus needs the aid of Venus especially on the tenth night after Criseyde's departure, because she had promised to return on that night. [175] F. 129-130. [176] II. 71-76. [177] _Knightes Tale_, A. 1079. [178] _Ibid._ 1084-1091. [179] A. 1163-69. [180] A. 1303-8. [181] A. 1663-1672. This is the mediaeval Christian idea of destiny or the fore-knowledge of God, and is appropriately uttered here by the Knight. [182] A. 2209 ff; 2271 ff; 2367 ff. [183] Diana was called _Luna_ (or the Moon) in heaven, on earth, _Diana_ or _Lucina_, and in hell, _Proserpina_. [184] A. 2438-2446. [185] A. 2453-2455; 2470-2476. [186] _Troilus and Criseyde_, I. 1-5. [187] _Ibid._ I. 6-7. [188] II. 15-18. [189] II. 48-49. [190] IV. 1-14. [191] V. 1037-1050. [192] V. 1093-1099. [193] _Troilus and Criseyde_, III. 617-620. [194] For Chaucer's locality, 45°. [195] See the _Astrolabe_, i. 18, 19. Vertical circles are called _azimuths_ by Chaucer. [196] Strictly speaking, the equinoxes and solstices are each simply an instant of time. Transcriber's Notes: Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_. Subscripted characters are indicated by {subscript}. End of Project Gutenberg's Astronomical Lore in Chaucer, by Florence M. Grimm