588. Perhaps imitated from Dante, Inf. ii. 32, where Dante says that he is neither Æneas nor Paul. Chaucer here refers to various men who were borne up to heaven, viz. Enoch (Gen. v. 24), Elijah (2 Kings ii. 11), Romulus, and Ganymede. Romulus was carried up to heaven by Mars; Ovid, Metam. xiv. 824; Fasti, ii. 475-512. Ganymede was carried up to heaven by Jupiter in the form of an eagle; cf. Vergil, Æn. i. 28, and see Ovid, Metam. x. 160, where Ovid adds: 'qui nunc quoque pocula miscet, Invitaque Iovi nectar Iunone ministrat.' In the passage in Dante (Purg. ix. 19-30), already alluded to above (note to l. 534), there is a reference to Ganymede (l. 23). 592. _Boteler_, butler. No burlesque is here intended. 'The idea of Ganymede being _butler_ to the gods appears ludicrous to us, who are accustomed to see the office performed by menial servants. But it was not so in the middle ages. Young gentlemen of high rank carved the dishes and poured out the wine at the tables of the nobility, and grace in the performance of these duties was highly prized. One of the oldest of our noble families derives its surname from the fact that its founder was _butler_ to the king'; Bell. So also, the royal name of _Stuart_ is merely _steward_. 597. _Therabout_, busy about, having it in intention. 600-4. Cf. Vergil's words of reassurance to Dante; Inf. ii. 49. 608. The eagle says he is Jupiter's eagle; 'Iouis ales,' Æn. i. 394. 614-40. A long sentence of 27 lines. 618. I supply _goddesse_, to complete the line. Cf. 'In worship of Venús, goddésse of love'; Kn. Tale, A 1904; and again, 'goddésse,' id. A 1101, 2. 621. The necessity for correcting _lytel_ to _lyte_ is obvious from the rime, since _lyte is_ rimes with _dytees_. Chaucer seems to make _lyte_ dissyllabic; it rimes with _Arcite_, Kn. Ta., A 1334, 2627; and with _hermyte_ in l. 659 below. In the present case, the _e_ is elided--_lyt'is_. For similar rimes, cf. _nones_, _noon is_, C. T. Prol. 523; _beryis_, _mery is_, Non. Pr. Ta., B 4155; _swevenis_, _swevene is_, id. B 4111.