461. The reading of this line is certain, and must not be altered. But it is impossible to _parse_ the line without at once noticing that there is some difficulty in the construction. The best solution is obtained by taking _which_ in the sense of _whom_. A familiar example of this use of _which_ for _who_ occurs in the Lord's Prayer. See also Abbott's Shakespearian Grammar, Sect. 265. The construction is as follows--'O victorious tree, protection of true people, that alone wast worthy to bear the King of Heaven with His new wounds--the White Lamb that was hurt with the spear--O expeller of fiends out of both man and woman, on whom (i. e. the men and women on whom) thine arms faithfully spread out,' &c. _Limes_ means the arms of the cross, spread before a person to protect him. [156] 464. _see of Grece_, here put for the Mediterranean Sea. 465. _Marrok_, Morocco; alluding to the Strait of Gibraltar; cf. l. 947. So also in Barbour's Bruce, iii. 688. 470-504. Not in the French text; perhaps added in revision. 474. _Ther_, where; as usual. _knave_, servant. 475. 'Was eaten by the lion ere he could escape.' Cf. l. 437. 480. The word _clerkes_ refers to Boethius. This passage is due to Boeth. bk. iv. pr. 6. 114-117, and 152-4; see vol. ii. pp. 117, 118. 491. See Revelation vii. 1-3. 497. Here (if _that_ be omitted) _As_ seems to form a foot by itself, which gives but a poor line. See note to l. 404. 500. Alluding to St. Mary the Egyptian (_Maria Egiptiaca_), who according to the legend, after a youth spent in debauchery, lived entirely alone for the last forty-seven years of her life in the wilderness beyond the Jordan. She lived in the fifth century. Her day is April 9. See Mrs. Jameson's Sacred and Legendary Art; Rutebuef, ed. Jubinal, ii. 106-150; Maundeville's Travels, ed. Halliwell, p. 96; Aurea Legenda, ed. Grässe, cap. lvi. She was often confused with St. Mary Magdalen. 508. _Northumberlond_, the district, not the county. Yorkshire is, in fact, meant, as the French version expressly mentions the Humber. 510. _of al a tyde_, for the whole of an hour. 512. _the constable_; named _Elda_ by Trivet and Gower. 519. Trivet says that she answered Elda in his own language, 'en sessoneys,' in Saxon, for she had learnt many languages in her youth. 525. The word _deye_ seems to have had two pronunciations; in l. 644 it is _dye_, with a different rime. In fact, Mr. Cromie's 'Ryme-Index' to Chaucer proves the point. On the one hand, _deye_ rimes to _aweye_, _disobeye_, _dreye_, _preye_, _seye_, _tweye_, _weye_; and on the other, _dye_ rimes to _avoutrye_, _bigamye_, _compaignye_, _Emelye_, _genterye_, _lye_, _maladye_, &c. So also, _high_ appears both as _hey_ and _hy_. 527. _forgat hir minde_, lost her memory. 531. The final _e_ in _plese_ is preserved from elision by the cæsural pause. Or, we may read _plesen_; yet the MSS. have _plese_.