s. 40. Similar tests apply to open and close _o_. We might arrange these, similarly, into two classes, viz. (A) with the open sound, and (B) with the close sound; and we should find that they do not rime together; i.e., if we first eliminate those words which are observed to be of a variable character. For a few exceptions, see s. 29. I give the list below. It is also curious to observe that, in Troilus, the words _wolde_, _nolde_, _sholde_, usually rime together. _Wolde_ rimes with _biholde_ once only, iii. 115; but _sholde_ never rimes with any words but _wolde_ and _nolde_. In the Cant. Tales, _wolde_ rimes with several words, but _sholde_ only with _wolde_ and _nolde_. The only exception is in the Book of the Duchess, 1200, where _sholde_ rimes with _tolde_. It would greatly improve the sense as well as the metre to substitute _wolde_ for _sholde_ in this passage. s. 41. Now that I have exemplified the mode of using these test-words, I give fuller lists, slightly augmented by help of Mr. Cromie's Rime-Index, and adding a third class (C) of words which have a variable vowel, and are therefore _not_ available as test-words; for it is useful to know the character of these also. The following is THE KEY to the meaning of the lists. 1. (A) contains words with open long _e_ and open long _o_. The _chief_ sources of open long _e_ are (1) A.S. _[=e]a_ and (2) the stable A.S. _[=ae]_ answering to Goth. _ai_ (O.H.G. _ei_) and usually due to mutation of A.S. _[=a]_. We may include words with A.S. short _e_, though these often keep the vowel somewhat short; perhaps it was only half-long. The sources of open long _o_ are (1) A.S. _[=a]_ and (2) a lengthening of A.S. short _o_; perhaps the latter was only half-long. 2. (B) contains words with close long _e_ and close long _o_. The _chief_ sources of close long _e_ are (1) A.S. _[=e]o_ and (2) A.S. _[=e]_ (from mutation of _[=o]_). The chief source of close long _o_ is A.S. _[=o]_. 3. (C) contains words with variable long _e_ and variable long _o_. The chief source of variable long _e_ is the unstable A.S. _[=ae]_ answering to Gothic _[=e]_ (Germanic _[=a]_); this _[=ae]_ occurs in _spr[=ae]c-on_, third stem of the strong verb _sprecan_, and in its derivative _spr[=ae]ce_, whence M.E. _speche_, speech. It also appears to arise from sounds corresponding to A.S. _[=i]e_, _[=y]_, mutation of _[=e]a_, _[=e]o_. CHAUCER'S USE. Words in (A) rime with each other, but never rime with words in (B). Words in (B) rime with each other, but never with words in (A). Words in (C) rime with words both in (A) and (B). -ECHE. (A) _t[`e]che_, _bit[`e]che_. (B) _s['e]che_, _bis['e]che_. (C) _eche_, to eke, _leche_, _speche_.