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NOTES TO THE KINGIS QUAIK (46, 47).
Lufis dance, the dance of love; as in Troil. ii. 1106. A similar
use of dance occurs in Chaucer, C. T. 478 (A 476); it is said of
the Wife of Bath that she knew “the olde dance” of the art of
love. It occurs again in C. T. 12013 (C 79), and in Troil.
iii. 695. Tyrwhitt explains it by ‘game,’ and remarks that the
French have the same phrase, citing from Cotgrave (s. v. Danse)
the expression, ‘ File S5ait assez de la vieille danse ’; the trans¬
lation of which is to be found in 1. 4300 of the Romaunt of the
Rose—‘For she knew all the olde daunce.’ See also st. 185, 1. 2.
Note also the ainorouse daunce, Troil. iv. 1431 ; daunces of love,
Rom. Rose, 508.
46. This description of the lady Joan should be compared with
the description of Creseide in Chaucer’s Troilus, v. 806-826 ; and
see the Temple of Glass, 271, 301, &c.
Towardj I can only assign meaning to this passage by supposing
that toward here, means ‘in front.’ If this be not a legitimate use
of the word, there must be something wrong in the text. We can
hardly take it to mean ‘ regarding ’; and even if we do, this line
will not suit the next.
In fret-wise couchit was, was trimmed or set with a fretwork of
pearls. Couch, F. coucher, is the Lat. collocare, and is here used
with the sense of arranging or setting in order; hence, of trimming.
The expression is copied from Chaucer, C. T. 2163 (A 2161):—
Couched with perles, whyte, and rounde, and grete.
And again :—
A fret of gold she hadde next her heer ; Legend of Good Women, 215.
As to the sapphires and emeralds, see Romaunt of the Rose,
1117-8. A rose-red variety of the spinel ruby was called balais or
balai in old French ; see N.E.D. The form balai occurs in Le
Roman de la Rose, ed. Meon, 1. 20125.
Off plumys. Compare Chaucer, C. T. 1055 (A 1053):—
She gadereth floures, party whyte and rede,
To make a sotel gerland for her hede.
47. Ful is emphatic; the first syllable of the line is wanting.
Amorettis, love - knots, according to Jamieson. The word is
borrowed from Le Roman de la Rose, where it occurs twice. The
English version of the Romaunt also employs the word, 11. 892
and 4755
For nought y-clad in silk was he,
But al in floures and flourettes,
I-peinted al with amorettes,
And with losenges and scochouns
With briddes, libardes, and lyouns.