The works of our ancient, learned, & excellent English poet, Jeffrey Chaucer as they have lately been compar'd with the best manuscripts, and several things added, never before in print : to which is adjoyn'd The story of the siege of Thebes, by John Lidgate ... : together with The life of Chaucer, shewing his countrey, parentage, education, marriage, children, revenues, service, reward, friends, books, death : also a table, wherein the old and obscure words in Chaucer are explained, and such words ... that either are, by nature or derivation, Arabick, Greek, Latine, Italian, French, Dutch, or Saxon, mark'd with particular notes for the better understanding of their original.

Nubibus atris condita nullum fundere possunt sidera lumen. Si mare voluens turbidus auster misceat estum: Vitrea dudum, Parque serenis, &c.

THe sterres couered with black clouds ne mow yeten adowne no light, if the troubled wind that hight Auster, turning and wallowing the sea, medeleth the heat, that is to saine, the boyling up from the bo∣tome. The waues that were whylome clear as glasse, and like to the faire bright dayes, withstand anon the sights of men, by the filth and ordure that is resolued. And the fleeting stream that reileth doun diuersly from high mountaignes, is arrested and re∣sisted oft time by the encounteriog of a stone, that is departed and fallen from some roch. And for thy, if thou wilt looken and deeme sooth with cleare light, and holden the way with a right path, weiue thou ioy, driue fro drede, fleme thou hope, ne let no sorow ap∣proch, that is to saine, Let none of these foure passions ouercome or blend thee. For cloudie & derke is thilke thought, & bound with bridles, where as these things reignen.