The 'Syntaxis Recepta' of Chaucer's 'Prologue to the Miller's Tale,' Lines 3159-61

Author / Editor
Dane, Joseph A.

Title
The 'Syntaxis Recepta' of Chaucer's 'Prologue to the Miller's Tale,' Lines 3159-61

Published
English Language Notes 31:4 (1994): 10-19.

Description
Chaucer's phrase is traditionally interpreted, "Yet for all the oxen in my plough, I would not take upon me more than enough (i.e., be overly suspicious)." A more accurate reading, however, is "I would not take upon me more than the oxen in my plough can handle."

Chaucer Subjects
Miller and His Tale.