Note 69 — 273
Reading edition
So far 767 verses of 975: the rest is not pertinent and is very poor stuff. ‘Rauf Coilyear’ is a clever piece, but I cannot think with Mr Herrtage that it is “quite original.” Its exaggerations suggest a second hand; the author means to pepper higher with his churl’s discourtesy than had been done before. The ‘marshalling’ in 183-86 recalls ‘John the Reeve,’ 342-50.