The Merchant's Tale

Since the homily quotes only a few lines and clearly assumes that the readers are aware of the story, it's not clear what we are to make of this.

The second reference to lost folklore of Wada, or in this case Wade, comes from Chaucer in The Merchant's Tale, where a reference to Wade's boat is used as a sexual euphemism.

Chaucer refers directly to a story of Wade in Troilus and Criseyde.

Wade's boat was named by the 16th century editor of Chaucer's works, called Thomas Specht, when he refers to Wade and his boat Gwingalot.

He knew nothing, it would seem, of Oberon, Titania, or Mab, but speaks of, quote, "Pluto that is the king of fairy, and many a lady in his company, following his wife, the queen Proserpina," etc., end quote.

The Merchant's Tale, one, one oh one oh one.

From this passage of Chaucer, Mr. Tyrwhitt, quote, "Cannot help thinking that his Pluto and Proserpina were the true progenitors of Oberon and Titania," end quote.

In the process of the Wife of Bath's Tale, it happed the knight, quote, "In his way to ride in all his care under a forest side, whereas he saw upon a dance go of ladies four and twenty, and yet mo, toward this like dance he drow full yern, in hope that he some wisdom should learn.