How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). We used the line numbering found on Librarius's online edition.
Quote #1
For though that Absolon be wood or wroth,
By cause that he fer was from hir sighte,
This nye Nicholas stood in his lighte.
(291-293)
This quote says that Alisoun wouldn't even notice Absolon if he were crazy, so distracted is she by Nicholas. Madness here is held out as the ultimate attention-getter, a condition that makes a person into a spectacle one can't help but gawk at.
Quote #2
This knave gooth him up ful sturdily,
And at the chambre dore, whyl that he stood,
He cryde and knokked as that he were wood.
(331-333)
The servant's banging and hollering upon Nicholas's door "as that he were wood" (as if he were crazy) is a foreshadowing of the madness John thinks he observes in Nicholas, and later the moment in which Nicholas and Alisoun run shouting into the streets.
Quote #3
And at the laste he hadde of him a sighte.
This Nicholas sat evere caping uprighte,
As he had kyked on the newe mone.
(340-343)
A common superstition in medieval England (and today, for that matter) was that staring too long at the new moon would make you crazy. The image of Nicholas sitting bolt-upright, staring straight ahead is pretty creepy; you can understand why it would freak John out.
Quote #4
A man woot litel what him shal bityde.
This man is falle, with his astronomye,
In som woodnesse or in som agonye.
(346-348)
John's story a few lines later about an astronomer who falls into a pit as he's gazing at the stars gives us a clue about why he thinks astronomy, or fortune-telling, might make one insane. The idea is that those who deal in astronomy might spend so much time thinking about it that they neglect the business of day-to-day life, finally falling into a trance from which they can't escape.
Quote #5
'What Nicholay! what, how! what, loke adoun!
Awake, and thenke on Christes passioun!
I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes!'
Therwith the night-spel seyde he anon-rightes
On foure halves of the hous aboute,
And on the threshfold of the dore withoute.
(374-379)
Apparently, John's other theory about why Nicholas might be mad is that he is possessed by elves or evil spirits. For this reason John says the "night spell," a charm thought to protect a house against evil spirits when said at its four corners and threshold in the evening.
Quote #6
And if thou telle it man, thou art forlore;
For this vengeaunce thou shalt han therefore,
That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood!
(402-404)
It's not clear here whether Nicholas is implying it's God or himself who will curse John with madness should he betray his counsel. If it's the latter, it's in keeping with Nicholas's wish to portray himself as one who dabbles in the occult arts, like fortune-telling. Perhaps he also wishes to be seen as something of a sorcerer.
Quote #7
Of gooth the skin an hande-brede aboute,
The hote culter brende so his toute,
And for the smert he wende for to dye.
As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye.
(708-711)
One of the signs of madness was thought to be an inability to control one's emotions, which is why Nicholas's wails of pain make him seem "as he were wood." This is not the first or last time yelling and caterwauling is associated with madness.
Quote #8
For when he spak, he was anon bore doun
With hende Nicholas and Alisoun.
They tolden every man that he was wood,
He was agast so of 'Nowelis flood.'
(728-731)
One wonders whether John would have been able to avoid being labeled mad had he not been quickly shouted down by Nicholas and Alisoun. This episode illustrates the importance of having one's version of events heard and understood in order to lay claim to sanity.
Quote #9
For what so that this carpenter answerde,
It was for noght; no man his reson herde.
With othes grete he was so sworn adoun,
That he was holden wood in al the toun.
(740-743)
The proximity here of John being "sworn adoun" (sworn down) to his being "holden wood" (held to be mad) again emphasizes the power of getting people to hear you. John has a reasonable explanation; he's just unable to get anyone's attention before Nicholas and Alisoun jump in.