FROM THE POETICAL WORKS OF GEOFFRY CHAUCER: WITH A CONCISE LIFE OF THAT POET, AND REMARKS ILLUSTRATIVE OF HIS GENIUS. BY CHARLES. D. DESHLER. "OLD FRIENDS, OLD WINE, OLD BOOKS." NEW YORK AND LONDON: ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by WILEY & PUTNAM, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. R CRAIGHEAD'S Power Press, 112 Fulton Street. Chaucer's birth and parentage.-His residence at Woodstock.-Fills various offices -Probable visit to Petrarch.-House of Fame.-Em- bassage to France. His difficulties, return of prosperity and retire- ment.-Death.-Gleanings of his character, habits, and appearance, from his writings.-Nature of his satires. His "Retractation." Characteristics of Chaucer's poetry.-His estimate of woman, and fond- ness for birds, flowers, and rural scenery.-Control over language.— Omission to celebrate the great personages of his age and nation. SELECTIONS. I. RURAL DESCRIPTIONS -1. A walk.-2. Another walk.-3. A walk in May.-4. A walk, an arbor, and birds -5. A garden and a well.-6. The daisy.-7. Flowers and a grove.-8. A garden and birds.-9. Singing of birds.-10. An eagle near the sun.-11. Song of birds in praise of Love and May.-Note to Rural Descriptions. . 85 II. PAINTINGS.-FEMALE CHARACTERS.-1. Beauty.-2. Creseiae.- 3. Rosiall.-4. Emelie the Bright.-5. Venus and Cupid.-6. Ali- soun.-7. Virginius's daughter.-8. Gladnesse.-9. Richesse.-10. Idlenesse.-11. Largesse.-12. Fraunchise.-13. Nature.-14. A beauteous lady.-15. A group of ladies and of knights.-Note to IV.-NARRATIVE POETRY.-1. The young martyr.-2. A resurrec- The cock and the fox; and note.-6. Hugelin of Pise, and note.—7. V. MISCELLANEOUS.-1. The temple of Mars 2. Preparation for a tournament.-3. The tournament.-4. Death of Arcite.-5. Cha- racteristics of a gentleman.-6: Apparel and demeanor of the gal- lants of Chaucer's time.-7. Fortune.-8. Reason's character of Love.-9 Sepulchre of Pity.-10. House of Fame.-11. Fame's hall, and the Goddess of Fame.-12. The trump of Slander or Diffame.— 13. The house of Rumor.-14. The tower of Jealousy.-15. Glut- INTRODUCTION. THAT the glorious old masters of English Song are so little known to the American people, is the source of real regret to the present writer. Save Shakspeare—whose mighty and universal genius has burst the trammels of time and circumstance there is scarcely one of this noble galaxy, whose mere name is tolerably well known, or whose labors are universally appreciated. Upon a favored few indeed, does their melody fall "Like a silent dew; Or like those maiden showers, Which, by the peep of day, do strew A baptism o'er the flowers." They hoard their sayings, weep over their pathos, laugh over their rich and varied humor, are startled and astounded by the power of their descriptions and the gorgeousness of their imaginations. However favored they may be, unlike the votaries of Mammon or Fashion, these are neither selfish nor exclusive; but being ardently desirous of widening the territory of Delight, and of multiplying the number of those with whom they may meet in sympathy and gratulation, they dispense with burning tongue and liberal hand, the bounties of which they have themselves partaken. 1 Herrick. |