A Literary History of the English People, from the Origins to the RenaissanceJusserand, J. J. (Jean Jules)
History
A Literary History of the English People, from the Origins to the Renaissance
Jusserand, J. J. (Jean Jules)
English literature -- History and criticism
[482] None in the handwriting of Chaucer have been discovered as yet;
but some are to be seen drawn, as he was allowed to have them later, by
another's hand, under his own responsibility: "per visum et testimonium
Galfridi Chaucer."
[483] The lease is dated May 10, 1374; Furnivall, "Trial Forewords," p.
1. Such grants of lodgings in the gates were forbidden in 1386 in
consequence of a panic (described, _e.g._, in the "Chronicon Angliae,"
Rolls, p. 370) caused by a rumour of the coming of the French. See
Riley, "Memorials of London," pp. 388, 489. A study on the too neglected
Ralph Strode is being prepared (1894) by M. Gollancz.
[484] "Dimissio Portae de Aldgate facta Galfrido Chaucer.--Concessio de
Aldrichgate Radulpho Strode.--Sursum-redditio domorum supra
Aldrichesgate per Radulphum Strode." Among the "Fundationes et
praesentationes cantariarum ... shoparum ... civitati pertinentium."
"Liber Albus," Rolls, pp. 553, 556, 557.
[485] Chaucer represents Jupiter's eagle, addressing him thus:
And noght only fro fer contree
That ther no tyding comth to thee
But of thy verray neyghebores,
That dwellen almost at thy dores,
Thou herest neither that ne this;
For whan thy labour doon al is,
Thou gost hoom to thy hous anoon,
Thou sittest at another boke,
Til fully daswed is thy loke,
And livest thus as an hermyte.
"Hous of Fame," book ii. l. 647; "Complete Works," iii. p. 20.
[486] All these dates are merely approximative. Concerning the
chronology of Chaucer's works, see Ten Brink, "Chaucer Studien,"
Muenster, 1870, 8vo; Furnivall, "Trial Forewords," 1871, Chaucer Society;
Koch, "Chronology," Chaucer Society, 1890; Pollard, "Chaucer,"
"Literature Primers," 1893; Skeat, "Complete Works of Chaucer," vol. i.,
"Life" and the introductions to each poem. "Boece" is in vol. ii. of the
"Complete Works" (_cf._ Morris's ed., 1868, E.E.T.S.). The "Lyf of
Seinte Cecile" was transferred by Chaucer to his "Canterbury Tales,"
where it became the tale of the second nun. The good women of the
"Legend" are all of them love's martyrs: Dido, Ariadne, Thisbe, &c.; it
was Chaucer's first attempt to write a collection of stories with a
Prologue. In the Prologue Venus and Cupid reproach him with having
composed poems where women and love do not appear in a favourable light,
such as "Troilus" and the translation of the "Roman de la Rose," which
"is an heresye ageyns my lawe." He wrote his "Legend" to make amends.
[487] "Parlement of Foules," ll. 272, 225, "Complete Works," vol. i.
[488] "Hous of Fame," l. 133 _ibid._, vol. iii.
[489] "Hous of Fame," l. 518.
[490] "Complete Works, "vol. i. p. 365. This beginning is imitated from
Boccaccio's "Teseide."
[491] "Parlement of Foules," in "Complete Works," vol. i. p. 336.
Chaucer alludes here to a book which "was write with lettres olde," and
which contained "Tullius of the dreme of Scipioun."
[492] "Legend of Dido," in "Complete Works," vol. iii. p. 117.
[493] Book v. st. 256.
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