I have adhered generally to Morris’s text (1866), being both good and popular,[3] only checking it by his Clarendon Press edition, and by Tyrwhitt, Skeat, Bell, &c., when I conceive force is gained, and I have added a running glossary of such words as are not immediately clear, on a level with the line, to disperse any lingering difficulty. In the pictures I have been careful to preserve the right costumes, colours, and surroundings, for which I have resorted to the MSS. of the time, knowing that a child’s mind, unaided by the eye, fails to realize half of what comes through the ear. Children may be encouraged to verify these costumes in the figures upon many tombs and stalls, &c., in old churches, and in old pictures. In conclusion I must offer my sincere and hearty thanks to many friends for their advice, assistance, and encouragement during my work; amongst them, Mr. A. J. Ellis, Mr. F. J. Furnivall, and Mr. Calderon. Whatever may be the shortcomings of the book, I cannot but hope that many little ones, while listening to Chaucer’s Tales, will soon begin to be interested in the picturesque life of the middle ages, and may thus be led to study and appreciate ‘The English Homer’[4] by the pages I have written for my own little boy. ACCENT OF CHAUCER. The mother should read to the child a fragment of Chaucer with the correct pronunciation of his day, of which we give an example below, inadequate, of course, but sufficient for the present purpose. The whole subject is fully investigated in the three first parts of the treatise on ‘Early English Pronunciation, with special reference to Shakespere and Chaucer,’ by Alexander J. Ellis, F.R.S. The _a_ is, as in the above languages, pronounced as in _âne_, _appeler_, &c. _E_ commonly, as in _écarté_, &c. The final _e_ was probably indistinct, as in German now, _habe_, _werde_, &c.--not unlike the _a_ in _China_: it was lost before a vowel. The final _e_ is still sounded by the French in singing. In old French verse, one finds it as indispensable to the rhythm as in Chaucer,--and as graceful,--hence probably the modern retention of the letter as a syllable in vocal music. _Ou_ is sounded as the French _ou_. _I_ generally as on the Continent, _ee_: never as we sound it at present. _Ch_ as in Scotch and German. I quote the opening lines of the Prologue as the nearest to hand. Whan that Aprille with his schowres swoote The drought of Marche hath perced to the roote, And bathud every veyne in swich licour, Of which vertue engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breethe Enspirud hath in every holte and heethe The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Hath in the Ram his halfe cours i-ronne, And smale fowles maken melodie, That slepen al the night with open yhe, So priketh hem nature in here corages--&c.