Chaucer's Works, Volume 2 — Boethius and TroilusChaucer, Geoffrey
Philosophy
Chaucer's Works, Volume 2 — Boethius and Troilus
Chaucer, Geoffrey
English poetry -- Middle English, 1100-1500
§ 22. After all, the chief point of interest about Chaucer's translation of
Boethius is the influence that this labour exercised upon his later work,
owing to the close familiarity with the text which he thus acquired. I have
shewn that we must not expect to find such influence upon his earliest
writings; and that, in the case of the Book of the Duchesse, it affected
him at second hand, through Jean de Meun. But in other poems, viz. Troilus,
the House of Fame, The Legend of Good Women, some of the Balades, and in
the Canterbury Tales, the influence of Boethius is frequently observable;
and we may usually suppose such influence to have been direct and
immediate; nevertheless, we should always keep an eye on Le Roman de la
Rose, for Jean de Meun was, in like manner, influenced in no slight degree
by the same work. I have often taken an opportunity of pointing out, in my
Notes to Chaucer, passages of this character; and I find that Mr. Stewart,
with praiseworthy diligence, has endeavoured to give (in Appendix B,
following his Essay, at p. 260) 'An Index of Passages in Chaucer which seem
to have been suggested by the De Consolatione Philosophiae.' Very useful,
in connection with this subject, is the list of passages in which Chaucer
seems to have been indebted to Le Roman de la Rose, as given by Dr. E.
Köppel in _Anglia_, vol. xiv. 238-265. Another most useful help is the
comparison between Troilus and Boccaccio's _Filostrato_, by Mr. W. M.
Rossetti; which sometimes proves, beyond all doubt, that a passage which
may seem to be due to Boethius, is really taken from the Italian poet. As
this seems to be the right place for exhibiting the results thus obtained,
I proceed to give them, and gladly express my thanks to the above-named
authors for the opportunity thus afforded.
§ 23. COMPARISON WITH 'BOECE' OF OTHER WORKS BY CHAUCER.
TROILUS AND CRISEYDE: BOOK I.
365.[35] a mirour.--Cf. B. v. met. 4. 8.
638. sweetnesse, &c.--B. iii. met. 1. 4.
730. What? slombrestow as in a lytargye?--See B. i. pr. 2. 14.
731. an asse to the harpe.--B. i. pr. 4. 2.
786. Ticius.--B. iii. met. 12. 29.
837. Fortune is my fo.--B. i. pr. 4. 8.
838-9. May of hir cruel wheel the harm withstonde.--B. ii. pr. 1. 80-82.
840. she pleyeth.--B. ii. met. 1. 10; pr. 2. 36.
841. than blamestow Fortune.--B. ii. pr. 2. 14.
846-7. That, as hir Ioyes moten overgoon,
So mote hir sorwes passen everichoon.--B. ii. pr. 3. 52-4.
848-9. For if hir wheel stinte any-thing to torne,
Than cessed she Fortune anoon to be.
B. ii. pr. 1. 82-4.
850. Now, sith hir wheel by no wey may soiorne, &c.--B. ii. pr. 2. 59.
857. For who-so list have helping of his leche.--B. i. pr. 4. 3.
1065-71. For every wight that hath an hous to founde.--B. iv. pr. 6. 57-60.
TROILUS: BOOK II.
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