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the time of Chaucer. It is the work of some tasteless imitator, who has sufficiently disguised his original, by retaining none of its spirit. I mention these circumstances, lest it should be thought that this frigid abridgment was the ground-work of Chaucer's poem on the same subject. In the class of humourous or satirical tales, the SOMPNOUR'S TALE, which exposes the tricks and extortions of the Mendicant friars, has also distinguished merit. This piece has incidentally been mentioned above with the PLOWMAN'S TALE, and Pierce Plowman.

Genuine humour, the concomitant of true taste, consists in discerning improprieties in books as well as characters. We therefore must remark under this class another tale of Chaucer, which till lately has been looked upon as a grave heroic narrative. I mean the RIME OF SIR THOPAS. Chaucer, at a period which almost realised the manners of romantic chivalry, discerned the leading absurdities of the old romances: and in this poem, which may be justly called a prelude to Don Quixote, has burlesqued them with exquisite ridicule. That this was the poet's aim, appears from many passages. But, to put the matter beyond a doubt, take the words of an ingenious critic. "We are to observe," says he, "that this was Chaucer's own Tale: and that, when in the progress of it, the good sense of the host is made to break in upon him, and interrupt him, Chaucer approves his disgust, and changing his note, tells the simple instructive Tale of MELIBOEUS, a moral tale vertuous, as he terms it; to show what sort of fictions were most expressive of real life, and most proper to be put into the hands of the people. It is further to be noted, that the Boke of The Giant Olyphant, and Chylde Thopas, was not a fiction of his own, but a story of antique fame, and very celebrated in the

also mentions Solere-hall, at Oxford. Also Aula Salarii, which I doubt not is properly Solarii. Compare Wood Ant. Oxon. ii. 11. col. i. 13. col. i. 12. col. ii. Caius will have it to be Clare-hall. Hist. Acad. p. 57. Those who read Scholarshall (of Edw. III.) may consult Wacht. V. SOLLER. In the mean time, for the

reasons assigned, one of these two halls or colleges at Cambridge, might at first have been commonly called Soler-hall. A hall near Brazen-nose college, Oxford, was called Glazen-hall, having glass windows, antiently not common. See Twyne Miscel. quædam, &c. ad calc. Apol. Antiq. Acad. Oxon,

days of chivalry: so that nothing could better suit the poet's design of discrediting the old romances, than the choice of this venerable legend for the vehicle of his ridicule upon them." But it is to be remembered, that Chaucer's design was intended to ridicule the frivolous descriptions, and other tedious impertinencies, so common in the volumes of chivalry with which his age was overwhelmed, not to degrade in general or expose a mode of fabling, whose sublime extravagancies constitute the marvellous graces of his own CAMBUSCAN; a composition which at the same time abundantly demonstrates, that the manners of romance are better calculated to answer the purposes of pure poetry, to captivate the imagination, and to produce surprise, than the fictions of classical antiquity.

See Dr. Hurd's LETTERS ON CHIVALRY AND ROMANCE. Dialogues, &c. iii. 218. edit. 1765. [With regard to "The boke of The Giant Olyphant and Chylde Thopas, Mr. Tyrwhitt has observed: "I can only say that I have not

been so fortunate as to meet with any traces of such a story of an earlier date than the Canterbury Tales." And Mr. Ritson in language at once elegant and expressive, has pronounced the whole statement "a lye."-EDIT.]

SECTION XVII.

BUT Chaucer's vein of humour, although conspicuous in the CANTERBURY TALES, is chiefly displayed in the Characters with which they are introduced. In these his knowledge of the world availed him in a peculiar degree, and enabled him to give such an accurate picture of antient manners, as no cotemporary nation has transmitted to posterity. It is here that we view the pursuits and employments, the customs and diversions, of our ancestors, copied from the life, and represented with equal truth and spirit, by a judge of mankind, whose penetration qualified him to discern their foibles or discriminating peculiarities; and by an artist, who understood that proper selection of circumstances, and those predominant characteristics, which form a finished portrait. We are surprised to find, in so gross and ignorant an age, such talents for satire, and for observation on life; qualities which usually exert themselves at more civilised periods, when the improved state of society, by subtilising our speculations, and establishing uniform modes of behaviour, disposes mankind to study themselves, and renders deviations of conduct, and singularities of character, more immediately and necessarily the objects of censure and ridicule. These curious and valuable remains are specimens of Chaucer's native genius, unassisted and unalloyed. The figures are all British, and bear no suspicious signatures of Classical, Italian, or French imitation. The characters of Theophrastus are not so lively, particular, and appropriated. A few traites from this celebrated part of our author, yet too little tasted and understood, may be sufficient to prove and illustrate what is here advanced.

The character of the PRIORESSE is chiefly distinguished by

an excess of delicacy and decorum, and an affectation of courtly accomplishments. But we are informed, that she was educated at the school of Stratford at Bow near London, perhaps a fashionable seminary for breeding nuns.

There was also a nonne a Prioresse

That of hire smiling was ful simple and coy;
Hire gretest othe n'as but by seint Eloy, &c.
And Frenche she spake full fayre and fetisly,
After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,
For Frenche of Paris was to hire unknowe.
At metè was she wel ytaughte withalle;
She lette no morsel from hire lippes falle,

с

Seyntè Loy, i. e. Saint Lewis. [Sanctus Eligius. T. This saint is mentioned by Lyndsay in his Monarchy.] The same oath occurs in the FREERE'S TALE, v. 300. p. 88. Urr.

dinner. [The Prioresse's exact behaviour at table, is copied from Roм. ROSE, 14178-14199.

Et bien se garde, &c.

To speak French is mentioned above, among her accomplishments. There is a letter in old French from queen Philippa, and her daughter Isabell, to the Priour of Saint Swithin's at Winchester, to admitt one Agnes Patshull into an eleemosynary sisterhood belonging to his convent. The Priour is requested to grant her, "Une Lyvere en votre Maison dieu de Wyncestere et estre un des soers," for her life. Written at Windesor, Apr. 25. The year must have been about 1350. REGISTR. Priorat. MS. supr. citat. Quatern. xix. fol. 4. I do not so much cite this instance to prove that the Priour must be supposed to understand French, as to shew that it was now the court language, and even on a matter of business. There was at least a great propriety, that the queen and princess should write in this language, although to an ecclesiastic of dignity. In the same Register, there is a letter in old French from the qucen Dowager Isabell to the Priour and Convent of Winchester; to shew, that it was at her request, that king Edward the

Third her son had granted a church in Winchester diocese, to the monastery of Leedes in Yorkshire, for their better support, "a trouver sis chagnoignes chantans tous les jours en la chapele du Chastel de Ledes, pour laime madame Alianore reyne d'Angleterre," &c. A. D. 1341. Quatern. vi.

The Prioresse's greatest oath is by Saint Eloy. I will here throw together some of the most remarkable oaths in the Canterbury Tales. The HOST, swears by my father's soule. Urr. P. 7. 783. Sir THOPAS, by ale and breade p. 146. 3377. ARCITE, by my pan, i. e. head. p. 10. 1167. THESEUS, by mightie Mars the red. p. 14. 1749. Again, as he was a trew knight. p. 9. 961. The CARPENTER's wife, by saint Thomas of Kent. p. 26. 183. The SMITH, by Christes foote p. 29. 674. The CAMBRIDGE SCHOLAR, by my father's kinn. p. 31.930. Again, by my croune. ib. 933. Again, for godes benes, or benison. p. 32. 965. Again, by seint Cuthberde. ib. 1019. Sir JOHAN of BOUNDIS, by seint Martyne. p. 37. 107. GAMELYN, by goddis boke. p. 38. 181. GAMELYN's brother, by saint Richere. ibid. 273. Again, by Cristis ore. ib. 279. A FRANKELEYN, by saint Jame that in Galis is, i. e. saint James of Galicia, p. 40. 549. 1514. A PORTER, by Goddis berde. ib. 581. GAMELYN, by my hals, or neck. p. 42. 773. The MAISTIR OUTLAWE, by the gode rode. p. 45. 1265. The HOSTE, by the precious corpus Ma

Ne wette hire fingres in hire saucè depe;
Wel coude she carie a morsel, and wel kepe,
Thatte no drope ne fell upon hire brest;

In curtesie was sette ful moche hire lest".
Hire overlippè wiped she so clene,

That in hire cuppe was no ferthing sene

Of gresè, whan she dronken hadde hire draught,
Ful semely after hire mete she raught.—

And peined hire to contrefeten chere

Of court, and bene statelich of maneref.

She has even the false pity and sentimentality of many modern ladies.

She was so charitable and so pitous,

She woldè wepe if that she saw a mous
Caughte in a trappe, if it were ded or bledde.

Of smalè houndes hadde she that she fed
With rosted flesh, and milk, and wastel brede :
But sore wept she if on of hem were dede,

Or if men smote it with a yerdè1 smert:

And all was conscience and tendre herte.

The WIFE OF BATH is more amiable for her plain and useful qualifications. She is a respectable dame, and her chief pride consists in being a conspicuous and significant character at church on a Sunday.

Of clothmaking she haddè swiche an haunt
She passed hem of Ipres and of Gaunt'.

drian. p. 160. 4. Again, by saint Paulis
bell. p. 168. 893. The MAN of Lawe,
Depardeux. p. 49. 39. The MARCHAUNT,
by saint Thomas of Inde. p. 66. 745.
The SOMPNOUR, by goddis armis two. p.
82. 833. The HOSTE, by cockis bonis.
p. 106. 2235. Again, by naylis and by
blode, i. e. of Christ. p. 130. 1802. Again,
by saint Damian. p. 131. 1824. Again,
by saint Runion. ib. 1834. Again, by
Corpus domini. ib. 1838. The RIOTTOUR,
by Goddis digne bones. p. 135. 2211. The
HOSTE, to the Monke, by your father kin.

p. 160. 43. The MONKE, by his porthose,
or breviary. p. 139. 2639. Again, by
God and saint Martin. ib. 2656. The
HOSTE, by armis, blode and bonis.p.24.17.
-ADDITIONS.] d pleasure, desire.
e literally, stretched [reached].
Prol. v. 124.

bread of a finer sort.
h stick.

1 v. 143.

* It is to be observed, that she lived in the neighbourhood of Bath; a country famous for clothing to this day. See above, p. 9, note.

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