按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
social position as did Chaucer； or who received so many honors。
The poet of the people was the companion of kings and princes。 At
one time he had a reverse of fortune； when his friend and patron；
the Duke of Lancaster； was in disgrace and in voluntary banishment
during the minority of Richard II。； against whom he had intrigued；
and who afterwards was dethroned by Henry IV。； a son of the Duke of
Lancaster。 While the Duke of Gloucester was in power； Chaucer was
deprived of his offices and revenues for two or three years； and
was even imprisoned in the Tower； but when Lancaster returned from
the Continent； his offices and revenues were restored。 His latter
days were luxurious and honored。 At fifty…one he gave up his
public duties as a collector of customs； chiefly on wool； and
retired to Woodstock and spent the remainder of his fortunate life
in dignified leisure and literary labors。 In addition to his
revenues； the Duke of Lancaster； who was virtually the ruler of the
land during the reign of Richard II。； gave him the castle of
Donnington； with its park and gardens； so that he became a man of
territorial influence。 At the age of fifty…eight he removed to
London； and took a house in the precincts of Westminster Abbey；
where the chapel of Henry VII。 now stands。 He died the following
year； and was buried in the Abbey church；that sepulchre of
princes and bishops and abbots。 His body was deposited in the
place now known as the Poets' Corner； and a fitting monument to his
genius was erected over his remains； as the first great poet that
had appeared in England； probably only surpassed in genius by
Shakspeare； until the language assumed its present form。 He was
regarded as a moral phenomenon； whom kings and princes delighted to
honor。 As Leonardo da Vinci died in the arms of Francis I。； so
Chaucer rested in his grave near the bodies of those sovereigns and
princes with whom he lived in intimacy and friendship。 It was the
rarity of his gifts； his great attainments； elegant manners； and
refined tastes which made him the companion of the great； since at
that time only princes and nobles and ecclesiastical dignitaries
could appreciate his genius or enjoy his writings。
Although Chaucer had written several poems which were admired in
his day； and made translations from the French； among which was the
〃Roman de la Rose；〃 the most popular poem of the Middle Ages；a
poem which represented the difficulties attendant on the passion of
love； under the emblem of a rose which had to be plucked amid
thorns；yet his best works were written in the leisure of
declining years。
The occupation of the poet during the last twelve years of his life
was in writing his 〃Canterbury Tales；〃 on which his fame chiefly
rests； written not for money； but because he was impelled to write
it； as all true poets write and all great artists paint；ex
animo；because they cannot help writing and painting； as the
solace and enjoyment of life。 For his day these tales were a great
work of art； evidently written with great care。 They are also
stamped with the inspiration of genius； although the stories
themselves were copied in the main from the French and Italian；
even as the French and Italians copied from Oriental writers； whose
works were translated into the languages of Europe so that the
romances of the Middle Ages were originally produced in India；
Persia； and Arabia。 Absolute creation is very rare。 Even
Shakspeare； the most original of poets； was indebted to French and
Italian writers for the plots of many of his best dramas。 Who can
tell the remote sources of human invention； who knows the then
popular songs which Homer probably incorporated in his epics； who
can trace the fountains of those streams which have fertilized the
literary world？and hence； how shallow the criticism which would
detract from literary genius because it is indebted； more or less；
to the men who have lived ages ago。 It is the way of putting
things which constitutes the merit of men of genius。 What has
Voltaire or Hume or Froude told the world； essentially； that it did
not know before？ Read； for instance； half…a…dozen historians on
Joan of Arc： they all relate substantially the same facts。 Genius
and originality are seen in the reflections and deductions and
grand sentiments prompted by the narrative。 Let half…a…dozen
distinguished and learned theologians write sermons on Abraham or
Moses or David： they will all be different； yet the main facts will
be common to all。
The 〃Canterbury Tales〃 are great creations； from the humor； the
wit； the naturalness； the vividness of description； and the beauty
of the sentiments displayed in them； although sullied by occasional
vulgarities and impurities； which； however； in all their coarseness
do not corrupt the mind。 Byron complained of their coarseness； but
Byron's poetry is far more demoralizing。 The age was coarse； not
the mind of the author。 And after five hundred years； with all the
obscurity of language and obsolete modes of spelling； they still
give pleasure to the true lovers of poetry when they have once
mastered the language； which is not； after all； very difficult。 It
is true that most people prefer to read the great masters of
poetry； in later times； but the 〃Canterbury Tales〃 are interesting
and instructive to those who study the history of language and
literature。 They are links in the civilization of England。 They
paint the age more vividly and accurately than any known history。
The men and women of the fourteenth century； of all ranks； stand
out to us in fresh and living colors。 We see them in their dress；
their feasts； their dwellings； their language； their habits； and
their manners。 Amid all the changes in human thought and in social
institutions the characters appeal to our common humanity；
essentially the same under all human conditions。 The men and women
of the fourteenth century love and hate； eat and drink； laugh and
talk； as they do in the nineteenth。 They delight； as we do； in the
varieties of dress； of parade； and luxurious feasts。 Although the
form of these has changed； they are alive to the same sentiments
which move us。 They like fun and jokes and amusement as much as
we。 They abhor the same class of defects which disgust us；
hypocrisies； shams； lies。 The inner circle of their friendship is
the same as ours to…day； based on sincerity and admiration。 There
is the same infinite variety in character； and yet the same
uniformity。 The human heart beats to the same sentiments that it
does under all civilizations and conditions of life。 No people can
live without friendship and sympathy and love； and these are
ultimate sentiments of the soul； which are as eternal as the ideas
of Plato。 Why do the Psalms of David。 written for an Oriental
people four thousand years ago； excite the same emotions in the
minds of the people of England or France or America that they did
among the Jew