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the stern virtues of Dante or Milton； nothing of that moral
earnestness which marked the only other great man with whom he was
contemporary；he who is called the 〃morning star〃 of the
Reformation。 But then we know nothing about him which calls out
severe reprobation。 He was patriotic； and had the confidence of
his sovereign； else he would not have been employed on important
missions。 And the sweetness of his character may be inferred from
his long and tender friendship with Gower； whom some in that age
considered the greater poet。 He was probably luxurious in his
habits； but intemperate use of wine he detested and avoided。 He
was portly in his person； but refinement marked his features。 He
was a gentleman； according to the severest code of chivalric
excellence； always a favorite with ladies； and equally admired by
the knights and barons of a brilliant court。 No poet was ever more
honored in his life or lamented in his death； as his beautiful
monument in Westminster Abbey would seem to attest。 That monument
is the earliest that was erected to the memory of a poet in that
Pantheon of English men of rank and genius； and it will probably be
as long preserved as any of those sculptured urns and animated
busts which seek to keep alive the memory of the illustrious dead；
of those who； though dead； yet speak to all future generations。
AUTHORITIES。
Chaucer's own works； especially the Canterbury Tales； publications
of the Chaucer Society； Pauli's History of England； ordinary
Histories of England which relate to the reigns of Edward III。 and
Richard II。； especially Green's History of the English People； Life
of Chaucer； by William Godwin （4 volumes； London； 1804）； Tyrwhitt's
edition of Canterbury Tales； Speglet's edition of Chaucer； Warton's
History of English Poetry； St。 Palaye's History of Chivalry；
Chaucer's England； by Matthew Browne （London； 1869）； Sir Harris
Nicholas's Life of Chaucer； The Riches of Chaucer； by Charles
Cowden Clarke； Morley's Life of Chaucer。 The latest work is a Life
and Criticism of Chaucer； by Adolphus William Ward。 There is also
a Guide to Chaucer； by H。 G。 Fleary。 See also Skeat's collected
edition of Chaucer's Works； brought out under the auspices of the
Early English Text Society。
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS。
A。D。 1446…1506。
MARITIME DISCOVERIES。
About thirteen hundred years ago； when Attila the Hun； called 〃the
scourge of God；〃 was overrunning the falling empire of the Romans；
some of the noblest citizens of the small cities of the Adriatic
fled； with their families and effects； to the inaccessible marshes
and islands at the extremity of that sea； and formed a permanent
settlement。 They became fishermen and small traders。 In process
of time they united their islands together by bridges； and laid the
foundation of a mercantile state。 Thither resorted the merchants
of Mediaeval Europe to make exchanges。 Thus Venice became rich and
powerful； and in the twelfth century it was one of the prosperous
states of Europe； ruled by an oligarchy of the leading merchants。
Contemporaneous with Dante； one of the most distinguished citizens
of this mercantile mart； Marco Polo； impelled by the curiosity
which reviving commerce excited and the restless adventure of a
crusading age； visited the court of the Great Khan of Tartary；
whose empire was the largest in the world。 After a residence of
seventeen years； during which he was loaded with honors； he
returned to his native country； not by the ordinary route； but by
coasting the eastern shores of Asia； through the Indian Ocean； up
the Persian Gulf； and thence through Bagdad and Constantinople；
bringing with him immense wealth in precious stones and other
Eastern commodities。 The report of his wonderful adventures
interested all Europe； for he was supposed to have found the
Tarshish of the Scriptures； that land of gold and spices which had
enriched the Tyrian merchants in the time of Solomon；men supposed
by some to have sailed around the Cape of Good Hope in their three
years' voyages。 Among the wonderful things which Polo had seen was
a city on an island off the coast of China； which was represented
to contain six hundred thousand families； so rich that the palaces
of its nobles were covered with plates of gold； so inviting that
odoriferous plants and flowers diffused the most grateful perfumes；
so strong that even the Tartar conquerors of China could not subdue
it。 This island； known now as Japan； was called Cipango； and was
supposed to be inexhaustible in riches； especially when the reports
of Polo were confirmed by Sir John Mandeville； an English traveller
in the time of Edward III。；and with even greater exaggerations；
since he represented the royal palace to be more than six miles in
circumference； occupied by three hundred thousand men。
In an awakening age of enterprise； when chivalry had not passed
away； nor the credulity of the Middle Ages； the reports of this
Cipango inflamed the imagination of Europe； and to reach it became
at once the desire and the problem of adventurers and merchants。
But how could this El Dorado be reached？ Not by sailing round
Africa； for to sail South； in popular estimation； was to encounter
torrid suns with ever increasing heat； and suffocating vapors； and
unknown dangers。 The scientific world had lost the knowledge of
what even the ancients knew。 Nobody surmised that there was a Cape
of Good Hope which could be doubled； and would open the way to the
Indian Ocean and its islands of spices and gold。 Nor could this
Cipango be reached by crossing the Eastern Continent； for the
journey was full of perils； dangers； and insurmountable obstacles。
Among those who meditated on this geographical mystery was a young
sea captain of Genoa； who had studied in the University of Pavia；
but spent his early life upon the waves；intelligent；
enterprising； visionary； yet practical； with boundless ambition；
not to conquer kingdoms； but to discover new realms。 Born probably
in 1446； in the year 1470 he married the daughter of an Italian
navigator living in Lisbon； and； inheriting with her some valuable
Portuguese charts and maritime journals； he settled in Lisbon and
took up chart…making as a means of livelihood。 Being thus trained
in both the art and the science of navigation； his active mind
seized upon the most interesting theme of the day。 His studies and
experience convinced him that the Cipango of Marco Polo could be
reached by sailing directly west。 He knew that the earth was
round； and he inferred from the plants and carved wood and even
human bodies that had occasionally floated from the West； that
there must be unknown islands on the western coasts of the
Atlantic； and that this ocean； never yet crossed； was the common
boundary of both Europe and Asia； in short； that the Cipango could
be reached by sailing west。 And he believed the thing to be
practicable； for the