THE CANTERBURY TALES. BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER. From the Text AND WITH THE NOTES AND GLOSSARY OF THOMAS TYRWHITT. CONDENSED AND ARRANGED UNDER THE TEXT. A NEW EDITION. ILLUSTRATED BY EDWARD CORBOULD. LONDON: G. ROUTLEDGE & CO., FARRINGDON STREET. 926 INTRODUCTION. с 1854 I would be almost vain to attempt to say anything new in praise of the father of our English literature, Chaucer, compared with whose productions, all that precedes is barbarism." The object of the present Introduction is rather to put together a few remarks tending to illustrate his style and versification, leaving it to the diligence of the reader to form a just estimate of the great moral value of his poems, suffering, as they unquestionably do, under a freedom of language inseparable from the age in which he lived. Praiseworthy attempts have been made by various writers of the present day to expurgate Chaucer, or, at all events, to select from his writings the noblest and most characteristic passages. This latter task has not only been done, but done well. The object of the editor of the present volume is a different one. He wishes merely to present a convenient, complete edition of the "Canterbury Tales," adopting Tyrwhitt's text, which, though far from perfect, is the only one which, in the existing state of our Chaucerian knowledge, can be safely followed. Considerable labour has, however, been bestowed in transferring the contents of Tyrwhitt's valuable glossary and notes to their proper places beneath the text. The comfort of the reader is so obviously concerned in this arrangement, that little need be said in its commendation. A few of the clever remarks in "Notes and Queries," and likewise some observations by the present editor, have been incorporated, and it is hoped that Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," as a whole, are now set before the English reader in a more popular and attractive form than has yet been attempted. As in the case of the notes, so likewise it was necessary to condense the prefaces of Tyrwhitt, as well as to add certain remarks from more recent enthusiasts in behalf of (haucer. But when it would be easy to say so much-when there is so much temptation to forestall the opinion of the 1 Literature and Learning in England, by Geo. L. Craik, v. ii. p. 10. M592856 reader, it is perhaps far better to leave him to drink uninterrupted draughts from this "well of English undefiled." It will therefore be well to commence with Tyrwhitt's important remarks on the language and versification of our author. "The Language of Chaucer," it has been observed by this able editor," has undergone two very different judgments. According to one,' he is the well of English undefiled;' according to the other, he has corrupted and deformed the English idiom by an immoderate mixture of French words. Nor do the opinions with respect to his Versification seem to have been less discordant. His contemporaries, and they who lived nearest to his time, universally extoll him as the chief Poete of Britaine,' 'the flour of Poetes,' &c., titles which must be supposed to imply their admiration of his metrical skill, as well as of his other poetical talents; but the later critics, though they leave him in possession of the same sounding titles, yet they are almost unanimously agreed, that he was either totally ignorant or negligent of metrical rules, and that his verses, if they may be so called, are frequently deficient, by a syllable or two, of their just measure. Now, in order to judge, in the first place, how far Chaucer ought to be charged as the importer of the many French words and phrases, which are so visible in all his writings, it will be necessary to take a short view of the. early introduction and long prevalency of the French language in this country before his time. It might be sufficient, perhaps, for our purpose, to begin this view at the Conquest: but I cannot help observing, from the testimony of Ingulphus, a contemporary Historian, that, several years before that great event, the language of France had been introduced into the court of England, and from thence among the people. Edward, commonly called the Confessor, had resided many years in Normandy, and upon his return to England in 1043, he brought over with him a number of Normans, whom he promoted to the highest dignities; 1 I. e., Spenser, F. Q. b. iv. c. ii. st. 32. 2 I. e., Verstegan, c. 7. "The Poet Geffery Chaucer is of some called the first illuminator of the English tongue. Of their opinions not, though I reverence Chaucer as an excellent poet for his time. H was indeed a great mingler of English with FRENCH, unto ich anguage (by like for that he was descended of French, or rather Wadon race) he carried a great affection." |