CHAUCER's

CHARACTERS.

"T

WAS when the fields imbibe the vernal fhow'rs,

[flow'rs;

And Venus paints her month with early When Sol, diffufing genial warmth around, Unbinds the frozen bofom of the ground; When gentle Zephyr with refreshing breath Reviv'd each grain that in the womb of earth All winter flept; and th' all enlivening fun, Thro' the bright ram had half his progress run; When birds on ev'ry bough renew their fongs, And Philomel her evening note prolongs; Then nature fmiles; then Devotees engage, Thro' the wide world to roam on pilgrimage.

From

From ev'ry fhire the pious ramblers ftray,
But most to Canterbury bend their way.
There at the Martyr's fhrine a cure they find,
For each fick body, and each love-fick mind.
It.fo befel, that feason, on a day,

In Southwark at the Talbot-Inn I lay,
Refolv'd with zeal my journey to begin;
With no fmall off'ring to St. Thomas' shrine.

For Priests with empty thanks are never fhamm'd;

The rich buy heaven, and ragged rogues are damn'd.

Full nine and twenty more, a jovial crew, (Mine Hoft was ravifh'd at a fight fo new) That night, by fair adventure fought our inn; All pilgrims, fixt upon the fame defign. When moft with care had feen their horfes fed, Happy were they who got a cleanly bed. With each I talk'd, and each by name could call, So quickly grew familiar with 'em all.

There we refolv'd with speed to make our way, And all fet forward at the break of day..

Thomas Becket.

But

But hold a while; 'twere requifite you knew,
E're I proceed, each pilgrim of the crew.

I'll here relate their characters, their age,
Describe their perfons, and their equipage,
Their fex, and what condition they were in;
This rule obferv'd, I with the Knight begin.

A

The Knight.

Knight there was, whofe early youth had shown

His love to arms, and paffion for renown.

Courteous and affable; of honour nice;

A friend to truth, a foe to ev'ry vice.

In many brave engagements had he been,
Known foreign courts, and men and manners feen:
In Christendom much fame he had acquir'd;
In Turkey he was dreaded and admir'd.
When Alexandria was befieg'd, and won,

He pafs'd the trenches first, and scal'd the town.
Granada's fiege increas'd the warrior's fame;
And Algier trembled but to hear his name.
In fifteen battels deathlefs wreaths he got,
Three fingle combats with fuccefs he fought.

Much ground he travell'd o'er, for he had feen
Our Saviour's fepulchre in Palestine.

The barb'rous infidels had felt his might,
Fierce in engagement, gentle after fight.
In council, and in conduct, wife, and ftaid;
In converfation, modest as a maid.
Plain and fincere, obfervant of the right;
In mien and manners, an accomplish'd knight.

A goodly horfe he rode, well shap'd, and ftrong; No gaudy faddle, nor no trappings long.

The arms he wore, were bright, and free from stain;
His habit ferviceable, neat, and plain.

With grateful zeal devoutly he was come,
To thank the faint that brought him fafely home.

W

The Squire.

ITH him his fon, a fprightly Squire, and gay,
Youthful and blooming as the month of May;

A fearless lover, in a courtly dress,

With curling locks juft taken from the prefs.
Of twenty years he feem'd, well fhap'd and tall,
Strong was his make, his port majestical.