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monastic order in its perverted and most degenerate The monastic institution had its origin in the purest of motives; and it has been of too much service to learning to be too lightly esteemed, how degenerate soever it may have become, or however inconsistently any of its votaries may have conducted at any time, in agreement with the universal tendency of the times, and the prevailing habits of the age. The venerable name of monk has become associated with the idea of fraud as well as ignorance and superstition; but this portrait, which was drawn by the pencil of animosity and fanaticism, is not to be admired as a faithful likeness. There was no venom in Chaucer's heart; he is not a reformer or controversialist, and he dealt with religion and politics as the poet of universal nature is allowed to do in reflecting the image of his times. He possessed a deep religious passion, which, connected as it was with his creative and discursive genius, it brought him into immediate contact, so that he communed with universal nature. He sympathized deeply with humanity in all its various conditions and aspects, and no ill nature is betrayed in any of his attempts to delineate, and by delineating. to correct the abuses of his time.

A MONK there was, of skill and mastery proved;

A bold hand at a leap, who hunting loved;

A manly man, to be an abbot able.

Full many a dainty horse had he in stable,

And when he rode, men might his bridle hear
Gingling in a whistling wind as clear,

And eke as loud, as doth the chapel bell

Where reigned he lord o'er many a holy cell

He is not of the opinion that hunting is unfit for holy men, or that a monk, when out of his cloister, is like a fish out of his element: he is fond of the chase; he wears the finest furs with the richest gold; he is as sleek as a lover, and as sturdy as a yoeman.

I saw his large sleeves trimmed above the hand
With fur, and that the finest of the land;
And for to keep his hood beneath his chin,
He had of beaten gold a curious pin:
A love-knot at the greater end there was.
His head was bald, and shone like any glass;
And eke his face, as it had been annoint.
He was a lord full fat, and in good point.
His eyes were deep, and rolling in his head,
Which steamed as doth a furnace melting lead.
His boots were supple, his horse right proud to see;
Now certainly a prelate fair was he:

He was not pale as a poor pining ghost.
A fat swan loved he best of any roast.

His palfrey was as brown as is a berry.

THE FRIAR.

Of the remaining characters of the group, the Friar, the Sergeant of the Law, the Doctor, and the Parson, are particularly interesting: their portraits are graphic, and the poet has anticipated another age, or else he has really drawn them from nature, as it would not be very difficult to trace some of their features in living originals.

A FRIAR there was, a wanton and a merry;
Licensed to beg, a wondrous solemn man.
In all the orders four there's none that can

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So much of dalliance wrap in langaage fair.
Full many a marriage had he brought to bear
For women young, and paid the cost with sport.
Unto his order he was rare support.

Right well beloved in fellowship was he,
With jolly franklins all, and yeomanry;
And eke with women, of each town the flower,
For in confession he possessed a power

More than a curate, as himself could state,
Being of his order a licentiate.

Full sweetly would he hear confession made;
Pleasantly was his absolution said.

He was an easy man in penance naming,
And knew that alms fell heavy from light blaming;
Since to an order poor when much is given
It proves the culprit has been rightly shriven;
And many a man so hard is of his heart,

He will not weep, although his soul should smart;
Therefore, instead of prayers and groans and tears,
Men must give money to the poor friars.

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And certainly his note was blithe and gay;
Well could he sing, and on the psaltery play-
In songs and tales the prize o'er all he bore.

SERGEANT OF THE LAW.

*

A sergeant of the Law, wise, wary, arch,
Who oft had gossip'd long in the church porch,
Was also there full rich of excellence.
Discreet he was and of great reverence;

For such he seemed his words were all so wise.
Justice he was full often in assize;
By patent and commission from the crown,
For his keen science, and his high renown.
Of fees and robes he many had I ween:

So great a purchaser was no where seen.
All was fee simple to him in effect;
His rightful gainings no one could suspect.
So busy a man as he no circuit has;
And yet he seemed busier than he was,
He had at tip of tongue all cases plain,

With all the judgments since King William's reign.

THE DOCTOR OF PHYSIC.

A DOCTOR of Physic rode with us along; There was none like him in this wide world's throng, To speak of physic and of surgery;

For he was grounded in astronomy.

He very much prolonged his patient's hours
By natural magic; and the ascendant powers
Of figures that he cast, his art could make
Benign of aspect, for his patient's sake.
He knew the cause of every malady,
Were it of cold, or hot, or moist or dry,

And how engender'd—what the humors were—
He was a perfect practiser.

The cause once known, and root of the disease,

Anon he placed the sick man at his ease.
Full ready had he his apothecaries

To send him drugs and his electuaries,
And each one made the other sure to win;
Their friendship was no new thing to begin.
Well the old Æsculapius he knew,

And Discorides, and Rufus too;

Hali, and old Hippocrates, and Galen,
Serapion, Rasis, and wise Avicen ;
Averroes, Damascene, and Constantin,
Deep-seeing Bernard, Gatesden, Gilbertin.
His diet by its nutriment weigh'd he,
For to be charged with superfluity

In meat and drink, had been to him a libel.
His study was but little in the Bible.

He was clad in crimson and sky-grey,
With thin silk lined, and lustrous taffeta.
And yet he was but moderate in expense.

THE PARSON.

A good man of religion did I see,
And a poor parson of a town was he;
But rich he was of holy thought and work.
He also was a learned man, a clerk,
And truly would Christ's holy gospel preach,
And his parishioners devoutly teach.
Benign he was, and wondrous diligent,
And patient when adversity was sent;
Such had he often proved and loth was he
To curse for tythes and ransack poverty;
But rather would he give, there is no doubt
Unto his poor parishioners about,

Of his own substance, and his offerings too.
His wants were humble, and his needs but few.

This great poem forms a living picture of the manners of the poet's age: but of the Tales themselves, a few extracts from one must suffice.

THE SQUIRE'S TALE.

This story is re-versified by Mr. Leigh Hunt, and was particularly admired by Milton, who alludes to it in his IL. PENSEROSO:

Or call up him that left half told

The story of Cambuscan bold,
Of Camball, and of Algarsife,

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