GEOFFREY CHAUCERABOUT 1340-1400
Nicholas’sLife of Chaucer.*
“Theaffection of Occleve” (his contemporary and dear friend) “has made Chaucer’s person better known than that of any individual of his age. The portrait of which an engraving illustrates this memoir, is taken from Occleve’s painting already mentioned in the Harleian MS. 4866, which he says was painted from memory after Chaucer’s decease, and which is apparently the only genuine portrait in existence. The figure, which is half-length, has a background of green tapestry. He is represented with gray hair and beard, which is bi-forked; he wears a dark-coloured dress and hood, his right hand is extended, and in his left he holds a string of beads. From his vest a black case is suspended, which appears tocontain a knife, or possibly a ‘penner’[2]or pencase. The expression of the countenance is intelligent, but the fire of the eye seems quenched, and evident marks of advanced age appear on the countenance. This is incomparably the best portrait of Chaucer yet discovered.”
Nicholas’sLife of Chaucer.*
“There is a third portrait in a copy of theCanterbury Talesmade about the reign of King Henry the Fifth, being within twenty years of the poet’s death, in the Lansdowne MS. 851. The figure, which is a small full-length, is placed in the initial letter of the volume. He is dressed in a long gray gown, with red stockings, and black shoes fastened with black sandals round the ankles. His head is bare, and the hair closely cut. In his right hand he holds an open book; and a knife or pencase, as in the other portraits, is attached to his vest.”
Tradition asserts that Chaucer merged his own personality in that of the Poet in hisCanterbury Tales.
Prologue toThe Rime ofSire Thopas.
“... Our Hoste to japen he began,And than at erst he loked upon me,And saide thus; ‘What man art thou?’ quod he;‘Thou lokest, as thou woldest finde an hare,For ever upon the ground I see thee stare.‘Approche nere, and loke up merily.Now ware you, sires, and let this man have place.He in the waste is shapen as wel as I:This were a popet,[3]in an arme to enbraceFor any woman, smal and faire of face.He semeth elvish[4]by his contenance,For unto no wight doth he daliance.’”
“... Our Hoste to japen he began,And than at erst he loked upon me,And saide thus; ‘What man art thou?’ quod he;‘Thou lokest, as thou woldest finde an hare,For ever upon the ground I see thee stare.‘Approche nere, and loke up merily.Now ware you, sires, and let this man have place.He in the waste is shapen as wel as I:This were a popet,[3]in an arme to enbraceFor any woman, smal and faire of face.He semeth elvish[4]by his contenance,For unto no wight doth he daliance.’”
“... Our Hoste to japen he began,And than at erst he loked upon me,And saide thus; ‘What man art thou?’ quod he;‘Thou lokest, as thou woldest finde an hare,For ever upon the ground I see thee stare.
“... Our Hoste to japen he began,
And than at erst he loked upon me,
And saide thus; ‘What man art thou?’ quod he;
‘Thou lokest, as thou woldest finde an hare,
For ever upon the ground I see thee stare.
‘Approche nere, and loke up merily.Now ware you, sires, and let this man have place.He in the waste is shapen as wel as I:This were a popet,[3]in an arme to enbraceFor any woman, smal and faire of face.He semeth elvish[4]by his contenance,For unto no wight doth he daliance.’”
‘Approche nere, and loke up merily.
Now ware you, sires, and let this man have place.
He in the waste is shapen as wel as I:
This were a popet,[3]in an arme to enbrace
For any woman, smal and faire of face.
He semeth elvish[4]by his contenance,
For unto no wight doth he daliance.’”