IN HIS FAIRY QUEEN.-L. 4. CANTO 2. ST. 31, &c.
Courageous Cambel, and stout Triamond
With Canace and Cambine link'd in lovely bond.
WHILOM as antique stories tellen us,
Those two were foes the fellonest on ground,
And battle made, the draddest dangerous,
That ever shrilling trumpet did resound :
Though now their acts be nowhere to be found,
As that renowned poet them compil'd
With warlike numbers, and heroick sound,
Dan CHAUCER (well of English undefiled)
On Fame's eternal bead-roll worthy to be filed.
But wicked Time, that all good thoughts doth waste,
And works of noblest wits to nought out-wear,
That famous Monument hath quite defaced
And robb'd the world of treasure endless dear,
The which might have enriched all us here.
O cursed Eld! the canker-worm of wits;
How may these rhymes (so rude as doth appear)
Hope to endure, sith works of heavenly wits
Are quite devour'd, and brought to nought by little bits.
Then pardon, O most sacred happy spirit,
That I thy labours lost may thus revive,
And steal from thee the meed of thy due merit,
That none durst ever while thou wast alive;
And being dead, in vain yet many strive :
Ne dare I like, but through infusion sweet
Of thine own spirit (which doth in me survive)
I follow here the footing of thy feet,
That with thy meaning so I may the rather meet.
IN HIS WORKS, PRINTED 1709. p. 84.
OLD CHAUCER, like the morning star,
To us discovers day from far,
His light those mists and clouds dissolv'd,
Which our dark nation long involv'd ;
But he descending to the shades,
Darkness again the age invades.
Next (like Aurora) Spenser rose,
Whose purple blush the day foreshows.
IN HIS IL PENSEROSO.
BUT, O sad Virgin, that thy power
Might raise Musæus from his bower,
Or bid the soul of Orpheus sing—
Or call up Him that left half told
The story of Cambuscan bold, &c.
FOR A STATUE OF CHAUCER AT WOODSTOCK.
SUCH was old CHAUCER, such the placid mien
Of him who first with harmony inform'd
The language of our fathers. Here he dwelt
For many a cheerful day. These ancient walls
Have often heard him while his legends blithe
He sang of love and knighthood, or the wiles
Of homely life, thro' each estate and age,
The fashions and the follies of the world
With cunning hand pourtraying. Tho' perchance
From Blenheim's tow'rs, O stranger! thou art come,
Glowing with Churchill's trophies, yet in vain
Dost thou applaud them, if thy breast be cold
To him this other Hero, who, in times
Dark and untaught, began with charming verse
To tame the rudeness of his native land.
ENGLISH CHAUCER! oft to thy glory old-
Thy sire-ship in poesy, thy fame,
Dull'd not by dusty Time (which aye will hold
Thy name up, banner high, bright as a flame
That burns on holy altar)—have my ears,
Like portals, wide been opened. Great fears
And worldly cares were on me; but a hand,
Power-fraught with this rich gift, hath gently fann'd
My sorrow'd spirit to a ripe zeal fine.
Now gaze I like young Bacchus on his wine,
And own no check from sorrow's hollow frown,
Full-hearted that the wrestler is down ;
Strong as an eagle gone up to the sun,
Dull earth I quit, and stray with CHAUCER on !
4, line 22-for "as we did advise," read as I you apprise.
17-for "shone right moist," read shoes right fair, &c.
13-for "of sorrow's woe," read of sorrow, woe, &c.
2-for "Land," read Luna.
9-for "be gaoler at that tide," read the gaoler at that tide, &c.
7-for "This will I say, that were he born my brother," read
And this will say (e'en tho' he were my brother).
8-for "I'd pray to heaven never to have another," read He's faithful-only till he get another.
1-for "at this right foolish case," read their fill at this nice
2-for "credulous," read dexterous.
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