And prov'd, however fortunate and brave, "The paths of glory lead but to a grave." Tho' yet our stubborn language gave small scope, Of what succeeding ages might fulfil. But the gradations of our tongue to trace Since our last extract-and because their rhymes, In some sort, sketch the manners of the times; And, first from CHAUCER, we are taught to guess At style of living, cookery, and dress. Eating. "A coke thei hadde with them for the nonce, "To boil the chikens and the marie-bones, * Chaucer, styled the first English poet, was page to Edward III. in 1359, married Phillippa, the sister of Catherine Swynford, (the future wife of John of Gaunt,) and is said to have had a large income, he was imprisoned as a Lollard, but ended his life in ease and plenty, at Donnington Castle, Berks, where he composed most of his best productions. "And "And powder marchaunt, tarte and galengale, "Well couth he knew a draught of London ale; "He couth rostè, boilè, grillè, and frie, "And make mortries, and well bake a pie; "For blank manger that made he with the best, &c." Drinking. "We shall have Rumney and malespine, "Both Ypocras and Vernage wyne, "Mountrese and wyne of Greke, "Both Algrade and despice eke, "Antioche and Bastarde, "Pymont also and Garnarde, &c. Spices. "There was ike wexin many a spice, "As clowe, gilofre, and licorice, 66 Gingiber, and grein de Paris, "Canell at sette wale of prys, "And many a spice delitable, "To eten when men rise fro' table." Dress Dress of an Archer. "And he was cladde in cote, and hode of grene, "A shefe of pecockes arrwes bryghte and clene, "Under his belt he bore full thriftily, "And in his hand he bare a mighty bowe, "A not hed haddè he, with browne visage, "Of wood craft couth he wel al the usage; Upon his arme he had a gai bracèr, "And by his side a sworde and à bokelèr; "And on the other side a gai daggere, "Harneised well, and sharp as point of spere; "A christofre on his breste of silken shene, "An horne he bare, the baudrike was of grene." CHAUCER. Spring. "This was in midst of month of May, "When birdis sing on ilka spray, "Melland* their notes with seemly soun, "For softness of the sweet seasoun. "And leaves of the branches spreeds, * Mingling. VOL I. "And "And fieldis strawed are with flowers, * Well favouring of seir colours." JOHN BARBOUR.† Hunger. Hunger, in heste, though, hent Wastour by the mawe, "And wronge him so by the wembe that both his eien water'd; "He buffeted the Breton about the chekes, "That he loked lyke a lanterne all his life after." ROBERT LANGLANDE. Chaucer thus describes the delicate distress of a maiden, in first disclosing her affections. And as the new abashed nightingale, That stinteth first when she beginneth sing, When that the herith any hardis'§ tale, *Their. ↑ Born at Aberdeen, but who, after he was an Archdeacon, obtained a licence from Edward III. to study at Oxford. ↑ Fellow of Oriel College, § Hardis, shepherd. Or |