III. Latin Poets.—Joseph of Exeter and the Trojan war—Epigrammatists, satirists, fabulists, &c.—Nigel Wireker and the ass whose tail was too short—Theories: Geoffrey of Vinesauf and his New Art of Poetry 176 IV. Latin Prosators—Tales and Exempla.—Geoffrey of Monmouth—Moralised tales—"Gesta Romanorum"—John of Bromyard—"Risqué" tales, fables in prose, miracles of the Virgin, romantic tales—A Latin sketch of the "Merchant of Venice"—John of Salisbury; Walter Map—Their pictures of contemporary manners 181 V. Theologians, Jurists, Scientists, Historians.—The "Doctors"; Scot, Bacon, Ockham, Bradwardine, &c.—Gaddesden the physician—Bartholomew the encyclopædist—Roman law and English law—Vacarius, Glanville, Bracton, &c. History—Composition of chronicles in monasteries—Impartiality of chroniclers—Their idea of historical art—Henry of Huntingdon, William of Malmesbury, Matthew Paris—Observation of manners, preservation of characteristic anecdotes, attempt to paint with colours—Higden, Walsingham and others 193
CHAPTER IV. LITERATURE IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. I. Pious Literature.—A period of silence—First works (pious ones) copied, translated or composed in English after the Conquest—Sermons—Lives of saints—Treatises of various sort—"Ancren Riwle"—Translation of French treatises—Life and works of Rolle of Hampole 204 II. Worldly Literature.—Adaptation and imitation of French writings—The "Brut" of Layamon—Translation of romances of chivalry—Romances dedicated to heroes of English origin—Satirical fabliaux—Renard in English—Lays and tales—Songs—Comparison with French chansons 219
BOOK III. ENGLAND TO THE ENGLISH. CHAPTER I. THE NEW NATION. I. Fusion of Races and Languages.—Abolition of the presentment of Englishery, 1340—Survival of the French language in the fourteenth century—The decline—Part played by "lowe men" in the formation of the English language—The new vocabulary—The new prosody—The new grammar—The definitive language of England an outcome of a transaction between the Anglo-Saxon and the French language 235 II. Political Formation.—The nation coalesces—The ties with France and Rome are loosening or breaking—A new source of power, Westminster—Formation, importance, privileges of Parliament under the Plantagenets—Spirit of the Commons—Their Norman bargains—Comparison with France 248 III. Maritime Power; Wealth and Arts.—Importance of the English trade in the fourteenth century—The great traders—Their influence on State affairs—The English, "rois de la mer"—Taste for travels and adventures. Arts—Gold, silver and ivory—Miniatures and enamels—Architecture—Paintings and tapestries—Comparative comfort of houses—The hall and table—Dresses—The nude—The cult for beauty 255
CHAPTER II. CHAUCER. The Poet of the new nation 267 I. Youth of Chaucer.—His London life—London in the fourteenth century—Chaucer as a page—His French campaigns—Valettus cameræ Regis—Esquire—Married life—Poetry à la mode—Machault, Deguileville, Froissart, Des Champs, &c.—Chaucer's love ditties—The "Roman de la Rose"—"Book of the Duchesse" 268 II. Period of the Missions to France and Italy.—The functions of an ambassador and messenger—Various missions—Chaucer in Italy, 1372-3, 1378-9—Influence of Italian art and literature on Chaucer—London again; the Custom House; Aldgate—Works of this period—Latin and Italian deal—The gods of Olympus, the nude, the classics—Imitation of Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio—"Hous of Fame" 282 III. Troilus and Criseyde.—Plot derived from Boccaccio but transformed—A novel and a drama—Life and variety—Heroism and vulgarity—Troilus, Pandarus, Cressida—Scenes of comedy—Attempt at psychological analysis—Nuances in Cressida's feelings—Her inconstancy—Melancholy and grave ending—Difference with Boccaccio and Pierre de Beauveau 298 IV. English Period.—Chaucer a member of Parliament—Clerk of the king's works—"Canterbury Tales"—The meeting at the "Tabard"—Gift of observation—Real life, details—Difference with Froissart—Humour, sympathy—Part allotted to "lowe men." The collections of tales—The "Decameron"—The aim of Chaucer and of Boccaccio—Chaucer's variety; speakers and listeners—Dialogues—Principal tales—Facetious and coarse ones—Plain ones—Fairy tales—Common life—Heroic deeds—Grave examples—Sermon. The care for truth—Good sense of Chaucer—His language and versification—Chaucer and the Anglo-Saxons—Chaucer and the French public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@22049@[email protected]#Page_312" class="pginternal"