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The Preface.
xvii
Again,
Alas, what is this wonder Maladye?
For heate of colde, for colde of heate I dye.
Chaucer's first Book of Troylus, fol. 159. b.
For heate of colde, for colde of heate I dye.
Chaucer's first Book of Troylus, fol. 159. b.
And fince we are a united Nation, and he as great a Poet, confidering his time, as this Island hath produced, I will with due Veneration for his Memory, beg leave to cite the learned and noble Prelate, Gawen Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld in Scotland, who in his Preface to his judicious and accurate Translation of Virgil, p. 4. says,
Nane is, nor was, nor zit fal be, trowe I,
Had, has, or sal have, sic craft in Poetry:
Had, has, or sal have, sic craft in Poetry:
Again, p. 5.
Than thou or I, my Freynde, quhen we beſt wene.
But before, at least contemporary with Chaucer, we find Sir John Gower, not baulking Monofyllables;
Myne Herte is well the more glad
To write to as he me bad,
And eke my Fear is well the latte.
To Henry the Fourth.
King Salomon which had at his asking
of God, what thyng him was leuest crave.
He chase Wyledom unto governyng
Of Goddes Folke, the whiche he wolde save:
And as he chase it fyl him for to have.
To write to as he me bad,
And eke my Fear is well the latte.
To Henry the Fourth.
King Salomon which had at his asking
of God, what thyng him was leuest crave.
He chase Wyledom unto governyng
Of Goddes Folke, the whiche he wolde save:
And as he chase it fyl him for to have.
