Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOR MAISTER GEOFFREY CHAUCER, by ROBERT SILLIMAN HILLYER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FOR MAISTER GEOFFREY CHAUCER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A bard there was, and that a worthy wight
Last Line: God send us such another in our time!
Subject(s): Chaucer, Geoffrey (1342-1400); Poetry & Poets


A bard there was, and that a worthy wight,
Who from the time that he began to write
Served God and beauty with an humble mind,
And most of all, he knew and loved mankind.
Laughing he was, and quick at many a jest;
The Lord loves mirth -- the devil take the rest!
A simple grace ere wine was poured at dinner,
A ready hand outstretched to saint and sinner,
A prayer at times, not lengthy but devout, --
This was our poet's faith without a doubt.
Travel he loved, and wonders had to tell
Of royal France and Italy as well,
And everywhere he went, his furtive pen
Took down the secrets of his fellow-men,
Their faces and their stories, high and low,
From lordly Petrarch and Boccaccio
Unto the meanest villein who could hold
Some tavern audience with the tales he told.
Yet with his scrivening, he never swerved
From duty to King Edward, whom he served,
And though he roamed both France and Italy,
England was where he ever longed to be,
And thither he returned with magic spoils
That England might have pleasure of his toils,
And hear his brave chivalric stories sung
By English pilgrims in the English tongue.
Noble his spirit was, and gay his heart;
A judge of wine, a master of his art,
He loved all men, nor was ashamed to show it:
He was a very parfit, gentil poet,
Gentil in life, and parfit in his rhyme, --
God send us such another in our time!





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