The Portland daily press., 1877-11-10
Chaucer and mi. Predecessors,

| The second of Mrs Abba Goold Woolson's
lectures upon English literature was given in
| the Mercantile Library room last evening.
| The room was filled to repletion when the lect-
| urer began. So interesting was the lecture that
when the nine o'clock bell announced that an
| hour and half had passed since the beginning
| every one was surprised. The humorous al
lusons made to the characters under discussion
were much relished, as were the well rejected
and finely rendered passages.
The subject of the lecture was "Chaucer and
| His Predecessors" The lecturer said that she
would commence in the reign of Edward Ill
where the last lecture closed. Here we lind
CHANGER, the morning star ofsEnglish poetry.
Attention was first paid to his predecessors.
Beowulf is the first epic poem we have an
accounted 1t was written before the writer
came to Europe and there is no trace that the
writer had ever heard of Christianity. Two
hundred years later came a work by Cedmon
known as "Paraphase of the Holy Scripture.
1t is thought by many that Milton was inspir-
ed by reading this book to write
"Paradise Lost The first prose writ
or of importance was King Alfred.
There were numerous Saxon writer's in the
monasteries whose names are unknown. They
were mainly useful in keeping an account OF
the history of the time which is now useful as
matters of record. Another who lived at the
time of Chaucer was onesRobert Langland, the
author of the Visions of Pier Plowman." The
corruption of the time was shown up in this
book. The lines do not rhyme in the early days,
but they were divided off simply with period
az the end of each. In other countries the sys-
tenn of measure and feet was strictly observed,
as will be seen in Homer's works. Wyckliffe,
originator of the Reformation, was spoken of
as man not only of brilliant thought, but the
first to strike blow against the abuses of the
church. 1t was through his efforts that the
Protestant church was established. He was a
student of Oxford University, and there was
constantly in discussion with the clergymen.
He afterwards settled down as priest over
small parish, where he at once saw the Deed the
people were in of the Bible and determined he
would translate it, which he did. Many years
afterwards Oxford University was glad to pub
lsh his translation of the Bible. One of his
followers was John of Gaunt, and Chaucer.
too, it is said, liked him. but it was not in their
natures to be alike. One liked the world as it
was, while the other was constantly trying to
change it for the better.
The Roman church Afterwards appreciated
this great reformer, and his ashes were deposit
ed in brook that they might flow into the
ocean and thus go to every part of the world as
his influence had.
Another prose writer was Sir John Mande-
vile, the historian. He was educated for a
physician, but preferred travel, and so started
return he wrote an account of his travels in
Latin. which was translated into French and
afterwards into Saxon. His book is now con-
sidered very valuable. He reasoned by the /
stars that the earth was round, and said that if
he had ships he would prove the theory to be
true. Columbus probably gained his first idea
OF the new world by this book, as it was printed
in Saxon twenty yearsibefore the discovery.
Passages from the book were read and much
enjoyed.
CHANGER, who died fin 14OO. was educated at
Oxford University with Wycliffe. England sent
him as ambassador from the court under three
reigns Me lost his patronage at the close of
the reign of Richard III. and then retired to his
no ne, where some OF his best literary labors
were performed. He, like Shakespeare, does
not make his subjects but finds them. He was
great observer of human life, wise man and
great lover of nature.
No man could see more than he of what was
taking place around him. He had a kind and
even disposition, with warm heart for ALL
Passing over the earlier works of his life, the
CanteI bury Tales were dwelt upon at some
length. These were not commenced until at
the age of 60 years an1 a5 the time of his
death were not more than half completed. A
few general rules to aid those wishing to read
the writings of this great author were given
after which parts from the prelude of the Tales
were read, including the description of the
young man, the nun,s &c, &c. Chaucer was
appreciated before his death and he was the
first poet to be laid in Westminster Abbey, where
there is memorial window out of regard to
him. A society known as the Chaucer Society
has also been formed in England to commem.
crate his memory. His fame is constantly
growing, and there is of late fresh interest in
his writings He should be ranked as third of
the four earlier poets-Shakespeare first, Mil
ton second. and Spenser fourth. After Chaucer
there was no poet of note for $50 years. James
l. wrote The Kings Book in Scotland, a book
of much merit.
The lecture closed with a hasty sketch of
the events of the 18th century and the causes
of the revival of learning in England and
Rome, and corresponding decline in Con-
stantinople when that city was taken by the
he