New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
sAUNDERS'S EDITION OF THE CANTERBURY
TALES

CHAUcERs CANTERBURY TALES. annotated and
Accented with Illustrations of English Life IN
Clauccr's Time BY John Saunders. PIP. xiv, Ao''
J. NJ. Dent & Co.. London.
There is only one way TO get or friendly tems WIKI
tho poems OF Chaucer aud that TO take what trouoe
is necessary TO read them in good edition. with all
their antique pecuaritles. Nobody who mas ta"en
the pains 10 do this ever regretted the achievement
counted the time ne gave il as time wasted Eu''
while the work of MIR. salndees will not OF i'sen uo
much to widen the circle Of those who read Chancer' "
Is good book, both for those who read ana love inc
poet and for those who have no nina 10 go pa0 W
tenth century English, since 1t illustrates so wen VI
the one hand the breadth of the poets sympathy Mi'i
the English people of his time and on the o'er u'he
his works foe close and familiar study OF civlzauoh
In tho heart of England toward the close OF the Mddc
Ages CHANGERS own writings were most minnie ana
faithful in this matter. No Other Nation IN EUROPE
had so skltul so watchul so loving aeneator Oh
IFS faus and foibes not less than OF its aomlraoe
traits lie was we'll aware that these pecuIarlueS
could only be exemplfed in individuals. and so the
group of pilgrims which he drew together at the Iabau
Inn and accompanied to the shrine Of ST. Thomas at
Canterbury represented all the most salient features
both good and bad. of society as shown In chvey' Ill
the Church. in tho professions, in trade and 10 agri-
cultural life. The most important part OF MI sauhoerss
book is his study of these types of old English lie as
they moved in Chaucers panorama lie has unlleo tle
HCanterbury Tales" to the past which the poet knew
Int which was not within the scope Of his work ana
10 the future, some of whose calamites grew out OF
conditions so unsparingy exposed In the Tales.
In his discussion Of corrupt practices in the Church.
As exemplihed in the characters OF the SpmmOner ue
Pardoner and the Far and Of the revolt III Northern
Europe AGAINST the dominion Of Rome, Mr.. Saunders
has not touched upon the most potent Influence OF all
that race prejudice which had been exempled in fire.
ouent tumultuous upsings from the dawn OF history
down TO the age when Italy ceased TO control Europe
either in politics or religion. Nothing would have sat
tsfed this feeling long as Rome, whether mpetlai
or papal, retained q shadow Of universal rule In
how many ways this race feeling was shown before 1t
broke out successfully in the Reformation exemphed
20 the point of WEAKNESS by almost every aspect OF
medieval literature. Chaucer furnished indirectly,
without intending TO do so, most bitter comment on
the creams Of Dante in his Paradise" respecting the
rehabilitation of the Holy Roman Empire and the
apotheosis of The Roman Eagle
With impartial hand, Mr. Saunders has outlined the
oood AZ we'll as the bad traits Of the monastic
orders But his method Of distinguishing the vari-
ons orders lacks defnitcness and historical
perspective 1t is hardly in accordance with the facts
10 saw that the Regular CanOns were established TO
satisfy the moderate tastes and desires OF those who
wished 10 promote religious feeling and worship and
vet TO make provision for the evident necessities
of human nature. The name canons was applied to
those who undertook to reform the abuses Of monkery
and the term Regular Canons was applied TO those
who in obedience to the decree OF Nicholas ii ana
under the leadership Of Two, afteiward Bishop Of
Charities agreed TO live life of privaton reservng
no individual possessions, and having everything IN
common Those who would consent only 10 have
dwelling and table in common came TO be called
Secular Canons. As the rule Of the Regular Canons
was identical with that of the Order OF ST. Augustine,
they soon received an addition to their name, and
were called the Regular Canons OF ST. Augustine
Whatever their practice may have become N the later
Middle Ages if II strict enough at the outset The
gradual sofenng Of restrictions can be seen In the
succession OF names. Down TO the close OF the
eleventh century the whole body Of these reormers
observed the rule without marked deviation, and they
were all called simply canons Then the rule became
irksome to a faction, ard there resulted the division
between regulars and secuars, and by the middle
of the fourteenth century finds the genial orders
which Mr.. Saunders has described
The volume illustrated with copies of the pictures
found in the manuscript owned by Lord Ellesmere,
and these need colors only to give one clear idea
of the beauty we'll as the rudeness CT art In
Chaucer's time.