New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-24

Pb 'I ID M NJ A. Six volumes Price 81 a volume.
oxford At the Clarendon Press 1851
Chaucer died in 400 Nearly fve hunureu
years have gone by since that date, and II Is nol
until the present time that the compete oouF Vi
his works has been brought out under the super
vision of an accomplished scholar ms 'on'
narrative neglect of one Of the four greatest poets
OF our literature is perhaps a testimony o. user
to the richness of a literature which could afford
to neglect him. hut ii is also evidence o. the I''ie
interest which the English speaking race has un-
iii lately taken i'm its earlier authors. Had Chau-
Ger been a German the trouble now would TOT
have been with the lack Of editors of his works.
but with their excessive number.
Not but what there have been many EDITIONS
which purport TO furnish complete coiec"'
OF the poets productions. Perhaps 1t Is fair 10
say of all of them that in every case trey possess
value Of a certain sort Even the poorest oil
them--that of 1721 which goes under the name
OF Urry's-has some claim to consideration Du'
the present is the first time that cohpie'e w.
of the author has been made up from careful
examination and comparison Of the pest "','"
scripts and has had brought to its rectihcauon
the resources of special investigation ana "'ue
scholarship 1t is therefore eminenty htuhs 'i"'
such an edition should receive scrutiny and a
5earee of attention which would be out ~ place
applied to incomplete editions. however eXceilen''
which have been designed to answer only partial
needs.
No small share of the present work. IL Is uue'
has been already before the public for longer
Or shorter period. Much of ii is little else ihan
reproduction, both regards text and conmeh-
tary Of the various excellent schoolboUks When
have been brought out from time to time by the
present editor The minor poems have - APP
neared. as well as many Of Chaucer's more inn
i- rpl
Of the Canterbury Tales which has met with
but little attention from any one since the Gays
Of Tyrwht,: and belonging to this neglected por-
ton is much of the poets most characteristic
work Furthermore. but scanty labor has hithers
To been spent in producing satisfactory text
Of "Trous and Criseyde." Nor must 1t be IN
rerred that the texts which Professor Skeat fas
already published have not undergone ie-eXam-
nation and revision. In every case they doup'-
less represent in their present form the iatest
results which the editor has reached
Still SO large share of this work. both text
and commentary has already been so long before
the public that the whoie body OF scholars mas
had ample opportunity and leisure to become ac-
nuainted with Professor Skeats merits ana de-
fects As an editor In regard both. there is
substantial unanimty of opinion 1t hardly needs
to be said that the merits far outweigh the de-
fects 1t is desirable to emphasize this fact at
the outset, because in the notice OF crtica eoi-
tion which aspires to be defnitive one ii is
the defects that must receive special attention;
and the amount of space necessarily given up TO
the consideration of these has a tendency 10 mis-
lead the reader into attaching to them an a'o-
gether disproportionate Importance. NO one GER
tainly will dispute the fitness in many ways or
Professor Skeat for the task he has taken upon
himself He has been a long and faithful student
OF our early speech. He has TO large extent
made the literature of the Middle English PERIOD
his own. He therefore brings to the work OF edit
ing Chaucer many qualifications of the first order.
He is especially familiar with the language OF the
fourteenth century This he has become. not only
by the general nature of his linguistic studies,
but by the constant necessity which has been inn
posed upon him Of dealing with 1t in detail in
the numerous texts he has ably edited. Upon tie
explanation of difficult passages and obscure
illusions contained in them. he has spent years
y Of research. This preliminary preparation has
naturally fitted him to handle with special knowl-
edge the numerous linguistic questions that nee
essarily arise in connection with the text OF
Chaucer
Nor has Professor Skeat. moreover relied uEon
his own unassisted efforts He has in no case
neglected to avail himself Of the aid of others
who have been laboring in the same field. Few
ly with the text of Chaucer have escaped his at
tention While most Of what new work hat has
been done is his own independent investi-
CATION he frequently goes out of his way to eX-
press his obligations to others lie does IL IN
deed on occasions when there seems little rea-
son for any acknowledgment. With the hui
mility of the true scholar he begs leave, to use
his own words, Ito dscaim any merit. not doubt
ing that most of what have said may very Ike
ly have been said by others and said better ana
he adds what he is undoubtedly justified in de-
clarng that he has "often found 1t less trouble
some to consult original authorities for myself
than to hunt up what others have said relative
to the passage under consideration.
In the light Of Professor Skeat's general prac-
tice, the apologize explanation just quoted
might fairly be deemed to carry TO excess the
modesty of genuine scholarship AS a sort OF
corrective to this. it is gratifying. therefore, to
be able to point out partial exception to TINS
profrsion OF acknowledgment Of universal Cbiiga-
ton | trust shall not be accused Of overstep-
ping the bounds of legitimate criticism when l
remark that nothing In the first three volumes OF
this work has impressed me more than the solicit
tous care with which Professor Skeat refrains
from mentioning my name. when it can decently
be avoided unless ii be to couple 1t with sup
posed error have made or to cavil at some view
7 have taken. This statement is in no sense true
OF the final volumes: and even in the case CT the
first three there is plenty TO show that what
have written. though unmentioned has not been
overlooked. Indeed. as turn over the pages OF
the first half Of this valuable work am constant
~ comforted by the reflection that though lost 10
sight, | still remain to memory dear professor
Skeat does not hesitate to adopt my facts or 10
accept my conclusions, even when he IS most
careful to refrain from mentioning my name in
connection with them. His arguments are occa-
sionaly directed to controvert something which
/ have said even when not referring 10 me az
having said 1t. Modification Of opinion previously
expressed by him or universally expressed by