Evening star., 1939-06-25

time in order to render 1t with rea-
/ Sonable accuracy.
! What an interesting democratic as
! semblage it was-and is-those from
all walks of life whose business it
was to serve; humble and simple as
we'll as those of high estate, brought
together by the single purpose of
honorlng a martyred saint and
thereby, perchance, attaining bless
ing and atonement. Such casting
aside. for the nonce, of social dis
tlnct1onS was not unusual in the
England of those days, nor for that
matter in the England of today,
when upon festival occasions lords
OF the manors mingle merrily with
their retainers and the village folk.
Furthermore. in that day there was
honest employment for all capable
OF working, and pride felt in the
fulf1llment of simple tasks.
Miller Leads.
Heading the procession, as Mr..
Winter has pictured it, comes the
Miller. short shouldered, broad and
braWny, who, blowing a bagpipe
we'll led the band out of Southwark.
Closely following him rides the Host
OF the Tabard Inn, where the COM
pany gathered, who presided over
them during the journey. He, from
arstride his horse, looks back,
waving his hand with a gesture of
leadership. The very perfect, gen.
tie Knight" on a horse, good but
not gay, follows after these, and be-
hind him comes the much-traveled
young Squire on white palfry, sit
ting at ease, head held high as
might befit the youth of 20 who
could, Chaucer says, dance as we'll
as he could ride, slept as little as
nightingale and likewise could sing
as gayly.
Behind him is the Yeoman, clad
In coat and hood of green, bow in
hand and sheaf of peacock-feathered
arrows in his jerkin. The Doctor of
Physic follows close, a stiff, impor-
tant-looking fellow, learned and
wise, grounded in astronomy as well
as medicine and surgery, but with
an itching palm, lover of gold as
we'll as science. And now we meet the
author of the Canterbury Tales"
Chaucer himself, riding dark horse,
simply dressed, bearded, back turned
to the observer as he looks over his
shoulder to converse with the
learned Lawyer who, successful and
prosperous, a buster man was hard
to find-yet whispered behind the
hand one who seemed buster than
he really was.
Clerk of OxenforG.
Following this all-important group
comes upon nag, with nose in book,
the Clerk of Oxenford (now Oxford,
who loved the classics and of whom
1t was said would gladly learn and
gladly teach" Essentially is his face
that of the scholar. In interesting
contrast are the next two horsemen,
the gentle but efficient Municipal, or
steward, riding nonchalantly with
hand on hip, harangued by the
bearded Sailor who, probably from
Dartmouth, with dagger at belt, and
face Drowned by the hot summer sun
has undoubtedly thrilling adventures
to recount. Almost one can hear his
deep-toned voice and jovial laugh as
he gesticulates, dropping his bride
and letting his horse step on as it
will. Finally in this half of the pro-
cession comes a group of five repre-
senting the Church, a Prioress,
Nun and three Priests. The women
ride side by side and at their horses
feet run two little dogs. OF the
Prioress 1t was, it will be remem-
bered, said that she sang full well
the service divine" but her French
was that of Stratford rather than
Paris. The Nun who rode with her
was her chaplain and in attendance
were the ''Prestes thre"
Groups Follow.
Passing now to the opposite wall
we have a succession of groups of
two and three, in some instances
slightly more detached. First come
the Merchant and the Friar, the
former in motley, with "a forked
beard" and wearing a Flemish
beaver hat, reputed to be good bar
gamer, man Of wits, but possessed
OF wealth and honor; the latter, one
OF the outstanding characters, In the