Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 Excerpt: ...of not demanding a quid pro quo in the relations of life (11. 590-3) and the goose, in her plain common-sense view of things, seem intended to represent the matter of fact, practical man of business. Further, far-fetched though the suggestion may appear, it is possible to see in Chaucer's duck the germ of his conception of the Merchant in the Cant. Tales; for the former presents an undeniable likeness to the 'worthy man' who 'ful wel his wit besette' and 'his reson spak ful solempnely,' and who was 'so estatly of his governaunce, with his bargaynes, and with his chevisaunce' (C. T. Prol. 274282). It may not be without significance that the duck uses the adjuration 'by myn hat.' This reference to a hat, taken in connection with other matters, recalls the Merchant's 'Flaundrish bever hat' (ProL 272), which was possibly a distinctive head-dress of his class. The only characters in the Canterbury Tales described as wearing hats are the Wife of Bath, the Merchant, and the 'gay yeoman' in the Freres Tale. 'Hats,' says Planehe, 'were worn... throughout the 15th century; but caps and hoods were far more general.' The identification of the 'worm-fowl' with the common classes rests on various considerations. Chaucer's description of the 'foules smale That eten as hem Nature wolde enclyne, As werm or thing of whiche I telle no tale, apparently points to certain characteristics referred to with somewhat less delicacy by Shakespeare, whose 'rabblement threw Cyclopedia of Costume, vol. i. up their sweaty night-caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath' (/. C, I. ii.). In the part assigned to the cuckoo as the representative of the worm-fowl, other features typical of the lower classes are apparently thrown into relief. He exhibits a rudeness of manner and speech; h...
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
