A Brief History of Geoffrey Chaucer
By Magistra Rosemounde of Mercia (copyright Micaela Burnham)
Chaucer was born in 1343 to John Chaucer and Agnes. They resided in Thames Street in London. The name Chaucer means “shoemaker” and many of the London Chaucers lived in the shoemaker’s district in Cordwainer Street, including his grandfather, Robert.
Geoffrey was put into service, and in 1357 he was in the service of Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster, wife of Lionel, Duke of Clarence. In 1359, he went to war in France, probably in the Duke’s retinue. He was unfortunate enough to be captured and held for ransom. He was ransomed, King Edward III put up ₤16 of it, and shortly thereafter he entered into Royal service. At some point he married, one Phillipa, who became one of the queen’s demoiselles. Phillipa was the sister-in-law of John of Gaunt who married her sister Katherine after the death of his first wife, which explains the favor shown to Chaucer by John of Gaunt. Chaucer was granted a royal pension for his services and declared “dilectus vallectus noster,” our beloved yeoman. By 1368 he had risen to the position of king’s esquire.
He wrote The Book of the Duchesse at the age of 29 in honor of John of Gaunt’s first wife, Blanche, shortly after her death. He traveled abroad in the King’s service, visiting many cities in Italy and where he met the poet Petrarch. His pension was subsequently increased, and he became a man of wealthy means. He was given many offices, most of which entitled him to income, and several lucrative wardships.
Chaucer was confirmed in his offices and pensions when Richard II took the throne. He was sent on diplomatic errands for Richard in France. It is believed that Phillipa died in 1386. His fortunes, tied as they were to politics, waxed and waned, but he remained at court with various offices until his death on October 25, 1400.
His poetry is often divided into three stages—French, Italian, and English. His earliest poems are based on French models. He was familiar with The Roman de la Rose, as were all English men of letters. In fact, he translated this work. In his first major poem, The Book of the Duchesse, the influence of French poets is clearly visible. His Italian period is best known for Troilus and Crisyde, his greatest artist achievement. The Canterbury Tales are Chaucer’s most beloved work. They are the work of his old age and the height of his final, English period.
Sources: www.luminarium.org
The Norton Anthology of Poetry, 1970 ed.
To Rosemounde
By Geoffrey Chaucer
Madam, ye been of alle beautee shrine
As fer as circled is the mapemounde:[1]
For as the crystal glorious ye shine,
And like ruby been youre cheeks rounde.
Therwith ye been so merye and so jocounde
That at a revel whan that I see you daunce
It is an ointment unto my wounde,
Though ye to me ne do no daliaunce.[2]
For though I weepe of teres ful a tine,[3]
Yit may that wo myn herte nat confounde;
Youre semy[4] vois, that ye so smale outtwine,[5]
Maketh my thought in joye and blis habounde:[6]
So curteisly I go with love bounde
That to myselfe I saye in my penaunce,[7]
“Suffiseth me to love you, Rosemounde,
Though ye to me ne do no daliaunce.”
Was never pik walwed in galauntine[8]
As I in love am walwed and ywounde,
For which ful ofte I of myself divine
That I am trewe Tristam[9] the secounde;
My love may not refreide nor affounde;[10]
I brenne[11] ay in amorous plesaunce:
Do what you list, I wol youre thral[12] be founde,
Though ye to me ne do no daliaunce.
[1] To the farthest circumference of the map of the world
[2] Show me no encouragement
[3] tub
[4] small
[5] That you delicately spin out
[6] abound
[7] Pangs of unrequited love
[8] Pike, a fish, rolled in galantine sauce
[9] The famous lover of Isolde in medieval legend, renowned for his constancy
[10] Neither cool nor chill
[11] burn
[12] slave
By Magistra Rosemounde of Mercia (copyright Micaela Burnham)
Chaucer was born in 1343 to John Chaucer and Agnes. They resided in Thames Street in London. The name Chaucer means “shoemaker” and many of the London Chaucers lived in the shoemaker’s district in Cordwainer Street, including his grandfather, Robert.
Geoffrey was put into service, and in 1357 he was in the service of Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster, wife of Lionel, Duke of Clarence. In 1359, he went to war in France, probably in the Duke’s retinue. He was unfortunate enough to be captured and held for ransom. He was ransomed, King Edward III put up ₤16 of it, and shortly thereafter he entered into Royal service. At some point he married, one Phillipa, who became one of the queen’s demoiselles. Phillipa was the sister-in-law of John of Gaunt who married her sister Katherine after the death of his first wife, which explains the favor shown to Chaucer by John of Gaunt. Chaucer was granted a royal pension for his services and declared “dilectus vallectus noster,” our beloved yeoman. By 1368 he had risen to the position of king’s esquire.
He wrote The Book of the Duchesse at the age of 29 in honor of John of Gaunt’s first wife, Blanche, shortly after her death. He traveled abroad in the King’s service, visiting many cities in Italy and where he met the poet Petrarch. His pension was subsequently increased, and he became a man of wealthy means. He was given many offices, most of which entitled him to income, and several lucrative wardships.
Chaucer was confirmed in his offices and pensions when Richard II took the throne. He was sent on diplomatic errands for Richard in France. It is believed that Phillipa died in 1386. His fortunes, tied as they were to politics, waxed and waned, but he remained at court with various offices until his death on October 25, 1400.
His poetry is often divided into three stages—French, Italian, and English. His earliest poems are based on French models. He was familiar with The Roman de la Rose, as were all English men of letters. In fact, he translated this work. In his first major poem, The Book of the Duchesse, the influence of French poets is clearly visible. His Italian period is best known for Troilus and Crisyde, his greatest artist achievement. The Canterbury Tales are Chaucer’s most beloved work. They are the work of his old age and the height of his final, English period.
Sources: www.luminarium.org
The Norton Anthology of Poetry, 1970 ed.
To Rosemounde
By Geoffrey Chaucer
Madam, ye been of alle beautee shrine
As fer as circled is the mapemounde:[1]
For as the crystal glorious ye shine,
And like ruby been youre cheeks rounde.
Therwith ye been so merye and so jocounde
That at a revel whan that I see you daunce
It is an ointment unto my wounde,
Though ye to me ne do no daliaunce.[2]
For though I weepe of teres ful a tine,[3]
Yit may that wo myn herte nat confounde;
Youre semy[4] vois, that ye so smale outtwine,[5]
Maketh my thought in joye and blis habounde:[6]
So curteisly I go with love bounde
That to myselfe I saye in my penaunce,[7]
“Suffiseth me to love you, Rosemounde,
Though ye to me ne do no daliaunce.”
Was never pik walwed in galauntine[8]
As I in love am walwed and ywounde,
For which ful ofte I of myself divine
That I am trewe Tristam[9] the secounde;
My love may not refreide nor affounde;[10]
I brenne[11] ay in amorous plesaunce:
Do what you list, I wol youre thral[12] be founde,
Though ye to me ne do no daliaunce.
[1] To the farthest circumference of the map of the world
[2] Show me no encouragement
[3] tub
[4] small
[5] That you delicately spin out
[6] abound
[7] Pangs of unrequited love
[8] Pike, a fish, rolled in galantine sauce
[9] The famous lover of Isolde in medieval legend, renowned for his constancy
[10] Neither cool nor chill
[11] burn
[12] slave