SPRING AND THE POETS. 455 



Every tre well fro his fellow grew, 

 With branchis brode ladin with levis new, 

 That sprongin out agen the sonn& shene, 

 Some very rede, and some a glad right grene." 



Let us compare this with Dryden's arrangement of it, in his 

 " Flower and Leaf:" 



" Now turning from the wintry sky the sun 

 His course exalted through the Ram had run, 

 And whirling up the skies his chariot drove 

 Through Taurus and the lightsome realms of love, 

 Where Venus from her orb descends in showers, 

 To glad the ground, and paint the fields with flowers. 

 When first the tender blades of grass appear, 

 And buds that yet the blasts of Eurus fear, 

 Stand at the door of life, and doubt to clothe the year, 

 Till gentle heat and oft-repeated rains 

 Make the green blood to dance within their veins : 

 Then at their call, embolden'd out they come, 

 And swell the germs, and burst the narrow room ; 

 Broader and broader yet their blooms display, 

 Salute the welcome sun, and entertain the day. 

 Then from their breathing souls the sweets repair, 

 To scent the skies, and purge th' unwholesome air. 

 Joy spreads the heart and with a general song, 



Spring issues out, and leads the jolly months along. 



* * # # * * ' * * * 



I sought a goodly grove, as fancy led the way. 

 Straight as a line, in beauteous order stood 

 Of unshorn oaks a venerable wood : 

 Fresh was the grass beneath, and every tree 

 At distance planted, in a due degree ; 

 Their branching arms in air, with equal space 

 Stretch'd to their neighbours with a long embrace, 

 And the new leaves on every branch were seen, 

 Some ruddy coloured, some of lighter green." 



The beauties of this version of Chaucer are of no common order, the 

 imagery added is very appropriate, and the description well sus- 

 tained ; yet it injures rather than adds force to the simple dignity of 

 the original. 



It is delightful to trace how closely similar are the feelings of all 

 true poets on the 



" Sook season that bud, bloome forth bringes," 

 as Surrey describes it. Witness how strict is the resemblance 

 between Chaucer, Dryden, and Virgil. The same thoughts are 

 common to each, though living at different periods and under very 

 different auspices. We give Sotheby's translation, as he has very 

 faithfully and very poetically rendered the Mantuan bard. 



" Spring comes new bud the field, the flower, the grove, 

 Earth swells, and claims the genial seeds of love : 



