42 



the oral tradition on the subject. Instead of occupying the time 

 of the court by examining a long array of witnesses, we shall call 

 only two, and rest the case almost entirely on their evidence. 

 The first is one whose name is well known to the British public, 

 the celebrated Geoffrey Chaucer ; and though a giddy young 

 man, who was fonder of venison than of his "little Latin and less 

 Greek," would throw discredit on the witness, by classing him 

 with lunatics and lovers,* the court will see, in its wisdom, 

 the importance of some of the points elicited in his exami- 

 nation. For example, he will show that in Asia as well as in 

 Europe, such events have occurred ; that from a period ante- 

 cedent to the reign of Edward III. this relation was firmly 

 believed ; and that there is a general resemblance in the facts, 

 tending to show the regularity of the offence. 

 Geoffrey Chaucer saithf — 



" Ther was in Asie, in a gret citee, 

 Amouges Cristen folk a Jewerie, * 

 Sustened by a lord of that contree, 

 For foule usure, and lucre of vilanie, 

 Hateful to Crist, and to his compagnie ; 

 And thurgh the strete men mighten ride and wende , 

 For it was free, and open at eyther ende. 



" A litel scole § of Cristen folk ther stood 

 Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther were 

 Children an hepe comen of Cristen blood, 

 That lerued in that scole yere by yere, 

 Swich nianere doctrine as men used there ; 

 This is to say, to singen and to rede, 

 As smale children don in hir childhede. II 



" Among thise children was a widewes sone, 

 A litel clergion,1I sevene 3 ere of age, 

 That day by day to scole was his wone,** 

 And eke also, wheras he sey++ the image 

 Of Cristes moder, had he in usage, 



* " The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, 

 Are of imagination all compact." 



Shakspeare — Mid. Xitjht's Dream, v. 1. 

 + Slightly abridged from the Prioresses Tale. } A Jews' quarter I School. II Childhood. 

 It A young clerk, or person skilled in learning. ** Custom or habit. ++ Saw. 



