BAY. 69 



" That in their timis did right worthily. 



* * * * * 



For one lefe givin of that noble tre 

 To any wight that hath done worthily 

 (An it he done so as it ought to be) 

 Is more honour than any thing erthly, 

 Witness of Rome j that foundir was truly 

 Of all knighthode and dedis marvelous, 

 Record I take of Titus Livius." 



Chaucer evidently intends the genuine Laurel, not the 

 usurper of the title, since he speaks of its sweet scent : 



" And at the last I gan full well aspy 

 Where she sate in a fresh grene laury tre, 

 On the furthir side evin right by me, 

 That gave so passing a delicious smell, 

 According to the eglantere full well." 



THE FLOURE AND THE LEAFE. 



Chaucer describes a most magnificent Bay, in this poem ; 

 a truly poetical one, and such an one as none but a poet is 

 likely ever to see, in this country at least : 



" And every lady tooke full womanly 

 By the hand a knight, and forth they gede 

 Unto a faire laurer that stood fast by, 

 With leves lade the bough es of great brede ; 

 And to my dome there never was indede 

 Man, that had scene halfe so faire a tre ; - 

 For underneath it there might well have be 

 An hundred persons at their owne pleasaunce 

 Shadowed fro the heat of Phebus bright, 

 So that they should have felt no grevaunce 

 Of raine, ne haile that hem hurte might, 

 The savour eke rejoice would any wight 

 That had be sicke or melaucolius ; 

 It was so very good and vertuous." 



Dryden has enlarged upon Chaucer not a little here : 



" The ladies left their measures at the sight, 

 To meet the chiefs returning from the fight, 

 And each with open arms embraced her chosen knight : 



