THE NATURE-WRITER 133 



only material, and no better as material than 

 fancies. For it is not matter that counts last in 

 literature; it is manner. It is spirit that counts. 

 It is the man. Only honest men make literature. 

 Writers may differ in their purpose, as Burroughs 

 in his purpose to guide you through the woods 

 differs from Chaucer's purpose to entertain you by 

 the fire ; but they are one in their spirit of honesty. 

 Chaucer pulls a long face and begins his tale 

 of the Cock and the Fox with a vivid and very 

 realistic description of a widow's cottage, 



B'syde a grove, standing in a dale, 



as a setting, not for the poor widow and her two 

 daughters, not at all ; but rather to stage the heroic 

 comedy between Chauntecleer and his favorite 

 wife, the scarlet-eyed Pertelote. 



It is just before daybreak. They are not up 

 yet, not off the roost, when they get into a dis- 

 cussion about the significance of dreams, Chaun- 

 tecleer having had a very bad dream during the 

 night. The dispute waxes as it spreads out over 

 medicine, philosophy, theology, and psychology. 

 Chauntecleer quotes the classics, cites famous 

 stories, talks Latin to her : — 



