An Apology for the Study of Northern Antiquities | Page 9

I have said
concerning Monosyllables, I will give some Instances, as well from
such Poets as have gone before him, as those which have succeeded
him. It will not be taken amiss by those who value the Judgment of Sir
Philip Sydney, and that of Mr. Dryden, if I begin with Father Chaucer.
#Er it was Day, as was her won to do.#

Again,
#And but I have her Mercy and her Grace, That I may seen her at the
lefte way; I nam but deed there nis no more to say.#
Again,
#Alas, what is this wonder Maladye? For heate of colde, for colde of
heate I dye.#
_Chaucer_'s first Book of Troylus, fol. 159. b.
And since we are a united Nation, and he as great a Poet, considering
his time, as this Island hath produced, I will with due Veneration for his
Memory, beg leave to cite the learned and noble Prelate, Gawen
Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld in Scotland, who in his Preface to his
judicious and accurate Translation of Virgil, p. 4. says,
Nane is, nor was, nor zit sal be, trowe I, Had, has, or sal have, sic craft
in Poetry:
Again, p. 5.
Than thou or I, my Freynde, quhen we best wene.
But before, at least contemporary with Chaucer, we find Sir John
Gower, not baulking _Monosyllables;
#Myne Herte is well the more glad To write so as he me bad, And eke
my Fear is well the lasse. To Henry the Fourth, King Salomon which
had at his asking Of God, what thyng him was leuest crave. He chase
Wysedom unto governyng Of Goddes Folke, the whiche he wolde save:
And as he chase it fyl him for to have. For through his Witte, while that
his Reigne laste, He gate him Peace, and Rest, into his laste.#
Again,
#Peace is the chefe of al the Worldes Welth, And to the Heven it ledeth
eke the way, Peace is of Soule and Lyfe the Mannes Helth, Of

Pestylence, and doth the Warre away, My Liege Lord take hede of that
I say. If Warre may be lefte, take Peace on Hande Which may not be
without Goddes Sande.# [E]
[Footnote E:_ Besides the Purpose for which these Verses are here
cited, it may not be amiss to observe from some Instances of Words
contain'd in them, how necessary, at least useful, the Knowledge of the
Saxon Tongue is, to the right understanding our Old English Poets, and
other Writers. For example, #leuest#, this is the same with the Saxon
*leofost*, most beloved, or desirable. #Goddes folke#, not God his
Folk, this has plainly the Remains of the Saxon Genitive Case. #Sande#,
this is a pure Saxon word, signifying Mission, or being sent. See the
Saxon Homily on the Birth Day of St. Gregory, p. 2. *He ðurh his ræde
& sande us fram ðeofles biggengum ætbræd.* He through his Counsel
and Commission rescued us from the Worship of the Devil.]
Nor were the French, however more polite they may be thought, than
we are said to be, more scrupulous in avoiding them, if these Verses are
upon his Monument;
#En toy qui es fitz de Dieu le Pere, Sauue soit, qui gist sours cest
pierre.#
This will be said to be old French, let us see whether Boileau will help
us out, who has not long since writ the Art of Poetry;
Mais moi, grace au Destin, qui n'ai ni feu ne lieu, Je me loge où je puis,
& comme il plaist à Dieu.
_Sat._ vi.
And in that which follows,
Et tel, en vous lisant, admire chaque traite, Qui dans le fond de l'ame, &
vous craint & vous hait.
Let Lydgate, _Chaucer_'s Scholar also be brought in for a Voucher;

#For Chaucer that my Master was and knew What did belong to
writing Verse and Prose, Ne'er stumbled at small faults, nor yet did
view With scornful Eye the Works and Books of those That in his time
did write, nor yet would taunt At any Man, to fear him or to daunt.#
Tho' the Verse is somewhat antiquated, yet the Example ought not to be
despised by our modern Criticks, especially those who have any
Respect for Chaucer.
I might give more Instances out of John Harding, and our good old
Citizen, Alderman Fabian, besides many others: but out of that Respect
to the nice Genij of our Time, which they seldom allow to others, I will
hasten to the Times of greater Politeness, and desire that room may be
made, and attention given to a Person of no less Wit than Honour, the
Earl of Surrey, who at least had all the Elegancy of a gentle Muse, that
may deserve the Praises of our Sex,
Her Praise I tune whose