Notes and Queries, Number 55, November 16, 1850 | Page 3

some would appear
contradictory positions, he proposes the fact, I might say the truism,
that the greatest man is not the most original, but the "most indebted"
man. This, in the sense in which it is true, is saying no more than that
the educated man is better than the savage; but, in the apologetic sense
intended, it is equivalent to affirming that the greatest thief is the most
respectable man. Confident in this morality, he assumes a previous play
to Shakspeare's; but it appears to me that he relies too much upon the
"cadence" of the lines: otherwise I could not account for his selecting
as an "autograph" a scene that, to my mind, bears "unmistakeable
traits" of Fletcher's hand, and that, by whomsoever written, is about the
weakest in the whole play.
It is a branch of the subject which I have not yet fully considered; but
MR. SPEDDING will observe that the view I take does not interfere
with the supposition that Fletcher revised the play, {403} with
additions for its revival in 1613; a task for the performance of which he
would probably have the consent of his early master.
SAMUEL HICKSON.
* * * * *
ON AUTHORS AND BOOKS, NO. IX.
_Eustache Deschamps._ Except in the two centuries next after the
conquest, contemporaneous French notices of early English writers
seem to be of rather infrequent occurrence.
On this account, and on other accounts, the ballad addressed to
Geoffrey Chaucer by Eustache Deschamps deserves repetition. Its text
requires to be established, in order that we may be aware of its real
obscurities--for no future memoir of Chaucer can be considered as
complete, without some reference to it.
The best authorities on Eustache Deschamps are MM. Crapelet,
Raynouard, and Paulin Paris. To M. Crapelet we are indebted for the
publication of _Poésies morales et historiques d'Eustache Deschamps_;
to M. Raynouard, for an able review of the volume in the _Journal des
Savants_; and to M. Paulin Paris, for an account of the manuscript in
which the numerous productions of the author are preserved. Of the
author himself, the learned M. Paris thus writes:--
"On pourroit surnommer Eustache Deschamps le Rutebeuf du XIVe
siècle.--Ses oeuvres comprennent des épitres, des discours en prose, des

jeux dramatiques, des ouvrages latins, des apologues, un grand poème
moral, et un infinité de ballades et rondeaux pieux, bouffons,
satiriques," &c.
Two impressions of the ballad in question are before me; one, in the
_Life of Geoffrey Chaucer by sir Harris Nicholas_, dated 1843--and the
other in a volume entitled _Geoffrey Chaucer, poète anglais du XIVe
siècle. Analyses et Fragments par H. Gomont_, Paris, 1847.--I
transcribe the ballad from the latter volume, as less accessible to
English students:--
"BALLADE INÉDITE ADRESSÉE A GEOFFREY CHAUCER PAR
EUSTACHE DESCHAMPS.
O Socrates, plains de philosophie, Senèque en meurs et Anglais en
pratique, _Ouï des grans_ en ta poëterie, Bries en parler, saiges en
rethorique, Virgiles tres haulz qui, par ta théorique, Enlumines le règne
d'Eneas, Lisle aux geans, ceuls du Bruth, et qui as Semé les fleurs et
planté le rosier, Aux ignorants, de la langue pandras Grant translateur,
noble Geffroy Chaucier.
Tu es d'amours mondains Dieux en Albie, Et de la rose en la terre
angélique, Qui _d'Angela_ Saxonne et (est) puis flourie Angleterre
(d'elle ce nom s'applique).
Le derrenier en l'éthimologique En bon anglès le livre translatas; Et un
Vergier, où du plant demandas De ceuls qui sont pour eulx auctorisier,
A ja long teams que tu édifias, Grant tranlslateur noble Geffroy
Chaucier.
A toy, pour ce, de la fontaine Helye Requier avoir un buvraige
autentique Dont la doys est du tout en ta baillie, Pour rafrener d'elle ma
soif éthique Qui men gaule seray paralitique Jusques à ce que tu
m'abuveras. Eustaces sui qui de mon plant aras; Mais pran en gre les
euvres d'escolier Que par Clifford de moy Bavoir pourras, Grant
translateur noble Geffroy Chaucier.
L'ENVOY.
Poëte hauls loenge destynie En ton jardin ne seroie qu'ortie Considere
ce que j'ai dit premier Ton noble plant, ta douce melodie Mais pour
savoir de rescripre te prie, Grant translateur noble Geoffroy Chaucier."
The new readings are in Italics, and I shall now repeat them with the
corresponding words as printed by sir Harris Nicolas:--
"Anglais=angles; Ouï des grans=Ovides grans; Virgiles=Aigles;

d'Angela=dangels; sont=font; A ja=N'a pas; buvraige=ouvrage;
rafrener=rafrecir; soif=soix; Qui men=Qu'en ma; En=Et."
After such an exhibition of various readings, arising out of only two
copies of the same manuscript, it is evident that a re-collation of it is
very desirable, and I am sure the result would be thankfully received by
the numerous admirers of Chaucer.
BOLTON CORNEY.
Eustache Deschamps (Vol. ii., p. 376.).--J.M.B. is desirous of learning
some particulars of this French poet, contemporaneous with Chaucer.
He will find a brief notice of him