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OLD ENGLISH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When chaucer lived there were some other
Last Line: In men's hearts through all the rolling years.
Subject(s): Criticism & Critics; Poetry & Poets


WHEN Chaucer lived there were some other bards, with inspiration loaded to the
guards. And there were highbrows in that distant age, who looked with scorn upon

great Geoffrey's page, and said, "Gadzooks, he writeth middling fair, for one
whose soul is of afflatus bare; as crossroads jingler he may cut some grass, but

who'll recall him when ten years shall pass? If you'd read verse of great,
majestic power, you must peruse the gorgeous works of Gower." Now, it is true
that in G. Chaucer's time, the critics joshed him for his paltry rhyme, and held

that Langland, of "Piers Plowman" dope, had moderns skinned beyond all hint of
hope. How vain the judgment of the critic clan! They heap their laurels on some

ten cent man, and say his harp will never be unstrung, while there are men to
read his native tongue. Their petted poet crosses the divide, and is forgotten
ere he's fairly died, while some unknown, who smarted 'neath their jeers, lives

in men's hearts through all the rolling years.





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