THE CANTERBURY TALES OF CHAUCER. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, AN ESSAY ON HIS LANGUAGE AND VERSIFICATION, BY THOMAS TYRWHITT, F.R.S. With Memoir and Critical Dissertation, BY THE REV. GEORGE GILFILLAN. THE TEXT EDITED BY CHARLES COWDEN CLARKE. IN THREE VOLS. VOL. I. EDINBURGH; JAMES NICHOL. LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO. DUBLIN: W. ROBERTSON. LIVERPOOL: G. PHILIP & SON. M.DCCC.LXI. (4) An Account of Former Editions of the Canterbury Tales (B) A List of MSS. Collated, or Consulted, with the Abbreviations ix. xi. xiv. χχίν. (0) An Abstract of the Historical Passages of the Life of Chaucer xxvi. xcvii. ADVERTISEMENT. In modernising the text of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales,” the plan adopted by Mr Charles Cowden Clarke, in his "Riches of Chaucer," has been followed as closely as possible—Mr Clarke, in the kindest manner, having allowed the publisher to make use of his text, so far as the portions of these celebrated Tales formed part of "The Riches of Chaucer." The Glossary has been placed on the margin, as in the case of Spenser's Works. Where the measure requires that e final should be pronounced, as it was in Chaucer's time, it is marked thus—ë, as in "firstë," for first, "whenne," for when. The sign over the e indicates that the word requires to be pronounced as two syllables-thus, "first-e," "when-ne." In consequence of· the difference of opinion which exists regarding the accentuation of Chaucer, the accent has been used as sparingly as possible. Unlike the text of Spenser, that of Chaucer cannot be remodelled, without affecting the integrity of the text, so as to afford the same facility of perusal as a modern publication; but few intelligent readers will be at a loss to follow the author readily, with the helps which this Edition affords. It is believed that every Editor or Publisher engaged in an Edition of Chaucer has felt a strong desire to delete or alter certain passages, which, from their grossness, are offensive; but |