NOTES ON THE PRECEDING EXTRACTS, &c. 155 poet who declined creditable imitation. Shakspeare, in his story of the three caskets in the Merchant of Venice, judiciously follows the Gesta. But Mr. Warton has also considered the fable, which is told by the hermit Barlaam to king Avenamore in the spiritual romance of Barlaam and Josaphat, as probably the remote but original source both of Gower's Coffers and of Shakspeare's Caskets; though he admits that Gower's immediate author, if not Boccacio, was perhaps Vincent of Beauvais, who wrote about the year 1290, and has incorporated the history of Barlaam and Josaphat, who were canonised, into his Speculum Historiale. The story, as it stands in Boccacio, seems indeed to be that which Gower has more closely followed. In Barlaam's narrative, four chests are introduced; in Boccacio's, as in Gower's, only two. But the reader shall judge for himself; as I will lay before him, from Mr. Warton, the version of the spiritual romance; and will cite so much of the old English translation of Boccacio, as will illustrate the resemblance. The romance was written originally in Greek, about the beginning of the ninth century, by Johannes Damascenus, a Greek monk; and translated into Latin, Mr. Warton says, before the thirteenth century. Damascenus de Gestis Barlaam et Josaphat is mentioned by Leland, Mr. Warton adds, as one of the manuscripts which he saw in Netley-abbey near Southampton. In the archiepiscopal library at Lambeth Palace, there is now a fine copy of a translation written in the fourteenth century, and entitled Narraciones varie excerpte de libro Barlaam quem composuit Johannes Damascenus. No. 261. This appears to have been also abbey-property. For at the beginning is written, "Liber sancte Marie de Novo loco in Schirewod." The story, which we are examining, commences in fol. 13. a. "De duabus arcellis deauratis et plenis ossibus mortuorum, et duabus pice linitis ac preciosis repletis lapidibus." The version of Barlaam. The "The king commanded four chests to be made; two of which were covered with gold, and secured by golden locks, but filled with the rotten bones of human carcasses. other two were overlaid with pitch, and bound with rough cords; but replenished with precious stones and the most exquisite gems, and with ointments of the richest odour. He called his nobles together; and, placing these chests before them, asked which they thought most valuable. They pronounced those with the golden coverings to be the most precious, supposing they were made to contain the crowns and girdles of the king. The two chests covered with pitch they viewed with contempt. Then said the king, I presumed what would be your determination; for ye look with the eyes of sense. But to discern baseness or value, which are hid within, we must look with the eyes of the mind. He then ordered the golden chests to be opened, which exhaled an intolerable stench, and filled the beholders with horrour." From the old English translation of Boccacio. DAY 10. NOVEL 1. "Wherein may evidently be discerned, that servants to princes and great lords are many times recompensed rather by their good fortune, than in any regard of their dutifull services. "A Florentine knight, named Signior Ruggieri de' Figiovanni, became a servant to Alphonso, king of Spain, who, in his opinion, seemed but slightly to respect and reward him; in regard whereof, by a notable experiment, the king gave him a manifest testimony, that it was not through any defect in him, but occasioned only by the knight's ill fortune; most bountifully recompensing him afterward." [In answer to the knight's observations, that the king had bestowed on one a castle, a town on another, and baronies on several persons, somewhat indiscreetly; as giving bountifully to men of no merit, and restraining all his favours from him; the reply and subsequent conduct of the king are what resemble the tale of Gower.] "Believe me, Signior Ruggieri, replied the king, if I have not given you such gifts, as perhaps I have given to others far inferiour to you in honour and merit; this happened not through any ignorance in me, as not knowing you to be a most valiant knight and well worthy of special respect, but rather through your own ill fortune, which would not suffer me to do it; whereof she is guilty, and not I; as the truth thereof shall make itself apparent to you. "Sir, answered Ruggieri, I complain not because I have received no gift from you, as desiring thereby covetously to become the richer, but because you have not any way acknowledged what virtue is remaining in me. Nevertheless, I allow your excuse as good and reasonable; and am heartily contented to behold whatsoever you please, although I do confidently credit you, without any further testimony. The king conducted him then into the great hall, where, as he had before given order, stood two great chests fast lockt; and, in the presence of all his lords, the king thus spake. Signior Ruggieri, in one of these chests is mine imperial crown, the scepter royal, the mound, and many more of my richest girdles, rings, plates, and jewels, even the very best that are mine: the other is full of earth only. Choose one of these two; and that, which thou makest election of, upon my royal word thou shalt enjoy. Hereby shalt thou evidently perceive who hath been ungrateful to thy deservings; either I, or thine own bad fortune. Ruggieri, seeing it was the king's pleasure to have it so, chose one of them, which the king caused presently to be opened. It proved to be the same that was full of earth; whereat the king, smiling, said thus unto him. "You see, Signior Ruggieri, that which I said concerning your ill fortune is very true; but, questionless, your valour is of such desert, that I ought to oppose myself against all her malevolence. And, because I know that you are not minded to become a Spaniard, I will give you neither castle nor dwelling-place; but I will bestow the chest on you, in meer despight of your malicious fortune, which she so unjustly took away from you. Carry it home with you into your country, that there it may make an apparent testimony, in the sight of all your well-willers, both of your own virtuous deservings and my bounty." On the second Extract from Gower. The former extract was a specimen of Gower's talent as a narrator. This exhibits him as a poet; and, perhaps, from no part of his works could an example of greater elegance be drawn than the gratification of the lover which I have cited. I proceed to remark, that in the following verses; And if it so befalle among, That she carol upon a song, Whan I it heare, I am so fedd, That I am fro myself so ledd As though I were in Paradis; For, certes, as to myn avis, Whan I heare of hir voice the steven, Me thinketh it is a blisse of heven; he nearly equals the tender gallantry of Petrarch, Canz. xiv. parte Ima Quante volte diss' io Allhor pien di spavento, Costei per fermo nacque in paradiso; Così carco d'oblio Il divin portamento, E'l volto, e le parole, e 'l dolce riso M' haveano, e si diviso Da l' imagine vera; Ch'i dicea sospirando, Qui come venn' io, o quando? Credendo esser' in ciel, non là, dov' era. Nor is he far distant indeed from that grace, with which a later but the loftiest poet of our country has described the gratification derived from sweet sounds, in his Comus; where the lady's singing is compared to that of the Syrens; Who, as they sung, would take the prison'd soul, And chid her barking waves into attention, I never heard till now! In the further avowal of his gratification, Gower's lover says, And eke in other wise also, Myn eare with a good pitance |