I rather think I'd like to share Larry Benson's take on the Retractions, but maybe I'm just being soft, not wanting to see something that appears genuinely humble as some sort of literary device. Is it known how long after the writing of the tales the retraction was written? His words feel (at least to me) to be sincere and worthy of emulation - how much of my own service has been mixed and needs the cleansing mercies of Jesus? Far too much wood, hay, stubble - and maybe that's how GC felt too.
Also, am I reading correctly that Chaucer asks forgiveness not for all the tales but for any that "tend towards sin"? If so that would seem to add to the realism of the plea; we offer our work in faith, hoping and trusting that some of it has been helpful to others and honours the Lord, whilst also seeking forgiveness for what may have unwittingly tended to sin. I'm glad he ends his work in this way.
I agree: it seems genuine and humble. And, yes, he asks forgiveness for any of his works that tend toward sin. In one way, it could be the non-apology people use (“Sorry if I offended you”), but I don’t read it that way. I read it as his understanding that what is not sin or a stumbling block for one can be for another--like meat sacrificed to idols.
You did it! You got a moral out of The Miller's Tale, and a good one too.
I took note immediately when the Miller described Nicholas playing 'angelus ad virginem' on his psaltery, as I had been thinking about sharing the carol of the Annunciation here. 'Angelus ad virginem' was, according to my Oxford Book of Carols, first written down in the early 14th century, Chaucer's century, in a manuscript containing lyrics in both Latin and Middle English. The Middle English title is 'Gabriel fram Heven King', and it is very familiar to me as I grew up hearing it at Christmas: https://youtu.be/89C6X0woCTU?feature=shared
I think the carol was one of the smash hits of the century, as the Oxford Book of Carols says there is at least two other sources, including a manuscript from 1360 containing three different arrangements of it. So Chaucer made Nicholas know all the hit songs.
I know the carol because my father raised us listening to a classical radio station that delighted in playing what it cheekily termed 'The Real Music of Christmas'. The station would release ads that said things like "Tired of a Holly Jolly Christmas? Listen to Classical FM". They even, by popular request, released two complication CDs of their favourites titled The Real Music of Christmas Vol. 1&2. We still have those CDs, and the other day I was listening to one and it suddenly occured to me that 'Gabriel fram Heven-King' was in Middle English and what a good example of the pronunciation of Middle English it was.
I find Middle English comprehensible to read (I see in it similarities to written Yorkshire/North England dialects and also to the Scots dialect), but the pronunciation makes it sound like a completely different language. Amusingly, the Oxford Book of Carols opines that the Latin version of the carol is best for modern singing, as the Middle English version is "more difficult".
Since Shakespeare is on our agenda in the new year, I thought I’d share something for those who may be interested in a full immersion in the Bard. For the last ten years or so I’ve published a daily reading plan that will move you through all of Shakespeare’s works in a year, with about a half hour of reading per day. The 2024 plan is available at Public Discourse here, if you scroll down to my contribution to a yearly roundup of reading recommendations: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2023/12/92118/. I also recommend Mark Van Doren’s book on Shakespeare there. Thanks for letting me make the plug, Karen!
You are also a skilled and gracious host! Well done! Thank you for adjusting your plan and sharing. I didn’t go back and thank you on the last one (4 kids, I’m easily distracted), but I was so tickled that you would adjust!
These are all so wonderful, I am here for any work you want to share. If you happen to have your talk on Jane Austen from Hutchmoot floating around on the internet somewhere, I missed it! I watched with a group and was outnumbered and it was not included in the archives sent out to members this week.
I rather think I'd like to share Larry Benson's take on the Retractions, but maybe I'm just being soft, not wanting to see something that appears genuinely humble as some sort of literary device. Is it known how long after the writing of the tales the retraction was written? His words feel (at least to me) to be sincere and worthy of emulation - how much of my own service has been mixed and needs the cleansing mercies of Jesus? Far too much wood, hay, stubble - and maybe that's how GC felt too.
Also, am I reading correctly that Chaucer asks forgiveness not for all the tales but for any that "tend towards sin"? If so that would seem to add to the realism of the plea; we offer our work in faith, hoping and trusting that some of it has been helpful to others and honours the Lord, whilst also seeking forgiveness for what may have unwittingly tended to sin. I'm glad he ends his work in this way.
I agree: it seems genuine and humble. And, yes, he asks forgiveness for any of his works that tend toward sin. In one way, it could be the non-apology people use (“Sorry if I offended you”), but I don’t read it that way. I read it as his understanding that what is not sin or a stumbling block for one can be for another--like meat sacrificed to idols.
You did it! You got a moral out of The Miller's Tale, and a good one too.
I took note immediately when the Miller described Nicholas playing 'angelus ad virginem' on his psaltery, as I had been thinking about sharing the carol of the Annunciation here. 'Angelus ad virginem' was, according to my Oxford Book of Carols, first written down in the early 14th century, Chaucer's century, in a manuscript containing lyrics in both Latin and Middle English. The Middle English title is 'Gabriel fram Heven King', and it is very familiar to me as I grew up hearing it at Christmas: https://youtu.be/89C6X0woCTU?feature=shared
Here are the Middle English lyrics:
1. Gabriel, from Heaven-King
Sent to the Maide sweete,
Brout hir blisful tidings
And fiar he gan he greete:
'Heil be thu, gull of grace aright!
For Godes Son, this Heven-Light
For mannes love
Will man bicome
And take Fles of thee,
Maide Bright,
Manken free for to make
Of sen and devles might.
2. Mildelich him gan andswere
The milde Maid thanne:
'Wichewise sold ich bere
A child withute manne?'
Th'angel hir seid: 'Ne dred tee nout;
Thurw th'Oligast sal bewen iwrout
This ilche thing
Warof tiding
Ich bringe;
Al manken wurth ibout
Thurw thing sweet childinge
And Ut of pine ibrout.'
3. Wan the Maiden understood
And th'angels wordes herde,
Mildelich, with milde mood,
To th'angel hie andswerde:"'
'Ure Lords thewe maid iwis
Ich am, that heer aboven is;
Anentis me
Fulfurthed be
Thi sawe
That ich, sith his wil is,
A maid, withute lawe,
Of moder have the blis.'
4. Th'angel went awei mid than
Al ut of hire sighte;
Hire womb arise gan
Thurw th'Oligastes mighte.
In hir wes Crist bilok anon,
Sooth God, sooth man in fles and bon,
And of hir fles
Ibore wes
At time,
Warthurw us kam good won;
He bout us ut of pine,
And let him for us slon.
5. Maiden-Moder makeles,
Of milce ful ibunde,
Bid for us him that tee ches,
At wam thu grace funde,
That he forgive us sen and wrake,
And clene of evri gelt us make,
And heven-blis,
Wan ur time is
To sterve,
Us give, for thine sake,
Him so here for to sere
That heus to him.
(https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/gabriel_from_heaven_king.htm)
I wasn’t familiar with this hymn at all! Wow! Thank you for fetching it and sharing it here! It is a Christmas story, after all!
I think the carol was one of the smash hits of the century, as the Oxford Book of Carols says there is at least two other sources, including a manuscript from 1360 containing three different arrangements of it. So Chaucer made Nicholas know all the hit songs.
I know the carol because my father raised us listening to a classical radio station that delighted in playing what it cheekily termed 'The Real Music of Christmas'. The station would release ads that said things like "Tired of a Holly Jolly Christmas? Listen to Classical FM". They even, by popular request, released two complication CDs of their favourites titled The Real Music of Christmas Vol. 1&2. We still have those CDs, and the other day I was listening to one and it suddenly occured to me that 'Gabriel fram Heven-King' was in Middle English and what a good example of the pronunciation of Middle English it was.
I find Middle English comprehensible to read (I see in it similarities to written Yorkshire/North England dialects and also to the Scots dialect), but the pronunciation makes it sound like a completely different language. Amusingly, the Oxford Book of Carols opines that the Latin version of the carol is best for modern singing, as the Middle English version is "more difficult".
Also, so interesting that Middle English is so close to modern dialects that it is comprehensible to you. I love that.
What a rich tradition your father gave you!
My father is a working class/blue collar Renaissance Man.
Sounds like my husband. 😊
Since Shakespeare is on our agenda in the new year, I thought I’d share something for those who may be interested in a full immersion in the Bard. For the last ten years or so I’ve published a daily reading plan that will move you through all of Shakespeare’s works in a year, with about a half hour of reading per day. The 2024 plan is available at Public Discourse here, if you scroll down to my contribution to a yearly roundup of reading recommendations: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2023/12/92118/. I also recommend Mark Van Doren’s book on Shakespeare there. Thanks for letting me make the plug, Karen!
Excellent! Thank you for sharing, Matt!
You are also a skilled and gracious host! Well done! Thank you for adjusting your plan and sharing. I didn’t go back and thank you on the last one (4 kids, I’m easily distracted), but I was so tickled that you would adjust!
These are all so wonderful, I am here for any work you want to share. If you happen to have your talk on Jane Austen from Hutchmoot floating around on the internet somewhere, I missed it! I watched with a group and was outnumbered and it was not included in the archives sent out to members this week.
Aw, this is so kind! Thank you! It’s been so fun to be a host, particularly for a tale like this one. It’s a fun challenge!
I will get the link to the talk. It actually wasn’t originally at Hutchmoot, but at The Trinity Forum and Hutchmoot reused it (with permission!).
Here is the link to my Jane Austen talk: https://youtu.be/G_Fo8RHc800?si=z677CbPVeMiJt8KZ
Merry Christmas to me!!! Thank you so much for sharing!! I am so excited, I really thought I completely missed out!
🎅🎅🎅
I so identify with Harry Bailly in the Christmas season
😂😂😂