The  most  remarkable  example  which  occurs  to  us  is
in  the  beginning  of  the  Flower  and  Leaf,  by  Chaucer,
and  in  the  modernisation  of  the  same  passage  by
Drydeu.  We  shall  give  an  extract  from  both,  that
the  reader  may  judge  for  himself.  The  original  runs
thus:

'  And  I  that  all  this  pleasaunt  sight  ay  sie,
Thought  sodainly  I  felte  so  sweet  an  aire
Con  of  the  eglentere,  that  certainely
There  is  no  heart,  I  deme,  in  such  dispaire,
Ne  with  no  thoughtes  froward  and  contraire
So  overlaid,  but  it  shouhle  soone  have  bote,
If  it  had  ones  felt  this  savour  sote.
And  as  I  stood  and  cast  aside  mine  eie,

I  was  of  ware  the  fairest  medler  tree,

That  ever  yet  in  all  my  life  I  sie,

As  full  of  blossomes  as  it  mighte  be ;

Therein  a  goldfinch  leaping  pretile

Fro  bough  to  bough ;  and,  as  him  list,  gem  eete

Of  budc&s  here  and  there  aiid  floures  sweete.
And  to  the  herber  side  thcr  was  joyninge
This  faire  tree,  of  which  I  have  you  told ;
And  at  the  last  the  brid  began  to  singe,
AVhen  he  had  eaten  what  he  eate  wolde,
So  passing  sweetly,  that  by  manifolde,
It  was  more  pleasaunt  than  I  coude  devise.
And  when  his  song  was  ended  in  this  wise,


MATTER  AND  MANNER  109

The  nightingale  with  so  mery  a  note

Answered  him,  that  all  the  woode  rong

So  sodainly,  that,  as  it  were  a  sote,

I  stood  astonied ;  so  was  I  with  the  song

Thorow  ravished,  that  till  late  and  longe,

Ne  wist  I  in  what  place  I  was,  ne  where ;

And  ay,  me  thoughts,  she  song  even  by  mine  ere.
