CHAPTER IV. THE AGE OF CHAUCER (1350-1400)calls his "saveour doun in this werlde here." This poem called
the king’s attention to the poet’s need and increased his pen-
sion; but he had but few months to enjoy the effect of this un-
usual "Complaint." For he died the next year, 1400, and was
buried with honor in Westminster Abbey. The last period of
his life, though outwardly most troubled, was the most fruit-
ful of all. His "Truth," or "Good Counsel," reveals the quiet,
beautiful spirit of his life, unspoiled either by the greed of
trade or the trickery of politics:
Flee fro the prees, and dwelle with sothfastnesse,
Suffyce unto thy good, though hit be smal;
For hord^66 hath hate, and climbing tikelnesse,
Prees[74] hath envye, and wele[75] blent^67 overal;
Savour no more than thee bihovë shal;
Werk^68 wel thyself, that other folk canst rede;
And trouthe shal delivere, hit is no drede.
Tempest^69 thee noght al croked to redresse,
In trust of hir^70 that turneth as a bal:
Gret reste stant in litel besinesse;
And eek be war to sporne[80] ageyn an al^71 ;
Stryve noght, as doth the crokke with the wal.
Daunte^72 thyself, that dauntest otheres dede;
And trouthe shal delivere, hit is no drede.
That thee is sent, receyve in buxumnesse,
The wrastling for this worlde axeth a fal.
Her nis non hoom, her nis but wildernesse:
Forth, pilgrim, forth! Forth, beste, out of thy stall,
Know thy contree, look up, thank God of al;(^66) wealth.
(^67) blinds.
(^68) act.
(^69) trouble.
(^70) ie the goddess Fortune.
(^71) awl.
(^72) judge.