of Froissart. The really
noteworthy point is this: that while neither (as a matter of course)
the translated "Romaunt of the Rose," nor the "Book of the Duchess"
exhibits any traces of Italian influence, the same assertion cannot
safely be made with regard to any important poem produced by Chaucer
after the date of this Italian journey. The literature of Italy which
was--and in the first instance through Chaucer himself--to exercise so
powerful an influence upon the progress of our own, was at last opened
to him, though in what measure, and by what gradations, must remain
undecided. Before him lay both the tragedies and the comedies, as he
would have called them, of the learned and brilliant Boccaccio--both
his epic poems and that inexhaustible treasure-house of stories which
Petrarch praised for its pious and grave contents, albeit they were
mingled with others of undeniable jocoseness--the immortal
"Decamerone." He could examine the refined gold of Petrarch's own
verse with its exquisite variations of its favourite pure theme and its
adequate treatment of other elevated subjects; and he might gaze down
the long vista of pictured reminiscences, grand and sombre, called up
by the mightiest Muse of the Middle Ages, the Muse of Dante. Chaucer's
genius, it may said at once was not TRANSFORMED by its contact with
Italian literature; for a conscious desire as well as a conscientious
effort is needed for bringing about such a transformation; and to
compare the results of his first Italian journey with those of Goethe's
pilgrimage across the Alps, for instance, would be palpably absurd. It
might even be doubted whether for the themes which he was afterwards
likely to choose, and actually did choose, for poetic treatment the
materials at his command in French (and English) poetry and prose would
not have sufficed him. As it was, it seems probable that he took many
things from Italian literature; it is certain that he learnt much from
it. There seems every reason to conclude that the influence of Italian
study upon Chaucer made him more assiduous as well as more careful in
the employment of his poetic powers--more hopeful at once, if one may
so say, and more assured of himself.

Meanwhile, soon after his return from his second foreign mission, he
was enabled to begin a more settled life at home. He had acquitted
himself to the satisfaction of the Crown, as is shown by the grant for
life of a daily pitcher of wine, made t