ON THE FIRST EDITION, PUBLISHED IN

Tes resonant and delicately finished French language would seem to be a very unfit and inappropriate medium for the conveyance of the grim melody and stern aptness of our old Chaucer—the Nestor of English Poetry —so grave and quaint, so sonorous and stately. Yet here we have a translation of ‘The Floure and the Leafe” s0 exquisitely accurate, so classically precise, as to form an epoch in the history of translation. There is a perfect apprehension of the spirit, the morale of Chaucer’s poem, united to a delicate perception of the epithetic peculiarities of the quaint old philosopher. The little volume is deeply interesting to the technical taste of the curious in literature, and fascinating to a poetical mind. The masculine strength, the almost brusque energy of the grand old master finds a softened, melodized, but not enervated echo in this beautiful and artistic refrain. The execution of the design bas all the minute beauty of some rare cabinet picture.—British Army Dispatch ( December 29, 1854).

Who will doubt the completeness of the entente cordiale, when old Chaucer’s Poem of the Flower and the Leaf is translated into French verse? Our French friends are determined that the alliance shall be established upon a firm basis, and 80 set about understanding us, and direct their inquiries through the literature in which we are self-developed, even up to Chaucer. The earnest good spirit of the Chevalier de

atelain will be appreciated in England ; and we must add, that he has accomplished his task not only gracefully, but with a clear perception of the spirit and meaning of the father FSU poetry.—The News of the World (December 31,

The admirers of our charming old poet will look with curiosity upon this novel literary labour, and the Frenchman desirous of making full acquaintance with our literature, or seeking to commune with a great spirit of a past time, will consult Si pages with profit.—The Court Journal (January

The Chevalier has undertaken a difficult task, and has

proved by the execution of it that he has not estimated his powers too highly. The poetry of Chaucer, even a native of

D DR RS A aa.

the country has a difficulty in understanding, and the Frenchman must, indeed, be naturalized in language as well as b law, who could attempt the translation of one of Chaucer's

. The Chevalier de Chatelain has, however, preserved the spirit of the original “ Floure and Leafe” with admirable fidelity and grace.—The Britannia (January 6, 1855).

The Chevalier de Chatelain has translated into French, with singular felicity, Gay's Fables, Charles Swain’s poem of The Mind,” and many other pieces of modern authors. He has tried his hand at rendering some of the Scotch poetry of Burns into French verse; and now he applies himself to make the French reader acquainted with one of the most agreeable pieces of our oldest poet, whose thoughts are clothed in language which many English readers of the present day cannot understand without some practice. Fhis elegant literary task the Chevalier has executed with an ability which shows the fitness of his qualifications for a work be is preparing for publication, entitled “ Beautés de la Poësie Anglaise,” which will comprise translations from more than two hundred Enghsh writers.— The Era (January 7, 1855).

The Chevalier begins to take a high place as a Minstrel, and ought to favour us with an original work; but in the mesntime we are only too happy to possess anything s0 charming as the translation before us. This translation is in the same measure as the original, and yet exhibits all the facility of J. B. Rousseau.—The Lady's lewspaper (January 13, 1855).

The Chevalier must be an exceedingly erudite English scholar to be able to translate into French verse Chaucer’s crude and almost obsolete vernacular. Very few of ourselves understand the ‘‘ harsh Runic” of the fourteenth century, so Chaucer’s language is as obscure to us moderns as that of Le Roman de la Rose, or of Rabelais is to the mass of Frenchmen. M. de Chatelain understands, however, the Gothic of the father of English poetry, and has proved that he does by a very accürate transcript of it into the quaint language and metre of Lafontaine. Chaucer’s text is printed on one page, . and on the other opposite is the Chevalier’s pretty translation. The little book will afford a good exercise for Englishmen who comprehend modern French, but are not versed in the idiom that succeeded les langues d’oc et d'oil. The translation is creditable to the scholarship and poetic taste of Le Chevalier de Chatelain, who is blessed with such a gentle spouse, that they are destined to be the recipients of the second Dunmow flitch of bacon awarded by Mr. Harrison Ainsworth.— Bell’s Life in London (January 14, 1855).

It should be mentioned here, that the Chevalier de Chatelain has made an attempt to introduce our Chaucer to his countrymen, by nbliebing a translation of The Flower and the Leaf, with the English text in juxtaposition. If this should meet with the success it deserves, the Chevalier will next perform the same office for The Canterbury Tules. —Chambers’s Journal (January 27, 1855).

À singularly accurate translation, embracing the thought and embodying the spirit of the great English poet.— Monthly Home Review ( February 1, 1855).

The pressure upon our columns for several weeks past has precluded the possibility of our noticing till to-day this v charming translation of Chaucer’s ‘* Floure and the Leafe,”” into elegant French verse. Some months ago we had occasion to notice the translation of Gay’s Fables into the French language, by the same gentleman, a task which was performed to perfection. Difcult as it was to give Gay a French face, it is still more so to turn the quaint fancies of the father of English poesie into that language; yet M. de Chatelain has been equally successful, and even more exact than in his first effort to make his countrymen know that there are elegancies in the English tongue, barsh as it is in pronunciation and difficult for a foreigner to master. Happi g France an England-have at last begun to understand each other. The peace of forty years has just terminated in a warm-hearted alliance, and nothing can tend more effectually to confirm that grand achievement than to make our illustrious neighbours understand the peculiarities of our poetic literature. Such an end will be very much advanced by the appearance of this volume, which is as creditable to the transiator’s talent, as it is to his good feeling. Chaucer in French is indeed a curiosity, but whoever reads him page by page with the original in this version will find that the spirit is beautifully preserved, and that the metre is as exact as could by any possibility be produced.—Beil's Weekky Messenger (February 10, 1855).

The translator has very wisely attempted to catch the spirit of the original, in preference to a literal rendering, and has succeeded very well in his task.— The Atlas (February 10, 1855).

It is printed rather appropriately, in the olden style of type, with decorated initials, and forms a very neat little volume. —Birkenhead Guardian (February 10, 1855).

À free and elegant translation of Master Geoffrey's well known tale; and evincing that true poetic genius we have long known M. de Chatelain to possess.— The Essex and West Suffolk Guzette (February 16, 1855).

This metrical version of ‘“ The Flower and the Leaf,” shows that the Chevalier is an apt and elegant interpreter of the father of English poetry.—The Weekly Times (February 18, 1855). , ‘

Turned into French with a bold hand and much poetical taste.—The Chelmsford Chronicle (March 2, 1855).

. The Chevalier de Chatelain, who here presents us with Chaucer’s poem of “ The Flower and the Leaf” in French, and with the English on the opposite page, is well known for his elegant rendering of Gay s Fables, which our teachers of the French language have found 80 useful a text book for schools. The learned translator understands and appreciates the peculiarities and the force of the English language, and secures a favourable introduction for English poetry to our continental neighbours by presenting it in a becoming French translation, in which much of the rhythm and point of the original is preserved. To our own countrymen studying the French language—and to those who move at all in the world, its acquirement is a necessity as urgent as reading and writing—the translations of the Chevalier de Chatelain will be plessing and useful. The small work before us is not the

east difficult of those which a translator attempts to render into another language. There are comparatively fèw amonget our own countrymen who can read and appreciate the full meaning of Chaucer in his quaint idioms and versification, and to render anything approaching to a remembrance in another language woufi increase the difiiculty a hundred fold. Yet the Chevalier is wonderfully successful in his efforts, and much of the spirit of the original is preserved in his NES translation. The Bridgewater Times (March 29, 1855).

This is a clever production. Its author has attempted, and with much success, the formidable task of rendering into the French language one of the purest and sweetest of the productions of Chaucer,—his poem of The Flower and the Leaf. Tbe difficulty of translating poetry is at all times

eat: the subtle beauties of structure which constitute half its beauty evapoñate in the process of transmutation, and the student confused between his endeavours to be literal and his desire to preserve the spirit of his original, is too often tempted to give up the exercise in despair. N

hen to the ordinary obstacles is added that of the poem

to be translated from English, requiring first to be rendered into the current English of the day, the work becomes prortionately discouraging. This is the case with M. Chatein’s undertaking. We are quite aware that the language of Chaucer is not anything like so barbarous as the folly of

many of his editors in insisting upon retaining his barbarous orthography has led many to believe ; we can also understand that to a foreigner conversant with Norman French some difficulties may besmoothed away ; still enough remain to warrant us in pronouncing this production big ï creditable to its author's talent and enterprise.— Oxford University Herald (March 31, 1855).

À very clever trauslation of Chaucer’s ‘‘ Floure and the Leafe.”—The English Journal of Education (April, 1855).

The accomplished Frenchman who has just put Chaucer’s dainty poem, ‘“* The Floure and the Leufe,”’ into a Gallic dress, is profoundly acquainted with our language as well as his own. It is matter of just surprise that a foreigner should bave thoroughly mastered the antiquated orthography, the obsolete words, the quaint conceits, which characterize the productions of the ancient father of English poetry. .

The translator has succeeded in his undertaking à merveille. — The Bath and Cheltenham Gasette (April 18, 1855).

It is printed in quent old fashioned type, and is quite a gem in its way.— The Cheltenham Examiner (April 18, 1855).

The Chevalier de Chatelain, who has already translated Gay’s Fables, Tupper’s Ballads, and other favourite works into the language of sunny France, has now done the same with respect to Chaucer’s poem of “ The Flower and the Leaf ;”” and the result of the Chevalier’s labours in this instance has been equally successful with his former efforts. — Cheltenham Journal (April 21, 1855).

Our old acquaintance, the venerable Geoffrey, appears before us in a new suit of entire French manufacture, and we must confess that if he has not improved by the transmoghfication, he has at least added the charm of novelty to his native attractions. M. de Chatelain is evidently an ardent votary of the muses, and offers his devotions at their shrine with his whole heart; consequently his voluminous productions are more than usually attractive from their earnestness. Many of our readers will doubtless appreciate the merit of thistranslation of our oldest English poet, and we recommend it to their perusal.—Bells News ( December 1, 1855).

It is truly wonderful how M. de Chatelain has conquered the difficulties of that ‘ well of English undefiled,”” ‘ the morning starre of English poesy”’—Chaucer.— Birmingham Daily Press (August 27, 1856).