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jqg LISTE GÉNÉRALE DES OUVRAGES
ject, might almost fancy that the language he was reading was a kind of Anglo-Norman French, in whîdi Chaucer had written his poems, and feel quite delîghted at being able to read ît and appreciate the beaudes wi^ so much ease.
^* The translation of the great work of Chaucer has evidently been a labour of love to the Chevalier de Châtelain."— 7%^ Constitutional Fress, Jan, 8, 1859.
" Il n'y avait qu'une seule manière convenable de reproduire en notre langue les contes quelquefois très risqua, de Chaucer, c'était de nous les donner en vers. C'était là, d'ailleurs, une besogne à faire reculer les plus intrépides^ car les 'Contes de Cantorbéry' comprennent plus de 27,000 vers. C'est cependant ce que le Chevalier de Châtelain a tenté, et hâtons-nous de le dire, il a pleinement réussi.
"... Il y a des contes d'une gatté qui n'a d'égale que celle de Boccace et de La Fontaine. D'un autre côté, on y rencontre de charmantes histoires qui, imprimées séparément, pourraient bien figurer dans la bibliothèque choisie d'une demoiselle. Sous ce dernier point de vue, nous citerons le ' Conte de l'Homme de Loi ' (Constance), le 'Conte du Clerc' (Grisildis), et le * Conte du Franc- Tenancier.' Dans le genre risqué et parmi les contes à reléguer dans le Musée secret de Naples, nous signalerons le * Conte du Meimier,' celui * du Bailli,' que nous retrouvons dans La Fontaine ; enfin le * Conte du Patron de Navire.'" — Courrier de t Europe^ Sept. 22, 1860.
" No better commentary cta Chaucer can be conceived than a comparison of the Chevalier de Chatelain's translation with the original. Even the English reader wiQ find his acquaintance with the grand old poet improved by the self-imposed task. The translation is as chartning as it is noble. We know of nothing better calculated to bring together the leading minds of both countries than this remarkable work." — The Art World, March 22,
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"M. de Chatelain's 'Chaucer' is a perfonnance as marvellous as it is really beautiful. It is the best diction of the day, but with a fine old wine-smack of Clément Marot about it" — Victoria, MeWourne, May 30, 1863.
1858. Les Moines de Kilcrè. Poëme Ballade traduit de l'Anglais, avec deux gravures sur bois d'après les dessins de H. S. Marks. Prix 7s. 6d. B. M. Pickering, N" 196, Piccadilly.
"The mètre is flowing, and there is an air of antiquity in the phraseology which harmonises with the subject."— llie Ulerary Gazette, yune 26, 1858.
" The translation was evidently a labour of love, and like everything done con amore, is successftil.
" M. de Châtelain is a perfect master of both languages, and has, in his previous works proved himself to be a true and deep-feeling poet. The 'Monks of Kilcrea' will add to his réputation, and become a favourite with ail who understand the language into which it has been so admirably translated." — The lUustrated News of theWorld, yuly 3, 1858,
*' The greater his practice, the more skilful, and ready and truthful his hand — is a remark we are jusdfied in making, afler examîning the Chevalier's former translations and comparing therewith the agreeable volume before us. The original is probably known to most of our readers, and the French rendering of ît is veiy remarkable for a fidelity of form and spirit, which the Chevalier must at times hâve found it more than usually difficult to préserve. It is a book, too, well adapted to the peculiarities — that is, peculiar beauties — of the Pickering éditions." — Tkâ Athmœum^ Sept i8, 1858.
1858. Cléomadâs. Being the original of Chaucei's 'Squire's Taie.' La 2*™ édition a paru le 19 Janvier, 1869, avec une gravure sur bois d'après im tableau de Stothard. Prix 2s. London:
B. M. Pickerîng, 196, Piccadilly, W.
Extrait des Opinions de la Presse sur la Première
Edition.
"'Cléomadés' in its modemised dress îs as simple and as graceful as a poem of Lamartine's." — The Daily TeUgraphy May 23, 1859.
" M. de Châtelain a lui-même refait * Cléomadès,' en reserrant dans un juste cadre la longue et dififuse histoire d'Adénès. Ainsi arrangée, c'est une œuvre pour ainsi dire originale, et au lieu du conte primitif qu'il serait impossible de lire d'un bout à l'autre à cause de ses digressions sans fin et sans intérêt, nous avons aujourd'hui un joli conte, d'un tour intéressant et naïf, et dont l'action marche sans s'arrêter ni s'égarer." — Courrier de V Europe^ Sept. 17, 1859.
" Imitation très abrégée, en vers faciles, des épisodes les plus amusants du long roman du trouvère Brabançon." — Journal des Savants, Paris, Septembre, 1866.
" We think the public will receive with much pleasure the charming story of the King of the Minstrels, in M.
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de Chatelain's abridgmenti which is full of grâce, vivacity, and interesL What we hâve said of the sequel to 'Cambuscan Bold* will, we trust, awaken some curiosity. We bave ourselves read the manuscript with sîngular pleasure, and only regretted that it was not three times as long. We feel assured that the readers of Chaucer will ail be of the same opinion." — Chamberfs Journal of Papular LUerature^ May 15, 1858.
"The gentleman who bas modernised and abridged Adénës' long romance bas rendered acceptable service, not only by the skilful exécution of that not very easy task, but by the suggestions he bas made as to Chaucer's acquaintance with the works of the older versifier" — Afhmœum^ Oct, 22, 1859.
Quelques Opinions de la Presse sur la Seconde Edition^ parue le 19 Janvier^ 1869.
" This is a literaiy curiosity, and will be cordially welcomed by lovers of our English literature. M. de Châtelain bas found in the library of the arsenal at Paris the source whence Chaucer derived bis * Squire's Taie;' and in this little volume bas given a condensed version of it in modem French. Its author appears to be one Adénès, chief of the minstrels attached to the court of Henry the Third, Duke of Brabant, in the middle of the thirteenth century. The Chevalier de Châtelain bas executed bis work with great taste and judgment" — Tlie
News of the World^ Jàn. 31, 1869.
" This is a new édition of a work by a French author and translator, some of whose former works we bave had occasion to notice in tenus of high commendation. The poem is a translation into modem French verse of a curions manuscript discovered not long since in the Library of the Arsenal at Paris — the original of the ' Squire's Taie * (or the story of Cambuscan the Bold, as it was designated by Dr. Johnson), by Adénès le Roy, a contemporary of Chaucer, to whom we are indebted for the ' Squire's
Taie* îtself. It îs one of those noble poems ^eliîch give fiill scope to the genius of a writer like the Chevalier de Châtelain, whose translations of the * Canterbury Taies * and *Gems from Shakespere' into his own expressive language, hâve marked him as one far above the ordinaiy calibre of the writers of the day. We need not go into the détails of the plot or its working out, but leave k to the enjoyment of the French reader, who will not fail to be pleased with it and with the genius of the writer. The following extract will give some idea of the author's style in his description of the escape of Cléomadès with the lady, by means of
