Wanted to add another cat piece
Sometimes he sits at your feet looking into your face
with an expression so gentle and caressing that the
depth of his gaze startles you. Who can believe that
there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!
--Théophile Gautier
It's been a while, but I had studied the Middle English literature heavily glossed and annotated. Eventually, I learned a lot of the terms.
I found Chaucer to be funny, whimsical, and very profound at the same time.
I love Chaucer - I have the lovely Robinson edition.
I saw your quote from the Wife of Bath's Tale on another thread, dlowan, and it just brought on a rush of memories. He was through and through a gentleman, and knew what women wanted.
Lol - a lovely man, indeed. Such freshness, and gentle wisdom, and deep, sly knowledge of humanity - and such appreciation of the natural world - that prologue is among, I think, the most lovely works of English literature.
You know, when I touched his tomb (which I do not even think contains his body - but is a memorial) in Westminster Abbey, I burst into tears - it was so emotional feeling sort of close to him - reaching back through the long (to us) centuries.
In his work, he feels so immediate and close, does he not?????
He does, his work is still very relevant today.
