Chaucer to His Booke
by John Gay · from Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)
Adapted Version
Once, an Old Writer held a little book. He smiled at it. "Go, Little Book," he said. "Go find Rose." He held Little Book close. Then he set it down. "Be brave," he said. "The world is big. You are strong." Little Book felt warm. Then it went out the door.
Little Book went down the road. It was a long road. Some people saw it. Some walked past. That was okay. The Old Writer said so. "Not all like you." Some did smile. They held Little Book close. And that felt like a hug.
The road was long and wide. Little Book felt small. But it was not sad. It heard the Old Writer's words. "Be brave!" "Keep going!" Little Book walked on. And on. It was brave.
Then Little Book saw a village. It sat on a green hill. It was so pretty! There were flowers. Red and yellow and white. A tall tower stood up high. Little Book saw it from far away. The tower went up to the sky. This was the place!
Birds sang in the trees. "Tweet, tweet!" they sang. A little stream went by. It went over the rocks. Splash, splash! Green trees grew tall. The air smelled sweet. Little Book liked this place. It was so nice here.
Little Book came to a garden gate. The gate was small and green. Behind it was a happy house. Warm light came from inside. It was a kind place. Little Book went in.
A girl lived in the house. Her name was Rose. She had kind eyes. She loved stories. She loved them so much. Rose waited for a new story. She waited and waited. "I want a book," she said. "A book to love."
Then Rose saw Little Book. "You came!" she said. She held it close. Rose smiled a big smile. Her sisters came to see. They all sat down. "Read to us, Rose!" they said. Rose held Little Book and read. They all liked the story.
Far away, the Old Writer smiled. He knew. Little Book found Rose. "Remember," he said. "Rose waits for you." And he was right. Rose held Little Book close. She read it every day. Rose loved it so much. "Love always comes home." Little Book was home.
Original Story
Chaucer to his Booke.
Now go, my booke, and be courageous,
For now I send you forthe into the worlde.
And though ye may find some outrageous,
And in a pette be in some cornere hurl'd;
Yet you by little fingeres will be greasèd
And known hereafter by the marke of thumbe;
At which, my little booke, be ye well pleasèd,
For booke, like mouthe, unopenèd is dumbe.
And there be some, perchance, will bidde you off
To Conventrè, or Yorke, or Jericho;
But be not you, my booke, abashed by scoff,
For I will teach you where you boun to go,—
Which is in Gloucestershire, there unto Bisley,
Where the church spire is spièd long afarre;
It is not either uncouth, square, or grisly,
But soareth high, as if to catch a starre;
Where shall the brother of the Christian Yeare,
Keble, hereafter tend the seven springs,
Above whose fountains doth The Grove uproar,
Like to Mount Helicon, where Clio sings,
Where rookès build, and peacocke spreadeth tail.
And there the wood-pigeon doth sobbe Coo coo;
Neither do sparrow, merle or mavis fail,
And there the owl at midnight singeth Whoo.
And where there are a Laurel and a Rose,
Beneath whose branches wide a broode doth haunt;
The whom high walls and fretted gates enclose,
Where goode may enter, badde are bidde avaunt.
And there is one yclepen Margarete,
Who alsoe for the nonce is clepen Rose,
For she must on some other hille be sette
When Hymenæos shall her lotte dispose.
And, little booke, it is to her you runne.
And sisters eight, for they, in soothe, are nine;
And in their bowere baske as in the suunne,
And beare Maid Marion's love to Catherine,
Who is her gossipe, and she is her pette;
And nought mote save us from a wrath condign,
If you, my booke, should haplessly forgette,
Nor bended knees, I trow, nor teares of Margarete.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
An author addresses his newly completed book, sending it forth into the world with a mixture of hope and caution, acknowledging it might face criticism. He instructs the book to ignore detractors and instead travel to a specific, idyllic location in Gloucestershire. The book's ultimate mission is to reach a beloved individual named Margarete and her sisters, with the author emphasizing the critical importance of this delivery.
Themes
Emotional Arc
hopeful anticipation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay was an 18th-century English poet and dramatist. The poem is written in a deliberately archaic style, mimicking Geoffrey Chaucer, hence the title. Keble likely refers to John Keble, a prominent figure in the Oxford Movement, though the timing might be anachronistic for Gay's original work, suggesting this might be a later pastiche or a different Keble. The poem is a personal dedication, common in the era.
Plot Beats (9)
- The author addresses his book, sending it forth into the world with a mix of courage and caution.
- He acknowledges that the book might face criticism or be discarded, but encourages it to be pleased by being read and handled.
- He warns the book against being deterred by those who might dismiss it to distant, undesirable places.
- The author then reveals the book's true, intended destination: Bisley in Gloucestershire, describing its beautiful church spire.
- He further describes the natural beauty of the area, mentioning specific birds and the 'Grove' where Keble will tend the seven springs.
- He details a specific location within Bisley, enclosed by high walls and gates, where good people reside.
- The book's ultimate recipient is named as Margarete, also called Rose, who is destined for a significant future.
- The author instructs the book to go directly to Margarete and her eight sisters (making nine in total).
- He stresses the importance of this delivery, implying severe repercussions if the book forgets its mission to Margarete.
Characters
Chaucer ★ protagonist
A man of sturdy build, likely of middle height, with a presence that suggests both scholarly contemplation and worldly experience. His hands might show the calluses of a writer's quill, and his posture, though perhaps slightly stooped from study, would still convey a sense of authority and warmth.
Attire: Clothing appropriate for a well-respected English poet and courtier of the late 14th century. This would include a houppelande (a long, flowing outer garment) made of wool or velvet in rich, deep colors like crimson, forest green, or sapphire blue, possibly lined with fur. Underneath, a cotehardie (a fitted tunic) and hose. He might wear soft leather shoes and a chaperon (a hood with a long tail).
Wants: To ensure his 'booke' finds its intended audience and is cherished, and to guide it to a specific, beloved location and person.
Flaw: Perhaps a slight anxiety about how his work will be received by the wider world, despite his outward courage.
The story is a snapshot of his character, showing his paternal relationship with his work and his affection for specific individuals. He doesn't undergo a significant arc within this short piece but reveals his established character.
Wise, paternal, encouraging, protective, and a bit playful. He shows a deep affection for his work and a desire for it to be well-received.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly English man with a kind, wise expression, a neatly trimmed grey beard, and intelligent, observant eyes. He wears a rich, deep crimson wool houppelande, lined with dark fur, over a fitted dark blue cotehardie, and soft brown leather shoes. His posture is slightly stooped but conveys warmth and authority. He holds a small, leather-bound book gently in his hands. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Booke ◆ supporting
A small, perhaps hand-bound volume, likely made of parchment or vellum, with a sturdy leather cover. It would appear well-crafted, perhaps with some simple embossed designs or a clasp.
Attire: N/A (its 'clothing' is its binding and cover).
Wants: To fulfill its creator's purpose: to travel to Gloucestershire and be read by Margarete and her sisters.
Flaw: Vulnerable to being 'hurl'd in some cornere' or 'bidde off' by those who don't appreciate it.
Its arc is its journey from its creator's hands to its intended readers, transforming from an unread object to a cherished possession.
Courageous (as instructed by Chaucer), receptive, and destined for a specific purpose. It is implicitly obedient to its creator's wishes.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, antique, leather-bound book, closed, with a sturdy brown leather cover and a simple brass clasp. The pages are slightly yellowed parchment. It stands upright, facing forward, appearing ready for a journey. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Margarete ◆ supporting
A young English woman, likely of gentle birth, with a delicate yet spirited presence. Her build would be slender, reflecting the ideals of beauty of the period.
Attire: Elegant but modest attire suitable for a young woman of a good family in rural England. This would include a kirtle (a fitted gown) made of fine wool or linen in soft colors like pale blue, rose, or cream, possibly with a contrasting sideless surcote (an outer garment). She might wear a simple wimple or a circlet of flowers in her hair.
Wants: To live a life of gentle domesticity and companionship with her sisters, and eventually to marry ('When Hymenæos shall her lotte dispose').
Flaw: Her vulnerability to sorrow ('teares of Margarete') if the 'booke' were to be forgotten.
Her arc is hinted at with the mention of 'Hymenæos shall her lotte dispose,' suggesting a future marriage, but within the poem, she remains a beloved, static figure.
Cherished, beloved, and central to the 'booke's' destination. She is depicted as a source of comfort and joy, capable of deep emotion ('teares of Margarete').
Image Prompt & Upload
A young English woman with a fair complexion and gentle, kind blue eyes. Her long, light brown hair is braided and partially covered by a simple white linen wimple. She wears a pale rose-colored kirtle made of fine wool, with long sleeves, and a cream-colored sideless surcote over it. Her posture is graceful and composed, with a slight, soft smile. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Gloucestershire Countryside near Bisley
A picturesque rural landscape in Gloucestershire, characterized by rolling hills and the distant view of Bisley's church spire soaring high. The area is rich with natural elements like 'The Grove' with its seven springs, reminiscent of Mount Helicon.
Mood: Serene, natural, idyllic, with a touch of classical inspiration due to the Helicon reference.
The primary destination for the book, a place of natural beauty and inspiration, where Keble will tend the springs.
Image Prompt & Upload
A panoramic view of the rolling green hills of Gloucestershire, England, under a clear, bright sky. In the middle distance, a tall, slender stone church spire rises prominently from a cluster of trees in the village of Bisley. In the foreground, a lush 'Grove' features several small, clear springs bubbling up from mossy ground, surrounded by ancient, gnarled oak trees. Sunlight filters through the canopy, dappling the forest floor. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Walled Garden/Estate in Gloucestershire
A secluded, well-maintained garden or estate within Gloucestershire, enclosed by high stone walls and ornate, fretted gates. It features a prominent Laurel tree and a Rose bush, beneath which a 'broode' (family/group) resides.
Mood: Secluded, protected, genteel, with an air of exclusivity and warmth.
The specific residence where Margaret and her eight sisters live, the ultimate destination for the book.
Image Prompt & Upload
A secluded, sun-drenched English walled garden, featuring high, weathered grey stone walls covered in climbing ivy. In the foreground, an ornate, wrought-iron gate with intricate 'fretted' patterns stands slightly ajar. Inside, a venerable, broad-canopied Laurel tree casts dappled shade over a vibrant Rose bush in full bloom, its petals a rich crimson. Beyond, a 'bowere' or garden alcove is visible, bathed in warm sunlight. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
