e well known one of Chaucer's last patron, King
Henry IV. His attitude in this likeness is that of a quiet talker,
with downcast eyes, but sufficiently erect bearing of body. One arm is
extended, and seems to be gently pointing some observation which has
just issued from the poet's lips. The other holds a rosary, which may
be significant of the piety attributed to Chaucer by Occleve, or may be
a mere ordinary accompaniment of conversation, as it is in parts of
Greece to the present day. The features are mild but expressive, with
just a suspicion--certainly no more--of saturnine or sarcastic humour.
The lips are full, and the nose is what is called good by the learned
in such matters. Several other early portraits of Chaucer exist, all
of which are stated to bear much resemblance to one another. Among
them is one in an early if not contemporary copy of Occleve's poems,
full-length, and superscribed by the hand which wrote the manuscript.
In another, which is extremely quaint, he appears on horseback, in
commemoration of his ride to Canterbury, and is represented as short of
stature, in accordance with the description of himself in the
"Canterbury Tales."

For, as it fortunately happens, he has drawn his likeness for us with
his own hand, as he appeared on the occasion to that most free-spoken
of observers and most personal of critics, the host of the Tabard, the
"cock" and marshal of the company of pilgrims. The fellow-travellers
had just been wonderfully sobered (as well they might be) by the
piteous tale of the Prioress concerning the little clergy-boy,--how,
after the wicked Jews had cut his throat because he ever sang "O Alma
Redemptoris," and had cast him into a pit, he was found there by his
mother loudly giving forth the hymn in honour of the Blessed Virgin
which he had loved so well. Master Harry Bailly was, as in duty bound,
the first to interrupt by a string of jests the silence which had
ensued:--

And then at first he looked upon me,
And saide thus: "What man art thou?" quoth he;
"Thou lookest as thou wouldest find a hare,
For over upon the ground I see thee stare.
Approach more near, and looke merrily!
Now 'ware you, sirs, and let this man have space.
He in the waist is shaped as well as I;
This were a puppet in an arm to embrace
For any woman, small and fair of face.
He seemeth elfish by his countenance,
For unto no wight doth he dalliance.

From this passage we may gath