The parlament of foules, by Geoffrey Chaucer. Ed., with introduction, notes, and glossary, by T. R. Lounsbury.

4

INTRODUCTION.

the chief theories that have been advanced as to its production or
character. These naturally arrange themselves under separate
headings, the first of which will be a consideration of the views
entertained as to the
DATE AND COMPOSITION OF THE POEM.
Of the date and circumstances attending the composition of
the poem, we can scarcely be said to know any thing. It is
mentioned by Chaucer himself in that partial list of his works
which he gives in the "Prologue to the Legende of Goode
Women," and is there spoken of under the title of " The Parlament of Foules "(line 419). There is also a reference to it in
the so-called "Prayer," or "Revocation," with which "The
Canterbury Tales " end. It is in that place included among
the "translaciouns," and "endyting in worldly vanitees," for
the composition of which the poet is represented as asking the
forgiveness of God. This Prayer, though found in the best
manuscripts, is of doubtful genuineness: at any rate, it is very
difficult of explanation. The modern reader would be inclined
to think that the author might better have asked forgiveness
for producing some of the works for having written which he is
described as thanking the Lord. In this Revocation, the title
given to the poem is " The Book of Seint Valentines Day and
of the Parlament of Briddes." It is also mentioned by Lydgate, along with other works of Chaucer, in the Prologue to
his translation of Boccaccio's "Fall of Princes," in these
words:
" Of Fowles also he wrote the Parlyment,
Therin remembrynge of ryall Egles thre,
Howe in their choyse they felt adversite;
To fore Nature profered the batayle
Eche for his partye, if he wolde avayle."
These, I believe, are all the very early notices of the poem; and
they furnish no further clew to the date, save that it must have
been composed before the " Legende of Goode Women; " and
this latter work, we know from internal evidence, could not have
been completed before 1382.