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.