with all classes by reason of the piquancy of its flavour, and the
quotable applicability of many of its passages. Out of a chivalrous
allegory Jean de Meung had made a popular satire; and though in its
completed form it could look for no welcome in many a court or castle,--
though Petrarch despised it, and Gerson in the name of the Church recorded
a protest against it,--and though a bevy of offended ladies had well-nigh
taken the law into their own hands against its author,--yet it commanded a
vast public of admirers. And against such a popularity even an offended
clergy, though aided by the sneers of the fastidious and the vehemence of
the fair, is wont to contend in vain.

Chaucer's translation of this poem is thought to have been the cause which
called forth from Eustace Deschamps, Machault's pupil and nephew, the
complimentary ballade in the refrain of which the Englishman is saluted as

Grant translateur, noble Gelfroi Chaucier.

But whether or not such was the case, his version of the "Roman de la
Rose" seems, on the whole, to be a translation properly so called--
although, considering the great number of MSS. existing of the French
original, it would probably be no easy task to verify the assertion that
in one or the other of these are to be found the few passages thought to
have been interpolated by Chaucer. On the other hand, his omissions are
extensive; indeed, the whole of his translation amounts to little more
than one-third of the French original. It is all the more noteworthy that
Chaucer reproduces only about one-half of the part contributed by Jean de
Meung, and again condenses this half to one-third of its length. In
general, he has preserved the French names of localities, and even
occasionally helps himself to a rhyme by retaining a French word.
Occasionally he shows a certain timidity as a translator, speaking of "the