February 1 Geoffrey Chaucer

Parlement of Foules   Geoffrey Chaucer

Now welcome, somer, with thy sonne softe,
That hast this wintres wedres over-shake,
And driven away the longe nyghtes blake!

Saynt Valentyn, that art ful hy on-lofte,
Thus syngen smale foules for thy sake:
Now welcome, somer, with thy sonne softe,
That hast this wintres wedres over-shake.

Wel han they cause for to gladen ofte,
Sith ech of hem recovered hath hys make;
Ful blissful mowe they synge when they wake:
Now welcome, somer, with thy sonne softe
That hast this wintres wedres over-shake
And driven away the longe nyghtes blake!

 There are some surprises here: first the sound of English as spoken in Geoffrey Chaucer’s day, towards the end of the 14th Century; the alleged arrival of Summer in February; and the association of St Valentine’s Day with a joyous chorus of birds happily paired, each with his ‘make’, that is ‘mate’.They sing: “Welcome,Summer, with your soft sunshine; you have shaken off the winter weather, and driven away the long, dark nights. St Valentine’s Day, now high in the sky, is celebrated by all little birds, who at this season once again pair with their mates: happily they join in a waking chorus:

Now welcom, somer, with thy sonne softe,
That hast this wintres weders over-shake,
And driven awey the longs nightes blake!

There is some evidence that our climate was more summary in Chaucer’s day, as witness monastic vineyards; or by summer he may have referred to the whole of the growing period, the warmer season of new life and its procreation.

The tradition of St Valentine’s Day as the occasion for mate-choosing is an old one: Chaucer’s Roundel concludes his “Parlement of Foules” , or as we might say,
“The Bird’s Talk-in.” a dramatic poem recording a full length debate upon the projected marriage of an Eagle Princess, in which all the birds, nobles and commoners, voice their opinions, until the matter is wisely settled by Nature, always a good guide in such affairs.

Next: Epithalamium  John Donne