A Modern Translation
Shattered are the high statutes of heaven, which were created to endure eternally; for I see that the seven shining gods* can wail and weep and endure suffering, even as a mortal creature on earth. Alas! Where can this come from, of which I die almost with fear at this confusion?
By the eternal word it was decreed long ago that not a drop of tears should escape down from the fifth circle;* but now Venus so weeps in that her sphere that she will drown us on earth. Alas! Scogan, this is for your offence; you are the cause of this pestilential deluge.
Have you not said, blaspheming this goddess, through pride or extreme rashness, such things as are forbidden in love’s law? That, because your lady looked not upon your pain, you gave her up therefore at Michaelmas?* Alas, Scogan! Never before, by man or woman, was Scogan blamed for his tongue!
Also in scorn you called Cupid to witness for those rebellious words you spoke, for which reason he will no longer be your lord. And, Scogan, though his bow be not broken, he will not be avenged with his arrows on you, or me, or any of our figure; by him we shall have neither hurt nor cure.
Yet now surely, friend, I fear ill-fortune for you, lest for your guilt the outcasts of Love go forth upon all those who are gray and round of shape, those who are not so likely to succeed in love! Then we shall have no reward for our labor. But I well know that you will answer and say, “Lo, old Grisel* is pleased to run* and be merry!”
Nay, Scogan, say not so, for I beg your pardon. God help me so! Without a doubt, I would never intend to wake from sleep my muse into verse, which rusts in my sheath quietly in peace! While I was young I put her forth in the public. But all shall pass away that people write in prose or rhyme; let every man take his turn in his day.
Envoy.
Scogan, who kneels at the source of the stream of grace, of all honor and excellence, at the end of this stream* am I, dull as if dead, forgotten in solitary wilderness. Yet, Scogan, think on the kindness of Tully,* make mention of your friend where it may bear fruit! Farewell! And see that you never again defy Love!
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1 Gods. I.e., planets.
2 Fifth circle. The sphere of Venus.
3 Michaelmas. The feast of St. Michael the Archangel, celebrated on September 29.
4 Old Grisel. Perhaps an old horse.
5 Run. Though the word that is usually used here is “ryme” (rhyme), two of the earliest editors, Caxton and Thynne, read “renne” (run). Since the previous sentence refers to going about upon others (presumably on the backs of them) and Grisel was a French term used for an old horse, the image is made complete with the horse running.
6 End of this stream. At the head of the Thames is Windsor Castle, where Chaucer was probably living at this late point in his career.
7 Tully. Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC), Roman statesman and the author of De Amicitia (On Friendship).
Translated and Edited by Gerard NeCastro
© Copyright, 2007, All Rights Reserved
Citation. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Envoy of Chaucer to Scogan. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. and trans. eChaucer: https://www.echaucer.com. [Site Visit Date.]
