And all he leared to be leal,1 and eache craft love other, "That he that useth the fairest craft to the foulest I could have put him. Thinketh all," quoth Grace, "that grace cometh of my gift; And, after Craftes counsel, clotheth you and feed. Passus XIX. THE MARCH OF DEATH. Elde the hoar, he was in the vauntward, And bare the banner before Death: by right he it claimed. Kind came after with many keen sores, As pocks and pestilences, and much people shent ;7 So Kind through corruptions killed full many. Death came driving after, and all to dust pashed,— Fortune gan flatteren then those few that were alive, He bare a bow in his hand, and many bloody arrows Weren feathered with fair behest11 and many a false truth.. And Eld anon after me, and over mine head gede,15 And made me bald before, and bare on the crowne; Hadst thou been hend,” quoth I, “thou wouldst have asked leave!" "Yea! leave lordane," quoth he, and laid on me with age, And hit me under the ear unneth2 may I hear; He buffeted me about the mouth, and beat out my teeth, And as I sate in this sorrow I saw how Kind passed; "Lo! Elde the hoar hath me be-seye ;3 Awreak me, if your will be, for I would be hence." "Gif thou wilt been ywroken, wend into Unity,7 And hold thee there ever till I send for thee; And look thou con some craft ere thou come hence." "Counsel me, Kind," quoth I, "what craft is best to learn?" "Learn to love," quoth Kind, "and leave off all other." "How shall I come to chattels so, to clothe me and to feed?" "And thou love leally,"9 quoth he, "lack shall thee never Meat ne worldly weed10 while thy life lasteth." Passus XX. JOHN GOWER. GOWER, a wealthy "esquire" of Kent, was already known as the author of (1) a French poem, called Speculum Meditantis ("The Meditative Man's Glass”), and (2) a Latin poem called Vox Clamantis, on the subject of Wat Tyler's Insurrection ("The Voice of One Crying"), when at length in his old age he undertook, at the request of the young King Richard II., to write a third poem in his native tongue. This English poem had likewise a Latin title, Confessio Amantis 1 Uncivil. 2 Scarce. 3 Beset. 4 Avenge me. 7 Go, dwell with Unity. 8 Come to wealth. 5 If. 6 Avenged. 9 Faithfully. 10 Clothing. ("The Lover's Confession"), and was written between the years 1386 and 1393, the period of Chaucer's greatest works. It consists of a Prologue and eight Libri or Books, is throughout in the octo-syllabic rhymed couplet, and has for its main subject the Confessions of a love-sick youth to a priest of Venus, whom he calls Genius. Within this framework of a narrative are interwoven a number of stories from the mediæval romances, the Gesta Romanorum, the Classic writers, and the Bible; and one whole Book is devoted to an exposition of Aristotelian philosophy. Gower and Chaucer were associated in life as friends and fellow-poets; and we are still in the habit of linking their names, as if recognising some essential likeness in their writings. Nor is the custom altogether without reason. Both used the same courtly dialect of English and rhymed metre, and, in some cases, they borrowed their stories from the same source. Both had closely studied the vernacular literatures of France and Italy, and were especially familiar with the writings of Boccaccio. Also, the poetry of Gower and Chaucer was wholly ideal and artistic, their aim being to delight the world rather than to inform or to correct it; and they are, in this respect, to be distinguished both from Langland the Moralist, and from Barbour, whose Bruce may be said to represent the nearest approach in that age to our modern prose form, the historical romance. The Confessio Amantis was a great favourite in its author's life-time; and, for two centuries after his death, Gower was held in high repute among our poets on account of his excellent English and rare erudition. He has, however, long since fallen out of his first popularity; and the name of " moral Gower," to whom Chaucer entrusted, as to his most able contemporary, the correction of his own verses, is become in these days almost a synonym for dulness. A few passages may be found in the dreary length of the Confession which are worth preserving, if not for their poetic merit, at least for a certain winning grace and innocent sentimentality, which are perhaps Gower's best characteristics. FROM CONFESSIO AMANTIS. THE OLD TIME AND THE NEW. If I shall draw into my mind Was safe; and all the baronie' Now stant1o the crop11 under the root; And thereof most in special Prologue. THE VAINGLORIOUS LOVER. Confessor. The proud vice of vainglory 1 Its (old form). 2 Prized. 6 Ruling. 10 Standeth. 3 World-wide. 7 Nobility. 11 Head or top of a plant. 4 Retained. 8 Kissed. 12 Advantage. This lifès pomp is all his peace; He thinketh there is no death comend. For he hath then at allè tide9 Of love such a manner pride10 Him thinketh his joy is endeless. Book I. 1 Little. THE JEALOUS LOVER. Lover. My Father, yea, a thousand sithe11 When I have seen another blithe Of love, and had a goodly cheer," Etna, which burneth year by year, 4 All other lusty folk 6 Success in love. 8 At all times. 2 Beholdeth. imitate his new fashions. 3 Standeth. 5 Rounds and part songs. 8. Coming. 11 Times. 12 Countenance. |