Gower’s “Tale of Florent”—the context in the Confessio Amantis (I.1359-1405)

 

Text Box: Amans: "Mi fader, I beknowe a part, So as ye tolden hier above Of Murmur and Compleignte of love, That for I se no sped comende, Agein fortune compleignende I am, as who seith, everemo: And ek ful ofte tyme also, Whan so is that I se and hiere Or hevy word or hevy chiere Of my lady, I grucche anon; Bot wordes dar I speke non, Wherof sche myhte be desplesed. Bot in myn herte I am desesed With many a Murmur, God it wot; Thus drinke I in myn oghne swot, And thogh I make no semblant, Min herte is al desobeissant; Text Box: And in this wise I me confesse Of that ye clepe unbuxomnesse. Now telleth what youre conseil is." Genius: "Mi sone, and I thee rede this, What so befalle of other weie, That thou to loves heste obeie Als ferr as thou it myht suffise: For ofte sithe in such a wise Obedience in love availeth, Wher al a mannes strengthe faileth; Wherof, if that thee list to wite In a cronique as it is write, A gret ensample thou myht fynde, Which now is come to my mynde… Genius:

“ And ryht of such a maner kinde
Ther be lovers, that thogh thei have
Of love al that thei wolde crave,
Yit wol thei grucche be som weie,
That thei wol noght to love obeie
Upon the trowthe, as thei do scholde;
And if hem lacketh that thei wolde,
Anon thei falle in such a peine,
That evere unbuxomly thei pleigne
Upon fortune, and curse and crie,
That thei wol noght here hertes plie
To soffre til it betre falle.
Forthi if thou amonges alle
Hast used this condicioun,
Mi sone, in thi confessioun
Now tell me pleinly what thou art."