G.C. Macaulay’s
note on the “Tale of Constance,” from his 1901
edition of Gower’s Works
The tale of Constance is Chaucer's Man of Law's Tale, and the story
was derived by the two authors from the same source, Nicholas Trivet's
Anglo-Norman chronicle. The story as told by him has been printed for the
Chaucer Society from MS. Arundel 56, with collation of a Stockholm copy (Originals and Analogues,
1872). The quotations in these Notes, however, are from the Bodleian MS.,
Rawlinson B. 178.
Gower has followed the
original more closely than Chaucer, but he diverges from it in a good many
points, as will be seen from the following enumeration:
(1) Gower says
nothing of the proficiency of Constance in
sciences and languages, on which Trivet lays much stress. (2) He abridges the
negotiations for marriage with the Souldan (620 ff.). (3) He does not mention
the seven hundred Saracens with whom the Souldan's mother conspired. (4) He
brings Constance to land in Northumberland in
the summer instead of on Christmas day (732). (5) He omits the talk between
Constance and Hermyngeld which leads to the conversion of the latter (cp. 752
ff.). (6) According to Trivet the blind man who received his sight was one of
the British Christians who had remained after the Saxon conquest, and he went
to Wales
to bring the bishop Lucius. (7) The knight who solicited Constance had been
left, according to Trivet, in charge during Elda's
absence, and planned his accusation against her for fear she should report his
behaviour to Elda
on his return (cp. 792 ff.). (8) The words spoken when the felon knight was
smitten are not the same. Gower moreover makes him confess his crime and then
die, whereas in the French book he is put to death by the king (cp. 879ff.).
(9) The reasons for Domilde's hatred of Constance
are omitted by Gower. (10) Trivet says that Domilde gave the messenger a
drugged potion on each occasion (cp. 952 ff., 1008 ff.). (11) The communication
to Constance of the supposed letter from the
king, and her acceptance of her fate, are omitted by Gower. (12) The prayers of
Constance for herself and her child upon the
sea and her nursing of the child are additions made by Gower (1055-1083). (13)
According to Trivet, Constance landed at the
heathen admiral's castle and was entertained there, going back to her ship for
the night. Then in the night Thelous came to her, and professing to repent of
having denied his faith, prayed that he might go with her and return to a
Christian country. So they put out at sea, and he, moved by the devil, tempted
her to sin. She persuaded him to look out for land, with a promise of yielding
to his desires on reaching the shore, and while he is intent on this
occupation, she pushes him overboard (cp. 1084-1125). (14) The vengeance of
king Alle on his mother is related by Trivet immediately after this, by Gower
later. According to Trivet he hewed her to pieces (cp. 1226-1301). In the
ballad of Emaré the mother is condemned to be burnt, but her sentence is
changed to exile. (15) Gower omits the entry of king Alle into Rome and the
incident of his being seen by Constance as he passed through the streets. (16)
Trivet says that when Morice took the message to tiJe Emperor, the latter was
struck by his resemblance to his lost daughter. (17) Gower adds the incident of
Constance riding forward to meet her father
(1500 ff.). (18) According to Trivet, Constance returned to Rome because of the illness of her father
(cp. 1580ff.).
These differences,
besides others of detail, show that Gower treated the story with some degree of
freedom.