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Confessio Amantis Translations
This version was saved 6 years, 11 months ago
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Saved by Kiana Webster
on April 17, 2017 at 3:21:10 pm
Prologue |
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Numbness, dull feelings, little schooling and less labor, the causes in which I, least of all poets, sing. Nevertheless, the route in Hengist's tongue in which Brutus' Island sings, with Carmen's help, tell my English verses. Therefore the boneless meat breaks bones and interpreters stay away from evil words and the utterances of "god forbid".
Of those that have written before us
The books remain, and we therefore
Have been taught of what was written then:
Therefore it is good that we also
In our time among us here
Do write of some new material,
From the example of these old books
So that it might be in such a manner,
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When we are dead and elsewhere,
Be left to the world’s ear
In time coming after this.
[Latin text on left margin]
This in the beginning he such declared; in the sixteenth year of King Richard II, John Gower composed and finally completed the present small book, which he specifically bound with all reverence for the quickest master, his master Henry of Lancaster, then the Earl of Derby.
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Present fortune the old blessed time
Forsakes, and turns round ancient manners on her wheel.
Harmonious love begat aged peace,
While human’s shape was their mind’s messenger:
With laws of the same kind then time’s light shone,
Then certain were the paths of justice.
And now lurking hatred love’s face portrays,
And time under false peace covers for armies;
And out of diverse changeable images like chameleons
Law carries on, and new laws are to kingdoms new:
Regions undivided and thus through the world
Release, nor go to have quiet centers.
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[From Latin in the right margin]
The frist shows, how out of respect for his prince King Richard Angelie the whole, his Humble Johannes Gower, although he is twice weary from various illnesses, had small labors to undertake and not refuse, but as the honeycomb from the various flowers collects the present book from various chronicles, histories, poetrys, and philosophies, despite his poor health he diligently compiled [the book].
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[The State]
Back in time memorial
The world stood in all its wealth:
People were healthy, It was a time of plenty and riches
And a high time for virtue.
The world's prosperity is chronicled by past writings.
Justice of the law was upheld, The privilege of royalty Was safe, and all the barons Honored their estates;
The cities knew no debate, The people stood in obedience Under the rule of government,
And peace, which righteousness kissed, With charity stood reassured.
The courage of man's heart
Was shown in the countenance,
Without the semblance of deceit.
There was unenvied loved, There the truth was set above
And vice was put under foot.
Now the crop stands upside down.
The world is changed now,
And particularly,
Love has fallen into discord.
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[The Church]
Those whom ancient Moses honored or new John himself,
This day hardly honor yesterday’s laws.
Thus doubly before the church virtue polished
Now wise men uncultured pale at the way.
The sword’s point removed from the peaceable sheath by Peter
Stood towards the blood of Christ’s words;
Now while swords are constantly wet from blood
Shake greed, bring together holy rites.
Thus the wolf is the pastor, the father a stranger, death a commiserator,
And dispensers prey, peace and in the world through fear.
To think upon the olden days,
The life that clerks behold,
Men see what they have,
Personal philosophy and rule of all
Of which wisdom and virtue being sought, Unto God they primarily pray
To the substance of the community’s wealth, that they shall not besmirch
Her wit upon no earthly works,
Which were again, the estate of clerks,
And that they might flee, the vices
that Simon has in his office,
Where he has taken gold in his hand.
For this time, I understand,
The Lumbard made no exchange
The Bishop for the purchase
Yet not a letter to be sent,
For dignity to prebend,
to be cured or be without a cure.
The church key in its own power,
Of arms and brigands
Stand for nothing except for battle;
To fight or to make strife.
Their thoughts of nothing worthy.
Both of simplicity and patience
They madden then no defense.
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As long as the common people remain subjugated by the royal law, its burdens will bear as meek as a mew lamb; if the head comes up and the reins of the law relax, as desire commands itself, it becomes a tiger. Two thing without mercy are: fire and domination by water, but the commoners wrath is more violent.
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The high almighty providence,
in whose eternal remembrance.
From first was everything present,
he had his prophecy sent,
in such a way you can hear,
to Daniel of this matter,
how that this world shall change and decay,
to its fall to his end.
Where this tale I shall tell,
in which it is betokened.
602 As I lay asleep in my bed
a clear image entered my head
And in my dream so strange and grand
a giant statue there did stand
who’s head and neck were gold and bright,
glistening in the sun’s strong light.
It’s chest and arms were metal too
But these were silver, that I knew.
His thighs were unique yet again,
Cast of fine brass down to the shin
From there on out his legs were steel
Until my eyes went to his heel
The feet on which this giant lay
Were made entirely of clay
But as I gazed upon this beast
With total worth from most to least
A stone came down from heavens gate
And this statue did decimate.
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And then, when he had served his God
He took what he well deserved:
The Diademe, and was crowned
Of Rome, and thus the empire was abandoned
Which, never again, can be put
Into the hands of any Roman
But for a long time it stood so still
Under the will and hand of the French king
Until fortune lead with her wheel
So afterward it had the Lombards
Nought be the sword, but the suffering
Of him that was the King of France
Who was Karle Calvis
And he resigned in the cause
The empire of Rome under Lowis
His Cousin, who was a Lombard.
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[Division and Evil] line 967
Division, the Gospel said,
One house upon another lies,
Until that realm is all overthrown,
And thus may every man well know,
Division above all
Is a thing which makes the world fall,
And ever has done since it began.
It may first prove upon man,
The which, for his complexion
Is made division
Of cold, hot, moist, dry,
He right by his very nature die,
for his contrariness
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Stand ever in debate,
Until that part be overcome,
There will be no lasting peace.
But otherwise, if a man were
Made of one material
Without interruption,
There should be no corruption
Engendered upon that unity.
The body and the soul also Among them been divided so That whatever thing the body hates The soul loves and debates; But nonetheless it often is seen Of war which is them between The feeble having won the victory. And whoever draw into memory What has become of old and new, He may that war sore rue, Which first began in Paradise: For there it was proved what it is, And what disease there it wrought; For ilk war though forth brought The vice of all deadly sin Through which division came in Among the men in earth here And was the cause and the matter Why god the great floods send Of all the world and made an end
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The Tale of Florent (from Book I) |
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[The Tale of Florent]
There was once in the days of old (There was in days of old)
A worthy night, and as men told, ( A worthy knight and as men told)
He was nephew to the emperor (He was the nephew to the emperor)
And of his court a courtier (gentleman). (And of his court a Courteour)
Wifeless he was (A bachelor), Florent he was called, (Wifeless he was, Florent he was called)
He was a man who possessed great power, (He was a man who might do greatness)
Of armies (combat) he was desirous, (Of arms he was desired)
Chivalrous and amorous, (Chivarlerous and amourous)
And sought fame around the world (And for the fame of the world speech)
And adventures to foreign lands. (Strange adventures for one to seek)
He rode in the borderlands all about. (He rode the Marches all about)
There were times where (And fell a time as he was out)
Fortune severed and tied every thread of man's success (Fortune, which may every man had)
Like when this knight rode through a pass (To serve or tie of man's success)
Where he was forcibly captured ( Contrived, as this night rides in the pass)
And to a castle they him led, (That he have strength to take what was)
Where that he few friends had (and to him he had few friends)
And at that time, (For so it fell at this same time)
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Though he had a deadly wound, (That he had with him a deadly wound)
He fought and because of his skill in combat
He defeated Branchus, who was the heir to the governor of the castle,
And angered Branchus's father and mother both.
Ln. 1442
There was a lady, as sly
As any men knew then,
So old she could barely move,
Who was grandmother to the dead:
And with that she began to scheme,
And said that she would do him (Florent) in,
That she would deliver him to death
But only through his own consent,
Through strength of binding covenant
So that no other man could be blamed.
She sent for the knight,
And of her son she alleged
His death, and said to him:
“Florent, even though you are to blame
For Brachus’ death, men shall delay
Their vengeance for the time being,
Provided that you stand in judgment
Upon certain condition,
That you should answer a question
Which I will ask you:
And over this you should swear,
That if you get the wrong answer,
There won’t be anything else that can avail, (Trans. Elaine S)
Ln. 1465
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1465 That you shall not your death receive.
So that men shall not you deceive,
In order that you be advised,
You shall have your day in court
And permission to leave safely,
1470
Provided that at this days end
You come again with your opinion."
This knight, which was worthy and wise,
This lady prayed that he may know,
And have it sealed officially,
1475 What question it should be
For which he shall in that degree
Stand of his life in jeopardy.
With that she feigned company,
And said: "Florent, on love it depends
1480
All that to mine question pertains:
What all women most desire
This intention I ask, and in the empire
Whereas you have much knowledge
Take counsel upon this question."
1485
Florent this thing did undertake,
The day was set, the time take,
Beneath his seal, he wrote his oath,
In such a manner and forth he went
Home to his Uncle's court again;
1490
Fully to his fate settled
He told, of that him befell.
And upon that they were all
The wisest of the land assent,
But nonetheless of a consent
1495
They might not agree completely,
One said this, and the other that.
After the disputation
Of natural temperament
To some woman it is delight,
1500
That to another is grievance;
But such a thing is special,
Which to them all in general
Is most pleasant, and most desired
Above all other and most conspired,
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Is most pleasant, and most desired
Above all others, and most craved,
Such a thing cannot be found
By the stars nor the earth:
And thus Florent without hope
May embrace his adventure,
All in the shape of loss,
As in default of his answer.
This knight hath liking to die
Rather than break his oath and lie
In the place there as he was sworn,
And he shapeth himself to return again to there.
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(1588) And thus he gave this as his pledge.
With that she wrinkled up the brow:
"This agreement I will accept,"
She said, "if any other means
Except that which you have of my teaching
For death of this body may save,
I will replace you of your vow,
But by no other means.
Now listen to what I shall say.
When you come into this place
Where they now make a great menace
And wait upon my command,
They will swiftly at that very moment
Ask you for your answer.
I won't at all hold back
From what you think is your best,
And if you might find some rest,
That is fine, there is no more to do.
But otherwise this shall be my teaching,
That you shall see, upon this earth
That all women would most desire
To be sovereign of man's love." (1608)
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(1671) This old woman had awaited him
Where he had left her.
Florent lifted his woeful head Florent raised up his woeful head
And saw this hag where she sat, And saw this hag where she sat,
Who was the loathliest creature Who was the most loathsome thing
That any man had ever seen: That ever a man laid eyes on:
Her nose low, her brows arched high, Her low nose, her high-arched brows,
Her eyes small and deep-set, Her eyes small and deep set,
Her cheeks wet with tears Her cheeks were wet with tears,
And shriveled like an empty skin And wrinkled like empty skin
Hanging down toward her chin, Hanging down onto her chin.
Her lips shrunken with age – Her lips shrunken with age,
There was no beauty in her visage. There was no grace in her face.
Her forehead was narrow, her hair gray,. Her forehead was narrow, her hair gray
She looked like a Moor. She looked like a Moor
Her neck was short, her shoulders curved– Her neck was short, her shoulders hunched
Such a sight might disturb a man’s desire! That might disturb a man's lust!
Her body was great and nothing small, Her body great, and nothing small,
And – to quickly confess all here – And to briefly describe her all,
She had no limb without a [deficiency], She has no limb without defect:
But like a sack of wool But like a sack of wool,
She offered herself to this knight, She offered herself to this knight
And told him, as he had promised,
That as she had been his supporter,
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She held him bound,
And she seized his horse’s bridle.
God only knows how he felt
As she spoke these words:
He thought his heart would break
For sorrow because he could not flee
Without proving himself untrue. |
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The Tale of the Three Questions (from Book I)
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Virtue is lowly, through the deep god our offsprings of low passions have and tell of each other in the deepest [place]. Thus the lowly survives, and sexual passion supplies all to him, Whom has no haughty help by means of fate: He hates earth, he deposes Heaven and himself, He accepts and remains in that residence of hell.
[The Tale of the Three Questions]
Here the confessor recounts an example against pride; and says which recently famous king in addition to a certain knight by means of questions, in order to thenceforth give a solemn promise of certainty, under the penalty of capital punishment, set forth a challenge. First, whom of inferiority in rank from inhabiting a territory obtain a great supporting force. Second, whom of great merit adjacent of those inferior in rank demands less expense. Third, what diminishes all moral things as a result of not being strong itself. Of these protests a certain rational virgin daughter of said true knight, in the name of her father, responded to the king. To the first she said, that the earth requires nothing, nevertheless all men strain to help daily by means of labor. To the second she said, all lowly ranked men prevail by means of virtue, nevertheless none measure by means of expense. To the third she said, because all pride devastates so much of the body, good spirits of great expenses induces death. And there is still nothing of valor, on the contrary of total destruction, its own cause supplies the blame.
A king once was young and wise,
Who set by his wit great price.
Of deep imaginations
And strange interpretations,
Problems and questions alike,
His wisdom was to find and seek;
Whereof he was in many things wise
He question they that were wise.
But none of them it might bear
Upon his word gave answer,
Except one, who was a knight.
To him was everything so light,
That as soon as heard,
The king’s words he answered;
What thing the king would ask him,
Thereof then the truth he told.
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The kings sometimes had envy,
And thought he would his wits ply,
To set some conclusion,
Which should be confusion
Unto this knight, so that the name
And of wisdom the high fame
Toward himself he would win
And thus with all his wit within
This kings began to study and muse,
What strange matter he might use
The knight’s wits to confound;
And at last he had found,
And for the knight he sent,
That he shall tell what he meant.
Upon three points stood the matter,
Of questions as you shall hear.
The first point of all three
Was this: “What thing in his degree
Of all this world needs least,
And yet men help it the most?”
The second is: “What is most in worth,
And of cost is least put forth?”
The third is: “Which is of most cost,
And least in worth and goes to loss?”
The king asked these three questions,
and on the knight this task he imposed, That he shall leave and come again In three weeks, and answer plainly To every question what it amounts to. And if it be so that he miscalculates, To make of his answer a failure, There shall be nothing to avail him, The king said, but he shall be dead. And he shall lose his goods and his head. The knight was fearful of this thing, And excused himself from the king, But nothing could offer him any reprieve And thus the knight of his answers
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Went home to consider the matter: but after this purpose The more he put his wits to the task, The more he doubted himself. He then knew the king's heart, That he shall not escape from death, And such a sorrow he took on, That gladness he had forsaken. |
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That other point I understood,
Which most is worth and most is good,
And costs lest a man to keep :
My lord, if you would take keep,
I see it is Humility,
Through which the high trinity
As for justly of pure love
Unto Mary from above,
Of that he knew her humble intent,
His only son down he sent,
Above all others and her he chose
For that virtue which body is :
So that I may be resound call
Humility most worth of all.
And lest it costs to maintain,
In all the world as it is seen ;
For who that has humbleness on hand,
He brings no worries into land,
For he desires for the best
To sentence every man in rest.
Thus with your high reverence
Me thinks that this is evidence
As to this point is sufficient.
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The Tale of Constance (from Book II) |
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The Tale of Canace and Machaire (from Book III) |
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There was a king who was Called Eolus, and it befell him That he had two fair children. The son was named Machaire, The daughter was called Canace. By both day and night, While they were young, of common habitation, They dwelt together in a chamber, And as they should plead him often< Until they were grown up Into the youths of lusty age, When nature attacks the heart With love and when the heart bows, Which for no reason one can allow, But halt the laws of nature. For whoever that love has under control, Blinds themselves, and rightfully so He makes his client blind also. In such a manner as I tell you As they dwell together all day,
[Tale of Canace and Machaire]
Here the confessor presents an example against those wretches, who are not really experienced with youthful vigor of love, against other lovers severity to provoke passion. And tells in what way the king Eolus has a son named Machaire and a daughter named Canace, whom he raised from infancy to adolescence. At last Cupid penetrated the desires of both their hearts with an ignited darting [arrow], thus Canace, with a cooperating nature, became pregnant by means of her own brother and gave birth: moreover their father, unaware of the desire of youth and surpassed with an excessive fury, assigned the said daughter, with her sorrowful offspring, to be killed.
(Another Translation)
There was a king with Eolus Was called, and it fell on him then, That he had two fair children The son was Machaire, The daughter was called Canace. Both by day and by night, While they were young, of common habitation In their chamber they both dwelt, And as they plead him often, Till they grew up aloft Into the youth of lusty age, When nature attacks the heart With love and doth him for to bow, Such that he no reason can allow, But obeys the laws of nature. For whom that love have under cure, As he is blind himself, right so He makes his client blind also. In such manner as I tell you As they all day together dwelled, This brother might it not assert That he with his whole heart Cast his love upon his sister.
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(line 174) but kept their laws at large,
Nature instructed them
and taught them so that evermore
their wisdom should be conquered,
And they were, as you said, enchanted.
And as they lead each other blind,
and left their fear behind,
right so they had no insight;
but as the bird that flies alight,
and set the meat and tied the net,
which in despite of me is set.
The young folk saw no peril,
but it was pleasing to her eye,
so that they fall upon the chance,
where they had forgotten their wits,
so long as the got together.
The womb arose and she began to tremble,
and held her in her chamber close,
for fear it should be discovered,
and her father would take notice,(line 193)
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(279) Oh, you my sorrow and my gladness
Oh you my health and my sickness.
Oh, my despair and all my trust,
Oh, my disease and all my pleasure,
Oh you my delight, oh you my woe,
Oh you my friend, oh you my foe,
Oh you my love, oh you my hate
For you I must surely be dead.
This end I may not escape,
And yet, with my whole heart,
While any breath lasts in me,
I will love you into my death.
But one thing I shall ask of you,
If my little son dies,
Let him be buried in my grave
Beside me, so you shall have
Remembrance for us both.
For thus it stands of my grievance,
Now at this time, as you will know,
With tears and with ink written
This letter I have in chilling dread: (299)
Ln. 285
‘Oh my love, oh my hate,
For you I must for sure be dead.
I will not escape this end,
And yet with all my whole heart,
While I take my last breath, (Trans. Elaine S.)
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I will love you into death.
But one thing I ask of you,
Should my little son die,
Let him be buried in my grave
Beside me, so that you will
Remember us both.
For my grief is instant.
Now at this time, as you will witness,
With tears and with ink write
This letter I have in chilling dread:
In my right hand I hold my pen,
And in my left I keep the sword,
And in my bosom lies weeping
Your child and mine, which sobs.
Now I come to my last.
Farewell, for I will die soon,
And think on how I will pay for your love.’
Ln. 306 (Translated by Elaine Sheehan)
307 - 327
The pommel of the sword to ground
She set, and with the point a wound
In her heart she made,
She turned pale and began to fade
She fell down dead from where she stood.
The child lay bathing in her blood
Having rolled out from his mother’s barm,
And because the blood was hot and warm,
He basked about in it.
There was no forgiveness to be gained,
For he, who can know no pity,
The king came in the same moment,
And seeing how his daughter died
And how this baby all bloody cried;
But all that might not satisfy him
So that he would not pass sentence
Upon the child, and threw him out,
And such in the forest about
Some wild place, what it were,
To cast him out of hand there,
So that some beast may devour him. (Translated by Scout Invie)
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The Tale of Pyramus and Thisbe (from Book III) |
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Book VIII |
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“The mighty God, in the beginning
Stands alone, and creating
All other things at his will,
The heaven his lists to fulfill
Of all joy, where as he
Sits in his throne in his Holy See,
And has his Angels to serve,
Such as he likes to preserve,
So that they would not stray,
But Lucifer he put away
With all who abandoned god
With of them who he led,
Which out of heaven into hell
From angels into fiends fell;
Where there is no joy of light,
But more dark than any night
The pain shall be endless;
And yet nonetheless
There is plenty, but they been pale,
Of no sight may avail.
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3138
But now upon the last of my time,
That this book I have been made to write,
My Muse in me doeth alight,
And sayeth it shall be for the best,
From this day forth my pen to take rest,
That no more I of love shall make,
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Which many a heart overtake,
And overturned as the blind,
From reason into nature’s law kind,
When wisdom goeth away,
A man cannot see the right way,
How to govern over his own estate,
But everyday stands in debate
Within himself, and cannot relieve,
And thus I take my final leave,
I take now for evermore,
Without making any more,
Of love and of his deadly reel,
That no physician can heal,
For his nature is so diverse,
That it hath ever to traverse,
Or of much or to the light,
That plainly may no man delight,
But of him fail at that or this.
But like love which that is
Within a man’s heart affirmed,
And stand of charity confirmed,
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Such love is good to have,
Such love may the body salve,
Such love may the soul amend,
The high God such love us send,
Forthwith the remnant of grace;
So that above in this place,
Where resides love and all peace,
Our joy will not cease.
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Confessio Amantis Translations
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