The complete works of John Gower, volume 1 : $b The French works — John Shaqi
The complete works of John Gower, volume 1 : $b The French worksGower, John
General
The complete works of John Gower, volume 1 : $b The French works
Gower, John
Poetry
Sin, we are told, is the cause of all evils, and brought about first
the fall of Lucifer and of his following from Heaven, and then the
expulsion of Adam from Paradise. In a certain sense Sin existed before
all created things, being in fact that void or chaos which preceded
creation, but also she was a daughter conceived by the Devil, who
upon her engendered Death (1-216). Death and Sin then intermarrying
produced the seven deadly Vices, whose names are enumerated, and the
Devil, delighted by his progeny, sent Sin and her seven daughters to
gain over the World to his side, and then called a conference with a
view to defeating the designs of Providence for the salvation of Man,
and of consummating the ruin which had already been in part effected
(217-396). They resolved to send Temptation as a messenger to Man, and
invite him to meet the Devil and his council, who would propose to him
something from which he would get great advantage. He came, but before
his coming Death had been cunningly hidden away in an inner chamber,
so that Man might not see him and be dismayed. The Devil, Sin and the
World successively addressed him with their promises, and Temptation,
the envoy, added his persuasion, so that at length the Flesh of Man
consented to be ruled by their counsels. The Soul, however, rejected
them and vehemently expostulated with the Flesh, who was thus resolved
to follow a course which would in the end ruin them both (397-612).
The Flesh wavered and was in part dismayed, but was unable altogether
to give up the promised delights; upon which the Soul informed her
of Death, who had been treacherously concealed from her view, and to
counteract the renewed enticements of Sin called in Reason and Fear
to convince the Flesh of her folly. Reason was overcome in argument
by Temptation, but Fear took the Flesh by the hand and led her to the
place where Death lay concealed. The Flesh trembled at sight of this
horrid creature, and Conscience led her back to Reason, who brought
her into agreement with the Soul, and thus for the time the designs
of the Devil and of Sin were frustrated (613-756). The Devil demanded
that Sin should devise some remedy, and she consulted with the World,
who proposed marriage between himself and the seven daughters of Sin,
in order that from them offspring might be produced by means of which
Man might the more readily be overcome. The marriage was arranged
and the daughters of Sin went in procession to their wedding. Each
in turn was taken in marriage by the World, and of them the first
was Pride (757-1056). By her he had five daughters, each of whom is
described at length, namely Hypocrisy, Vainglory, Arrogance, Boasting
and Disobedience, and lastly comes the description of Pride herself
(1057-2616). The same order is observed with regard to the rest. The
daughters of Envy are Detraction, Sorrow for others’ Joy, Joy for
others’ Grief, Supplanting and Treachery (Fals semblant) (2617-3852).
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