The complete works of John Gower, volume 2 : $b The English worksGower, John
General
The complete works of John Gower, volume 2 : $b The English works
Gower, John
Poetry
The feature of the book is the series of miniatures,
illustrating it throughout. In this respect it is unique, so
far as I know; though other copies similarly illustrated must
once have existed. The following is a complete list of the
subjects (leaves cited by original number): f. 15 (i. 1417)
Florent and the old woman, f. 18 (i. 2021) man blowing trumpet,
lord, wife, and five children looking out of a castle, f. 23
(i. 2785) _cut out_, f. 34 (i. 3067) _cut out and sewn in,
much damaged_, f. 30 (ii. 587) _cut out_, f. 44 (ii. 3187)
mothers bringing babies to Constantine, f. 56 (iii. 1885)
Clytemnestra torn by horses, two crowned persons conversing
in the foreground, f. 59 (iii. 2363) Pirate brought before
Alexander, f. 61 (iv. 1) Dido killing herself, Eneas riding
away, f. 68 (iv. 1245) lady with halters and red bridle
questioned by Rosiphelee, f. 71 (iv. 1815) _cut out_, f. 72
(iv. 2045) fight between Hercules and Achelous, f. 77 (iv.
2927) Alceone in bed dreaming, body of king in the water, f. 83
(v. 141) Midas at table, f. 93 (v. 2031) Crassus having gold
poured down his throat, f. 94 (v. 2273) king opening coffers,
f. 95 (v. 2391) _cut out_, f. 96 (v. 2643) _cut out_, f. 98 (v.
2961) _almost defaced_, f. 100 (v. 3247) _cut out_, f. 109 (v.
4937) Bardus pulling Adrian out of the pit, f. 111 (v. 5231)
Ariadne left sleeping, ship sailing away, f. 117 (v. 6225) a
procession of naked nymphs to bathe, f. 120 (v. 6807) _cut
out_, f. 133 (vi. 1391) Telegonus supporting his father’s head,
guards lying dead, f. 136 (vi. 1789) _cut out_, f. 150 (vii.
1783) _cut out_, f. 158 (vii. 3417) _cut out_, f. 159 (vii.
3627) Gideon and his men blowing trumpets, &c., enemy asleep in
a tent, f. 165 (vii. 4593) _cut out_, f. 171 (viii. 271 ff.)
half the page cut away, with probably three miniatures, for
only 52 lines are gone, whereas there was space for 92.
K. KESWICK HALL, near Norwich, in the possession of J. H. Gurney, Esq.,
who most kindly sent it to Oxford for my use. Contains the same as F,
but is slightly imperfect at the end. Parchment, ff. 189, 13 × 9¾
in., quires of 8 with catchwords. Well written in double column of 46
lines (corresponding column for column with F throughout), apparently
in six different hands, of which the first wrote quires 1, 2, 6, 8-11,
21, the second 3 and perhaps 7, the third 4, 5, 16, 17, the fourth
12-15, 19, the fifth 18, and the sixth 20, 22-24. Latin summaries in
the margin (sometimes omitted). Three leaves are lost in the seventh
quire (iii. 1087-1632), and one at the end, containing the last
thirteen lines of the Latin _Carmen de multiplici_, &c., with probably
the account of the books and the piece ‘Eneidos, Bucolis.’ A floreated
initial to each book, and space left for miniatures on ff. 1 and 7. Old
stamped leather binding.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account