Confessio Amantis of John Gower, Volume 2

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Bell and Daldy, 1857 - Christian ethics

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Page 9 - Amahtis," tells the story of Grosteste, who was Roger Bacon's teacher. " For of the grete clerk Grostest I rede how busy that he was Upon the clergie and heved of bras To forge, and make it for to telle Of suche thinges as befelle.
Page 361 - ... his god deceived — His ring, his mantle, and his beard, As he which nothing was afeard, All privily with him he bare ; And when the wardens were aware Of that, their god despoiled was, They thought it was a wondrous case, How that a man for any weal, Durst in so holy plac-e steal, And nam-e-ly, so great a thing ! — This tale cam-e unto the king, And was through spoken over-all. But for to know in special, What manner man hath done the deed, They soughten help upon the need, And maden calculation,...
Page 128 - The gold, which avarice encloseth. But all to litel him supposeth, Though he might all the world purchase. For what thing, that he may embrace Of golde, of catel, or of londe, He...
Page 350 - But Phebus, for the reverence Of that she hadde be his love, Hath wrought through his power above That she sprong up out of the molde Into a flour, was named Golde, Which stant governed of the sonne.
Page 16 - ... doubtless drew; even the surprising interpretation of the tale of Mars and Venus has precedent in that popular work. And from the story of Pygmalion he extracts the unexceptionable moral (not to be found in Jean de Meun's version, where, as Gunn says, it represents 'the entelechy of feminine nature') that The god of love is favorable To hem that ben of love stable.
Page 200 - They were into his chamber brought, But no man wot why they be wrought, And natheles the king hath bede That they be set in privy stede, As he that was of wisdom slih ; Whan he therto his time sih...
Page 292 - Of stickes here and there a route And leide hem redy to his honde, Wherof he made his trusse and bonde. Fro daie to daie and in this wise This Ape profreth his servi"se, So that he had of wode inough.
Page 32 - Lovds craft. But yet ne fond I nought the haft Which might unto the blade accorde. For never herd I men recorde What thinge it is that might availe To winne love withoute faile. Yet so fer couthe I never finde Man that by reson ne by kinde Me couthe" teche suche an arte, That he ne failed of a parte. And as toward min owne wit Contrive I couthe" never yit To finden any sikernesse, That me might other more or lesse Of Love
Page 129 - A fhep right in the fame plite His wolle bereth, but on a day An other taketh the flees away. Thus hath he, that he nought ne hath, For he therof his part ne tath...
Page 201 - ware, ere that ye take ; For of that one, I undertake There is no manner good therein, Whereof ye mighten profit win. Now...

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