Article #266-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from Confessio Amantis; Or, Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins, by John Gower

Mi fader, elles were I nyce:
For ye therof so wel have spoke,
That it is in myn herte loke
And evere schal: bot of Envie,
If ther be more in his baillie 1870
Towardes love, sai me what.

Mi Sone, as guile under the hat
With sleyhtes of a tregetour
Is hidd, Envie of such colour
Hath yit the ferthe deceivant,
The which is cleped Falssemblant,
Wherof the matiere and the forme
Now herkne and I thee schal enforme.

Of Falssemblant if I schal telle,
Above alle othre it is the welle 1880
Out of the which deceipte floweth.
Ther is noman so wys that knoweth
Of thilke flod which is the tyde,
Ne how he scholde himselven guide
To take sauf passage there.
And yit the wynd to mannes Ere
Is softe, and as it semeth oute
It makth clier weder al aboute;
Bot thogh it seme, it is noght so.
For Falssemblant hath everemo 1890
Of his conseil in compaignie
The derke untrewe Ypocrisie,
Whos word descordeth to his thoght:
Forthi thei ben togedre broght
Of o covine, of on houshold,
As it schal after this be told.
Of Falssemblant it nedeth noght
To telle of olde ensamples oght;
For al dai in experience
A man mai se thilke evidence 1900
Of faire wordes whiche he hiereth;
Bot yit the barge Envie stiereth
And halt it evere fro the londe,
Wher Falssemblant with Ore on honde
It roweth, and wol noght arive,
Bot let it on the wawes dryve
In gret tempeste and gret debat,
Wherof that love and his astat
Empeireth. And therfore I rede,
Mi Sone, that thou fle and drede 1910
This vice, and what that othre sein,
Let thi Semblant be trewe and plein.
For Falssemblant is thilke vice,
Which nevere was withoute office:
Wher that Envie thenkth to guile,
He schal be for that ilke while
Of prive conseil Messagier.
For whan his semblant is most clier,
Thanne is he most derk in his thoght,
Thogh men him se, thei knowe him noght; 1920
Bot as it scheweth in the glas
Thing which therinne nevere was,
So scheweth it in his visage
That nevere was in his corage:
Thus doth he al his thing with sleyhte.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Confessio Amantis by John Gower**

Context of the Work

John Gower’s Confessio Amantis ("The Lover’s Confession," c. 1390) is a Middle English poem of over 33,000 lines, written in octosyllabic couplets. It is a moral and didactic work structured around the Seven Deadly Sins, framed as a confession by an aging lover (Amans) to a priestly figure (Genius, representing Reason). The poem blends allegory, exempla (moral tales), and courtly love traditions while critiquing human vices. This excerpt comes from Book 2, which focuses on Envy, one of the seven sins.

Gower, a contemporary of Chaucer, was deeply influenced by medieval moral philosophy, classical mythology, and Christian theology. His work serves as both a mirror for princes (advice to rulers) and a guide for personal conduct, warning against the corrupting influence of sin.

Thematic Analysis of the Excerpt

The passage explores Envie (Envy) and its most deceptive manifestation: Falssemblant (False-Semblant, or Hypocrisy). The key themes include:

The Deceptiveness of Envy
- Envy is not just resentment but a corrupting force that disguises itself to manipulate others.
- It operates through false appearances, making it difficult to detect.
Hypocrisy as Envy’s Tool
- Falssemblant (false appearance) is envy’s "fourth deceit" (following earlier discussions of envy’s methods).
- It is compared to a tregetour (trickster/magician) who hides guile under a hat—outwardly charming but inwardly malicious.
The Danger of False Words
- Hypocrites (Ypocrisie) say one thing but think another, creating discord between speech and intention.
- Their words seem fair ("softe" winds, "clier weder"), but they lead to stormy consequences (love’s ruin).
The Unreliability of Appearances
- Just as a mirror (glas) distorts reality, Falssemblant’s face shows emotions that do not exist in his heart.
- This makes envy impossible to trust, as it never arrives at truth ("noght arive") but keeps love in turmoil ("gret debat").
Moral Warning Against Envy
- The father (Genius) advises the son (Amans) to flee envy and ensure his own semblant (appearance) is true.
- Envy is always active ("withoute office"), serving as a messenger of deceit wherever guile is needed.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Features

Gower employs several medieval rhetorical and poetic techniques to convey his message:

Allegory & Personification
- Envie and Falssemblant are personified as active, malicious forces.
- Ypocrisie is a "dark, untrue" companion, reinforcing the duality of appearance vs. reality.
Extended Metaphors
- The Ship (Barge) of Envy:
  - Envy is a ship that never reaches land ("halt it evere fro the londe") but is rowed by Falssemblant, keeping love in stormy waters ("gret tempeste").
  - This suggests envy prevents resolution, keeping relationships in chaos.
- The Mirror (Glas):
  - Falssemblant’s face is like a mirror showing illusions—what is reflected is not real.
Contrast & Paradox
- "Softe wynd" vs. "gret tempeste": The hypocrite’s words seem gentle but lead to destruction.
- "Clier weder" vs. "derk thoght": Outward clarity hides inner darkness.
Medieval Moral Exempla
- Gower avoids old examples ("olde ensamples") because envy is ever-present—readers can see it daily in false words and broken trust.
Direct Address & Didactic Tone
- The father-son dialogue makes the lesson personal.
- The imperative "fle and drede" (flee and fear) underscores the urgency of avoiding envy.
Alliteration & Rhyme
- "Falssemblant with Ore on honde" (l. 1905) – The alliteration of "F" and "h" mimics the sly, hissing nature of deceit.
- "Gret tempeste and gret debat" (l. 1908) – The repetition of "gret" emphasizes the magnitude of envy’s harm.

Significance of the Passage

Medieval Moral Philosophy
- Gower reflects the Christian and classical view of envy as a destructive, self-consuming sin (e.g., Dante’s Inferno places envious souls in a frozen river, blinded by their own malice).
- The hypocrisy of envy aligns with Augustine’s and Aquinas’ warnings about the duplicity of the sinful heart.
Courtly Love & Social Critique
- In the courtly love tradition, envy disrupts idealized romance.
- Gower critiques noble society, where flattery and false friendship (Falssemblant) undermine trust.
Psychological Insight
- The passage captures the paranoia of envy—it distorts perception, making others seem threatening even when they are not.
- The mirror metaphor suggests that envy projects its own ugliness onto others.
Relevance to Gower’s Broader Message
- Confessio Amantis is a guide to virtuous living; this section warns that envy corrupts both the envious and their victims.
- The father’s advice reinforces the need for sincerity in a world full of deception.

Line-by-Line Breakdown of Key Sections

Lines	Text	Explanation
1867-72	"Mi fader... what."	The son asks if there’s more to envy’s power beyond what’s been said.
1873-78	"Mi Sone, as guile under the hat... enforme."	The father introduces Falssemblant as envy’s hidden trick, like a magician’s sleight of hand.
1879-84	"Of Falssemblant... passage there."	Falssemblant is the source of all deceit, a treacherous flood no one can navigate safely.
1885-92	"And yit the wynd... noght so."	Hypocrisy’s words seem calm and fair, but they lead to storms (love’s ruin).
1893-98	"For Falssemblant hath everemo... houshold."	Falssemblant and Hypocrisy are allies, always working together to deceive.
1899-1904	"Of Falssemblant... evidence."	No need for old stories—hypocrisy is visible daily in false promises.
1905-10	"Bot yit the barge... debat."	Envy’s ship never docks—it keeps love in endless conflict.
1911-18	"Mi Sone... sleyhte."	The father’s final warning: flee envy, be true in appearance and heart, for Falssemblant always lies.

Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt is a masterful medieval dissection of hypocrisy and envy, using vivid imagery, moral urgency, and psychological depth. Gower’s warning remains relevant:

Envy thrives on deception, masking itself in false kindness.
Trust is fragile—what seems fair may hide destructive intent.
Virtue requires vigilance—one must reject Falssemblant and embrace truth.

In a world where appearances often deceive, Gower’s lesson is timeless: beware the smooth-tongued enemy, for their sweetest words may drown love in stormy seas.

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s depiction of Falssemblant as a "tregetour" (line 1875) and its association with "the derke untrewe Ypocrisie" (line 1891) primarily serves to:

A. Illustrate the medieval belief that envy was a supernatural force requiring magical intervention to counteract.
B. Suggest that hypocrisy is a learned behavior, acquired through the study of deception rather than an innate trait.
C. Emphasize the insidious nature of envy’s deceit, which operates through calculated performance and concealed malice.
D. Contrast the sophistication of Falssemblant with the blunt, overt aggression of other deadly sins like wrath.
E. Imply that envy’s power is ultimately illusory, as its effects dissolve once its tricks are exposed to reason.

Question 2

The extended metaphor of the "barge Envie" (line 1902) that "halt it evere fro the londe" (line 1903) most strongly conveys which of the following ideas about envy’s relationship to love?

A. Envy is a transient emotion that, like a ship, eventually drifts away if ignored.
B. Envy perpetuates instability, ensuring that love never reaches a state of secure fulfillment.
C. Love and envy are fundamentally incompatible, as envy’s presence immediately destroys love’s foundation.
D. The movement of envy is unpredictable, much like a ship tossed by storms, making it impossible to counteract.
E. Envy’s influence is external to love, acting as a force that merely delays but does not inherently corrupt love’s progress.

Question 3

The father’s assertion that "Falssemblant is thilke vice, / Which nevere was withoute office" (lines 1915–16) is best interpreted as meaning that:

A. Hypocrisy is a vice reserved for those in positions of political or ecclesiastical power.
B. Falssemblant is always actively employed wherever deceit is needed, functioning as envy’s instrument.
C. The vice of false appearance is uniquely human, distinguishing mankind from animals incapable of such deception.
D. Envy’s hypocrisy is a passive trait, manifesting only when external circumstances demand it.
E. Falssemblant, unlike other vices, requires formal training or "office" to be effectively wielded.

Question 4

The passage’s repeated contrast between outward appearance ("semblant") and inner reality ("thoght" or "corage") serves to develop which central theme?

A. The futility of attempting to discern truth in a world where deception is ubiquitous.
B. The danger of misplaced trust, as envy’s hypocrisy renders surface impressions unreliable guides to intention.
C. The medieval belief that the soul’s true state is always visible to those with sufficient moral insight.
D. The idea that envy is uniquely transparent, as its contradictions inevitably betray its presence.
E. The necessity of withdrawing from social interaction to avoid the corruptions of Falssemblant.

Question 5

The father’s final exhortation—"fle and drede / This vice" (lines 1911–12)—is most thematically aligned with which of the following interpretations of the passage’s warning?

A. Envy is a moral contagion that must be actively resisted, as proximity to it risks spiritual corruption.
B. The son’s youth makes him particularly vulnerable to envy’s deceptions, necessitating paternal guidance.
C. Fear alone is sufficient to neutralize envy’s power, as it paralyzes the vice’s ability to act.
D. The passage advocates for a Stoic detachment from emotion, as envy thrives on passionate engagement.
E. The warning is primarily rhetorical, as the father assumes the son is already immune to such vices.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: C

Why C is most correct: The comparison of Falssemblant to a "tregetour" (a trickster or magician) and its alliance with "Ypocrisie" underscores the deliberate, performative nature of envy’s deceit. The imagery of hidden "guile under the hat" (line 1874) and the "derke untrewe" companion (line 1891) reinforces that envy operates through calculated illusion—outward charm masking inward malice. This aligns with the passage’s broader warning about the insidious, active deception inherent in Falssemblant.