Speculum meditantis
work by Gower
Also known as: “Mirour de l’omme”
Quick Summary
The Speculum meditantis, also known as the Mirour de l'omme, is a French poem by the medieval English writer John Gower. Written in 12-line stanzas, it begins with a description of the devil's marriage to the seven daughters of sin. The poem then moves to the marriage of reason and the seven virtues. It concludes with a critique of English society's sins, particularly relevant before the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. The poem's critical tone is softened at the end by a hymn to the Virgin.1
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