ALBERTANO OF BRESCIA'S "LIBER CONSOLATIONIS ET CONSILII" AS A SOURCE-BOOK OF GOWER'S "CONFESSIO AMANTIS"

Abstract

Mainzer's note demonstrates that two series of aphoristic statements in the CA provide evidence of Gower's use of Albertano of Brescia's Liber Consolationis et Consilii (also the ultimate source of Chaucer's "Tale of Melibee"). The first series is found in Book 7 (lines 3149*-3167*) and consists of statements about Pity attributed to the apostle James, Cassiodorus (both in the second recension), and Constantine (in the third recension). The second series is found in Book 3 (glosses at lines 2220 and 2225) and figures aphorisms said to be from Seneca and “Apostolus