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Saint Valentin l'amour et la nature
De toutz oiseals ad en governement;
Don't chascun d'eaux semblable a sa mesure
Une compaigne honeste a son talent…
Ma belle oisel, vers qui mon pensement
S'en vole ades sanz null contretenir,
Pren cest escript, car jeo sai voirement,
U li coeurs est, le corps falt obeïr.
(John Gower, Balade XXXIIII in Cinkante balades, lines
1–4, 25–28)
John Gower (circa 1330–1408) included the entire repertoire
of existing Valentine traditions in Balade XXXIIII of his Cinkante
balades. Quite succinctly, the three monarchs of love—Saint
Valentine, Love and Nature—together convene a Chaucerian
“governement” of birds, at which they all choose mates.
Inserting the human element, Gower himself chooses his “belle
oisel.”
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Ivory Casket with Scenes from the Romances
Circa
1325–1350. Carved elephant ivory
with silver mounts. France. British Museum:
M&ME 1856,6–23,166.
21.2 x 12.7 x 7.3 cm.
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