The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 13, No. 364, April 4, 1829

Excerpt

TOMB OF GOWER, THE POET.

Dr. Johnson has dignified Gower with the character of "THE FATHER OF ENGLISH POETRY"; so that no apology is required for the introduction of the above memorial in our pages. It stands in the north aisle of the church of St. Mary Ovrie, or St. Saviour, Southwark; and is one of the richest monuments within those hallowed walls. The tomb consists of three Gothic arches, the roof of which springs into several angles. The arches are richly ornamented with cinnquefoil tracery, roses, and carved work of exquisite character. Behind these arches are two rows of trefoil niches; and between them also rises a square column, of the Doric order, surmounted by carved pinnacles. On the extremity of the arches is placed richly carved foliage, of a similar character to that which ornaments the edges of the arches; and in the centre are circles enclosing quatrefoils. From the bases of the two middle square columns descend roses, and other foliage; and from the lower extremities of the interior arches descend cherubim. Within three painted niches, are the figures of Charity, Mercy, and Pity, round whom are entwined golden scrolls bearing the following inscriptions:

"Pour la Pitie Jesu regarde.

Et tiens cest Ami en saufve Garde."

Jesu! for thy compassion's sake look down,

And guard this soul as if it were thine own.

On the second scroll is written:

"Oh, bon Jesu! faite Mercy,

Al' Ame dont le Corps gist icy."

Oh! good Jesu! Mercy shew

To him whose body lies below.

On the third scroll is written:

"En toy qui es Fitz de Dieu le Pere,

Saufve soit qui gist sours cest Pierre."

May he who lies beneath this stone,

Be sav'd in thee, God's only son!

Between each of these figures are painted blank trefoil niches; and below the whole, on a plain tablet, the following inscription:

"Armiger scutum nihil a modo fut tibi tutum,

Reddidit immolutum, morti generali tributum,

Spiritus exutum se gaudeat esse solutum,

Est ubi vistutum, Regnum sive labe statutum."

On the left side:

"Hoc viri

Inter inclytos memorandi

Monumentum sepulchrali,

Restaurari propriis impensis

Parocnia hujus meolæ

Curaverunt

A.D. MDCCXCVIII."

On the right side:

Capellaris   {GULIELMO DAY

      { &

      {GULIELMO WINCKWORK.

Custodibus {GULIELMO SWAINE

      { &

      {DAVIDE DURIE.

Aotante humiblimo Pastore DAVIDE GILSON.

And below the effigy runs the following:—

"Hic jacet JOHANNIS GOWER,

Armiger, Anglorum Poeta celeberrimus,

ac huic sacro Edificio Benefactor, insignis

temporibus Edw. III. et Rich. II."

Here lieth John Gower, esq., a celebrated

English poet, also a benefactor to

this sacred edifice, in the time of Edward

III. and Richard II.

The base of the monument has seven trefoil niches, within as many plain-pointed ones.

The effigy of the poet is placed above, in a recumbent posture, beneath the canopy just described. He is dressed in a gown, originally purple, covering his feet, which rest on the neck of a lion. A coronet of roses adorns his head, which is raised by three folio volumes, labelled on their respective ends, "Vox Clamantis," "Speculum Meditantis," and "Confessio Amantis." Round the neck hangs a collar of SSS....