Middle English Poetry in Modern Verse

Author/Editor
Glaser, Joseph, trans

Title
Middle English Poetry in Modern Verse

Published
Glaser, Joseph, trans. "Middle English Poetry in Modern Verse." Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2007 ISBN 9780872208803

Review
Glaser includes "versions of poems from about 1200 to 1500" of various kinds, attempting to represent "a broad sampling of Middle English poetry" (ix), and states his intention "to honor the original meaning, meter and rhyme scheme while at the same time producing versions modern readers will enjoy" (xi). In his section entitled "Selections" he translates excerpts from Piers Plowman (B text), "The Squire of Low Degree," Douglas's translation of the Aeneid, and "Ceix and Alcyone" from Confessio Amantis Book IV, 2927-3123. His source for his text is J.A.W. Bennett's Selections from John Gower (Oxford: Clarendon, 1968). Each section is prefaced by a brief introduction—in Gower's case, identifying Amans as "Gower himself" (133); there is a short bibliography of editions and critical studies and indices of titles and first lines in Middle English. [RFY. Copyright The John Gower Society. JGN 26.1]

Date
2007

Gower Subjects
Facsimiles, Editions, and Translations
Confessio Amantis