Vox Clamantis ("the voice of one crying out") is a Latin poem of 10,265 lines in elegiac couplets by John Gower (1330 – October 1408). The first of the seven books is a dream vision giving a vivid account of the Peasants' Rebellion of 1381. Macaulay described the remaining books: "The general plan of the author is to describe the condition of society and of the various degrees of men, much as in the latter portion of the Speculum Meditantis." Fisher concludes that books II-V were written in the 1370s while the author was writing similar passages in Mirour de l'Omme.
Versions
Wickert divides the manuscripts into two groups: A-text (Macaulay's "initial version," Fisher's "b-version") and B-text (Macaulay's "final version," Fisher's "c-version"). The A-text for Book VI condemns the advisors of a young King Richard; the corresponding B-text condemns "the king's corrupt and corrupting young associates." There is a unique manuscript (MS Laud (Misc) 719 SC10601) which omits the Visio and numbers the books I–VI. Fisher calls this the a-version.
Most critics cite the remaining books as an example of estate satire where the author complains about various problems in society. "This universal voice, the voice of the Old Testament prophets, is the mode of perception and expression that distinguishes medieval complaint from classical satire." Macaulay also found borrowings "from the poem of Alexander Neckam De Vita Monachomm, from the Speculum Stultorum, or from the Pantheon, so that in many places the composition is entirely made up of such borrowed matter variously arranged and combined. This is evidently a thing to be noted, because if the author, when describing (for example) the vices of monasteries, is found to be merely quoting from Alexander Neckam, we cannot attach much value to his account as a picture of the manners of his own time." Gower was familiar with Brunetto Latini's Li Livres dou Trésor. Shrank suggests that portraying the rebels as lower forms was derived from Cicero's claims about civilized societies in De Inventione.
Structure and content
All books are divided into chapters. Each chapter is preceded by a prose heading which summarizes the chapter. Three books have prologues.
Book I Visio Anglie
The Visio has 2150 lines describing the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. The horrors of 1381 are described in allegorical form and the rebels are condemned. Gower recounts the events of the revolt in "the form of a personal nightmare". Both Visio and Chronica "represent a thorough re-creation of historical events, reordered and recombined so as to fulfill the poet's own artistic vision and political purpose."
Wickert divides Book I into three sections: In this poem Edward III and his son steer the ship, the Duke of Lancaster is the hull and the common people provide the mast. Chapter 18 introduces a monster worse than Scylla and Charybdis. The dreamer reflects that his sufferings were caused by his own sin. Wickert observes that this is the Augustinian view of the prodigal son. Wickert observes: "The idea of peace as the unrealized and unrealizable longing of the poet suffuses the entire Visio. It is expressed by pax, concodia, amor. The dreamer yearns for peace but a celestial voice advises him to stoically accept perpetual strife on this world. This yearning for peace cannot be satisfied because for the Christian author the soul can never find peace in this world. Not can he find peace in the sense of John 14:27 and 16:33. What Gower has the heavenly voice say is strikingly inadequate and can in no way stand as a solution to the problem.".
:He yaf not of the text not a pulled hen
:That saith that hunters been not holy men,
:Ne that a monk, whan he is reccheless,
:Is likened til a fish that is waterless
:(This is to sayn, a monk out of his cloistre);
Book V Knights, Peasant & Townsmen
Knights, peasants and town-dwellers are discussed here.
The first chapter looks back to past when a knight performed his deeds for justice rather than for fame. Several chapters condemn knights who are dominated by love for single women. Condemnation of courtly love which Gower considers adulterous is deferred to Book VII. Chapter 6 begins with a paragraph in praise of good women but segues into a long condemnation of bad women. Chapters 7 and 8 return to praise of the good knight who defends other classes and acts for honor rather than love, money or fame.
Agricultural workers are criticized in Chapters 9 and 10 as lazy, greedy and complaining. Stockton notes Gower reworked Genesis 3:19 to obtain "O sinner, the sweat and toil of the world be thine; in them shalt thou eat thy bread." Gower argues for divinely ordained labour as alternative to the popular verse:
:When Adam delved and Eve span,
:Who was then the gentleman?
Chapter 15 begins with a condemnation of a mayor who "kindles malice among his fellow citizens". John Northampton who "was popular with the poorer classes" is the most probable object of Gower's disapprobation. Fisher observes that Gower "emphasizes legal justice and regal responsibility". Fisher takes a more balanced view than Ayers. The account of the
earlier English successes on the Continent takes on a heroic ring, but Gower concludes that the Black Prince's real
accomplishment was that he kept the peace at home: “The land
was quiet under that great prince; no sword terrorized those whom
his hand protected” . So, while “there is a time for
war and a time for peace” , love is a king's best
weapon: “Omnia vincit amor, amor est defensio regis” .