"--Murimuth, 171.
Section II
The literature of the later part of the fourteenth century
affords us glimpses of other readers who were not merely
collectors. The author--or authors--of Piers Plowman
seems to have had within his reach a fair library. His
reading was carelessly done for the most part, his references
are vague and incorrect, and his quotations not always exact.
But he was well read in the Scriptures, which he knew far
better than any other book. From the Fathers he gathered
much, perhaps by means of collections of extracts from
their works. He used the Golden Legend, Huon de Meri's
allegorical poem of the fight between Jesus and the Antichrist,
Peter Comestor's Bible History, Rustebeuf's La Voie
de Paradis, Grosseteste's religious allegory of Le Chastel
d' Amour, the paraded learning of Vincent of Beauvais in
Speculum Historiale, and other works--numerous and small
signs of booklore, which are completely overshadowed by
his illuminating comprehension of the popular side in the
politics of his day. Gower, too, had at his disposal a little
library of some account, including the Scriptures, theological
writings and ecclesiastical histories, Aristotle, some of
the classics, and a good deal of romance in prose and verse.
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