ABSTRACT
Not long before 1390, John Gower dedicated his Confessio Amantis to a young man with the heart of a boy: Richard II—the puer indoctus(“untaught boy”) of Gower's contemporaneous Vox Clamantis—who had commanded Gower to write “some newe thing” for his instruction and amusement. Often examined by historians for its message to Richard regarding good leadership and good living, the Confessio is also praised by critics for its fluent, fast-paced narratives. 1 In short, Gower's ability to sweeten a moral with a good story gives the Confessio the feel of a children's book, and with good reason, since he originally wrote the book for a king whom he viewed as a child.
