#hoccleve

[arthur-writes]

And in my chamber at home, when there I was, alone, by myself, I would proceed straight to my mirror, my glass, To look at the way that my face seemed If it were any other than it should be Eagerly would I, if it had not been right Amended it with all my ability and might.

My amateur translation of a stanza from Hoccleve's 'Complaint', trying to preserve the original rhyme scheme. Informed by this prose translation from Hoccleve Society.

I've flipped the photo so this is the inverse of my previous post - a reflection or mirror perhaps ;) I chose the motif of scrunched bedsheets because it makes me think privacy/private selves. Practicing who you are around everyone else alone in your bedroom.

[narniaandplowmen]

i did a thing

[missgeorgiex1]

can’t believe it, end of summer term has come & now it’s this weird hollow void before I adjust to the summer holidays. plenty of work to do for my dissertation, special options paper, Shakespeare coursework & my own writing so it’ll need lots of motivation & sun hopefully 😍👌☺️

Hope everyone has a great summer (⁎⁍̴̛ᴗ⁍̴̛⁎)

[arthur-writes]

And in my chaumbre at home whanne pat I was Mysilfe aloone I in bis wise wrou3t. I streite vnto my mirrour and my glas, To loke howe pat me of my chere pou3t, If any othir were it than it ou3t, For fain wolde I, if it not had bene ri3t, Amendid it to my kunnynge and my3t.

Thomas Hoccleve, 'Complaint'.

Hoccleve was a medieval poet who wrote the first recorded reflection on mental health in the English language. In his complaint, he recollects how he experienced a period of 'madness'. Although remarkable throughout, I found this stanza particulaly meaningful - Hoccleve describes returning to his room and looking into a mirror to analyse his facial expressions, making sure he appears sane.

His repetition of personal pronouns - 'my', 'I', 'mysilfe aloone I' - is not typical for medieval poetry. This frantic returning to himself is like his exruciating self focus, constantly checking to make sure he appears socially typical.

I think this is one of the best and most honest depictions of masking in language.

[arthur-writes]

Another image inspired by Thomas Hoccleve's 'Complaint' - thinking about scrutiny, a reflection and masking.