Lines 6017-6357 Summary

The barons assure Cupid that he will not break his oath. The barons then introduce Fals-Semblance and his lover Abstinence. Cupid takes Fals-Semblance into his service, although he knows that Fals-Semblance can be treacherous. Fals-Semblance then introduces himself as the son of Gyle and Ipocrisy. Cupid and Fals-Semblance then have a conversation where Fals-Semblance talks about himself as the personification of religious hypocrisy and the master of all disguises. Fals-Semblance also introduces his girlfriend, Abstinence (or Abstinence-Streyned.)

Lines 6017-6357 Analysis

It is interesting to compare Fals-Semblance's description of himself with the depiction of Pope-Holy on the exterior wall of the garden; de Meun seems to have forgotten that fake piety and religious hypocrisy are supposed to be banished from the Garden of Mirth.

Cupid's comments to Fals-Semblance inviting him to introduce himself are interesting. Cupid asks for a full description so...