The Cloud-authors' remaking of the Pseudo-Dionysius' mystical theology

The Cloud of Unknowing and its companion texts were among the outstanding accomplishments of the flowering of English spiritual writing that occurred in the late fourteenth century. As a prelude to his final poetic evocation of contemplative fulfilment in The Cloud itself, the anonymous author formulates the paradox on which his instruction is based. Although the intellect as a spiritual faculty can know all created spiritual things, he writes, except through its failing it cannot know God, who is both spiritual and uncreated. He elucidates with a quote from the Pseudo-Dionysius' On the Divine Names: 'þe moste goodly knowyng of God is þat, þe whiche is knowyn bi vnknowyng' (125.11-12).' He then takes the opportunity to comment on this source, on citing authorities, and on intellectual presumption