Hopkins: character and opinions of william langland. 241 



or as text A here reads (A, XL, 157), 



Experiments of alchemy of Albert's making: 



Necromancy and pyromancy the devil to rise maketh. 

 Text B continues — 



If tiiou think to Do Well, deal therewith never; 



All these sciences I myself subtled and ordained, 



And founded them first, folk to deceive. 



This condemnation of astrology and astronomy is 



Astronomy ^^^ adhered to consistently throughout the poem. 

 aiitl a««ti'olojij . , . 



Langland makes use himself of a warning from Sa- 

 turn, though perhaps satirically (C, IX., 349); he expresses belief in 

 the favorable influence of a constellation (C, XV., 30), and says that 

 Grace teaches astronomers and philosophers to see and say what shall 

 befall (C, XXIL, 242); and conversely, the failure of predictions is 

 ascribed to the evil deeds of the people, and their lack of faith (C, 

 XVIIL, 96 ff.). 



The greater number of allusions pertain to popular beliefs with 

 reference to medicine, and to natural history; the latter doubtless 

 derived from the Bestiaries, Latin and English, except some of the 

 most ordinary facts of observation. There is a somewhat extended 

 discussion of the habits of beasts and birds (B, XL, 326; C, XIV., 143 

 ff. ), based partly on observation and partly on Aristotle at second- 

 hand. Langland mentions the growing of precious stones (A, XL, 

 12), the cricket's living in the fire, and the curlew on air (C, XVI., 

 243); end in Richard the Redeless (Passus III), he tells how the 

 hart, by swallowing an adder, renews its youth, and how young part- 

 ridges forsake their foster mother for the true one. 



One of the prominent medical allusions is the men- 

 sieciieine. tion of triacle (treacle) or salve, the remedy for poisons 



made from the flesh of vipers (Skeat, Notes, 227) 

 suggesting the principle. Like cures like, which is formulated else- 

 where (C, XXL, 158). Precious stones cure diseases and poisons 

 (B, II., 14).* Walnuts, if the shell and bitter bark be removed, will 

 increase the strength and benefit the general health of ol.l men ((", 

 XIIL, 144). The virtues of plasters were understood (C, XXIIL, 

 314, 359), sleeping-draughts were employed (C, XXIIL, 379), and 

 many drugs were in use (C, XXIIL, 174). A full list of common dis- 

 eases is given (C. XXIIL, 81) comprising fevers and fluxes, coughs 

 and consumptions, heart spasms, cramps and toothaches, colds and 

 catarrhs, running sores, boils and swellings, agues, "frenzies and foul 

 evils." Leprosy was not unknown (C, X., 179). More terrible than 



*C, IX., 189, "And lame meu lie leeched wiili limgs of beasts," probably means that the 

 lungs were given for food. 



