256 KANSAS UMVEKSrrV (.)UAR rKRI-N'. 



conclusion, there is constant reference made throughout every 

 part of the poem, to Christ in His own proper person as the Son of 

 (lod, proving that to Langlanil Christ and Piers were ordinarily sepa- 

 rate conceptions; and these references are as numerous or nearly so in 

 those passages where Piers is most often mentioned, as elsewhere; 

 "Christ" and "Piers" often standing side by side in consecutive lines. 

 From the references to Christ in his Divine ]:)ersonality may be 

 gathered a tolerably complete life history and doctrinal teaching. In 

 C, XIX. and XXI. are given the fullest accounts of the life of 

 Christ, the first incomplete, the second much condensed. The first 

 includes the incarnation, miracles, and betrayal; the second begins 

 with Christ's last journey to Jerusalem, describes His trial and cruci- 

 fixion. His descent into hell, and triumph there. 



The martial and chivalric spirit of the Middle Ages appears, in that 

 Christ rides to enter Jerusalem as a knight in armor to a tournament 

 (C, XXL, 14). When He hangs upon the cross, none dare touch 

 Him to wound, because He is a knight and a king's son; hence at 

 last, the blind Longinus, himself a knight, is called on to deal the 

 fatal blow, unwitting who his victim is. The blood streaming forth 

 restores to Longinus his siglit, whereupon he kneels to ask forgiveness 

 of Christ, and by this act, as he Is the Jews' champion, he yields to Christ 

 the victory, and places the Jews at His disposal, according to the law 

 of arms. 



In C, XXII. Christ aj^pears to Thomas, and ascends int<j heaven, 

 deputing His power upon earth to Piers Plowman. I'urther we find 

 His commission from the Father, and His forgiveness of His slayers 

 (C, II., 164-168), the creed of the atonement, crucifixion, and re- 

 demption (C, \ HI., 121 ff. ), Llis relation to man as father, brother, 

 savior ( Ibiil. , 144), the power of His love to move and direct men (C, 

 IL, 149 ft.), the necessity of. belief in Him as the Son of God (C, 

 XII., 142 ff.) His poverty (C, XI\'., x-4) and especial love for the 

 poor (C, XII., 292), and His all-embracing mercy (C, XIL, 254 ff.). 

 Mothor of Though the central figure in Langland's theology is 

 t"hri!<t* Christ himself, he recognizes in accordance with the teach- 

 ing of the church, the dignity and authority of His mother. She is fre- 

 quently invoked by name (C, III., 2), or as intercessor with the Son 

 (C, VII., 170). It is stated in Latin and again in English (C, VHL, 

 250-289) that she, under the name of Mercy, has a key to heaven, 

 that both she and her Son may grant help to the sinful, and that 

 there is no other help but through those two. 



Heaven. The poem contains no picture of heaven, but only occa- 

 sional references and suggestions. It is variously located, sometimes 

 toward the east, from the point of view of the stage of the Miracle 



