HOI'KINS: CHARACTER AND OPINIONS OK WILLIAM LANGLAND. 269 



Without multiplying references, the general conclusion is that Dowel 

 is to purify one's own life and action; Dobet is to care for the needs 

 of others; Dobest is to act with authority, teaching, leading men 

 toward the right, warning the doers of evil, and evidently involves 

 something of clergy (learning). Hence, while to engage in priestly 

 offices is Dowel and possibly Dobet, it is by no means necessarily 

 Dobest. To apply this to Langland himself, in singing the seven 

 psalms for the souls of the departed he was in accord with Dobet; 

 but in writing the Vision of Piers Plowman he was most assuredly 

 with Dobest. Thus did he carry the gospel among men; a gospel 

 new in its application if not in its underlying i)rinciples. Without 

 rejecting or questioning the doctrines of his church, he interpreted 

 them in the light of a "clene conscience," and thus restored them 

 often to their original simplicity and opened the way to the Reform- 

 .ation. 



Our Xeighbor. Passus X, of the poem may be called the doctrinal 

 passus. One of the most moving and eloquent passages is that 

 •defining "our neighebores" (C, X., 71-138) as "the most needy." 



Marriage. Marriage between the humble should be undertaken at 

 the will of parents, and the counsel of friends, and then by assent of 

 the parties concerned (B, IX., 112). It is unprofitable without off- 

 spring (C, XIX., 222). The law of heredity imposes on every one 

 the greatest care in choosing a mate (C, XI., 233 ff.). There is a 

 time for marriage, and those conceived out of time become false folk 

 and faithless, thieves and liars as was Cain (A, X., 127; C, XL, 202 

 ff.). Good should wed good, though they no goods have, and those 

 who marry for goods shall lead lives unlovely. Maidens should 

 marry maidens, widowers widows, and every manner secular man may 

 wed; a statement which Professor Skeat construes to include the 

 secular clergy (Notes, 145). We have noted that hasty marriages 

 abounded after the pestilence, and that divorces were not unknown 

 (page 265). 



Unbelief. Idle scholastic discussion of matters connected with 

 Scripture (C, XII., 35 ff.) and careless preaching have brought a 

 lack of faith in Holy Writ. Scripture should not be shown to those 

 who love to raise idle questions, and preaching to those whose hearts 

 are not ready to receive is useless. If it were not possible to dispute 

 any of the teachings of Holy Church, if the truth of all were 

 absolutely certain, one means of grace would be lost to man; there 

 would no longer be any faith if faith were certainty (C, XII., 159). 

 Pre(iei!it illation. If all that Scripture and Clergy teach be true, sal- 

 vation will be impossible for many (C, XII., 201-223); ^'^^ they say 

 that man's name is written in the book of life, or else not written, 



