278 



KANSAS UNIVERSITY QUARTEKl.V, 



Parables. Many of the parables are directly Scriptural. Of 



others one of the most pleasing and instructive is that of the merchant 

 and the messenger (C, XIV., ^^'J which is probably Langland's own, 

 and is no less significant literally than figuratively in regard to what 

 may be called the laws of the road. Short but exceedingly happy is 

 the friar's illustration of the wagging boat (C, XI., 32) by which it is 

 conclusively shown how one may meet with many mishaps in religious 

 life and yet be saved. 



PuiiN. Plays upon words are not so numerous as might be ex- 

 pected. As good as any, though probably not original, ar:; the com- 

 parison of words and worts (vegetables; B, V., 162), and that carried 

 out at length (C, XVIII., 200) where the cross upon the reverse of 

 the red noble is said to take the i)lace of the cross of Christ in the 

 worship of many. 



The riddles, parables and ])uns illustrate rather Langland's close 

 relation to the jieople tlian the peculiar character of his mind. Where 

 the thought is more elevated they are fewer, but they sometimes occur 

 where Langland is )jressing most earnestly forward; and in such ])laces 

 they are evidently spontaneous ami unstudied. This can hardly be 

 said of such efforts as that to illustrate the difference between reward 

 and bribery by the relations of grammar. 



Ntriiftiirr' of The general structure of the allegory is as follows: 

 Aiit'Kor.v. I'irst we have a picture of the world, which is given 

 over to the lust for money and to the seven deadly sins. 'I'hose 

 who realize the condition of affairs and long for a better estate are 

 guided in their search for it by a humble plowman, until they learn 

 that deliverance lies in Dowel. The author, as one of them, then 

 begins a search for Dowel, Dobet and Dobest, as three stages of the 

 way to holiness, and in the search meets various personages who 

 question his motive, the road he is taking, his haste to reach the end 

 of his journey. Each affords him all the help possible, but all are 

 not in agreement. Finally attention is directed to Christ and His 

 teaching as the culmination of Dowel, Dobet and Dobest; His cruci- 

 fixion and resurrection are related; Conscience becomes the leader 

 of His forces upon earlli, and is sore besieged by Anti-Christ. 



AiioKorioai A minor point noticeable in Langland's method is the 

 \aiiio><i. length of the names often bestowed upon persons and 

 places. Piers Plowman's wife (C, X., 80) is " Work-when-time-is;" 

 her daughter, " Do-right-so-or-thy-dam-shall-theebeat;" her son, 

 " Suffer-thy-sovereigns-have-their-will-, judge-them-not-, for-if-thou- 

 do-thou-shalt-dearly-pay." In one instance (C, VIL, 310) the name 

 of a \\'elshman extends for several lines. 



