Introduction
In William Langland’s dream-narrative ‘The Book of Piers the Ploughman’, we have seen Jesus Christ enter Jerusalem, and seen him crucified. But Lucifer and his devils are anxious. From their fastness in Hades, surrounded by the souls of the dead, they see a distant light; they double-bar the doors and plug every chink in the mortar but closer and closer it comes, until it stands before the very gates.
A SECOND time the Light knocked, and Lucifer answered, “Who is this?”
“What lord are you?” said Lucifer; the Light straightaway said,
“The King of Glory, lord of might and main
And all manner of hosts! ‘The Lord of Hosts!’*
Dukes of this dim place, now undo these gates.
That Christ may come in, the King of heaven’s Son!”
And at that breath Hell broke, with Belial’s bars;*
Despite ward and warden, the gates opened wide.*
Patriarchs and prophets, ‘the people [that sat] in shadow,’*
Sang St John’s song: ‘Behold the Lamb of God.’*
So blinded was he that Lucifer could not see;*
And our Lord took those whom he loved into his light,
Saying to Satan: “See! Here is my soul to make amends
For all sinful souls, to save those that are worthy.
They are mine, of me they came; I have the better claim.
Though Reason remember (and my own Justice)
That if they ate the apple all should die,*
I did not promise them to hell here forever!
* See Psalm 24:7-10. ‘Might and main’ means strength and force, great royal authority and/or military power. This had long been Lucifer’s fear, that one day God himself would get into Hades. According to the Canon of Lazarus, which is sung on the day before Palm Sunday, the moment that the call came for Lazarus (see John 11:1-45) Lucifer threw him out before he could be fetched. “‘O Lazarus, why dost thou not rise up swiftly?’ cried Hell below, lamenting. ‘Why dost thou not run straightway from this place? Lest Christ take prisoner the others, after raising thee.’”
* See Deuteronomy 13:13. The children of Belial forsook the Israelites and went after other gods.
* See Matthew 16:18: ‘That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ Langland pictures how Christ’s soul quit his body and descended to hell, but broke out leaving its gates twisted on the ground. Now nothing can stop the dead who believe from marching up into heaven: the gates of hell will not prevail against them. As a hymn on the feast of St Demetrius (October 26th) has it: “Unto hades, O my Savior, didst Thou descend, and having broken its gates as One omnipotent, Thou, as Creator, didst raise up the dead together with Thyself. And Thou didst break the sting of death, and didst deliver Adam from the curse, O Lover of mankind. Wherefore we all cry unto Thee: Save us, O Lord.” See Cynewulf on The Six Leaps of Faith.
* See Isaiah 9:2.
* See John 1:1-4.
* See Genesis 2:15-17. The Biblical account does not specify an apple, only a fruit. There is a good Classical reason for choosing an apple: see Apple of Discord. In Latin, the word for evil (mălum) and the word for apple (mālum) look the same though they are pronounced slightly differently.
Précis
Will Langland tells us of a dream, in which he seemed to see Christ’s soul, after he was crucified, go down to Hades like a brilliant light. He broke through the gates, and drew the worthy into heaven, declaring that for his sin mankind was doomed to die, but not to remain forever in the devil’s power. (57 / 60 words)
Will Langland tells us of a dream, in which he seemed to see Christ’s soul, after he was crucified, go down to Hades like a brilliant light. He broke through the gates, and drew the worthy into heaven, declaring that for his sin mankind was doomed to die, but not to remain forever in the devil’s power.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, besides, despite, just, ought, whereas, whether.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
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