Piers Plowman the A Version: Passus 1, lines 56-84

Abstract

I translated Passus One Lines 56-84, in which Holy Church explains the Castle of Care, as well as reveals to Will her own identity. In the Prologue, Will sees a tower on the hill, a dungeon in a dale, and a field of people in between. Passus One begins with a frighteningly beautiful woman appearing to Will. She questions him for sleeping; meanwhile people are busy in a maze. Just preceding the section of Passus One that I translate, Holy Church begins explaining to Will what is meant by all that he sees. She begins by telling him of the Tower of Truth, which holds the father of faith. Will receives the message of God, who formed us all and demands proper worship. In my selected passage, Will learns of Wrong, the father of falsehood. I composed a critical translation, rather than a rhetorical adaptation, to emphasize the interconnectedness between Middle English and modern English and showcase that even with a direct translation, the language is similar, and the material is relevant.