Pestilence in Medieval and Early Modern English Literature

Includes a section (pp. 103-17) on PPl. In C passus 8, the plowing of the half-acre, pestilence corrects society’s sinfulness; in C 22, it corrects the sinfulness of L’s literary characters. L demonstrates contemporary medical knowledge regarding the transmission of plague, and urges dietary moderation as a means of prevention. He blames doctors, priests, and beggars for preferring sin to moderation. ‘In one sense, PPl can be read as a prescription for curing plague’ (p. 117).