The Romance Convention of the Disguised Duel and the Climax of Piers Plowman.

The strange joust of Jesus and Longeus (B.18.78ff.) reflects the common romance motif of the battle between two disguised knights who end their strife by yielding to each other once their true identities are revealed, which WL may have found in Chretien’s Yvain or its ME translation, Ywain and Gawain. In both the romance and PPl the combatants cannot recognize each other, and the combat allows for the reconciliation through compassion of sisters (the daughters of the lord of Noire Espine, and the Four Daughters of God). Through the expression of brotherly love in this courtly motif, WL reinforces the theme of the quest for understanding of what it means to be a Christian.