Piers the Plowman

[sister_raphael]

Checking a few quotes I'm using from three versions of Piers the Plowman. Here's my oldest (printed 1888) from my vintage book library and the newest, printed in 1992. I really don't know which version to use. Is the new translation using more modern words for things, or more accurate ones? The third version of the quote is similar but a bit different again.

All authors have solid research credentials.The oldest is a bit more swear-y, and uses the very old words for things, which I like.

These two are Piers Plowman by William Langland, written c.1370-1386. A New Translation of the B Text. A. V. C. Schmidt. The World’s Classics, Oxford University Press in 1992 and The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman by William Langland. According to the version revised and enlarged by the author about A.D. 1377, edited by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat, Litt.D. Oxford University Press, Clarendon Press Series in 1888.

I own both versions, with the 1888 in my antique book collection.