Thus I awaked and wrote what I had dreamed
And dight me dearly and dude me to Church
To hear wholly the Mass and be houseled after,
In midst of the Mass tho men geden to offering
I fell eftsoons asleep and suddenly me mette
That Piers the Ploughman was painted all bloody
And came in with a cross before the common people,
And right like in all limbs to our Lord Jesu;
And then called I Conscience to ken me the sooth.
Is this Jesus the jouster, quoth I, that Jews duden to die;
Or is it Piers Ploughman? Who painted him so red?
Quoth Conscience and kneeled then: These aren Christ's arms,
His colours and his coat-armour, and he that cometh so bloody
It is Christ with His Cross, conqueror of Christdom.