I will also read you the verses in the two ways of pronouncing them, Chaucer’s way and our way: but when you have grown a little used to the old-fashioned English, you will soon see how much prettier and more musical it sounds than our modern tongue, and I think you will like it very much. Besides, it is nice to be able to see the words as Chaucer put them, so as to know exactly how he talked. In Chaucer’s time a great deal of French was spoken in England, and it was mixed up with English more than it is now. The sound of old French and old English were something the same, both spoken very slowly, with a kind of drawl, as much as to say--“I am in no hurry. I have all day before me, and if you want to hear what I have got to say, you must wait till I get my words out.” So if you wish to hear Chaucer’s stories, you must let him tell them in his own way, and try and understand his funny, pretty language. And if you do not pronounce the words as he meant, you will find the verses will sound quite ugly--some lines being longer than others, and some not even rhyming, and altogether in a jumble. XIV. Chaucer himself was very anxious that people should read his words properly, and says in his verses, as if he were speaking to a human being-- And for there is so grete dyversité great diversity In Englissh,[25] and in writynge of our tonge, tongue So preye I God that non miswrité thee pray Ne thee mys-metere for defaute of tonge. (_Troilus._) defect To _mis-metre_ is to read the _metre_ wrong; and the metre is the length of the line. If you read the length all wrong, it sounds very ugly. Now, suppose those lines were read in modern English, they would run thus:-- And because there is so great a diversity In English, and in writing our tongue, So I pray God that none miswrite thee Nor mismetre thee through defect of tongue. How broken and ragged it all sounds! like a gown that is all ragged and jagged, and doesn’t fit. It sounds much better to read it properly. You will find that when Chaucer’s words are rightly pronounced, all his lines are of an even length and sound pretty. I don’t think he ever fails in this. This is called having a musical ear. Chaucer had a musical ear. Some people who write poetry have not, and their poetry is good for nothing. They might as well try to play the piano without a musical ear; and a pretty mess they would make of that![26] XV. When you find any very hard word in Chaucer’s verses which you cannot understand, look in the glossary and the modern version beside them; and you will see what is the word for it nowadays. A few words which cannot be translated within the metre you will find at the bottom of the page; but think for yourself before you look. There is nothing like thinking for one’s self. Many of the words are like French or German words: so if you have learnt these languages you will be able often to guess what the word means.