s. 30. OPEN AND CLOSE [=E]. In like manner, Chaucer distinguishes to some extent, and with certain rather more numerous exceptions, between the open and close long e. This is a somewhat more intricate matter, so that it is best to give the results succinctly. It is also a little more difficult to follow, because modern English has confused the sounds; though they are frequently distinguished by a different mode of spelling, the old open _e_ being represented by _ea_, and the old close _e_ by _ee_. A good example occurs in the case of the words _sea_ and _see_. The former, in Chaucer, is (sae) or (s[`e][`e]), with long open _e_; whilst the latter is (s['e]['e]), with long close e. Both were written _see_ in M.E.; with the result, that the words were spelt alike at that time, though pronounced differently; but are spelt differently now, though pronounced alike. The difference in spelling is due to an Elizabethan habit, when the two sounds were purposely distinguished; and it may be remarked that such words as are spelt with _ea_ are precisely those which still have a peculiar pronunciation in Ireland. Some writers try to denote this by using such spellings as _say_, _tay_, _baste_, _mate_, and the like, instead of the standard English _sea_, _tea_, _beast_, _meat_. s. 31. STABLE AND UNSTABLE [=E]. The two kinds of _[=e]_ are best understood by observing their sources. Before we can shew these clearly, it is necessary to observe that the A.S. [=AE] has two values, which must be carefully distinguished. The first, which I shall call 'stable [=AE],' because it regularly produces an open _[=e]_ in M.E., answers to Germanic and Gothic _ai_, and is generally due to mutation. Thus _h[=ae]lan_, to heal, answers to Goth. _hailjan_, and is mutated from _h[=a]l_, whole, Goth. _hails_. This produced M.E. _h[=e]len_ (hael[*e]n), with open _[=e]_. Again, M.E. _spr[=e]de_, to _spread_ (note _ea_ in the modern form), answers to a Gothic _*spraidjan_[30]; for, although no such Gothic form actually occurs, we can infer it from comparison with the G. _spreiten_; cf. G. _heilen_ with Goth. _hailjan_ above. The second kind of _[=ae]_, which I shall call the A.S. 'unstable [=AE],' because it occurs in forms which are treated both ways in Chaucer, answers to an original Germanic _[=ae]_, Goth, _[=e]_, and does not arise from mutation, though it may arise from gradation. Thus the M.E. _d[=e]de_, deed, A.S. _d[=ae]d_, answers to Goth. _gad[=e]ds_, a deed, G. _That_; and the contrast between the vowel in G. _That_ and that in G. _heilen_, to heal, is very clearly marked. It is from words of this class that some trouble arises.