Selections from Early Middle English, 1130-1250. Part 1: Texts
General
Selections from Early Middle English, 1130-1250. Part 1: Texts
English literature -- Middle English, 1100-1500
Ne spedestu nouht mid þin vn{}wrenche 125
For ich am war. and can blenche.
Ne helpeþ noht· þat þu bo· to þriste.
Ich wolde vyhte bet myd liste.
þan þu mid al þine strengþe.
Ich habbe on brede· ⁊ ek on lengþe. 130
Castel god on myne ryse.
wel fyht þat wel flyhþ. seyþ þe wise.
Ac lete awey þeos cheste.
For suche wordes beoþ vnwreste.
Ne speddestu noȝt mid þine unwrenche. 125
for icham war ⁊ can wel blenche.
Ne helpþ noȝt þat þu bo to {þ}riste. |
Ich wolde viȝte bet mid liste. [f. 234r²
þan þu mid all þine strengþe.
Ich abbe on brede ⁊ eck on lengþe. 130
Castel god on mine rise.
wel fiȝt þat wel fliȝt seiþ þe wise.
ac lete we a{}wei þos cheste.
vor suiche wordes boþ unwerste.
[Linenotes:
127. _þriste_] _wriste_ MS. || 130. _eck_ corr. out of
_ech_ MS.]
And fo we on· myd rihte dome. 135
Mid fayre worde. ⁊ myd some.
þeyh we ne beon at on acorde.
we mawe bet myd fayre worde.
wiþ{}vte cheste· and bute vyhte.
Playde mid soþe. ⁊ mid ryhte. 140
⁊ may vr eyþer hwat he wile.
Mid rihte segge. ⁊ myd skile.
⁊ fo we on mid riȝte dome. 135
Mid faire worde ⁊ mid wsome.
þeȝ we ne bo at one acorde.
we muȝe bet mid fawre worde.
wit{}ute cheste ⁊ bute fiȝte.
Plaidi mid foȝe ⁊ mid riȝte. 140
⁊ mai hure eiþer wat h{e} wile.
Mid riȝte segge ⁊ mid sckile.
[Linenote:
141. _he_] _hi_ MS.]
++Þo qwaþ þe vle. hwo schal vs seme.
þat cunne ⁊ wille riht vs deme.
Ich wot wel quaþ þe nyhtegale. 145
Ne þarf þer of beo no tale.
Mayster Nichol· of guldeuorde.
he is wis· and war· of worde.
++Þo quaþ þe hule {wo} schal us seme.
þat kunne ⁊ wille riȝt us deme.
Ich wot wel quaþ þe niȝtingale. 145
Ne þaref þar of bo no tale.
Maist{er} nichole of guldeforde.
He is wis an war of worde.
he is of worde swyþe glev.
And him is loþ eurich vnþeu. 150
he wot insyht i{n} euche songe.
hwo singeþ wel. hwo singeþ wronge.
And he con schede from þe rihte.
Þat wowe. þat þuster fro{m} þe lyhte.
He is of dome suþe gleu.
⁊ him is loþ eurich unþeu. 150
He wot in{}siȝt in eche songe.
wo singet wel wo singet wronge.
⁊ he can schede vrom þe riȝte.
þat woȝe þat þust{er} from þe liȝte.
[Linenote:
143. _wo_] _þu_ MS.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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