men unlerned that men ne mowe 1 not go undre the Erthe, and also that men scholde falle toward the Hevene from undre! But that may not be, upon lesse than wee mowe falle toward Hevene fro the Erthe where wee ben. For fro what partie of the Erthe that men duelle, outher aboven or benethen, it semethe alweys to hem that duellen that thei gon more righte than ony other folk. And righte as it semethe to us that thei ben undre us, righte so it semethe hem that wee ben undre hem. For yif a man myghte falle fro the Erthe unto the Firmament, be grettere resoun, the Erthe and the See, that ben so grete and so hevy, scholde fallen to the Firmament: but that may not be; and therefore seithe oure Lord God, Non timeas me, qui suspendi Terra[m] ex nichilo? And alle be it that it be possible thing that men may so envyronne alle the World, natheles 7 of a 1000 persones on ne myghte not happen to returnen in-to his Contree. For the gretnesse of the Erthe and of the See, men may go be a 1000 and a 1000 other weyes, that no man cowde redye 10 him perfitely toward the parties that he cam fro, but-yif " it were be aventure and happ or be the grace of God. For the Erthe is fulle large and fulle gret, and holt 12 in roundnesse and aboute envyroun, be aboven and be benethen, 20425 Myles, aftre the opynyoun of the olde wise Astronomeres. And here Seyenges I repreve 13 noughte. But aftre my lytylle wytt, it semethe me, savynge here 14 reverence, that it is more.

8

FROM CHAP. XXVII

In the Lond of Prestre John ben many dyverse thinges and many precious Stones, so grete and so large that men maken of hem Vesselle; 15 as Plateres, Dissches, and Cuppes. And many other marveylles ben there; that it were to 1 combrous and to 16 long to putten it in scripture 17 of Bokes.

But of the princypalle Yles and of his Estate and of his Lawe I schalle telle you som partye. 18 This Emperour Prestre John is Cristene; and a gret partie of his Contree also: but yit thei have not alle the Articles of oure Feythe, as wee have. Thei beleven wel in the

5

Fadre, in the Sone, and in the Holy Gost: and thei ben fulle devoute and righte trewe on1 to another. And thei sette not be no Barettes, ne be Cawteles, ne of no Disceytes. And he hathe undre him 72 Provynces; and in every Provynce is a Kyng. And theise Kynges han Kynges undre hem; and alle ben tributaries to Prestre John. And he hathe in his Lordschipes many grete marveyles. For in his Contree is the See that men clepen the Gravely See, that is alle Gravelle and Sond with-outen ony drope of Watre; and it ebbethe and flowethe in grete Wawes 10 as other Sees don; and it is never stille ne in pes" in no maner 12 cesoun.13 And no man may passe that See be Navye 14 ne be no maner of craft: 15 and therfore may no man knowe what Lond is beyond that See. And alle-be-it that it have no Watre, yit men fynden 1 there-in and on the Bankes fulle gode Fissche of other maner of kynde and schappe thanne men fynden in ony other See; and thei ben of right goode tast and delycious to mannes

mete.

23

And a 3 journeys long fro that See, ben gret Mountaynes; out of the whiche gothe 1" out a gret Flood, 18 that comethe out of Paradys; and it is fulle of precious Stones, withouten ony drope of Water; and it rennethe 1o thorghe the Desert, on that 20 o1 syde, so that it makethe the See gravely; and it berethe 17 in-to that See, and there it endethe. And that Flome 18 rennethe also 3 dayes in the Woke, and bryngethe with him grete Stones and the Roches 22 also therewith, and that gret plentee. And anon as thei ben entred in-to the gravely See, thei ben seyn no more, but lost for evere more. And in tho 3 dayes that that Ryvere rennethe no man dar24 entren in-to it: but in the other dayes men dar entren wel ynow. 25 Also beyonde that Flome, 18 more upward to the Desertes, is a gret Pleyn alle gravelly betwene the Mountaynes; and in that Playn every day at the Sonne risynge begynnen to growe smale Trees; and thei growen til mydday, berynge Frute; but no man dar taken of that Frute, for it is a thing of Fayrye. 26 And aftre mydday thei discrecen 27 and entren ayen 28 in-to the Erthe; so that at the goynge doun of the Sonne thei apperen no more; and so thei don every day: and that is a gret marvaylle. JOHN WICLIF (D. 1384)

THE GOSPEL OF MATHEW (FIRST VERSION)

CHAP. V

Jhesus forsothe,1 seynge cumpanyes, wente up in-to an hill; and when he hadde sete, his disciplis camen nighe to hym. And he, openynge his mouthe, taughte to hem, sayinge, "Blessid be the pore in spirit, for the kingdam in hevenes is heren. Blessid be mylde men, for thei shuln welde the eerthe. Blessid be thei

21

that mournen, for thei shuln be comfortid. Blessid be thei that hungren and thristen rightwisnesse, for thei shuln ben fulfillid. Blessid be mercyful men, for thei shuln gete mercye. Blessid be thei that ben of clene herte, for thei shuln see God. Blessid be pesible men, for thei shuln be clepid the sonys of God. Blessid be thei that suffren persecucioun for rightwisnesse, for the kyngdam of hevenes is herun. Yee shulen be blessid, when men shulen curse you, and shulen pursue you, and shulen say al yvel 10 ayeins" you leezing, 12 for me. Joye 13 yee with-yn-forth," and glade yee with-out-forth, for youre meede 15 is plentevouse 16 in hevenes; forsothe so thei han 17 pursued and 18 prophetis that weren before you. Yee ben salt of the erthe; that yif 19 the salt shal vanyshe awey, wherynne shal it be saltid? To no thing it is worth over,20 no bot 22 that it be sent out, and defoulid of men. Ye ben light of the world; a citee putt on an hill may nat be hid; nether men tendyn 23 lanterne, and putten it undir a busshel, but on a candilstike, that it yeve 24 light to alle that ben in the hous. So shyyne 25 youre light before men, that thei see youre good werkis, and glorifie youre Fadir that is in hevens. Nyle 26 ye gesse, or deme," that Y came to undo, or distruye, the lawe, or the prophetis; I came not to undo the lawe, but to fulfille. Forsothe 28 I say to you trewthe, til heven and erthe passe, oon 20 i, that is leste 30 lettre, or titil, shal nat passe fro the lawe, til alle thingis be don. Therfore he that undoth, or breketh, oon of these leste 30 maundementis, and techith thus men, shal be clepid 32 the leste in the rewme 33 of hevenes; forsothe, this 34 that doth, and techith, shal be clepid grete in the kyngdame of hevenes. Forsothe Y say to you, no-but-yif 35 youre rightwisnesse shal be more

a

THE GOSPEL OF MATHEU

(SECOND VERSION)

CAP. V

And Jhesus, seynge the puple, wente up into an hil; and whanne he was set, hise disciplis camen to hym. And he openyde his mouth, and taughte hem, and seide, "Blessed ben pore men in spirit, for the kyngdom of hevenes is herne. Blessid ben mylde men, for thei schulen welde the erthe. Blessid ben thei that mornen, for thei schulen be coumfortid. Blessid ben thei that hungren and thristen rightwisnesse, for thei schulen be fulfillid. Blessid ben merciful men, for thei schulen gete merci. Blessid ben thei that ben of clene herte, for thei schulen se God. Blessid ben pesible men, for thei schulen be clepid Goddis children. Blessid ben thei that suffren persecusioun for rightfulnesse, for the kingdam of hevenes is herne. Ye schulen be blessid, whanne men schulen curse you, and schulen pursue you, and shulen seie al yvel 10 ayens 11 you liynge, for me. Joie 13 ye, and be ye glad for youre meede 15 is plentevouse 10 in hevenes; for so thei han 17 pursued also profetis that weren bifor you. Ye ben salt of the erthe; that if the salt vanysche awey, whereynne schal it be saltid? To no thing it is worth overe, 20 no 21 but 22 that it be cast out, and be defoulid of men. Ye ben light of the world; a citee set on an hil may not be hid; ne me teendith 23 not a lanterne, and puttith it undur a busschel, but on a candilstike, that it yyve light to alle that ben in the hous. So schyne youre light befor men, that thei se youre goode werkis, and glorifie youre Fadir that is in hevenes. Nil 20 ye deme," that Y cam to undo the lawe, or the profetis; Y cam not to undo the lawe, but to fulfille. Forsothe Y seie to you, til hevene and erthe passe, o 29 lettir or o 2o titel shal not passe fro the lawe, til alle thingis be doon. Therfor he that brekith oon of these leeste 30 maundementis, and techith thus men, schal be clepid 32 the leste in the rewme 33 of hevenes; but he that doith, and techith, schal be clepid greet in the kyngdom of hevenes. And Y seie to you, that but your rightfulnesse be more plentevouse than of scribis and of Farisees, ye

ward 16 plenteous 17 have 18 also 19 if 20 besides 21 not 22 but 23 light 24 give 28 Subj. of command. 26 do not, literally, wish not (Lat. nolite) 27 think 28 verily 29 one 30 least 31 commandments 32 called 33 kingdom 34 he 85 unless

8

plentevouse than of scribis and Pharisees, yee shulen not entre in-to kyngdam of hevenes. Yee han herde that it is said to olde men, Thou shal nat slea; forsothe he that sleeth, shal be gylty of dome. But I say to you, that evereche 3 that is wrothe to his brother, shal be gylty of dome; forsothe he that shal say to his brother, Racha, that is, a word of scorn, shal be gylty of counseile; sothly he that shal say, Fool, that is, a word of dispisynge, shal be gylti of the fijr of helle. Therfore yif thou offrist thi yift at the auter, and there shalt bythenke, that thi brother hath sum-what ayeins thee, leeve there thi yift before the auter, and go first for to be recounseilid, or acordid, to thi brother, and thanne thou cummynge shalt offre thi yifte. Be thou consentynge to thin adversarie soon, the whijle thou art in the way with hym, lest peraventure thin adversarie take thee to the domesman," and the domesman take thee to the mynystre," and thou be sente in-to prisoun. Trewely I say to thee, Thou shalt not go thennes, til thou yelde 12 the last ferthing. Ye han herd for it was said to olde men, Thou shalt nat do lecherye. Forsothe Y say to you, for-why 18 every man that seeth a womman for to coveite hire, now he hath do lecherie by hire in his herte. That yif thi right eiye sclaundre 14 thee, pulle it out, and cast it fro thee; for it speedith1 to thee, that oon of thi membris perishe, than al thi body go in-to helle. And yif thi right hond sclaundre thee, kitt 17 it awey, and cast it fro thee; for it spedith to thee, that oon of thi membris perishe, than that al thi body go in-to helle. Forsothe it is said, Who-evere shal leeve his wyf, yeve 18 he to hir a libel, that is, a litil boke, of forsakyng. Sothely Y say to you, that every man that shal leeve his wyf, outaken 19 cause of fornicacioun, he makith hire do lecherie and he that weddith the forsaken wijf, doth avoutrie.20 Efte-soonys 21 yee han herd, that it was said to olde men, Thou shalt not forswere, sothely to the Lord thou shalt yeeld 23 thin œthis.24 Forsothe Y say to you, to nat swere on al manere; neither by hevene, for it is the trone of God; nether by the erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; neither thou shalt swere by thin heved, 25 for thou maist not make oon heer whyt or blak; but be youre word yea, yea; Nay, nay; forsothe that that is more

schulen not entre into the kyngdom of hevenes. Ye han herd that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt not slee; and he that sleeth, schal be gilti to doom. But Y seie to you, that ech man that is wrooth to his brothir, schal be gilti to doom; and he that seith to his brother, Fy! schal be gilti to the counseil; but he that seith, Fool, schal be gilti to the fier of helle. Therfor if thou offrist thi yifte at the auter,1 and ther thou bithenkist, that thi brothir hath sum-what ayens thee, leeve there thi yifte bifor the auter, and go first to be recounselid to thi brothir, and thanne thou schalt come, and schalt offre thi yifte. Be thou consentynge to thin adversarie soone, while thou art in the weie with hym, lest peraventure thin adversarie take thee to the domesman, 10 and the domesman take thee to the mynystre," and thou be sent in-to prisoun. Treuli Y seie to thee, thou shalt not go out fro thennus, til thou yelde 12 the last ferthing. Ye han herd that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt do no letcherie. But Y seie to you, that every man that seeth a womman for to coveite hir, hath now do letcherie bi hir in his herte. That if thi right iye sclaundre 14 thee, pulle hym out, and caste fro thee; for it spedith 15 to thee, that oon of thi membris perische, than that al thi bodi go in-to helle. And if thi right hond sclaundre thee, kitte 17 hym aweye, and caste fro thee; for it spedith to thee that oon 16 of thi membris perische, than that al thi bodi go in-to helle. And it hath be seyd, Who-evere leeveth his wiif, yyve he to hir a libel of forsakyng. But Y seie to you, that every man that leeveth his wiif, outtakun cause of fornycacioun, makith hir to do letcherie, and he that weddith the forsakun wiif, doith avowtrye. Eftsoone ye han herd, that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt not forswere, but thou schalt yelde thin othis to the Lord. But Y seie to you, that ye swere not for ony thing; nethir bi hevene, for it is the trone of God; nether bi the erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; nether bi Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; nether thou shalt not swere bi thin heed, for thou maist not make oon heere white ne blacke; but be youre word, yhe, yhe; Nay, nay; and that that is more than these, is of yvel. Ye han herd that it hath be seid, Iye for iye, and tothe for tothe. But Y seie to you, that ye ayenstonde 26 not an yvel man; but if ony than this, is of yvel. Yee han herde that it is said, Eiye1 for eiye, toth for toth. But Y say to you, to nat ayein-stonde yvel; but yif any shal smyte thee in the right cheeke, yeve to hym and the tother; and to hym that wole stryve with thee in dome, and take awey thi coote, leeve thou to hym and thin over-clothe; and who-evere constrayneth thee a thousand pacis, go thou with hym other tweyne. Forsothe yif to hym that axith of thee, and turne thou nat awey fro hym that wol borwe of thee. Yee han herd that it is said, Thou shalt love thin neighbore, and hate thin enmy. But Y say to you, love yee youre enmyes, do yee wel to hem that haten & you, and preye yee for men pursuynge, and falsly chalengynge you; that yee be the sonys of youre Fadir that is in hevenes, that makith his sune to springe up upon good and yvel men, and rayneth upon juste men and unjuste men. For yif ye loven hem that loven you, what meed 10 shul 11 have? whether and puplicans don nat this thing? And yif yee greten, or saluten, youre bretheren oonly, what more over 12 shul yee don? whether and paynymmys 13 don nat this thing? Therfore be yee parfit," as and youre hevenly Fadir is parfit. Take yee hede, lest ye don your rightwisnesse before men, that yee be seen of hem, ellis 15 ye shule nat han meed at youre Fadir that is in hevenes. Therfore when thou dost almesse, 1" nyle 17 thou synge byfore thee in a trumpe, as ypocritis don in synagogis and streetis, that thei ben maad worshipful of men; forsothe Y saye to you, thei han resceyved her 18 meede. But thee doynge almesse, knowe nat the left hond what thi right hond doth, that thi almes be in hidlis, and thi Fadir that seeth in hidlis, shal yelde 20 to thee."

yee

smyte thee in the right cheke, schewe to him also the tothir; and to hym that wole stryve with thee in doom, and take awey thi coote, leeve thou to him also thi mantil; and who-ever constreyneth thee a thousynde pacis, go thou with hym othir tweyne. Yyve thou to hym that axith of thee, and turne not awey fro hym that wole borewe of thee. Ye han herd that it was seid, Thou shalt love thi neighbore, and hate thin enemye. But Y seie to you, love ye youre enemyes, do ye wel to hem that hatiden you, and preye ye for hem that pursuen, and sclaundren you; that ye be the sones of your Fadir that is in hevenes, that makith his sunne to rise upon goode and yvele men, and reyneth on just men and unjuste. For if ye loven hem ' that loven you, what mede 10 schulen ye han? whether pupplicans doon not this? And if ye greten youre britheren oonli, what schulen ye do more? ne doon not hethene men this? Therfore be ye parfit, as youre hevenli Fadir is parfit."

[It will be observed that the Second Version agrees with the Authorized Version in the division into chapters, while the First Version contains a few verses usually assigned to Chapter VI.]

1 eye 2 resist • borrow 7 them 11 shall 12 besides 16 alms 17 do not

As it is i-knowed how meny manere peple beeth in this ilond, there beeth also so many dyvers longages and tonges; notheles Walsche men and Scottes, that beeth nought i-medled with other naciouns, holdeth wel nyh hir' firste longage and speche; but-yif

1 known 2 are 3 island languages nevertheless ⚫ mixed 7 their & except

18 their

19 secret 20 pay

the Scottes that were somtyme confederat and wonede with the Pictes drawe somwhat after hir speche; but the Flemmynges that woneth 3 in the weste side of Wales haveth i-left her straunge speche and speketh Saxonliche i-now.5 Also Englische men, they thei hadde from the bygynnynge thre manere speche, northerne,

1 dwelt 2 incline dwell their enough though

7

sowtherne, and middel speche in the myddel of the lond, as they come of thre manere peple of Germania, notheles1 by comyxtioun and mellynge firste with Danes and afterward with Normans, in meny the contray longage is apayred, and som useth straunge wlafferynge, chiterynge, harrynge, and garrynge grisbayting. This apayrynge of the burthe of the tunge is bycause of tweie thinges; oon is for children in scole ayenst the usage and manere of alle othere naciouns beeth compelled for to leve 10 hire 11 owne langage, and for to construe hir" lessouns and here 11 thynges in Frensche, and so they haveth 12 seth 13 the Normans come 14 first in-to Engelond. Also gentil-men children beeth i-taught to speke Frensche from the tyme that they beeth i-rokked in here cradel, and kunneth 15 speke and playe with a childes broche; 16 and uplondisshe 1" men wil likne hym-self to gentil-men, and fondeth 18 with greet besynesse for to speke Frensce, for to be i-tolde 19 of. Trevisa.20 This manere was moche i-used to-for 21 [the] Firste Deth 22 and is siththe 13 sumdel 23 i-chaunged; for John Cornwaile, a maister of grammer, chaunged the lore in gramer scole and construccioun of 24 Frensche in-to Englische; and Richard Pencriche lerned the manere 25 techynge of hym and othere men of Pencrich; so that now, the yere of oure Lorde a thowsand thre hundred and foure score and fyve, and of the secounde kyng Richard after the conquest nyne, in alle the gramere scoles of Engelond, children leveth Frensche and construeth and lerneth an 26 Englische, and haveth 12 therby avauntage in oon side and disavauntage in another side; here 11 avauntage is, that they lerneth her" gramer in lasse 27 tyme than children were i-woned 28 to doo; disavauntage is that now children of gramer scole conneth 20 na more Frensche than can 30 hir 11 lift 3 heele, and that is harme for hem 32 and 33 they schulle passe the see and travaille in straunge landes and in many other places. Also gentil-men haveth now moche i-left 34 for to teche here" children Frensche. R.35 Hit semeth a greet wonder how Englische, that

2

is the burthe tonge of Englisshe men and her1 owne langage and tonge, is so dyverse of sown in this oon ilond, and the langage of Normandie is comlynge of another londe, and hath oon manere soun among alle men that speketh hit aright in Engelond. Trevisa. Nevertheles there is as many dyvers manere 1 Frensche in the reem & of Fraunce as is dyvers manere Englische in the reem of Engelond. R. Also of the forsaide Saxon tonge that is i-deled 10 athre" and is abide 12 scarsliche 13 with fewe uplondisshe 14 men is greet wonder; for men of the est with men of the west, as it were undir the same partie 15 of hevene, acordeth more in sownynge 16 of speche than men of the north with men of the south; therfore it is that Mercii, that beeth men of myddel Engelond, as it were parteners of the endes, understondeth bettre the side langages, northerne and southerne, than northerne and southerne understondeth either other. Willelmus de Pontificibus, libro tertio." Al the longage 18 of the Northhumbres, and specialliche at York, is so scharp, slitting, and frotynge 19 and unschape, that we southerne men may that longage unnethe 20 understonde. I trowe 21 that that is bycause that they beeth nyh 22 to straunge men and naciouns that speketh strongliche, 23 and also bycause that the kynges of Engelond woneth 24 alwey fer from that cuntrey; for they beeth more i-torned 25 to the south contray, and yif they gooth to the north countray they gooth with greet help and strengthe. 26 R.27 The cause why they beeth more in the south contrey than in the north, is for 28 hit may be better corne londe, 2 more peple, more noble citees, and more profitable havenes.30

GEOFFREY CHAUCER (1340?-1400)

A TREATISE ON THE ASTROLABE 31

PROLOGUS

Litell Lowis 32 my sone, I have perceived wel by certeyne evidences thyn abilite to lerne

1 their sound one comer, immigrant kind of Trevisa adds a very intelligent observation. kinds of 8 realm What follows is from Higden. 10 divided 11 in three (dialects) 12 has remained 18 scarcely 14 country 16 part 16sounding, pronouncing 17 The historian, William of Malmesbury, is Higden's authority for what follows 18 language 19 chafing, harsh 20 scarcely 21 believe 22 nigh 23 harshly, or (perhaps) strangely 24 live 25 turned 26 i.e. with a large army 27 Higden adds a remark of his own to his quotation. 28 because 29 land 80 havens, harbors 31an astronomical instrument; consult the dictionary 32 Lewis