THE CONTRAST TO THE EAST MIDLAND DIALECT.
(About A.D. 1240.)
the owl and nightingale. — Line 993.
Yut þu aisheist wi ich ne fare
In to other londe and singe thare.
No! what sholde ich among hom do,
War never blisse ne com to?
That lond nis god, ne hit nis este,
Ac wildernisse hit is and weste,
Knarres and cludes hoventinge,
Snou and haʓel hom is genge;
That lond is grislich and un-vele,
The men both wilde and unisele;
Hi nabbeth nother grith ne sibbe;
Hi ne reccheth hu hi libbe,
Hi eteth fihs an flehs un-sode,
Suich wulves hit hadde to-brode;
Hi drinketh milc, and wei thar-to,
Hi nute elles wat hi do;
Hi nabbeth noth win ne bor,
Ac libbeth al so wilde dor;
Hi goth bi-tiʓt mid ruje velle,
Riʓt svich hi comen ut of helle;
Theʓ eni god man to hom come,
(So wiles dude sum from Rome)
For hom to lere gode thewes.
An for to leten hore unthewes.
He miʓte bet sitte stille,
Vor al his wile he sholde spille;
He miʓte bet teche ane bore
To weʓe bothe sheld and spere,
Than me that wilde folc i-bringe.
That hi me segge wolde i-here singe.
