Syngeth the nyghtyngale; gredeth | Singeth the nightingale; scream theo jay; The hote sunne chongeth the clay; eth the jay; 8. Havelok. (Manual, p. 34.) (From Guest's History of English Rhythms, vol. ii. pp. 142–145.) Hwan he was hosled and shriven, | When he was housled and shriven, Helm on heued, and leden ut here, Helm on head, and lead out host, (In his hand a spere stark) And king ben maked of Denmark. (In his hand a sturdy spear) And king of Denmark should be made. 1 This is clearly a mistake for here. 1298 9. ROBERT OF GLOUCESTER. (Manual, p. 33.) Thuse come lo! Engelond into | Thus came lo! England into NorNormannes honde, And the Normans ne couthe speke So that heymen of thys lond, that Holdeth alle thulke speche that hii of hem nome. mans'-hand. And the Normans not could speak then but their own speech, And spake French as (they) did at home, and their children did all so teach: Vor bote a man couthe French me For but a man know French men tolth of hym wel lute; tell (reckon) of him well little: Ac lowe men holdeth to Englyss | But low men nold to English and and to her kunde speche yute. to their natural speech yet. Ich wene ther ne be man in world I wen there not be man in world contreyes none That ne holdeth to her kunde speche, bot Engelond one. countries none That not holdeth to their natural speech but England (al-) one. Ac wel me wot vor to conne both | But well I wot for to know both well it is: wel yt ys; Vor the more that a man con, the For the more that a man knows, more worth he ys. the more worth he is. 10. Robert MANNYNG or Robert of Brunne. (Manual, p. 33.) Lordynges, that be now here, If ye wille listene & lere Lords, that be now here, Als Robert Mannyng wryten it As Robert Mannyng found it writ CHAPTER II. THE AGE OF CHAUCER. 11. The Vision of Piers Ploughman, 1350. (Manual, p. 54.) 12. JOHN GOWER, d. 1408. Confessio Amantis. (Manual, p. 56, seq.) TALE OF THE COFFERS OR CASKETS. From the Fifth Book. In a Cronique thus I rede: Aboute a king, as must nede, Ther was of knyghtès and squiers Gret route, and eke of officers: Some of long time him hadden served, And thoughten that they haue deserved And some also ben of the route, Among hemself1 compleignen ofte: 2 Of hem that pleignen in the cas, The which out of his tresorie Was take, anon he fild full; That other cofre of straw and mull So that erliche" upon a day And seide to hem in this wise. There shall no man his hap despise: Of that ye unavanced be, The sothè shall be proved now: Ye shall be richè men for ever: Now chese," and take which you is lever, That no defaltè shal be myn. They knelen all, and with one vois A knyght shall spekè for hem alle: And seith that they upon this thing, Or for to winne, or for to lese, 15 Ben all avised for to chese. 17 Tho 16 toke this knyght a yerd " on honde, And goth there as the cofres stonde, And with assent of everychone 18 He leith his yerde upon one, And seith 19 the king how thilke same |