"Efter haly kyrc state Þis ilk bok is es translate In to Inglis tong to rede For the loue of inglis lede, Inglis lede of Ingland, For the commun at understand. Frankis rimes here I redd, Communlik in ilk[a] sted, Mast es it wroght for frankis man: Of Ingland the nacion, Quat is for him na frankis can? Es Inglis man þar in commun; Þe speche þat man wit mast may spede, Mast þar-wit to speke war nede; Selden was for ani chance Praised Inglis tong in france; Giue we ilkan þare langage, Me think we do þam non outrage. To laud and Inglis man i spell Þat understandes pat i tell."
— Cursor Mundi

January 1, 1970

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Poetry
Original Language: English

Sources

Line 231 [MS. Cotton Vespasian A iii, BL]. Laurence M. Eldredge and Anne L. Klinck (eds.) The Southern Version of 'Cursor Mundi, vol. 5 (University of Ottawa Press, 2000) pp. 14–15 — Those things that Holy Church doth state In this same book I now translate. In English tongue 'tis all made clear For love of all the English here; English folk of Engėland, For the commons to understand. French rimes are there in this land To be found on every hand; French is wrought for Frankish man, What is for h