A Middle English Reader and Vocabulary

This highly-respected anthology of medieval English literature features numerous well-chosen extracts of poetry and prose, including popular tales from Arthurian legend and classical mythology, as well as the allegorical poemPiers Plowmanand John Wycliffe's translation of the Bible. Includes notes on each extract, appendices, and an extensive glossary by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Map

viii

Introduction

ix

Robert Mannyng of Brunne's Handlyng Synne

1

(12)

The Dancers of Colbek

4

(9)

Sir Orfeo

13

(19)

Michael of Northgate's Ayenbyte of Inwyt

32

(4)

How Mercy increases Temporal Goods

33

(3)

Richard Rolle of Hampole

36

(8)

Love is Life

37

(4)

The Nature of the Bee

41

(1)

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost

42

(2)

Sir Gawayne and the Grene Knight

44

(13)

The Testing of Sir Gawayne

46

(11)

The Pearl, II. 361--612

57

(11)

The Gest Hystoriale of the Destruction of Troy

68

(8)

Prologue

69

(3)

The XXXI Book: Of the Passage of the Grekys fro Troy

72

(4)

Piers Plowman

76

(18)

From the B-Text, Passus VI

78

(11)

From the C-Text, Passus VI

89

(5)

Mandeville's Travels

94

(13)

Ethiopia.---Of Diamonds

96

(4)

Beyond Cathay

100

(4)

Epilogue

104

(3)

John Barbour's Bruce

107

(8)

An Assault on Berwick (1319)

108

(7)

John Wiclif

115

(14)

The Translation of the Bible

117

(2)

Of Feigned Contemplative Life

119

(10)

John Gower

129

(16)

Ceix and Alceone

131

(6)

Adrian and Bardus

137

(8)

John of Trevisa's Translation of Higden's Polychronicon

145

(6)

The Marvels of Britain

146

(2)

The Languages of Britain

148

(3)

Political Pieces

151

(11)

On the Scots, by Minot

152

(1)

The Taking of Calais, by Minot

153

(4)

On the Death of Edward III

157

(3)

John Ball's Letter to the Peasants of Essex

160

(1)

On the Year 1390--1

161

(1)

Miscellaneous Pieces in Verse

162

(9)

Now Springs the Spray

163

(1)

Spring

164

(1)

Alysoun

165

(1)

The Irish Dancer

166

(1)

The Maid of the Moor

167

(1)

The Virgin's Song

167

(1)

Judas

168

(1)

The Blacksmiths

169

(1)

Rats Away

170

(1)

The York Play `Harrowing of Hell'

171

(14)

The Towneley Play of Noah

185

(19)

Notes

204

(61)

Appendix: The English Language in the Fourteenth Century

265

(28)

A Middle English Vocabulary

293

J.R.R. Tolkien

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A Middle English Reader and Vocabulary

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Table of Contents

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