Text 73: The travels of Sir John Mandeville (i)

Page 238. Freeborn.

ORIGINAL TEXT

Now schall I seye ʒou sewyngly of contrees and yles þat ben beʒonde the contrees þat I haue spoken of. Wherfore I seye ʒou, in passynge be the lond of Cathaye toward the high Ynde,and toward Bacharye, men passen be a kingdom þat men clepen Cald ilhe, þat is a full fair contre. And þere groweth a maner of fruyt, as þough it weren gowrdes; and whan þei ben rype, men kutten hem ato, and men fynden withinne a lytyll best, in flesch, in bon, and blode as þough it were a lytill lomb,withouten wolle. And men eten bothe the frut and the best: and þat is a gret mervueylle. Of þat frute I haue eten, allþough it were wondirfull: but þat I knowe wel, þat god is merueyllous in his werkes.


MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Now shall I tell you in what follows, of countries and isles that are beyond the countries that I have spoken of. Wherefore I tell you in passing by the land of Cathay toward the high Ind, and toward Bacharia, men pass by a kingdom that men call Caldilhe, that is a full fair country. And there grows a manner of fruit, as though it were pumpkins. And when they are ripe, men cut them in two parts, and men find within a little creature, in flesh, in bone, and blood as though it were a little lamb, without wool. And men eat both the fruit and the criature: and that is a great marvel. Of that fruit I have eaten, although it was wonderful: but that I know well is that God is marvellous is his works.