text 13.1. Chaucer's prose writing

page 242. Freeborn

ORIGINAL TEXT

Alas my worthy mayster honorable
Thys landes verray tresouur and rychesse
Deth by thy deth hath harme irreparable
Vnto vs don; hir vengeable duresse
Despoyled hath this land of the swetnesse
Of rethorik, for vnto Tullius
Was nere man so lyk amonges vs.
Also, who was hier in philosophy
To Aristotle in our tongue but thou?
The steppes of Virgile in poesie
Thow filwedist eek, men wot wel enow…

MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Alas! My appreciated and honourable master
This land’s true treasure and wealth
Death by this death (which) has done irreparable harm
To us by your death: her vengeful harm
Has despoiled sweetness in this land
Of rethoric, since Tullius
There was never a man like this among us.
Also, who was the heir in philosophy
To Aristotle in our language, except you?
The steps of Virgil in poetry
You fellowed also men well known.