APPENDIX. SPECIMENS OF EARLY ENGLISH Early Translations of the Bible. THE LORD'S PRAYER. Anglo-Saxon Version (about 1000 a. D.). Fæder ure pu pe eart on heofonum; si þin nama gehalgod. To-becume pin rice. Gewurpe ðin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum. Urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us to dæg. And forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfað urum gylten5 dum. And ne gelæd pu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele. Soplice. [Matthew 6: 9-13.] Wiclif's Version (about 1380 a. D.). Oure fadir that art in heuenes, halwid be thi name; thi kyngdom cumme to; be thi wille don as in heuen and in erthe; 3if to vs this day oure breed ouer other substaunce; and 10 forzeue to vs oure dettis, as we forzeue to oure dettours; and leede vs nat in to temptacioun, but delyuere vs fro yuel. Amen. [Matthew 6: 9-13.] Tyndale's Version (1534 a. D.). O oure father which arte in heven, halowed be thy name. Let thy kyngdome come. Thy wyll be fulfilled as well in 15 erth as it ys in heven. Geve vs this daye oure dayly breede. And forgeve vs oure treaspases, even as we forgeve oure trespacers. And leade vs not into temptacion: but delyver vs from evell. For thyne is the kyngedome and the power and the glorye for ever. Amen. [Matthew 6: 9-13.] THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON. Wiclif's Version (about 1380 a. D.). Sum man hadde tweye sones; and the jongere seide to the fadir, Fadir, 3yue to me the porcioun of substaunce that byfallith to me. And the fadir departide to him the substaunce. And not aftir manye dayes, alle thingis gederid to gidre, the jongere sone wente in pilgrymage in to a fer 5 cuntree; and there he wastide is substaunce in lyuynge leccherously. And aftir that he hadde endid alle thingis, a strong hungir was maad in that cuntree, and he bigan to haue nede. And he wente, and cleuyde to oon of the citeseyns of that cuntree. And he sente him in to his toun, that he 10 schulde feede hoggis. And he coueitide to fille his wombe of the coddis whiche the hoggis eeten, and no man 3af to him. Sothli he turned azen in to him silf, seyde, Hou many hirid men in my fadir hous, han plente of looues; forsothe I perische here thur; hungir. I schal ryse, and I schal go 15 to my fadir, and I schal seie to him, Fadir, I haue synned azens heuene, and bifore thee; now I am not worthi to be clepid thi sone, make me as oon of thi hyrid men. And he rysinge cam to his fadir. Sothli whanne he was 3it fer, his fadir sy3 him, and he was stirid by mercy. And he rennynge 20 to, felde on his necke, and kiste him. And the sone seyde to him, Fadir, I haue synned a3ens heuene, and bifore thee; and now I am not worthi to be clepid thi sone. Forsoth the fadir seyde to his seruauntis, Soone bringe e forth the firste stoole, and clothe 3e him, and 3yue 3e a ring in his hond, and 25 schoon in to the feet; and brynge 3e a calf maad fat, and sle 3e, and ete we, and plenteuously ete we. For this my sone was deed, and hath lyued azen; he perischide, and is founden. And alle bigunnen to eat plenteuously. Forsoth his eldere sone was in the feeld; and whanne he cam, and neigede to 30 the hous, he herde a symphonye and a crowde. And he clepide oon of the seruauntis, and axide, what thingis thes weren. And he seide to him, Thi brodir is comen, and thi fadir hath slayn a fat calf, for he receyuede him saf. Forsoth he was wroth, and wolde not entre. Therfore his fadir 35 gon out, bigan to preie him. And he answeringe to his fadir, seide, Lo! so manye jeeris I serue to thee, and I brak neuere thi comaundement; thou hast neuere 30uun a kyde to me, that I schulde ete largely with my frendis. But aftir that 5 this thi sone, which deuouride his substaunce with hooris, cam, thou hast slayn to him a fat calf. And he seide to him, Sone, thou art euere with me, and alle myne thingis ben thyne. Forsothe it bihofte to ete plenteuously, and for to ioye; for this thi brother was deed, and lyuede aзeyn; he 10 peryschide, and he is founden. [Luke 15: 11-32.] Tyndale's Version (1534 a. D.). And he sayde: a certayne man had two sonnes, and the yonger of them sayde to his father: father geve me my parte of the goodes that to me belongeth. And he devided vnto them his substaunce. And not longe after, the yonger sonne 15 gaddered all that he had to gedder, and toke his iorney into a farre countre, and theare he wasted his goodes with royetous lyvinge. And when he had spent all that he had, ther rose a greate derth thorow out all that same londe, and he began to lacke. And he went and clave to a citesyn of that same 20 countre, which sent him to his felde, to kepe his swyne. And he wold fayne have filled his bely with the coddes that the swyne ate: and noo man gave him. Then he came to him selfe and sayde: how many hyred servauntes at my fathers, have breed ynough, and I dye for 25 honger. I will aryse, and goo to my father and will saye vnto him: father, I have synned agaynst heven and before the, and am no moare worthy to be called thy sonne, make me as one of thy hyred servauntes. And he arose and went to his father. And when he was yet agreate waye of, his 30 father sawe him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his necke, and kyssed him. And the sonne sayd vnto him: father, I have synned agaynst heven, and in thy sight, and am no moare worthy to be called thy sonne. But his father sayde to his servauntes: bringe forth that best garment and put it 35 on him, and put a rynge on honde, and showes on his fete. And bringe hidder that fatted caulfe, and kyll him, and let vs eate and be mery: for this my sonne was deed, and is alyve agayne, he was loste, and is now founde. And they began to be merye. The elder brother was in the felde, and when he cam and 5 drewe nye to the housse, he herde minstrelcy and daunsynge, and called one of his servauntes, and axed what thoose thinges meante. And he sayd vnto him: thy brother is come, and thy father had kylled the fatted caulfe, because he hath receaved him safe and sounde. And he was angry, and wolde 10 not goo in. Then came his father out, and entreated him. He answered and sayde to his father: Loo, these many yeares have I done the service, nether brake at eny tyme thy commaundment, and yet gavest thou me never soo moche as a kyd to make mery with my lovers: but assone as this thy sonne 15 was come, which hath devoured thy goodes with harlootes, thou haste for his pleasure kylled the fatted caulfe. And he sayd vnto him: Sonne, thou wast ever with me, and all that I have, is thyne: it was mete that we shuld make mery and be glad: for this thy brother was deed, and is a lyve 20 agayne: and was loste, and is founde. [Luke 15: 11-32.] Sir John Mandeville. Died 1372. OF THE HILLES OF GOLD. (From The Voiage and Travaile of Sir John Maundevile, Kt., 1371). In the Yle also of this Taprobane, ben grete Hilles of Gold, that Pissemyres kepen fulle diligently. And thei fynen the pured Gold, and casten away the unpured. And theise Pissemyres ben grete as Houndes: so that no man dar come 25 to tho Hilles: for the Pissemyres wolde assaylen hem and devouren hem anon; so that no man may gete of that Gold, but be gret sleighte. And therfore whan it is gret hete, the Pissemyres resten hem in the Erthe, from pryme of the Day |