Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 [extracts]

Natura elephantis.

Elpes arn in Inde riche. [ 480] on bodi borlic berges ilike. he to gaddre gon o wolde so sep ðat cumen ut of folde. & behinden. he hem sampnen. ðanne he sulen oðre strenen. [ 485] Oc he arn so kolde of kinde. ðat no golsipe is hem minde. til he noten of a gres. ðe name is mandragores. Siðen he bigeten on. [ 490] & two ger he ðer mide gon. ðog he ðre hundred ger. on werlde more ¶wuneden her. | bigeten he neuermor non. [f. 9 r] so kold is hem siðen blod & bon. [ 495] ðanne ge sal hire kindles beren. In water ge sal stonden. In water to mid side. ðat wanne hire harde tide. ðat ge ne falle niðer nogt. [ 500] ðat is most in hire ðogt. For he ne hauen no lið. ðat he mugen risen wið.

Hu he resteð him ðis der. ðanne he walkeð wide. [ 505] herkne wu it telleð her. for he is al unride. A tre he sekeð to fuligewis. ðat is strong & stedefast is. & leneð him trostl[i]ke ðer bi. [ 510] ðanne he is of walke weri. ðe hunte haueð biholden ðis. ðe him wille swiken. wor his beste wune is. to don hise willen. [ 515] Sageð ðis tre & under set. o ðe wise ðat he mai bet. & hileð it wel ðat he it nes war ðanne he makeð ðer to char. him seluen sit olon bihalt. [ 520] weðer his gin him out biwalt. [521. biwarlt MS.] ðanne cumeð ðis elp unride. & leneð him up on his side. slepeð bi ðe tre in ðe sadue. & fallen boden so to gaddre. [ 525] gef ðer is noman ðanne he falleð. he remeð & helpe calleð. remeð reufulike on his wise. hopeð he sal ðurg helpe 'ri'sen. [529. risen] sisen MS., ri in margin.] ðanne cumeð ðer on gangande. [ 530] hopeð he sal him don ut standen. Fikeð & fondeð al his migt. ne mai he it forðen no wigt. Ne canne ðan non oðer. 'oc' remeð mid his broðer. [ 535] [535. oc] o MS., oc in margin.] manie & mikle cume ðer 'se'cande. [536. sacande MS., se in margin.] wenen him on stalle maken.

oc for ðe helpe of hem alle. ne mai he cumen so on stalle. ðanne remen he alle a rem. [ 540] so hornes blast. oðer belles drem. For here mikle reming. rennande cumeð a gungling. raðe to him luteð. his snute him under puteð. [ 545] & mitte helpe of hem alle. ðis elp he reisen on stalle. & tus | atbrested ðis huntes breid. [f. 9 v] oðe wise ðat ic haue gu seid.