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

Natura aquile.

KIðen i wille ðe ernes kinde. Also ic it o boke rede. wu he neweð his guðhede. hu he cumeð ut of elde. [ 40] Siðen hise limes arn unwelde. Siðen his bec is alto wrong. Siðen his | fligt is al unstrong. [f. 4 v] & his egen dimme. Hereð wu he neweð him. [ 45] A welle he sekeð ðat springeð ai. boðe bi nigt & bi dai. ðer ouer he flegeð & up he teð. til ðat he ðe heuene seð. ðurg skies sexe & seuene. [ 50] til he cumeð to heuene. So rigt so he cunne. he houeð in ðe sunne. ðe sunne swideð al his fligt. & oc it makeð his egen brigt. [ 55] Hise feðres fallen for ðe hete. & he dun mide to ðe wete. Falleð in ðat welle grund. ðer he wurdeð heil & sund. & cumed ut al newe. [ 60] Ne were his bec untrewe. His bec is get biforn wrong.

ðog hise limes senden strong. Ne maig he tilen him non fode. him self to none gode. [ 65] ðanne goð he to á ston. & he billeð ðer on. Billeð til his bec biforn. haueð ðe wrengðe forloren. Siðen wið his rigte bile. [ 70] takeð mete ðat he wile.

Notes

• 64. maig on an erasure.