A Middle English Reader and Vocabulary
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Map
- Introduction
- I. Robert Mannyng of Brunne’s Handlyng Synne
- The Dancers of Colbek
- II. Sir Orfeo
- III. Michael of Northgate’s Ayenbyte of Inwyt
- How Mercy increases Temporal Goods
- IV. Richard Rolle of Hampole
- A. Love is Life
- B. The Nature of the Bee
- C. The Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
- V. Sir Gawayne and the Grene Knight
- The Testing of Sir Gawayne
- VI. The Pearl, ll. 361–612
- VII. The Gest Hystoriale of the Destruction of Troy
- Prologue
- The XXXI Book: Of the Passage of the Grekys fro Troy
- VIII. Piers Plowman
- A. From the B-Text, Passus VI
- B. From the C-Text, Passus VI
- IX. Mandeville’s Travels
- Ethiopia.—Of Diamonds
- Beyond Cathay
- Epilogue
- X. John Barbour’s Bruce
- An Assault on Berwick (1319)
- XI. John Wiclif
- A. The Translation of the Bible
- B. Of Feigned Contemplative Life
- XII. John Gower
- A. Ceix and Alceone
- B. Adrian and Bardus
- XIII. John of Trevisa’s Translation of Higden’s Polychronicon
- A. The Marvels of Britain
- B. The Languages of Britain
- XIV. Political Pieces
- A. On the Scots, by Minot
- B. The Taking of Calais, by Minot
- C. On the Death of Edward III
- D. John Ball’s Letter to the Peasants of Essex
- E. On the Year 1390–1
- XV. Miscellaneous Pieces in Verse
- A. Now Springs the Spray
- B. Spring
- C. Alysoun
- D. The Irish Dancer
- E. The Maid of the Moor
- F. The Virgin’s Song
- G. Judas
- H. The Blacksmiths
- I. Rats Away
- XVI. The York Play ‘Harrowing of Hell’
- XVII. The Towneley Play of Noah
- Notes
- Appendix: The English Language in the Fourteenth Century
- A Middle English Vocabulary By J.R.R. Tolkien
Scholarly and highly informative, this anthology represents a distinctive contribution to the understanding and enjoyment of Middle English literature. Kenneth Sisam's well-chosen extracts from writings of the 14th century illustrate a rising new spirit in vernacular works. Selections include excerpts from such tales as "Sir Gawayne and the Grene Knight" and the"Gest Hystoriale of the destruction of Troy," the immortal "Piers Plowman," John Wycliffe's translation of the Bible, political commentaries, and poetry. In addition to notes on each selection and an informative appendix, this volume features an extensive glossary by J. R. R. Tolkien. Best known as the author of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien was an Oxford University professor of linguistics whose "vocabulary" offers an effective and practical complement to this outstanding anthology.