Kevin Wald: Some Early English Fragments

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A, we!
A grene gome I naf
Neuer sene, ne nolde se;
But on sene, I vowche saf,
Deme I bettre thanne on to be.
   -- Sir Gawain and the G. Burgess

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                      Thaet scafan wel
gemaec bith munecum,  ond monnum othrum,
bith na bunecumm.     Byrme Scafe.

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                      Ealle lufath
se Woruldweard;       wif, thone guman 
the birth na beard.   Byrme Scafe.

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Bealubrer birth       biterne waestm.
Hwa thaet cunne,      on heortum monna
hwelcu scyld lutie?   Seo Sceadu conn. (Heaheahea . . .)

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Ful often have I payed that was due,
And suffred peynes, though from crime pure;   
Of soor mistakes have I maad som fewe; 
My part of sand have I received sure  
In face, and have availled; and I dure.  
Ywis, we been the champiouns, my freend,
And so we shullen fighten on till end.
   (G. Chaucer, "The Compleynt of Mercury")