what is an example of Middle English?

Answer 1

Middle english is defined by linguists as the english spoken between the Norman invasion of 1066 to the mid to late 15th century. It is hard to understand as it pre-dates Shakespearean English or Early Modern English as you might otherwise call it. An example of Middle english would be:
And it is don, aftirward Jesus made iourne bi cites & castelis prechende & euangelisende þe rewme of god, & twelue wiþ hym & summe wymmen þat weren helid of wicke spiritis & sicnesses, marie þat is clepid maudeleyn, of whom seuene deuelis wenten out & Jone þe wif off chusi procuratour of eroude, & susanne & manye oþere þat mynystreden to hym of her facultes.
Chaucer was probably one of the more prominent writers in middle english, but english wasn't very standardized until around the 1470's.

Answer 2

Canterbury Tales is the most famous example of Middle English. It's a lot different from modern English, but if you like puzzles, it's a good and challenging read. Chaucer is such a potty-mind (-:. I think there's something about devils flying out of a priest's butt.

Answer 3

1: I pray you all gyue your audyence,
2: And here this mater with reuerence,
3: By fygure a morall playe.
4: The Somonynge of Eueryman called it is,
5: That of our lyues and endynge shewes
6: How transytory we be all daye.
7: This mater is wonders precyous;
8: But the entent of it is more gracyous,
9: And swete to bere awaye.
10: The story sayth: Man, in the begynnynge
11: Loke well, and take good heed to the endynge,
12: Be you neuer so gay!
13: Ye thynke synne in the begynnynge full swete,
14: Whiche in the ende causeth the soule to wepe,
15: Whan the body lyeth in claye.
16: Here shall you se how Felawshyp/and Iolyte,
17: Bothe/Strengthe/Pleasure/and Beaute,
18: Wyll fade from the as floure in Maye;
19: For ye shall here how our Heuen Kynge
20: Calleth Eueryman to a generall rekenynge.
21: Gyue audyence, and here what he doth saye.

Answer 4

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales:
Here bygynneth the Book
of the tales of Caunterbury
Here begins the Book
of the Tales of Canterbury

1: Whan that aprill with his shoures soote
2: The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
3: And bathed every veyne in swich licour
4: Of which vertu engendred is the flour;

Answer 5

She wolde wepe if that she saw a mous caught in a trappe, if it deed or bledde. Of smale houndes had she, that she fedde with rosted flesh, or milk and wastel-breed. But sore weep she if oon of hem were deed.

She would weap if that she saw a mouse in a trap.if it dead or bled. Of small hounds had she, that she fed with roasted meat, or milk and stale bread. But sore weep she if one of them were dead.