13.1. Chaucer’s prose writing

Alas my worthy mayster honorable
Thys landes verray tresouur and rychesse
Deth by thy deth hath harme irriparable
Vnto vs don; hir vengeable duresse
Despoyled hath this land of the swetnesse
Of rethorik, for vnto Tullius
Was nere man so lyk amonges vs.
Also, who was hier in philosophy
To Aristotle in our tonge but thou?
The steppes of Virgile in poesie
Thow filwedist eek, men wot wel enow…

Alas my worthy honourable master

These lands are very treasure and richness

Death by your death has done irreparable harm

To us, his vengeful harm

Has made this land get rid of the sweetness

Of rhetoric, since from Tullius

There was no man like him among us.

Also, who was heir in philosophy

To Aristotle in our language but you?

The steps of Virgile in poetry

You also filled, it is well-known…