Written in the middle to late 14th century possibly by William of Nassyngton, an obscure English poet about whom little is known. The poem is written in Late Middle English which is much closer to Modern English than the earlier works of Chaucer as English evolves into the next step in it's development as the language of Shakespeare. The title however is in Latin and translates as "Mirror of life".
a) Original;
In English tonge I schall you telle,
yif ye with me so longe wil dwelle.
No Latyn wil I speke no waste,
But Englisch, that men vse mast,
That can ech man vnderstonde,
That is born in Ingelande.
For that langage is most chewyd,
Os wel among lered as lewyd.
Latyn, as I trowe, can nane
But tho, that haueth it in scol tane.
And somme can frenssche and no Latyn,
That vsed hav cowrt and dwellen therein.
And somme can of Latyn a party,
That can of Frensche but febly.
And somme vnderstonde wel Englysch,
That can nother Laty nor Frankys.
Bothe lered and lewed, olde and yonge,
Alle vnderstonden english tonge.
