Excerpt from A Middle English Reader: Edited, With Grammatical Introduction Notes, and Glossary

English in its relation to West Saxon is apparent rather than real in any important sense. So thoroughly is the continuity broken by important phonetic and orthographic changes, wide-spread leveling of inflexions, and considerable differences in syntax, that it affords no decided advantage over Midland, even to the student fresh from Old English study. In any case the change to Midland must be made not later than the middle of the fourteenth century, and the student must then be led back to the beginnings Of Midland Eng lish, in order fully to understand the language of Chaucer and those who follow him. There seems, therefore, no special advantage in emphasizing the Southern dialect as the descendant of West Saxon, though this may be done even with the present book if desired.

It is believed that a sufficient number of texts have been given, to represent adequately for the beginner each great dialectal divi sion of the language. Kentish has been given least space, and is not separated from the rest of Southern English. This is owing partly to the limitations of an introductory book, partly to the relatively unimportant place of that dialect in both Old and Middle English. The Kentish selections chosen could be easily grouped together, however, and special emphasis of Kentish peculiarities will be found in the Notes upon them. On the other hand, the dialect of London is especially represented in order to illustrate the change from Southern to Midland, so important in relation not only to the language of Chaucer but also to Modern English. Owing, also, to necessary limitations of a single handbook texts from writers of the fifteenth century have not been used. To that century little introduction is necessary apart from such study of the earlier period as this book will permit.

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