On 11/2/2015 8:25 AM, Thomas de Groot wrote:
> Strange about that 404. I believe that you can switch dates on the
> Wayback Machine banner and so find the missing chapters. I just did it
> now. Anyway, I downloaded the pages to be certain to have local access.
>

I tried a date close to the posted one but one of the missing chapters 
was still not there. Lost interest, I am afraid.


> Middle English is already easier to read without help indeed.

Indeed it is. I did have a year of Chaucer when I was at school and that 
helps.

> I have
> always liked the challenge to try to read old texts, especially in a
> historical settings which attracts me in the first place like the Early
> Medieval period. And I am a bit envious of people like Tolkien who could
> write and speak Old English as if it was his native tongue:
>

Well I am not an academic and think those things should be left to them 
and their ilk. ;-)

> "On ǽrdagum wæs wuniende be norþdǽlum middangeardes sum cyning, þe ángan
> dohtor hæfde. On his húse wæs éac án cniht óþrum ungelíc."
>

Not from the excerpt you posted but I could pick out more phrases from 
the whole story. I don't know if being dyslectic helps or hinders. I 
would certainly need a dictionary to go further.

> I hope the special characters will be readable. This the beginning of
> Sellic Spell, a proto-Beowulf tale imagined by Tolkien and written in
> O.E. by him. Can you understand what is written? Note that 'h' is
> gutural aspiration as in German 'ach', and 'y' is 'ü', and some words
> become clear :-)

Yes the characters are readable. It reminds me of an old friend who 
could recite Chaucer in a broad Scottish accent. It was much more 
understandable when spoken. At least to me.

Talking about old and ancient things and remembering the image you 
posted a few years back. Have you read this article?

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32532893

-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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