Page:The Sources of Standard English.djvu/72

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The Old and Middle English.
43

how much nearer it is to our speech than the West Saxon is: —

Southern Northern Modern.
Se, seo The, thio The
Ic, Heo Ih, Sio I, She
Þeah Theh Though
Hi Ða They
Hyra Ðara Their
Eower Ewer Your
Feawa Feawe Few
Ðreora gewittnesse Ðreo gewitnesse Witness of three
Eom Am Am
Eart Arth Art
For Foerde[1] Fared
Drincan Drinca, drince To drink
Sealde Salde Sold
Gescy Scoas Shoes
Stanas Stanes Stones
Eac Ek Eke
Fynd Fiondas Fiends
Ælmessan Ælmisse Alms
Blawe Blau Blow
Fêt Foedeþ Feedeth
Byreð Bereþ Beareth
Slep Slepte Slept
Sceap Scep Sheep
Tó cumenne eart Cwome scalt Shalt come
Ealle gearwe All iara[2] All yare (ready)
Cuppa Copp Cup
  1. Here we have a Strong Verb turned into a Weak form, a cor­ruptionwhich has been going on ever since. Thus crope, used byTyndale, after his time became crept.
  2. We see the hard g already softened into y, both here, and in theearlier Psalter.