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1. 
   linda-allen Teacher
   High School - 10th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   You can download a modern English version of The Faerie Queene at Project Gutenberg at the link pasted below.

   If you'll give yourself a chance, you might find that Middle English, which is what Spenser used, is really not that difficult to read. Spellings are different, especially in the use of vowels. Whereas today we use the spelling "fairy," Spenser used "faerie"; we use "knight," and Spenser used "knyghte." Most words should be recognizable to you, and those that aren't are probably annotated in the margin or in a footnote.

   Middle English is the in-between form of English--between the Old English of the Anglo-Saxons and the Renaissance English of Shakespeare. It is heavily influenced by French because of the Norman Conquest.

   I've pasted for you below a link to How to Read and Speak Middle English. Follow those 7 steps--and have fun!

   Sources:

   http://www.ehow.com/how_2138664_read-speak-middle-english...

   http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15272

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   Posted by linda-allen on Tuesday March 18, 2008 at 10:47 PM
   
   

2. 
   calique Student
   College - Junior

                 1LO I the man, whose Muse whilome did maske,              2As time her taught in lowly Shepheards weeds,              3Am now enforst a far vnfitter taske,              4For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine Oaten reeds,              5And sing of Knights and Ladies gentle deeds;              6Whose prayses hauing slept in silence long,              7Me, all too meane, the sacred Muse areeds              8To blazon broad emongst her learned throng:              9Fierce warres and faithfull loues shall moralize my song.

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   Posted by calique on Tuesday October 14, 2008 at 9:41 AM