Qua tamen Engisti lingua canit Insula Bruti

Anglica Carmente metra iuuante loquar.

Ossibus ergo carens que conterit ossa loquelis

Absit, et interpres stet procul oro malus.

Incipit Prologus

Of hem that writen ous tofore

The bokes duelle, and we therfore

Ben tawht of that was write tho:

Forthi good is that we also

In oure tyme among ous hiere[24]