Chaucer doth blog
Last week we learned that Eurylochus, a Greek fighting in the Trojan War, is writing a blog. Now, it's the turn of Geoffrey Chaucer. Posting is sporadic, which is not surprising given the conditions in 14th-century England, but the apologies for sluggishness are classic: "Lordynges, by Goddes grace ich yow biseche that ye forgyven me myn tardinesse yn updatinge myn blogge. In this droughty march, the customes house is unusualie bisy."
For a newcomer to this new-fangled writing medium, Chaucer is doing well with internet abbreviations:
GP: gentil person
WC: woole customes
OTPBRB: Offe to parliamente, be ryghte back
AOMSHJDOTBD: anothere of myne servauntes hath just dyede of the blacke death
EISBYMIWATCHDNSTHD: eftsoon I shall be ycleped mad if worke atte the customes house doth not settle the helle downe
Medieval English was a very flexible language.
