Three litel pigges eche hadde a hous--oon was straw, a-nothir was woode, the
thridde brikkes. A bigge, badde wolf desired pigges to ete. He puffed
att the hous of strawe; it felle adoun. The pygges thoughte the hous of
woode was stronge. The wolfe puffed harder; the hous of woode
corrumped. The two pigges dashed to the hous of brikkes. The wolf koude
nat damage the brikkes. When the pygges herde hym clymbyng the
chimeney, they remoeved the lidde fro the soupe seethinge in the
harthe. The bigge, badde wolfe plunged in-to the pot. They hadde wolfe
soupe for soper and lived happi ever afftir.
This is a book just for fun—with a serious intention. Much of Chaucer can be found in Modern English versions because many students feel Middle English is too great a challenge to be able to enjoy. This little volume demonstrates otherwise. In reading Chaucer, the WORDS are the important thing. Reading the Middle English words he chose makes the difference between just finding pleasure in the stories on the one hand, and recognizing—in addition—the meaning he concealed.