Not Chaucer...

Posted on 2021-06-22
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Speaking of the unix program called fortune, years ago it showed me something that made me laugh, and continues to make me laugh every time I see it again. I’m not sure quite why it is so hilarious to me – e.g. my wife didn’t seem to find it very funny. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve met anyone else who thinks it is as funny as I do. But I’m going to post it here, as an identifying mark.

Meanehwael, baccat meaddehaele, monstaer lurccen;
Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht.
[D]en Hreorfneorht[d]hwr, son of Hrwaerow[p]heororthwl,
AEsccen aewful jeork to steop outsyd.
[P]hud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! [D]e bigge gye
Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe;
Wicced Godsylla waeld on his asse.
Monstaer moppe fleor wy[p] eallum men in haelle.
Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bemaccen waes;
Hearen sond of ruccus saed, “Hwaet [d]e helle?”
Graben sheold strang ond swich-blaed scharp
Sond feorth to fyht [d]e grimlic foe.
“Me,” Godsylla saed, “mac [d]e minsemete.”
Heoro cwyc geten heold wi[p] faemed half-nelson
Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen.
Beowulf belly up to meaddehaele bar,
Saed, “Ne foe beaten mie faersom cung-fu.”
Eorderen cocca-colha yce-coeld, [d]e reol [p]yng

– Not Chaucer, for certain