Debate poem · c. 1200 (this translation 1914)

The Owl and the Nightingale

A verse rendering

by Anonymous (Middle English)

Translated by Jessie L. Weston (1914)

On a summer evening an Owl and a Nightingale fall to quarrelling in a hidden dell, each pouring scorn on the other's song, habits and usefulness, until they agree to put their case to Master Nicholas of Guildford and fly off to find him.

Contents · 3 parts

• Lines 1–422about 420 lines
• Lines 423–819about 400 lines
• Lines 820–1233about 410 lines

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