Guilt In Middle & Modern Lingo Poem by Michael Pruchnicki

middle English - last half of fourteenth century

Or hastow som remors of conscience,
And art now falle in som devocioun,
And wailest for thi synne and thin offence,
And hast for ferde caught attricioum?
God save hem that beseged han oure town,
That so kan leye oure jolite on presse,
And bringe our lusty folk to holynesse!

modern English - twenty-first century

Your guilty conscience bothering you
feeling pretty bad right now, are you?
All your tears and blubbering won't undo
what you've done in betraying us
to those who have beseiged our town.
Our people are frightened and fearful,
even the bravest among us are praying!