Legends and Satires from Mediæval Literature

This volume brings together a lively assortment of fourteenth‑century English and French pieces, ranging from hagiographic lives and moral allegories to playful satires and charming bestiaries. The translations aim to stay true to the original wording while smoothing out repetitive phrasing, so listeners hear the cadence of medieval clerks without getting lost in obscure formulae. Designed with college sophomores in mind, the selections serve as an accessible companion to more famous works such as Chaucer, Piers Plowman and the Pearl.

As the stories unfold, you’ll meet a plowman debating virtue, a rose arguing with a violet, and a mischievous university song that pokes fun at academic pretensions. The collection also offers vivid portraits of saints, knights, and mythic creatures, revealing the hopes, fears, and humor that animated everyday life in medieval England and France. Listening provides a window into a world where devotion and satire walk side by side, enriching the study of the period’s poetry and culture.