cowan@... wrote:
>
> Peter T. Daniels scripsit:
>
> > But we can read anything back to Swift and Pope and Dryden (if
> > not Milton) exactly as they spelled them.
>
> I don't have any trouble with Milton's orthography,

If you're using any edition published later than 1700 or so, you're not
looking at the original spelling.

> and the First Folio's
> would be no problem either if the i/j and u/v problem was straightened out.
>
> Here's a small sample of Wijk's orthography, somewhat moderated (he uses
> dh for [D] and z for [z] except in the noun plural/verb singular ending,
> which I consider unnecessary):
>
> Wunce upon a time thare livd a poor boy named Dick Whittington, hoose
> father and muther wer bothe ded. Having nyther/neether home nor frends,
> he roamd about the cuntry trying to ern his living. Sumtimes he cood
> not find eny wurk, and he offen had to go hungry.
>
> On market days he herd the farmers tauk about the greit city ov
> Lundon. They sed that its streets wer paved with gold. So Dick made
> up his minde to go to Lundon and seek his fortune. Packing his clothes
> into a bundle and cauling his faithful cat he started out. After days
> and days of wauking the hungry lad finally reached Lundon.
>
> For more, see http://listserv.brown.edu/archives/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0301E&L=conlang&P=R7042 .

I have the book, thank you. He must have given out an awful lot of
complimentary copies, since it's very cheap in lots and lots of usedbook
stores.

> And here's a bit of the introduction to the First Folio, with the repairs
> mentioned above:

(Pretty significant "repairs." You have imposed about a century of
orthographic change on the passage.)

> >From the most able, to him that can but spell: There you are number'd.
> We had rather you were weighd. Especially, when the fate of all Bookes
> depends upon your capacities: and not of your heads alone, but of your
> purses. Well! It is now publique, & you wil stand for your priviledges
> wee know: to read, and censure. Do so, but buy it first. That doth best
> commend a Booke, the Stationer saies. Then, how odde soever your braines
> be, or your wisedomes, make your licence the same, and spare not. Judge
> your sixepen'orth, your shillings worth, your five shillings worth
> at a time, or higher, so you rise to the just rates, and welcome.
> But, what ever you do, Buy. Censure will not drive a Trade, or make
> the Jacke go. And though you be a Magistrate of wit, and sit on the
> Stage at BlackFriers, or the Cockpit, to arraigne Playes dailie,
> know, these Playes have had their triall alreadie, and stood out all
> Appeales; and do now come forth quitted rather by a Decree of Court,
> then any purchas'd Letters of commendation.
--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@...