• OLD ENGLISH: Hwæt. We Gardena in geardagum, / þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon...
• MIDDLE ENGLISH: Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote, / The droghte of March hath perced to the roote...
• EARLY MODERN ENGLISH: To be, or not to be, that is the Question: / Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde...