[Jokes] FW: [TTFF] some things never change

McKenna, Chris (RDSSW) chris.mckenna at defra.gsi.gov.uk
Wed Jan 28 10:10:02 GMT 2004


 
-----Original Message-----
From: David 
Sent: 28 January 2004 08:55
Subject: [TTFF] techie stuff


This came from a friend, I thought you might enjoy

           David

The oldest technical manual in the English language.
      http://art-bin.com/art/oastro.html
<http://art-bin.com/art/oastro.html>  Share and enjoy! -- Paul D

It's a hands-on, how-to piece: "A Tretis [Treatise] on the Astrelabie
[Astrolabe]" written by Geoffrey Chaucer, in approx. 1391; it's
addressed to "Lyte Lowys" ("little Lewis"), whom Chaucer was trying to
assist.

Some things haven't changed much. I just got a new PC. Its manual
starts:

      "The following pages display the front and back of your
      computer. Use these illustrations to become familiar with your
      PC and its connectors..."

What Chaucer wrote, 600 years ago, wasn't very different:

      "The firste partie of this tretys shal reherse the figures and
      the membres of thyn Astrelabie by cause that thou shalt have
      the gretter knowing of thyn owne instrument...."




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