The Canterbury Tale

The Canterbury Tale is a classic written around 1400.

[Old English]
Here bygynneth the Book
of the tales of Caunterbury

Whan that aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;

[Modern translation]
Here begins the Book
of the Tales of Canterbury

When April with his showers sweet with fruit
The drought of March has pierced unto the root
And bathed each vein with liquor that has power
To generate therein and sire the flower;

(My translation)
When that April with showers sooth
The drought of March has pierced to the root
And bath every vein in sweet liquor
Of which virtue engendered is the flower.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/ct-prolog-para.html