form which it would have taken at different periods is set down. These
passages bring out clearly the unbroken line of descent from Latin to
modern French.




The Oath of Strasburg of 842


Classic Latin

Per Dei amorem et
per christiani
populi et nostram
communem
salutem,
ab hac die, quantum
Deus scire
et posse mini
dat, servabo
hunc meum fratrem
Carolum


Spoken Latin, Seventh Cent.

For deo amore et
por chrestyano
pob(o)lo et nostro