on thursday lee patterson came to our medieval colloquium to give a talk, and was introduced by the chair as being one who needed no introduction, as he had taught almost everyone in the room what they know. lee patterson then began his talk by recounting an incident that had passed some years ago. derek pearsall had gone to yale to speak, and patterson was responsible for his introduction . he (patterson) got up and announced to the assembled throng: "derek pearsall needs no introduction..." whereupon he heard a deep growl behind him: "but i want one!"

he also claims he can no longer pronounce middle english. he says that he had the 80 undergraduates in his introductory chaucer class send him mp3 recordings of themselves reading aloud - that is 90-100 lines of middle english from each student - and since then he hasn't been able to read middle english again for they have really ruined his ear for the language.