Tolkien: "English and Welsh"

J.R.R. Tolkien:

Mr. C. S. Lewis, addressing students of literature, has asserted that the man who does not know Old English literature 'remains all his life a child among real students of English'. I would say to the English philologists that those who have no first-hand acquaintance with Welsh and its philology lack an experience necessary to their business. As necessary, if not so obviously and immediately useful, as a knowledge of Norse or French.

Read the essay (PDF)...

English as She Is Spoke

So, it's the 1880s, and your friend is making money with his Portuguese guide to the French language.  Why not just grab a French-English dictionary, flip the French phrases into English, then sell the result as a guide to English for Portuguese speakers?   From the book:

Familiar Phrases

• Go to send for.
• Have you say that?
• Have you understand that he says?
• Put your confidence at my.
• At what o'clock dine him?
• Dress your hairs.

and

Here is a horse who have a bad looks.  He not sall know to march, he is pursy, he is foundered.  Don't you are ashamed to give me a jade as like? he is undshoed, he is with nails up; it want to lead to the farrier.

Poor horse. Read it for yourself...