The Week found YouTube videos demonstrated what earlier versions of English actually sounded like.

Shakesperian English:

————————–

Middle English (not the best version of the Prologue):

————————–

Earlier Middle English (13th Century):

————————–

Old English (terrific performance of the opening of Beowulf):

They concluded with a pretty chick singing a semi-rock ballad in Breton to illustrate the sound of pre-Anglo-Saxon British, but I think that one is beside the point.