<!DOCTYPE html> <head> <script> function doTest() { var d = document.createElement("div"); d.textContent = "This is a test"; var l = document.getElementById("l"); l.textContent = "before"; l.appendChild(d); l.appendChild(document.createTextNode("after")); } </script> </head> <body onload="doTest()"> <fieldset> <legend style="border: 2px solid green">This is a test</legend> First fieldset </fieldset> <fieldset> <legend id="l" style="border: 2px solid green"></legend> First fieldset </fieldset> </body>