The Canterbury tales

The Nun's Priest's Tale

A povre wydwe, somdeel stape in age Line 2821 Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe cotage, Line 2822 Biside a grove, stondynge in a dale. Line 2823 This wydwe, of which I telle yow my tale, Line 2824 Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf, Line 2825 In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf, Line 2826 For litel was hir catel and hir rente. Line 2827 By housbondrie of swich as God hire sente Line 2828 She foond hirself and eek hir doghtren two. Line 2829 Thre large sowes hadde she, and namo, Line 2830 Three keen, and eek a sheep that highte malle. Line 2831 Ful sooty was hire bour and eek hir halle, Line 2832 In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel. Line 2833 Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel. Line 2834 No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte; Line 2835 Hir diete was accordant to hir cote. Line 2836 Repleccioun ne made hire nevere sik; Line 2837 Attempree diete was al hir phisik, Line 2838 And exercise, and hertes suffisaunce. Line 2839 The goute lette hire nothyng for to daunce, Line 2840 N' apoplexie shente nat hir heed. Line 2841 No wyn ne drank she, neither whit ne reed; Line 2842 Hir bord was served moost with whit and blak, -- Line 2843 Milk and broun breed, in which she foond no lak, Line 2844 Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or tweye; Line 2845 For she was, as it were, a maner deye. Line 2846 A yeerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute Line 2847 With stikkes, and a drye dych withoute, Line 2848 In which she hadde a cok, hight chauntecleer. Line 2849 In al the land, of crowyng nas his peer. Line 2850 His voys was murier than the murie orgon Line 2851 On messe-dayes that in the chirche gon. Line 2852 Wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge Line 2853 Than is a clokke or an abbey orlogge. Line 2854 By nature he knew ech ascencioun Line 2855 Of the equynoxial in thilke toun; Line 2856 For whan degrees fiftene weren ascended, Line 2857 Thanne crew he, that it myghte nat been amended. Line 2858 His coomb was redder than the fyn coral, Line 2859

Line 2859 And batailled as it were a castel wal; Line 2860 His byle was blak, and as the jeet it shoon; Line 2861 Lyk asure were his legges and his toon; Line 2862 His nayles whitter than the lylye flour, Line 2863 And lyk the burned gold was his colour. Line 2864 This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce Line 2865 Sevene hennes for to doon al his plesaunce, Line 2866 Whiche were his sustres and his paramours, Line 2867 And wonder lyk to hym, as of colours; Line 2868 Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte Line 2869 Was cleped faire damoysele pertelote. Line 2870 Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire, Line 2871 And compaignable, and bar hyrself so faire, Line 2872 Syn thilke day that she was seven nyght oold, Line 2873 That trewely she hath the herte in hoold Line 2874 Of chauntecleer, loken in every lith; Line 2875 He loved hire so that wel was hym therwith. Line 2876 But swich a joye was it to here hem synge, Line 2877 Whan that the brighte sonne gan to sprynge, Line 2878 In sweete accord, my lief is faren in londe! Line 2879 For thilke tyme, as I have understonde, Line 2880 Beestes and briddes koude speke and synge. Line 2881 And so bifel that in a dawenynge, Line 2882 As chauntecleer among his wyves alle Line 2883 Sat on his perche, that was in the halle, Line 2884 And next hym sat this faire pertelote, Line 2885 This chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte, Line 2886 As man that in his dreem is drecched soore. Line 2887 And whan that pertelote thus herde hym roore, Line 2888 She was agast, and seyde, herte deere, Line 2889 What eyleth yow, to grone in this manere? Line 2890 Ye been a verray sleper; fy, for shame! Line 2891 And he answerde, and seyde thus: madame, Line 2892 I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief. Line 2893 By god, me mette I was in swich meschief Line 2894 Right now, that yet myn herte is soore afright. Line 2895 Now god, quod he, my swevene recche aright, Line 2896 And kepe my body out of foul prisoun! Line 2897 Me mette how that I romed up and doun Line 2898 Withinne our yeerd, wheer as I saugh a beest Line 2899 Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest Line 2900 Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed. Line 2901 His colour was bitwixe yelow and reed, Line 2902 And tipped was his tayl and bothe his eeris Line 2903 With blak, unlyk the remenant of his heeris; Line 2904 His snowte smal, with glowynge eyen tweye. Line 2905 Yet of his look for feere almoost I deye; Line 2906 This caused me my gronyng, doutelees. Line 2907 Avoy! quod she, fy on yow, hertelees! Line 2908 Allas! quod she, for, by that God above, Line 2909 Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love. Line 2910 I kan nat love a coward, by my feith! Line 2911 For certes, what so any womman seith, Line 2912 We alle desiren, if it myghte bee, Line 2913 To han housbondes hardy, wise, and free, Line 2914 And secree, and no nygard, ne no fool, Line 2915 Ne hym that is agast of every tool, Line 2916 Ne noon avauntour, by that God above! Line 2917 How dorste ye seyn, for shame, unto youre love Line 2918 That any thyng myghte make yow aferd? Line 2919 Have ye no mannes herte, and han a berd? Line 2920 Allas! and konne ye been agast of swevenys? Line 2921 Nothyng, God woot, but vanitee in sweven is. Line 2922 Swevenes engendren of replecciouns, Line 2923 And ofte of fume and of complecciouns, Line 2924 Whan humours been to habundant in a wight. Line 2925 Certes this dreem, which ye han met to-nyght, Line 2926 Cometh of the greete superfluytee Line 2927 Of youre rede colera, pardee, Line 2928 Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes Line 2929 Of arwes, and of fyr with rede lemes, Line 2930 Of rede beestes, that they wol hem byte, Line 2931 Of contek, and of whelpes, grete and lyte; Line 2932 Right as the humour of malencolie Line 2933 Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie Line 2934 For feere of blake beres, or boles blake, Line 2935 Or elles blake develes wole hem take. Line 2936 Of othere humours koude I telle also Line 2937 That werken many a man sleep ful wo; Line 2938 But I wol passe as lightly as I kan. Line 2939 Lo catoun, which that was so wys a man, Line 2940 Seyde he nat thus, -- ne do no fors of dremes? -- Line 2941 Now sire, quod she, whan we flee for the bemes, Line 2942 For goddes love, as taak som laxatyf. Line 2943 Up peril of my soule and of my lyf, Line 2944 I conseille yow the beste, I wol nat lye, Line 2945 That bothe of colere and of malencolye Line 2946 Ye purge yow; and for ye shal nat tarie, Line 2947 Though in this toun is noon apothecarie, Line 2948 I shal myself to gerbes techen yow Line 2949 That shul been for youre hele and for youre prow; Line 2950 And in oure yeerd tho herbes shal I fynde Line 2951 The whiche han of hire propretee by kynde Line 2952 To purge yow bynethe and eek above. Line 2953 Foryet nat this, for goddes owene love! Line 2954 Ye been ful coleryk of compleccioun; Line 2955 Ware the sonne in his ascencioun Line 2956 Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hoote. Line 2957 And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote, Line 2958

Line 2958 That ye shul have a fevere tercaine, Line 2959 Of an agu, that may be youre bane. Line 2960 A day or two ye shul have digestyves Line 2961 Of wormes, er ye take youre laxatyves Line 2962 Of lawriol, centaure, and fumetere, Line 2963 Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there, Line 2964 Of katapuce, or of gaitrys beryis, Line 2965 Of herbe yve, growyng in oure yeerd, ther mery is; Line 2966 Pekke hem up right as they growe and ete hem yn. Line 2967 By myrie, housbonde, for youre fader kyn~ Line 2968 Dredeth no dreem, I kan sey yow namoore. Line 2969 Madame, quod he, graunt mercy of youre loore. Line 2970 But nathelees, as touchyng daun catoun, Line 2971 That hath of wysdom swich a greet renoun, Line 2972 Though that he bad no dremes for to drede, Line 2973 By god, men may in olde bookes rede Line 2974 Of many a man moore of auctorite Line 2975 Than evere caton was, so moot I thee, Line 2976 That al the revers seyn of this sentence, Line 2977 And han wel founden by experience Line 2978 That dremes been significaciouns Line 2979 As wel of joye as of tribulaciouns Line 2980 That folk enduren in this lif present. Line 2981 Ther nedeth make of this noon argument; Line 2982 The verray preeve sheweth it in dede. Line 2983 Oon of the gretteste auctour that men rede Line 2984 Seith thus: that whilom two felawes wente Line 2985 On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente; Line 2986 And happed so, yhey coomen in a toun Line 2987 Wher as ther was swich congregacioun Line 2988 Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage, Line 2989 That they ne founde as muche as cotage Line 2990 In which they bothe myghte ylogged bee. Line 2991 Wherfore they mosten of necessitee, Line 2992 As for that nyght,departen compaignye; Line 2993 And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye, Line 2994 And took his loggyng as it wolde falle. Line 2995 That oon of hem was logged in a stalle, Line 2996 Fer in a yeerd, with oxen of the plough; Line 2997 That oother man was logged wel ynough, Line 2998 As was his aventure or his fortune, Line 2999 That us governeth alle as in commune. Line 3000 And so bifel that, longe er it were day, Line 3001 This man mette in his bed, ther as he lay Line 3002 How that his felawe gan upon hym calle, Line 3003 And seyde,, -- allas! for in an oxes stalle Line 3004 This nyght I shal be mordred ther I lye. Line 3005 Now help me,deere brother, or I dye. Line 3006 In alle haste com to me! -- he sayde. Line 3007 This man out of his sleep for feere abrayde; Line 3008 But whan that he was wakened of this sleep, Line 3009 He turned hym, and took of this no keep. Line 3010 Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanitte. Line 3011 Thus twies in his slepyng dremed hee; Line 3012 And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe Line 3013 Cam, as hym thoughte, and seide, -- I am now slawe. Line 3014 Bihood my bloody woundes depe and wyde! Line 3015 Arys up erly in the morwe tyde, Line 3016 And at the west gate of the toun, -- quod he, Line 3017 -- A carte ful of dong ther shaltow se, Line 3018 In which my body is hid ful prively; Line 3019 Do thilke carte arresten boldely. Line 3020 My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn., Line 3021 And tolde hym every point how he was slayn, Line 3022 With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe. Line 3023 And truste wel, his dreem he foond ful trewe, Line 3024 For on the morwe, as soone as it was day, Line 3025 To his felawes in he took the way; Line 3026 And whan that he cam to his oxes stalle, Line 3027 After his felawe he bigan to calle. Line 3028 The hostiler answerede hym anon, Line 3029 And seyde,,sire, your felawe is agon. Line 3030 As soone as day he wente out of the toun., Line 3031 This man gan fallen suspecioun, Line 3032 Remembrynge on his dremes that he mette, Line 3033 And forth he gooth no lenger wolde he lette Line 3034 Unto the west gate of the toun, and fond Line 3035 A dong carte, wente as it were to donge lond, Line 3036 That was arrayed in that same wise Line 3037 As ye han herd the dede man devyse. Line 3038 And with an hardy herte he gan to crye Line 3039 Vengeance and justice of this felonye. Line 3040 My felawe mordred is this same nyght, Line 3041 And in this carte he lith gapyng upright. Line 3042 I crye out on the ministres, -- quod he, Line 3043 -- That sholden kepe and reulen this citee. Line 3044 Harrow! allas! heere lith my felawe slayn! -- Line 3045 What sholde I moore unto this tale sayn? Line 3046 The peple out sterte and caste the cart to grounde, Line 3047 And in the myddel of the dong they founde Line 3048 The dede man, that mordred was al newe. Line 3049 O blisful god, that art so just and trewe, Line 3050 Lo, how that thou biwryest mordre alway! Line 3051 Mordre wol out, that se we day by day. Line 3052 Mordre is so wlatsom and abhomynable Line 3053 To god, that is so just and resonable, Line 3054 That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be, Line 3055 Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or thre. Line 3056 Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun. Line 3057

Line 3057 And right anon, ministres of that toun Line 3058 Han hent the carter and so soore hym pyned, Line 3059 And eek the hostiler so soore engyned, Line 3060 That they biknewe hire wikkednesse anon, Line 3061 And were anhanged by the nekke bon. Line 3062 Heere may men seen that dremes been to drede. Line 3063 And certes in the same book I rede, Line 3064 Right in the nexte chapitre after this Line 3065 I gabbe nat, so have I joye or blis Line 3066 Two men that wolde han passed over see, Line 3067 For certeyn cause, into a fer contree, Line 3068 If that the wynd ne hadde been contrarie, Line 3069 That made hem in a citee for to tarie Line 3070 That stood ful myrie upon an haven-syde; Line 3071 But on a day, agayn the even-tyde, Line 3072 The wynd gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste. Line 3073 Jolif and glad they wente unto hir reste, Line 3074 And casten hem ful erly for to saille. Line 3075 But to that o man fil a greet mervaille: Line 3076 That oon of hem,in slepyng as he lay, Line 3077 Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day. Line 3078 Hym thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde, Line 3079 And hym comanded that he sholde abyde, Line 3080 And seyde hym thus: -- if thou tomorwe wende, Line 3081 Thow shalt be dreynt; my tale is at an ende. Line 3082 He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette, Line 3083 And preyde hym his viage for to lette; Line 3084 As for that day, he preyde hym to byde. Line 3085 His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde, Line 3086 Gan for to laughe, and scorned him ful faste. Line 3087 -- no dreem, -- quod he, -- may so myn herte agaste Line 3088 That I wol lette for to do my thynges. Line 3089 I sette nat a straw by thy dremynges, Line 3090 For swevenes been but vantees and japes. Line 3091 Men dreme alday of owles and of apes, Line 3092 And eek of many a maze therwithal; Line 3093 Men dreme of thyng that nevere was ne shal. Line 3094 But sith I see that thou wolt heere abyde, Line 3095 And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tyde, Line 3096 God woot, it reweth me; and have good day! -- Line 3097 And thus he took his leve, and wente his way. Line 3098 But er that he hadde half his cours yseyled, Line 3099 Noot I nat why, ne what myschaunce it eyled, Line 3100 But casuelly the shippes botme rente, Line 3101 And ship and man under the water wente Line 3102 In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde, Line 3103 That with hem seyled at the same tyde. Line 3104 And therfore, faire pertelote so deere, Line 3105 By swiche ensamples olde maistow leere Line 3106 That no man sholde been to recchelees Line 3107 Of dremes; for I seye thee, doutelees, Line 3108 That many a dreem ful soore is for to drede. Line 3109 Lo, in the lyf of seint kenelm I rede, Line 3110 That was kenulphus sone, the noble kyng Line 3111 Of mercenrike, how kenelm mette a thyng. Line 3112 A lite er he was mordred, on a day, Line 3113 His mordre in his avysioun he say. Line 3114 His norice hym expowned every deel Line 3115 His sweven, and bad hym for to kepe hym weel Line 3116 For traisoun; but he nas but seven yeer oold, Line 3117 And therfore lite tale hath he toold Line 3118 Of any dreem, so hooly was his herte. Line 3119 By god! I hadde levere than my sherte Line 3120 That ye hadde rad his legende, as have I. Line 3121 Dame pertelote, I sey yow trewely, Line 3122 Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun Line 3123 In affrike of the worthy cipioun, Line 3124 Affermeth dremes, and seith that they been Line 3125 Warnynge of thynges that men after seen. Line 3126 And forthermoore, I pray yow, looketh wel Line 3127 In the olde testament, of daniel, Line 3128 If he heeld dremes any vanitee. Line 3129 Reed eek of joseph, and ther shul ye see Line 3130 Wher dremes be somtyme -- I sey nat alle -- Line 3131 Warnynge of thynges that shul after falle. Line 3132 Looke of egipte the kyng, daun pharao, Line 3133 His bakere and his butiller also, Line 3134 Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes. Line 3135 Whoso wol seken actes of sondry remes Line 3136 May rede of dremes many a wonder thyng. Line 3137 Lo cresus, which that was of lyde kyng, Line 3138 Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree, Line 3139 Which signified he sholde anhanged bee? Line 3140 Lo heere andromacha, ectores wyf, Line 3141 That day that ector sholde lese his lyf, Line 3142 She dremed on the same nyght biforn Line 3143 How that the lyf of ector sholde be lorn, Line 3144 If thilke day he wente into bataille. Line 3145 She warned hym, but it myghte nat availle; Line 3146 He wente for to fighte natheles, Line 3147 But he was slayn anon of achilles. Line 3148 But thilke tale is al to longe to telle, Line 3149 And eek it is ny day, I may nat dwelle. Line 3150 Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun, Line 3151 That I shal han of this avisioun Line 3152 Adversitee; and I seye forthermoor, Line 3153 That I ne telle of laxatyves no stoor, Line 3154 For they been venymous, I woot it weel; Line 3155 I hem diffye, I love hem never a deel! Line 3156 Now let us speke of myrthe, and stynte al this. Line 3157 Madame pertelote, so have I blis, Line 3158 Of o thyng God hath sent me large grace; Line 3159

Line 3159 For whan I se the beautee of youre face, Line 3160 Ye been so scarlet reed aboute youre yen, Line 3161 It maketh al my drede for to dyen; Line 3162 For al so siker as in principio, Line 3163 Mulier est hominis confusio, -- Line 3164 Madame, the sentence of this latyn is, Line 3165 -- womman is mannes joye and al his blis. -- Line 3166 For whan I feele a-nyght your softe syde, Line 3167 Al be it that I may nat on yow ryde, Line 3168 For that oure perche is maad so narwe, allas! Line 3169 I am so ful of joye and of solas, Line 3170 That I diffye bothe sweven and dreem. Line 3171 And with that word he fley doun fro the beem, Line 3172 For it was day, and eke his hennes alle, Line 3173 And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle, Line 3174 For he hadde founde a corn, lay in the yerd. Line 3175 Real he was, he was namoore aferd. Line 3176 He fethered pertelote twenty tyme, Line 3177 And trad hire eke as ofte, er it was pryme. Line 3178 He looketh as it were a grym leoun, Line 3179 And on his toos he rometh up and doun; Line 3180 Hym deigned nat to sette his foot to grounde. Line 3181 He chukketh whan he hath a corn yfounde, Line 3182 And to hym rennen thanne his wyves alle. Line 3183 Thus roial, as a prince is in his halle, Line 3184 Leve I this chauntecleer in his pasture, Line 3185 And after wol I telle his aventure. Line 3186 Whan that the month in which the world bigan, Line 3187 That highte march, whan God first maked man, Line 3188 Was compleet, and passed were also, Line 3189 Syn march bigan, thritty dayes and two, Line 3190 Bifel that chauntecleer in al his pryde, Line 3191 His sevene wyves walkynge by his syde, Line 3192 Caste up his eyen to the brighte sonne, Line 3193 That in the signe of taurus hadde yronne Line 3194 Twenty degrees and oon, and somwhat moore, Line 3195 And knew by kynde, and by noon oother loore, Line 3196 That it was pryme, and crew with blisful stevene. Line 3197 The sonne, he seyde, is clomben up on-evene Line 3198 Fourty degrees and oon, and moore ywis. Line 3199 Madame pertelote, my worldes blis, Line 3200 Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they synge, Line 3201 And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge; Line 3202 Ful is myn herte of revel and solas! Line 3203 But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas, Line 3204 For evere the latter ende of joye is wo. Line 3205 God woot that worldly joye is soone ago; Line 3206 And if a rethor koude faire endite, Line 3207 He in a cronycle saufly myghte it write Line 3208 As for a sovereyn notabilitee. Line 3209 Now every wys man, lat him herkne me; Line 3210 This storie is also trewe, I undertake, Line 3211 As is the book of launcelot de lake, Line 3212 That wommen holde in ful greet reverence. Line 3213 Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence. Line 3214 A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee, Line 3215 That in th grove hadde woned yeres three, Line 3216 By heigh ymaginacioun forncast, Line 3217 The same nyght thurghout the hegges brast Line 3218 Into the yerd ther chauntecleer the faire Line 3219 Was wont, and eek his wyves, to repaire; Line 3220 And in a bed of wortes stille he lay, Line 3221 Til it was passed undren of the day, Line 3222 Waitynge his tyme on chauntecleer to falle, Line 3223 As gladly doon thise homycides alle Line 3224 That in await liggen to mordre men. Line 3225 O false mordrour, lurkynge in thy den! Line 3226 O newe scariot, newe genylon, Line 3227 False dissymulour, o greek synon, Line 3228 That broghtest troye al outrely to sorwe! Line 3229 O chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe Line 3230 That thou into that yerd flaugh fro the bemes! Line 3231 Thou were ful wel ywarned by thy dremes Line 3232 That thilke day was perilous to thee; Line 3233 But what that God forwoot moot nedes bee, Line 3234 After the opinioun of certein clerkis. Line 3235 Witnesse on hym that any parfit clerk is, Line 3236 That in scole is greet altercacioun Line 3237 In this mateere, and greet disputisoun, Line 3238 And hath been of an hundred thousand men. Line 3239 But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren Line 3240 As kan the hooly doctour augustyn, Line 3241 Or boece, or the bisshop bradwardyn, Line 3242 Wheither that goddes worthy forwityng Line 3243 Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thyng, -- Line 3244 Nedely clepe I symple necessitee; Line 3245 Or elles, if free choys be graunted me Line 3246 To do that same thyng, or do it noght, Line 3247 Though God forwoot it er that was wroght; Line 3248 Or if his wityng streyneth never a deel Line 3249 But by necessitee condicioneel. Line 3250 I wol nat han to do of swich mateere; Line 3251 My tale is of a cok, as ye may heere, Line 3252 That tok his conseil of his wyf, with sorwe, Line 3253 To walken in the yerd upon that morwe Line 3254 That he hadde met that dreem that I yow tolde. Line 3255 Wommennes conseils been ful ofte colde; Line 3256 Wommannes conseil broghte us first to wo, Line 3257 And made adam fro paradys to go, Line 3258 Ther as he was ful myrie and wel at ese. Line 3259 But for I noot to whom it myght displese, Line 3260

Line 3260 If I conseil of wommen wolde blame, Line 3261 Passe over, for I seyde it in my game. Line 3262 Rede auctours, where they trete of swich mateere, Line 3263 And what they seyn of wommen ye may heere. Line 3264 Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne; Line 3265 I kan noon harm of no womman divyne. Line 3266 Faire in the soond, to bathe hire myrily, Line 3267 Lith pertelote, and alle hire sustres by, Line 3268 Agayn the sonne, and chauntecleer so free Line 3269 Soong murier than the mermayde in the see; Line 3270 For phisiologus seith sikerly Line 3271 How that they syngen wel and myrily. Line 3272 And so bifel that, as he caste his ye Line 3273 Among the wortes on a boterflye, Line 3274 He was war of this fox, that lay ful lowe. Line 3275 Nothyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe, Line 3276 But cride anon, cok! cok! and up he sterte Line 3277 As man that was affrayed in his herte. Line 3278 For natureelly a beest desireth flee Line 3279 Fro his contrarie, if he may it see, Line 3280 Though he never erst hadde seyn it with his ye. Line 3281 This chauntecleer, whan he gan hym espye, Line 3282 He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon Line 3283 Seyde, gentil sire, allas! wher wol ye gon? Line 3284 Be ye affrayed of me that am youre freend? Line 3285 Now, certes, I were worse than a feend, Line 3286 If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye! Line 3287 I am nat come youre conseil for t' espye, Line 3288 But trewely, the cause of my comynge Line 3289 Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge. Line 3290 For trewely, ye have as myrie a stevene Line 3291 As any aungel hath that is in hevene. Line 3292 Therwith ye han in musyk moore feelynge Line 3293 Than hadde boece, or any that kan synge. Line 3294 My lord youre fader -- God his soule blesse! -- Line 3295 And eek youre mooder, of hire gentillesse, Line 3296 Han in myn hous ybeen to my greet ese; Line 3297 And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese. Line 3298 But, for men speke of syngyng, I wol seye, -- Line 3299 So moote I brouke wel myne eyen tweye, -- Line 3300 Save yow, I herde nevere man so synge Line 3301 As dide youre fader in the morwenynge. Line 3302 Certes, it was of herte, al that he song. Line 3303 And for to make his voys the moore strong, Line 3304 He wolde so peyne hym that with bothe his yen Line 3305 He moste wynke, so loude he wolde cryen, Line 3306 And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal, Line 3307 And strecche forth his nekke long and smal. Line 3308 And eek he was of swich descrecioun Line 3309 That ther nas no man in no regioun Line 3310 That hym in song or wisedom myghte passe. Line 3311 I have wel rad in -- daun burnel the asse --, Line 3312 Among his vers, how that ther was a cok, Line 3313 For that a preestes sone yaf hym a knok Line 3314 Upon his leg whil he was yong and nyce, Line 3315 He made hym for to lese his benefice. Line 3316 But certeyn, ther nys no comparisoun Line 3317 Bitwixe the wisedom and discrecioun Line 3318 Of youre fader and of his subtiltee. Line 3319 Now syngeth, sire, for seinte charitee; Line 3320 Lat se, konne ye youre fader countrefete? Line 3321 This chauntecleer his wynges gan to bete, Line 3322 As man that koude his traysoun nat espie, Line 3323 So was he ravysshed with his flaterie. Line 3324 Allas! ye lordes, many a fals flatour Line 3325 Is in youre courtes, and many a losengeour, Line 3326 That plesen yow wel moore, by my feith, Line 3327 Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith. Line 3328 Redeth ecclesiaste of flaterye; Line 3329 Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye. Line 3330 This chauntecleer stoond hye upon his toos, Line 3331 Strecchynge his nekke, and heeld his eyen cloos, Line 3332 And gan to crowe loude for the nones. Line 3333 And daun russell the fox stirte up atones, Line 3334 And by the gargat hente chauntecleer, Line 3335 And on his bak toward the wode hym beer, Line 3336 For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed. Line 3337 O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed! Line 3338 Allas, that chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes! Line 3339 Allas, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes! Line 3340 And on a friday fil al this meschaunce. Line 3341 o venus, that art goddesse of plesaumce, Line 3342 Syn that thy servant was this chauntecleer, Line 3343 And in thy servyce dide al his poweer, Line 3344 Moore for delit than world to multiplye, Line 3345 Why woldestow suffre hym on thy day to dye? Line 3346 O gaufred, deere maister soverayn, Line 3347 That whan thy worthy kyng richard was slayn Line 3348 With shot, compleynedest his deeth so soore, Line 3349 Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy loore, Line 3350 The friday for to chide, as diden ye? Line 3351 For on a friday, soothly, slayn was he. Line 3352 Thanne wolde I shewe yow how that I koude pleyne Line 3353 For chauntecleres drede and for his peyne. Line 3354 Certes, swich cry ne lamentacion, Line 3355 Was nevere of ladyes maad whan ylion Line 3356 Was wonne, and pirrus with his streite swerd, Line 3357 Whan he hadde hent kyng priam by the berd, Line 3358 And slayn hym, as seith us eneydos, Line 3359 As maden alle the hennes in the clos, Line 3360 Whan they had seyn of chauntecleer the sighte. Line 3361

Line 3361 But sovereynly dame pertelote shrighte Line 3362 Ful louder than dide hasdrubales wyf, Line 3363 Whan that hir housbonde hadde lost his lyf, Line 3364 And that the romayns hadde brend cartage. Line 3365 She was so ful of torment and of rage Line 3366 That wilfully into the fyr she sterte, Line 3367 And brende hirselven with a stedefast herte. Line 3368 O woful hennes, right so criden ye, Line 3369 As, whan that nero brende the citee Line 3370 Of rome, cryden senatoures wyves Line 3371 For that hir husbondes losten alle hir lyves, -- Line 3372 Withouten gilt this nero hath hem slayn. Line 3373 Now wole I turne to my tale agayn. Line 3374 This sely wydwe and eek hir doghtres two Line 3375 Herden thise hennes crie and maken wo, Line 3376 And out at dores stirten they anon, Line 3377 And syen the fox toward the grove gon, Line 3378 And bar upon his bak the cok away, Line 3379 And cryden, out! harrow! and weylaway! Line 3380 Ha! ha! the fox! and after hym they ran, Line 3381 And eek with staves many another man, Line 3382 Ran colle oure dogge, and talbot and gerland, Line 3383 And malkyn, with a dystaf in hir hand; Line 3384 Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges, Line 3385 So fered for the berkyng of the dogges Line 3386 And shoutyng of the men and wommen eeke, Line 3387 They ronne so hem thoughte hir herte breeke. Line 3388 They yolleden as feendes doon in helle; Line 3389 The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle; Line 3390 The gees for feere flowen over the trees; Line 3391 Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees. Line 3392 So hydous was the noyse, a, benedicitee! Line 3393 Certes, he jakke straw and his meynee Line 3394 Ne made nevere shoutes half so shrille Line 3395 Whan that they wolden any flemyng kille, Line 3396 As thilke day was maad upon the fox. Line 3397 Of bras they broghten bemes, and of box, Line 3398 Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and powped, Line 3399 And therwithal they skriked and they howped. Line 3400 It semed as that hevene sholde falle. Line 3401 Now, goode man, I prey yow herkenth alle: Line 3402 Lo, how fortune turneth sodeynly Line 3403 The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy! Line 3404 This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak, Line 3405 In al his drede unto the fox he spak, Line 3406 And seyde, sire, if that I were as ye, Line 3407 Yet sholde I seyn, as wys God helpe me, Line 3408 Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle! Line 3409 A verray pestilence upon yow falle! Line 3410 Now am I come unto the wodes syde; Line 3411 Maugree youre heed, the cok shal heere abyde. Line 3412 I wol hym ete, in feith, and that anon! Line 3413 The fox answerde, in feith, it shal be don. Line 3414 And as he spak that word, al sodeynly Line 3415 This cok brak from his mouth delyverly, Line 3416 And heighe upon a tree he fleigh anon. Line 3417 And whan the fox saugh that the cok was gon, Line 3418 Allas! quod he, o chauntecleer, allas! Line 3419 I have to yow, quod he, ydoon trespas, Line 3420 In as muche as I maked yow aferd Line 3421 Whan I yow hente and broghte out of the yerd. Line 3422 But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente. Line 3423 Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente; Line 3424 I shal seye sooth to yow, God help me so! Line 3425 Nay thanne, quod he, I shrewe us bothe two. Line 3426 And first I shrewe myself, bothe blood and bones, Line 3427 If thou bigyle me ofter than ones. Line 3428 Thou shalt namoore, thurgh thy flaterye, Line 3429 Do me to synge and wynke with myn ye; Line 3430 For he that wynketh, whan he sholde see, Line 3431 Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee! Line 3432 Nay, quod the fox, but God yeve hym meschaunce, Line 3433 That is so undiscreet of governaunce Line 3434 That jangleth whan he sholde holde his pees. Line 3435 Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees Line 3436 And necligent, and truste on flaterye. Line 3437 But ye that holden this tale a folye, Line 3438 As of a fox, or of a cok and hen, Line 3439 Taketh the moralite, goode men. Line 3440 For seint paul seith that al that writen is, Line 3441 To oure doctrine it is ywrite, ywis; Line 3442 Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille. Line 3443 Now, goode god, if that it be thy wille, Line 3444 As seith my lord, so make us alle goode men, Line 3445 And brynge us to his heighe blisse! amen. Line 3446