And asked who had don thys wrong,
And brought her in so drowpyng chere,
Line 24
And who had pulled her feders awey,
That shuld her bere from tre to tre,
And why she sange in her lay
Parce michi, domine!
Line 28
(4)
The byrde answered, and seyde me tyll,
"Man, be in pese, for crystes sake.
Yef I shewe the myn hertys wyll,
Peynes me sore woll awake.
Line 32
Yef thow wolt take my worde in mynde,
There shall no sorow be my lettyng,
That I nyll holy myne herte vnbynde,
And sothely telle the thyne askyng,
Line 36
Whyche were my feders that were so clere,
And who hath pulled hem all fro me,
And why I syt singyng on brere
Parce michi, domine!
Line 40
(5)
ffeders iiij I had y-wys,
The two were set on euery wynge.
They bare me breme to my blys,
Where me lust be at my lykyng.
Line 44
The furst was 'youth,' the ijde 'beawte,'
'Streyngth' and 'ryches' the other two.
And now they been, as thow mayst se,
All iiij federes fallen me fro.
Line 48
My principall federe, youthe hit was.
He bare me ofte to nysete;
Wherefore my songe ys now, allas,
Parce michi, domine!
Line 52
(6)
In youthe I wrought folyes fele,
My hert was set so hygh in pryde,
To synne I yaue me euerydele,
Spared I neyther tyme ne tyde.
Line 56
I was redy to make debate.
My lyfe stode ofte in mechyll drede;
