The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

THE PARSON'S TALE. 189
Alas! for sorrow I will myselfe sle."l Read David in his Psalms, and read Senec'.
And to the crow, "0 false thief," said he, My son, speak not, but with thine head thou
"I will thee quite anon thy false tale. beck,22
Thou sung whilom 2 like any nightingale, Dissimule as thou wert23 deaf, if that thou
Now shalt thou, false thief, thy song foregon, hear
And eke thy white feathers every one, A jangler speak of perilous mattere.
Nor ever in all thy life shalt thou speak; The Fleming saith, and learn if that thee lest,24
Thus shall men on a traitor be awreak.4 That little jangling causeth muche rest.
Thou and thine offspring ever shall be blake,5 My son, if thou no wicked word hast said,
Nor ever sweete noise shall ye make, Thee thar not dreade 25 for to be bewray'd;
But ever cry against 6 tempest and rain, But he that hath missaid, I dare well sayni
In token that through thee my wife is slain." He may by no way call his word again.
And to the crow he start,7 and that anon, Thing that is said is said, and forth it go'th,26
And pull'd his white feathers every one, Though him repent, or be he ne'er so loth;
And made him black, and reft him all his song, He is his thrall,27 to whom that he hath said
And eke hit speech, and out at door him flung A tale, of which he is now evil apaid.28
Unto the devil, which I him betake; 8 My son, beware, and be no author new
And for this caus6 be all crowes blake. Of tidings, whether they be false or true; 29
Lordings, by this ensample, I you pray, Whereso thou come, amonges high or low,
Beware, and take keep9 what that ye say; Keep well thy tongue, and think upon the
Nor tellS never man in all your life crow."
How that another man hath dight his wife;
He will you hate mortally certain.
Dan Solomon, as wis clerkes sayn,
Teacheth a man to keep his tongue well;
But, as I said, I am not textuel. THE PARSON'S TALE.
But natheless thus taughte me my dame;
" My son, think on the crow, in Godde's name. THE PROLOGUE.
My son, keep well thy tongue, and keep thy
friend; BY that the Manciple his tale had ended,
A wicked tongue is worse than is a fiend: The sunne from the south line was descended
My sone, from a fiend men may them bless.l0 So lowe, that it was not to my sight
My son, God of his endeless goodn6ss Degrees nine-and-twenty as in height.
Walled a tongue with teeth, and lippis eke, Four of the clock it was then, as I guess,
For 11 man should him advise,l what he speak. For eleven foot, a little more or less,
My son, full often for too muchi speech My shadow was at thilke time, as there,
Hath many a man been spilt,13 as clerkis teach; Of such feet as my lengths parted were
But for a little speech advisedly In six feet equal of proporti6n.
Is no man shent,l4 to speak generally. Therewith the moone's exaltation,30
My son, thy tongud shouldest thou restrain In meane 31 Libra, gan alway ascend,
At alle time, but 15 when thou dost thy pain 16 As we were ent'ring at a thorpe's 32 end.
To speak of God in honour and pray6re. For which our Host, as he was wont to gie,3
The firste virtue, son, if thou wilt lear,l7 As in this case, our jolly company,
Is to restrain and keepe well thy tongue; 18 Said in this wise; " Lordings every one,
Thus learne children, when that they be young. Now lacketh us no more tales than one.
My son, of muche speaking evil advis'd, / Fulfill'd is my sentnce and my decree;
Where lesse speaking had enough suffic'd, / I trow that we have heard of each degree.34
Cometh much harm; thus was me told dAnd Almost fulfilled is mine ordinance;
taught; a I pray to God so give him right good chance
In muchd speeche sinne wanteth n6t. "-That telleth us this tale lustily.
Wost 19 thou whereof a rakel20 tongu8 serveth? Sir Priest," quoth he, "art thou aivicary?35
Right as a sword forcutteth and forcarveth Or art thou a Parson? say sooth by thy fay.36
An arm in two, my deare son, right so Be what thou be, breake thou not our play; 37
A tongue cutteth friendship all in two. Forevery man, save thou, hath told his tale.
A janglerH is to God abominable. Unbuckle, and shew us what is in thy mail.38
Read Solomon, so wise and honourable; For truely me thinketh by thy cheer
1 Slay. 2 Once on a time. 22 Beckon, make gestures. 23 Feign to be.
3 Lose. 4 Revenged. 5 Black. 24 It please thee. 25 Thou hast no need to fear.
6 Before, in warning of. 7 Sprang. 26 -" Semel emissum volat irrevocabile verbum."
8 To whom I commend him. 9 Heed. — HoRAoE, Epist. i., 18, 71.
10 Defend by crossing themselves. 11 Because. 27 Slave. 28 Which he now regrets.
12 Consider. 13 Destroyed. 14 Ruined. 29 This caution is also from Cato "De Moribus," 1. i.,
15 Except. 16 Makest thy best effort. dist. 12: "Rumoris fuge ne incipias novus auctor
17 Learn. haberi."
18 This is quoted in the French "Romance of the 30 Rising. 31 In the middle of.
Rose," from Cato "De Moribus," 1. i., dist. 3: " Virtu- - 32 Village's. 33 Govern.
tem primam esse puta compescere linguam." 34 From each class or rank in the company.
19 Knowest. 20 HaFty. 35 Vicar. 36 Faith.
21 Prating man. 37 Interrupt not our diversion. 38 Wallet.