The parlament of foules, by Geoffrey Chaucer. Ed., with introduction, notes, and glossary, by T. R. Lounsbury.

THE PARLAMENT OF FOULES.

53

VII.
Thanne tellith it, that from a sterry place,
How Affrycan hath hym Cartage schewid,
And warnede hym beforn of al his grace, 45
And seyde what man, lernyd other lewid,
That lovith comoun profyt, wel ithewid,
He shal into a blysful place wende,
There as joye is that last withoutyn ende.
VIII.
Thanne axede he, if folk that here been dede, 50
Han lyf and dwellynge in anothir place;
And Affrican seyde, Ye, withoutyn drede;
And that oure present worldis lyuys space
Nys but a maner deth, what weye we trace;
And rightful folk schul gon aftyr they deye 55
To heuene, and schewede hym the galaxye.
IX.
Thanne shewede he hym the litel erthe that here is,
At regard of the heuenys quantite;
And after shewede he hym the nyne speris;
And aftyr that the melodye herde he, 60
That comyth of thilke speris thryes thre,
That welle is of musik and melodye
In this world here and cause of armonye.
47. Zlovith] louede. 53. [worldis] wordis.
48. [skal] shulde. 56. [galaxye] galylye.
50. [here] now. 57. litel not in this MS.
51. lye] ya.