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

56 THE PARLAMENT OF FOULES.

XVI.
I can nat seyn if that the cause were
For I hadde red of Affrican byforn,
That made me to mete that he stod there;
But thus seyde he: " Thow hast the so wel born
In lokynge of myn olde bok to-torn, 10
Of whiche Macrobye roughte nat a lyte,
That sumdel of thy labour wolde I quyte."
XVII.
Cytherea, thow blysfullady swete!
That with thy firbrond dauntist whom thow lest,
And madist me this sweuene for to mete, II5
Be thow myn helpe in this, for thow mayst best!
As wisly as I saw the north-north-west,
Whan I began my sweuene for to write
So gif me myght to ryme and ek tendyte.
XVIII.
This forseyde Affrican me hente anon, I20
And forth with hym vrto a gate broughte
Ryght of a park, wallid with grene ston;
And ouyr the gate with letteris large iwrought
There were vers iwriten, as me thought,
On eythir halfe, of ful gret difference, I25
Of which I schal now seyn the pleyn sentence:w16. [t can] can I. 1x7. [saw] seye.
107. [byforn] by-foren. 1 7. [north-west] nor west.
o08. [there] theere. 122. [of with.
xio. [to-torn] by-forn. 123. [gate] gatis.
113. [Cytherea] Cythera. 123. [iwrought I-wrowht.
14. [firbrond] ferbrond. 124, [iwriten] I-wrete.
117. [wisly] wisely. 125. [fta/]f syde.