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

THE PARLAMENT OF FOULES.

XCI.
"But as for conseyl for to chese a make,
If I were Resoun, certis thanne wolde I
Conseyle yow the ryal tersel take,
As seyde the terselet ful skylfully,
As for the gentilleste and most worthi, 635
Which I haue wrought so wel to my plesaunce,
That it to yow oughte ben a suffisaunce."
XCII.
With dredful vois the formel tho answerde:
"My rightful lady, goddesse of Nature,
Soth is that I am euere vndyr youre yerde, 640
Like as is eueriche other creature,
And mot ben youre whil that my lyf may dure;
And therfore grauntyth me my ferste bone,
And myn entent I wil yow seyn right sone."
XCIII.
"I graunte it yow," quod she, and right anon 645
This formel egle spak in this degre:
"Almyghty queen, vnto this yer be gon,
I axe respit for to avise me,
And aftyr that to haue my choys al fre:
This al and sum that I wil speke and seye; 650
Ye gete no more, althow ye do me deye.
637. This line in MS. reads, That toyow 644. [I wil yow seyn right sone] that
oughte to been a sufisaunce. wele I seyn wol sone.
640. [is] ist. 645. [rzght] that.
641. This line in MS. reads, As is
a nothir lyuis creature,