The Nun's Priest's Tale
Folio 244r
12 of 16 folios
Pas ouer for I sayd it in my game
Red auctours wher þay trete of such matiere
And what þay sayn of wōmen ȝe may heere /
445
These been þe cokkes wordes and not myne
I can /. noon harme . of wōmen diuine /
Faire in þe sond to baþe hir merily
Lith pertelot and alle hir sustres by
Agayn þe sonne and Chaunteclere so free
450
Sang merier þan þe meremayd in þe see
For phisiologus seith sicurly
How þat þay syngen wel and merily
And so byfel þat as he cast his ye
Among þe wortes on a boterflye
455
He was war of þis fox þat lay ful lowe
No þing ne list him þanne for to crowe
But cryde anoon . cok . cok . and vp he stert
As man þat was affrayed in his hert
For naturelly a beest desireth flee
460
Fro his contrarie if he may it see
Þougħ he neuer er had sayn it with his ye
Þis Chaunteclere whan he gan it aspye
He wold han fled but þat þe fox anon
Said gentil sire / allas why wol ȝe goon
465
Be ȝe affrayd of me þat am ȝoure frend
Certes I were worse þan eny feend
If I to ȝow wold harm or vilonye
I am nouȝt come ȝour counsail to espye
But trewely ȝe haue als mery a steuen
As eny aungel hath þat is in heuen
Ther wiþ ȝe han in musik more felynge
Than had Boece or eny þat can synge
475
My lord ȝour fader god his soule blesse /
And ȝoure moder of her gentilesse /
Han in myn hous I been to my gret ease /
And Certes sire ful fayn wold I ȝow please
But for men speke of syngyng I wol say
480
So mot I brouke wel myn yen tway
Saue ȝe I herde neuer man so synge