The Squire's Tale
Folio 86v
16 of 17 folios
I trowe he hadde þilke text in mynde .
600
Þat al þinge repaireinge to his kinde
Gladeþ him selfe þus seine men as .I. gesse
Men loue of propre kinde newefangelnesse
As birdes done þat men in cage fede
For þouhe þe nyht & daie take of hem hede
605
And strewe hir cage faire & soft as silke
And ȝiue hem suger hony brede & melke
Ȝit riht anone as þat his dore is huppe
He wiþþe wiþ his fete wi sporne doune his cuppe
And to þe wode he wil & wermes ete
610
So newfongel be þei of her mete
And louen none leueres of propre kinde
Ne gentilles of maie hem binde
So ferde þis tarselet alas þis daie
Þouhe he ware gentil borne frische & gaie
615
And goodly for to see & humble & free
He sawe vp oñ a time a kite fle
And sodanly he loued þis kitte soo
Þat al his loue is clene fro me goo
And haþ his trouþe falsed in þis wise
620
Þus haþe þe kitte my loue in hir seruise
And .I. am lorne wiþ oute remedie
And wiþ þat worde þis fawkon gan to crie
And swowned eft in Canace barme
Grete was þe sorwe of þat haukes harme
625
That Canacee & al hir wemmen maade
Thei nest howe þat þei myht þe faukon glade
Bot Canace home bereþ hir in lappe
And softely in plastres gan hir wrappe
Þer as sche wiþe hire beke hadde hert hir selue
630
Nowe can nouȝt Canace bot herbes delue
Oute of þe grounde & maken salues newe
Of herbes precious & fyne of hewe
To helen wiþ þe hauke fro daie to nyht
Sche doþe hire besines and al hir myht
635
And be hir beddes hede sche maade a mewe
And couerd it wiþ veluetes blewe
In singne of treuþe þat is in wēme seene .
And al wiþe oute þe mewe is peynted grene
In whiche war peynted as þis fals fowles
640
As bien þis tidenes tarseletz & owles .