|
And to the crowe, "O false theef," seyde he, |
| "I wol thee quite anon thy false tale; |
| Thou songe whilom lyk a nyghtngale, |
| 295 | Now shaltow, false theef, thy song forgon, |
| And eek thy white fetheres everichon. |
| Ne nevere in al thy lyf ne shaltou speke, |
| Thus shal men on a traytour been awreke. |
| Thou and thyn ofspryng evere shul be blake, |
| 300 | Ne nevere sweete noyse shul ye make, |
| But evere crie agayn tempest and rayn, |
| In tokenynge that thurgh thee my wyf is slayn." |
| And to the crowe he stirte, and that anon, |
| And pulled hise white fetheres everychon, |
| 305 | And made hym blak, and refte hym al his song, |
| And eek his speche, and out at dore hym slong, |
| Unto the devel-which I hym bitake; |
| And for this caas been alle crowes blake. |
|
|
And to the crow he said, "O you false thief! |
| I will at once requite you that false tale! |
| You sang but lately like a nightingale; |
| 295 | Now, you false thief, your songs are over and done, |
| And you'll all those white feathers lose, each one, |
| Nor ever in your life more shall you speak. |
| Thus men on traitors shall their justice wreak; |
| You and your offspring ever shall be black, |
| 300 | Nor evermore sweet noises shall you make, |
| But you shall cry in tempest and in rain |
| In token that through you my wife was slain." |
| And on the crow he leaped, and that anon, |
| And plucked out his white feathers, every one, |
| 305 | And made him black, and stilled for evermore |
| His song and speech, and flung him out the door |
| Unto the devil, where I leave this jack; |
| And for this reason, now all crows are black. |
|
