|
Faire in the soond, to bathe hire myrily, |
| Lith Pertelote, and alle hir sustres by, |
| Agayn the sonne; and Chauntecleer so free |
| Soong murier than the mermayde in the see- |
| 505 | For Phisiologus seith sikerly |
| How that they syngen wel and myrily. |
| And so bifel, that as he cast his eye |
| Among the wortes on a boterflye, |
| He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe. |
| 510 | Nothyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe, |
| But cride anon, "Cok! cok!" and up he sterte, |
| As man that was affrayed in his herte. |
| For natureelly a beest desireth flee |
| Fro his contrarie, if he may it see, |
| 515 | Though he never erst hadde seyn it with his ye. |
|
|
All in the sand, a-bathing merrily, |
| Lay Pertelote, with all her sisters by, |
| There in the sun; and Chauntecleer so free |
| Sang merrier than a mermaid in the sea |
| 505 | For Physiologus says certainly |
| That they do sing, both well and merrily. |
| And so befell that, as he cast his eye |
| Among the herbs and on a butterfly, |
| He saw this fox that lay there, crouching low. |
| 510 | Nothing of urge was in him, then, to crow; |
| But he cried "Cock-cock-cock" and did so start |
| As man who has a sudden fear at heart. |
| For naturally a beast desires to flee |
| From any enemy that he may see, |
| 515 | Though never yet he's clapped on such his eye. |
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