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From The Nun's Priest's Tale, lines 648-659:
The fox falls for the trap		 Previous
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Nun's Priest's Tale
lines 660-680: Chauntecleer is safe and the Nun's Priest urges his audience not to miss the moral of his tale


660        "Nay, thanne," quod he, "I shrewe us bothe two,
And first I shrewe myself bothe blood and bones,
If thou bigyle me ofter than ones.
Thou shalt namoore, thurgh thy flaterye,
Do me to synge and wynke with myn eye;
665For he that wynketh whan he sholde see,
Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee."
660        "Nay then," said he, "beshrew us both, you know,
But first, beshrew myself, both blood and bones,
If you beguile me, having done so once,
You shall no more, with any flattery,
Cause me to sing and close up either eye.
665For he who shuts his eyes when he should see,
And wilfully, God let him ne'er be free!"
       "Nay," quod the fox, "but God yeve hym meschaunce,
That is so undiscreet of governaunce,
That jangleth, whan he sholde holde his pees."
670       Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees,
And necligent, and truste on flaterye!
       But ye that holden this tale a folye,
As of a fox, or of a cok and hen,
Taketh the moralite, goode men;
675For Seint Paul seith, that al that writen is,
To oure doctrine it is ywrite, ywis.
Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille.
Now goode God, if that it be thy wille,
As seith my lord, so make us alle goode men,
680And brynge us to his heighe blisse. Amen.
       "Nay," said the fox, "but, God give him mischance
Who is so indiscreet in governance
He chatters when he ought to hold his peace."
670       Lo, such it is when watch and ward do cease,
And one grows negligent with flattery.
       But you that hold this tale a foolery,
As but about a fox, a cock, a hen,
Yet do not miss the moral, my good men.
675For Saint Paul says that all that's written well
Is written down some useful truth to tell.
Then take the wheat and let the chaff lie still.
And now, good God, and if it be Thy will,
As says Lord Christ, so make us all good men
680And bring us into His high bliss. Amen.


Heere is ended the Nonnes Preestes tale.



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From The Nun's Priest's Tale, lines 681-696:
Epilogue to the Nun's Priest's Tale		 Next