|
Tho shrighte this faucoun moore yet pitously |
| Than ever she dide, and fil to grounde anon |
| And lith aswowne, deed, and lyk a stoon, |
| 475 | Til Canacee hath in hir lappe hir take |
| Unto the tyme she gan of swough awake. |
| And after that she of hir swough gan breyde, |
| Right in hir haukes ledene thus she seyde: |
| "That pitee renneth soone in gentil herte, |
| 480 | Feelynge his similitude in peynes smerte, |
| Is preved al day, as men may it see, |
| As wel by werk as by auctoritee. |
| For gentil herte kitheth gentillesse. |
| I se wel, that ye han of my distresse |
| 485 | Compassioun, my faire Canacee, |
| Of verray wommanly benignytee |
| That Nature in youre principles hath set. |
| But for noon hope for to fare the bet, |
| But for to obeye unto youre herte free, |
| 490 | And for to maken othere be war by me, |
| As by the whelp chasted is the leon, |
| Right for that cause and that conclusion |
| Whil that I have a leyser and a space, |
| Myn harm I wol confessen, er I pace." |
| 495 | And evere whil that oon hir sorwe tolde, |
| That oother weep, as she to water wolde, |
| Til that the faucoun bad hire to be stille; |
| And with a syk right thus she seyde hir wille. |
|
| Then shrieked this falcon the more piteously |
| Than ever, and to ground fell down anon, |
| And lay there, swooning, deathlike as a stone, |
| 475 | Till Canace within her lap did take |
| And hold the bird till she began to wake. |
| And when from out her fainting fit she made, |
| All in her own hawk's language thus she said: |
| "That pity wells up soon in gentle heart, |
| 480 | Feeling its likeness in all pains that smart, |
| Is proved, and day by day, as men may see, |
| As well by deeds as by authority; |
| For gentle heart can spy out gentleness. |
| I see well that you have on my distress |
| 485 | Compassion, my fair Princess Canace, |
| Of truly womanly benignity |
| That nature in your character has set. |
| Not that I hope much good therefrom to get, |
| But to obey the word of your heart free, |
| 490 | And so that others may be warned by me, |
| As by the whelp instructed is the lion, |
| Just for that cause and reason shall I fly on, |
| While yet I have the leisure and the space, |
| The story of my wrongs to you I'll trace." |
| 495 | And ever, while the one her sorrow said, |
| The other wept, as she to water'd fled, |
| Until the falcon bade her to be still; |
| And with a sigh, right thus she said her will. |
|
