Here beginneth the churl & the bird Problems of old likeness and figures ¶ Which proved been fructuous of sentence ¶ And auctorytates grounded on scriptures ¶ By resemblance of notable appearance ¶ With moralytees concluding on prudence ¶ Like as the bible rehearseth by writing ¶ How trees cheese 'em sometime a king ¶ first in their chose they named tholive ¶ To regne among them (judicium) doth express ¶ But he himself 'gan e●cusen belive ¶ He might not forsaken his fattenesse ¶ Ne the fig tree his amorous sweetness ¶ Ne the vygne his wholesome carriage ¶ Which giveth comfort to all manner age ¶ And semblably poets laureate ¶ By dark parables full convenient ¶ Fain that birds and beasts of estate ¶ As rial eagles and lions by assent ¶ Sent out writs to hold a parliament ¶ And made decrees briefly for to say ¶ Some to have lordship & some to obey ¶ eagles in thayre highest to make the flight ¶ Power of lions on the ground is seen ¶ cedar among trees highest is of sight ¶ And the laurere of nature is ay green ¶ Of flowers all flora aye goddess & queen ¶ Thus of all things there been diversities ¶ Some of estate and some of low degrees ¶ poets write wonderful likeness ¶ And under covert keep 'em self close ¶ They take beasts and fowls to witness ¶ Of whose feigning fables first arose ¶ And here I cast to my purpose ¶ Out of french a tale to translate ¶ Which in a paunflete I read & saw late ¶ This tale which I make of mention ¶ In groos rehearsed plainly to declare ¶ Three proverbs paid for a ransom ¶ Of a bird which was take in a snare ¶ Wonder desirous to scape fro her care ¶ Of mine auctors following the process ¶ So as it befell in order I shall express ¶ Whilom there was in a small village ¶ As mine author maketh rehearsal ¶ A churl which had lust & great courage ¶ Within himself by diligent travail ¶ To make a garden of rich entayll ¶ Of length & breed like square and long ¶ Hegged and dyched to make it sure & strong ¶ All the alleys were made plain with sonde ¶ The benches covered with new turfs green ¶ Sweet herbs with conduits at the hand ¶ That will it up again the son sheen ¶ Like silver streams as any crystal clean ¶ The burbyll wawes in their up boiling ¶ Round as berell their beams out showing ¶ mid in the garden stood a fresh lauryre ¶ thereon an bird singing day and night ¶ With shining feathers brighter than gold wire ¶ Which with her song made heavy hearts light ¶ That to behold it was an heavenly sight ¶ How toward even and in the dawening ¶ She died her pain most amerously to sing ¶ Esperus enforced strongly her courage ¶ Toward even when Phoebus 'gan to west ¶ Among the branches to her advantage ¶ To sing her compline & than go to rest ¶ And at rising of queen alceste ¶ To sing again as it was her dew ¶ early on morrow the day star to salue ¶ ●t was a very heavenly melody ¶ Even and morn to here the birds song ¶ And the sweet fugred harmony ¶ Of uncoute werblies & tewnes draw a long ¶ That all the garden of the noise rung ¶ Till on a morrow when Titan shone clear ¶ This bird was trapped & caught with a pantere The churl was glad when he this bird had take ¶ Merry of cheer of look and of visage ¶ And in all haste he purposed to make ¶ Within his house a preaty little cage ¶ And with her song to rejoice his courage ¶ Till at the last the silly bird abraid ¶ And sobrely thus to the churl she said ¶ I am now take and stand under danger ¶ Held straight that I may not flee ¶ A dew my song and all my notes clear ¶ Now that I have lost my liberty ¶ Now I am thrall where sometime he was free ¶ And trust well while I am in distress ¶ I can not sing nor make no gladness ¶ And though my cage forged where of gold ¶ And the pinnacles of berell and crystal ¶ I remember a proverb said of old ¶ Who loseth his freedom forsooth he loseth all ¶ For I have liefer upon a branch small ¶ Merely to sing among the woods green ¶ Than in a cage of silver bright and sheen ¶ Song in prison hath none accordance ¶ Trowest thou I will sing in prison ¶ Song proceedeth of joy and of pleasance ¶ And prison causeth death and destruction ¶ ringing of feters is no merry sown ¶ Or how should he be glad or jocund ¶ Again his will that lieth in chains bond ¶ What availeth it a lion to be a king ¶ Of beasts all shut in a tour of stone ¶ Or an eagle under strait keeping ¶ Called also king of fowls everichone ¶ Fie on lordship when liberty is go ¶ Answer hereto late it not asterte ¶ Who singeth merrily that singeth not at heart ¶ And if thou wilt rejoice of my singing ¶ Late me go flee fer from all danger ¶ And every day in the morning ¶ I shall repair unto thy laurere ¶ And freshly sing with lusty notes clear ¶ ●nder thy chambre or a fore thine hall ¶ Every season when thou list me call ¶ To be shut up and pinned under dread ¶ Not thing accordeth unto my nature ¶ Though I were fed with milk & wastel breed ¶ And with cruds brought to my pasture ¶ Yet had I liefer to do my busy cure ¶ early on morrow to scrape in the vale ¶ To find my dinner among the worms small ¶ The labourer is gladder at the plough ¶ early on morrow to fed him on bacon ¶ Than some man is that hath good enough ¶ And all deyntees plenty and foison ¶ And hath no freedom with his possession ¶ To go at large but as a bear at a stake ¶ To pass his bounds but if he leave take ¶ Take this answer for a full conclusion ¶ To sing in prison thou shalt not me constrain ¶ Till I have freedom in woods up and down ¶ To flee at large on bowhes rowhe & plain ¶ And of reason thou shouldest not disdain ¶ Of my desire but laugh & have game ¶ But who is a churl would each man were the same ¶ Well quoth the churl sith it will not be ¶ That I desire as by thy talking ¶ maugre thy will thou shalt cheese of three ¶ Within a cage merrily to sing ¶ Or to the kechyne I shall thy body bring ¶ Pull thy feathers that be bright and clear ¶ And after roast or bake the to my soupere ¶ Than said the bird to reason say I not nay ¶ Touching my song a full answer thou haste ¶ And when my feathers plucked been away ¶ And my body roasted or baken in paste ¶ Thou shalt of me have a small repast ¶ But and thou wilt work by my counsel ¶ Thou mayst by me have a great avail ¶ If thou wilt to my reason assent ¶ And suffer me go freely from prison ¶ Without ransom or any other rent ¶ I shall the rive a notable guerdon ¶ Three great wysedoms according to reason ¶ More of value take heed what I profre ¶ Than all the gold that shut is in thy coffer ¶ Trust me well I shall the not deceive ¶ Well said the churl tell anon late see ¶ Nay said the bird thou must afore conceive ¶ Who shall teach of reason must go free ¶ Hit sitteth a master to have his liberty ¶ And at large to teach his lesson ¶ Have me not suspect I mean no treason ¶ Well said the churl I hold me content ¶ I trust thy promise that thou hast made to me ¶ The bird flew forth the churl was of assent ¶ And took her flight upon the laurel tree ¶ Than thought she thus now stand I free ¶ With snares & panters I purpose not my live ¶ Ne with no limetwigs any more to strive ¶ He is a fool that scaped is fro danger ¶ Hath broke his feathers & fled out of prison ¶ Again to resort/ brent child dreadeth fire ¶ Each man be ware by wisdom and reason ¶ Sugar strawed that hideth false poison ¶ There is no venom so perilous of sharpness ¶ As when it hath of treacle the likeness ¶ Who dreadeth no peril in peril he shall fall ¶ Smooth waters been oft-time deep ¶ The quail pipe can most falsely call ¶ Till the quail under the net doth creep ¶ A blear eyed fowler trust not though he weep ¶ Esche we his thumb of weeping take none heed ¶ That small birds can nype by the heed ¶ And now that I such danger am escaped ¶ I will beware and a fore provide ¶ That of no fowler I will no more be japed ¶ Fro their limetwigs I will flee far a side ¶ Where peril is peril is to abide ¶ Come near thou churl and hark to my speech ¶ Of three wysedoms that I shall the teach ¶ Yeve not of wisdom to hastily credence ¶ To every tale ne to every tiding ¶ But conceive of reason and of prudence ¶ Among many tales in many a losing ¶ Hastily credence hath caused great hindering ¶ Report of tales and tidings told of new ¶ Maketh many a man to behold untrue ¶ For one part take this for my ransom ¶ Learn the second grounded on scripture ¶ Desire not thou by no condition ¶ Thing which is impossible to recure ¶ Worldly desires stand all in adventure ¶ And who desired to climb high a loft ¶ Be sudden turn falleth oft unsoft▪ ¶ The third is this beware both eve & morrow ¶ forget it not but learn this of me ¶ For treasure lost make never to great sorrow ¶ Which in no wise may recovered be ¶ For who sorroweth for loss in that degree ¶ reckon first his loss and after his pain ¶ Of one sorrow he maketh sorrows twain ¶ After this lesson the bird began a song ¶ Of her escape greatly reioyssing ¶ And remembered her also of the wrong ¶ Done by the churl first at her taking ¶ Of her affray & of her enprysoning ¶ Glad that she was at large & out of dread ¶ Said to him hooving above his heed ¶ Thou were said she a very natural fool ¶ To suffer me depart of thy lowdenes ¶ Thou oughtest of right complain & make dole ¶ And in thine heart to have great he●ynes ¶ That thou haste lost so passing great riches ¶ Which might suffice by value in reckoning ¶ To pay the ransom of a mighty king ¶ There is a stone which called is a jagonce ¶ Of old engendered within mine entrayll ¶ Which of fine gold poiseth an ounce ¶ citrine of colour like garnettes of entayll ¶ Which maketh men victorious in battle ¶ And who so ever bear on him this stone ¶ Is full assured again his mortal soon ¶ Who hath this stone in his possession ¶ Shall suffer no poverty ne none indigence ¶ But of all treasure have plenty and foison ¶ And every man shall do him reverence ¶ And enemy shall do him none offence ¶ But fro thine hands now that I am go ¶ Plain if thou wilt for thy part is none ¶ It causeth love it maketh men gracious ¶ And favourable in every man's sight ¶ It maketh accord between folk envious ¶ comforteth sorrowful maketh heavy hearts light ¶ Like topasyon of colour sonnesshe bright ¶ I am a fool to tell all atones ¶ Or teach a churl the price of precious stones ¶ Men should not put a precious margaryte ¶ As rubies sapphires and other stones ind ¶ emeralds and other pearls white ¶ A fore rude swine that love draf of kind ¶ For a sow delighteth as I find ¶ Moore in draft her pigs for to glade ¶ Than in all the perry that cometh out of garnade ¶ Each thing draweth to his semblable ¶ fishes in the see beasts on the strand ¶ The air for fowls by nature is covenable ¶ And to the plough man for to till the land ¶ And to a churl a dongforke in his hand ¶ I loose my time any more to tarry ¶ For to tell a churl of the lapydarye ¶ That thou hadst thou gettest no more again ¶ Thy lime twigs and panters I defy ¶ To late me go thou were foul over said ¶ To loose thy riches only of folly ¶ I am now free to singen and to fly ¶ Where that me list and he is a fool at all ¶ That is at large and maketh himself thrall ¶ To here of wisdom thine ears been half deaf ¶ Like an ass that lystneth on an harp ¶ Thou mayst go pypen in an ivy leaf ¶ Better is to me to sing on thorns sharp ¶ Than in a cage with a churl to carp ¶ For it was said of folks years agoon ¶ A churl's churl is oft woe begone ¶ The churl felt his heart part on twain ¶ For very sorrow and a sunder rive ¶ Alas said he I may well weep and plain ¶ As a wretch never like to thrive ¶ But for tendure in poverty all my live ¶ For of folly and of wilfulness ¶ I have now lost all holy my riches ¶ I was a lord I cry out on fortune ¶ I had great treasure late in my keeping ¶ Which might have made me long contune ¶ With that stone/ to have lived like a king ¶ If I had set it in a ring ¶ Born it upon me. I had good enough ¶ I should than no more have go to the plough ¶ When the bird saw the churl thus morn ¶ And how that he was heavy of his cheer ¶ She took her flight & 'gan again return ¶ Toward him and said as ye shall here ¶ O dull churl wysedoms for to lere ¶ That I the taught all is left behind ¶ Racyd away & clean out of thy mind ¶ Taught I not the this wisdom in sentence ¶ To every tale brought to the of new ¶ Not too hastily give there to credence ¶ In to time thou know that it were true ¶ All is not gold that showeth goldesshe hew ¶ Nor stones all be nature as I find ¶ Be not sapphires that show colour ind ¶ In this doctrine I lost my labour ¶ To teach the such proverbs of substance ¶ Now mayst thou see thy blinded error ¶ For all my body poised in balance ¶ weigheth not an ounce rude is thy remembrance ¶ I to have more poised closed in mine entraylle ¶ Than all my body set for the counteruaylle ¶ All my body weigheth not an ounce ¶ How mighty than I have in me a stone ¶ That poiseth more than a jagonce ¶ Thy brain is dull thy wit is all most go ¶ Of three wysedoms thou hast forgotten one ¶ Thou shouldest not after my sentence ¶ To every tale to hastily give credence ¶ I bade also beware both even and morrow ¶ For thing lost of sudden adventure ¶ Thou shouldest not make to much sorrow ¶ When thou seest thou mayst it not recure ¶ And here thou failest which dost thy cure ¶ In thy snare to catch me again ¶ Thou art a fool thy labour is in vain ¶ In the third thou dost rave ¶ I had thou shouldest in no manner wise ¶ covet thing that thou mayst not have ¶ In which thou haste foregone mine enpryse ¶ Than may I say plainly to devise ¶ Thou hast of madness forgotten all three ¶ Notable wysedoms that I taught the ¶ The vynetener treateth of wholesome wines ¶ Of gentle fruit boosteth the gardener ¶ The fisher casted out hokes and lines ¶ To catch fish in every fresh river ¶ Of tilth of land treateth the hovere ¶ The gentleman talketh of genterye ¶ The churl delighteth to speak ribaldry ¶ All one to the fawkone and a kite ¶ As good an owl as a popyngaye ¶ A doke of the donghylle as deynte as a snipe ¶ Who serveth a churl hath many a careful day ¶ A den sir churl far well I flee my way ¶ I casse my never hens forth me living ¶ To fore a churl any more to syuge ¶ Ye folk that shall this fable see or read ¶ New forged tales I counsel you to flee ¶ For loss of good take never great heed ¶ Be not sorrowful for none adversity ¶ covet no thing that may not recovered be ¶ And remember where ever ye ride or goon ¶ A churl's churl is alway woe be goon ¶ Unto purpose this proverb is full riff ¶ Rede and reported by old remembrance ¶ A chyldes' bird and a knaves wife ¶ Have oft sith great sorrow and meschance ¶ And who hath freedom hath all suffisance ¶ Better is freedom with little in gladness ¶ Than to be thrall with all worldly riches ¶ Go little quayer and recommend me ¶ Unto my master with humble affection ¶ Beseke him lowly of mercy and pity ¶ Of thy rude making to have compassion ¶ And as touching thy translation ¶ Out of french/ how that it Englysshed be ¶ All thing is said under correction ¶ With supportation of his benignity ¶ Explicit the churl and the bird. imprinted at Westmynstre in caxton's house by winken de word. printer's or publisher's device