¶ The assemble of fowls.  
¶ Here followeth the assemble of fowls very pleasant and compendious to read or here compiled by the preclared and famous clerk Geffray Chaucer.   

¶ Roberte Coplande book printer to new fanglers.  
¶ News/ news/ news/ have ye any news  
Myneeres ache/ to here you call and cry  
Ben books made with whistling and whewes  
Ben there not yet enough to your fantasy  
In faith nay I trow and yet have ye daily  
Of matters sad/ and eke of apes and oules  
But yet for your pleasure/ thusmoche do will I  
As to let you here the parliament of fowls.  
¶ Chaucer is deed the which this pamphlet wrote  
So been his heirs in all such business  
And gone is also the famous clerk Lydgate  
And so is young Hawes/ god their souls address  
Many were the volumes the they made more & less  
Their books ye lay up/ till that the leather moles  
But yet for your minds this book I will impress  
That is in tytule the parliament of fowls  
¶ So many learned at least they say they be  
Was never seen/ doing so few good works  
Where is the time that they do spend trow ye  
In prayers? ye/ where? in fields and parks  
Ye but where be becomen all the clerks?  
In sloth and idleness their time defoules  
For lack of writing/ containing moral sperkes  
I must imprynt the parliament of fowls.  
¶ Dytees/ and letters them can I make myself  
Of such enough been daily to me brought  
Old moral books stand still upon the shelf  
I am in fere they will never be bought  
Trifles and toys they been the things so sought  
Their wits tryndle like these flemysshe bowls  
yet gentle clerks follow him yeought  
That did indite the parliament of fowls.  
¶ finis.   


THe life so short the craft so long to learn  
The assay so hard so sharp the conquering  
The slyder joy that always slided so yearn  
All this mean I by love that my feeling  
Astonyeth so with dreadful working  
So sorey wis that when I on him think  
Not wot I well where that I wake or wink.   

For all be that I know not love in deed  
Ne wot how he quiteth folk their hire  
Yet happeth me in books oft to read  
Of his miracles and of his cruel ire  
There read I well he will be lord and sire  
Dare I not say his strokes been so sore  
But god save such a lord I can no more.   

Of usage what for lust what forlore  
On books read I oft as I you told  
But why that I spoke not all this yore  
Agon/ it happened me for to behold  
Upon a book was write with letters old  
And there upon a certain thing to learn  
The long day I read full fast and yearn.   

For out of old fields as men saith  
Cometh all this new corn fro year to year  
And out of old books in good faith  
Cometh all this new science that men lere  
But now to purpose of my first matter  
To read forth 'gan me to delight  
That all the day thought me but a light.   

This book of which I may make mention  
Entituled was all there I shall you tell  
Tullius of the dream of the Cypyon  
Chapytrees is had vij of heaven and hell  
And earth and souls that therein dwell  
Of which as shortly as I can treat  
Of his sentence I will tell the great.   

first telleth it when Cypyon was come  
Into Aufryke how he met Messymysse  
That him for joy in arms hath nim  
Than telleth he her speech and all the bliss  
That was between them till the day 'gan miss  
And how his ancestor aufrycan so dear  
'Gan on his sleep that night to him appear.   

¶ Than told he him that fro a sterry place  
How Aufrycan hath him cartage showed  
And warned him before all his grace  
And said to him what man learned or lewd  
That loveth common profit well ythewed  
He shall unto a blissful place wend  
There joy is that lasteth without end.   

Than asked he if the folk that here be deed  
Have life and dwelling in an other place  
And Aufrycan said ye without dread  
And our present worlds lives space  
Meaneth but a manner death what may we trace  
And rightful folk shall go when they die  
To heaven/ and showed him the galerye.   

¶ Than showed he him the little earth that here is  
At regard of heavens quantity  
And showed him the nine speries  
And after that the melody heard he  
That cometh of thilk speries thrice three  
That well is of music and melody  
In this world and cause of harmony.   

¶ Than bade he him see the earth that is so light  
And was somdell full of hard grace  
That he ne should him in the world delight  
Than told he him in certain years space  
That every star should come into his place  
There it was first and all shall out of mind  
That in this world was done of all mankind.   

¶ Than prayed he Cypyon to tell him all  
The way to come to heavens bliss  
And he said know thyself first mortal  
And look ay busily thou work and wysse  
To commune profit and thou shalt never miss  
To come swiftly unto that place dear  
That full of bliss is and souls clear.   

¶ But brekers of ehe law sooth for to say  
And lecherous folk after that they been deed  
Shall alway whirl about the earth in pain  
Till many a world be passed out of dread  
And than forgiven them all their wicked deed  
Than shall they come unto that blissful place  
To the which to come god send each lover grace.   

The day 'gan fail and the dark night  
That reaveth beasts from their business  
Byrefte me my book for lack of light  
And to my bed/ I 'gan me for to dress  
fulfilled of thought and busy heaviness  
For both I had thing which that I nolde  
And eke I ne had thing that I would.   

But finally my spirit at the last  
For weary of my labour all the day  
Took rest that made me to sleep fast  
And in my sleep I met as I lay  
How Aufrycan right in that self array  
That Cypyon him saw before that tide  
Was comen and stood right at my beds side.   

The weary hunter sleeping in his bed  
To wood again his mind goeth anon  
The judge dreameth how his pleys be sped  
The carter dreameth how his carts gone  
The rich of gold the knight fight with his tone  
The seek meeteth he drinketh of the ton  
The lover meeteth he hath his lady won.   

Can I not say if that the cause were  
For I red had of Aufrycan before  
That me to meet that he stood there  
But thus said he thou hast the so well borne  
In looking of mine old book all to torn  
Of which Macrobye wrought not a light  
That somedeal of thy labour would I the quite.   

¶ ytherea thou blissful lady sweet  
That with thy fiery bronde dauntest whom the lest  
And madest me this sweven for to meet  
Be thou my help in this for thou mayst best  
As wysshly as I saw the north north west  
When I began my sweven for to write  
So ye give me might to rhyme and to indite.   

This foresaid Aufrycan me hent anon  
And forth with him unto a gate brought  
Right of a park walled with great stone  
And over the gate with letters large ywrought  
There were verses written as me thought  
On either half of full great difference  
Of which I shall you say the plain sentence.   

through me men go into that blissful place  
Of hearts hele and deadly wounds cure  
through me men go unto the well of grace  
There green and lusty may shall ever endure  
This is the way to all good adventure  
Be glad thou reder and thy sorrow of cast  
All open am I pass in and high the fast.   

through me men go than spoke that other side  
Unto the mortal stroke of the spear  
Of which disdain and danger is the guide  
There tree shall never leaves bear  
This stream you leadeth unto the sorrowful were  
There as the fish in prison is all dry  
The eschewing is the remedy.   

¶ These verses of gold and blackey written were  
Of which I 'gan a stound to behold  
For with that one increased ay my fere  
And with that other 'gan mine heart to bold  
That one me heat that other did me cold  
No wit had I for error for to cheese  
To enter or i'll or me to save or lose.   

¶ Right as between Adamantes two  
Of even might a piece of iron set  
That hath no might to move to ne fro  
For what that one may hale that other let  
So fared I that I ne wist where that me was bet  
To enter or leave till Aufrycan my guide  
Be hent and shofe in at the gates wide.   

¶ And said it standeth written in thy face  
Thine error though thou tell it not to me  
But dread the not to come into this place  
For this writing is nothing meant by the  
He by none but he loves servant be  
For thou of love hast lost thy taste I guess  
As seek man hath of sweet and bitterness.   

¶ But nethles all though thou be dull  
That thou can not do yet may thou see  
For many a man that may not stand a pull  
Yet liketh him at the wrestling for to be  
And deemeth yet whether he do bet or he  
And if thou hau● cunning for to indite  
I shall the show matter of to write.   

¶ And with that my hand in his he took anon  
Of which I comfort caught and went in fast  
But lord so I was glad and well by gone  
For over all where I mine eyes cast  
Were trees clad with leaves that aye shall last  
Each in his kind with colour fresh and green  
As emerawde that joy was to seen.   

¶ The bylder oak and eke the hardy ash  
The pillar elm/ the coffer unto carrion  
The box pipe tree/ holm to whips lash  
The sail yard fyrre/ the cypress death to plain  
The shorter ewe/ the asp for shafts plain  
The olive of peace and eke the drunken vine  
The victor palm the laurer to divine.   

¶ A garden saw I full of blosomed bowiss  
Upon a river in a green meed  
There as sweetness evermore enough is  
With flowers white blue yellow and red  
And cold well streams nothing deed  
And swiming full of small fishes light  
With fins reed and scales silver bright.   

¶ On every bough the birds heard I sing  
With voice of angel in their harmony  
That busied them their birds forth to bring  
The little conies to their play 'gan high  
And further about I 'gan espy  
The drefull roo the buck the heart and hind  
Squyrell and beasts small of gentle kind.   

On instruments of string in a cord  
Heard I so play and ravishing sweetness  
That god that maker is of all and lord  
Ne herd never better as I guess  
Therewith a wind uneath it might be less  
Made in the leaves green a noise soft  
According to the fowls song on loft.   

The air of that place so attempered was  
That never was grievance thereof hot ne cold  
There groweth every wholesome spice and grass  
No man may there wax seek ne old  
Yet was there more joy a thousand fold  
No man can tell never would it night  
But ay clear day to any man's sight.   

Under a tree beside a well I say  
Copide our lord his arrows forge and file  
And at his feet his bow all ready lay  
And Will his daughter tempered all the while  
The hedes in the well and with a hard file  
She couched them after as they should serve  
Some to slay and some to wound and carve.   

though was I ware of pleasance anon right  
And of array and lust and courtesy  
And of the craft that can and hath the might  
To go before a wight and to do folly  
disfigured was she I shall not lie  
And by himself under an oak I guess  
saw I delight that stood with gentleness.   

I saw beauty without any attire  
And youghe full of game and jollity  
Fool hardiness flattery and desire  
Massagery meed and other three  
Their names shall not be told for me  
And upon pylers' great of jasper long  
I saw a temple of brass founded strong.   

About the temple danced always  
Women enough of which some were  
Fair of themself and some of them gay  
In kyrtles all dyssheveled went they there  
That was their office always fro year to year  
And on the temple saw I white and fair  
Of doves white many an hundredth pair.   

Before the temple door full sobrelye  
Dame peace sat a curtain in her hand  
And her beside wonder dyscretlye  
Dame patience sitting there I fond  
With face pale upon an hill of sand  
And alder next within and without  
Behest and art and of their folk a rout.   

Within the temple with sighs hot as fire  
I heard a sigh that 'gan about run  
Which sighs were engendered with desire  
That made every altar for to brenne  
Of new flame and I espied then  
That all the cause of sorrows that they dry  
Come of the bitter god's jalosye.   

¶ The god Pyrapus saw I as I went  
Within the temple in sovereign place stand  
In such array as when the ass him shent  
With cry by night and with his sceptre in hand  
Full busily men gan assay and fond  
Upon his heed to set of sundry hew  
Garlands full of fresh flowers new.   

¶ And in a privy corner in disport  
Found I Venus and her porter richesse  
That was full noble and hauteyne of her port  
dark was that place and afterward lightness  
I saw a light uneath it might be less  
And on a bed of gold she lay to rest  
Till that the hot son 'gan to the west.   

¶ Her guilt hairs with a gold thread  
I bounden were untressed as she lay  
And naked fro the breast unto the heed  
Men might hearse and soothly for to say  
The remanent covered well to my pay  
Right with a subtle keverchesse of valence  
There was no thicker cloth of defence.   

¶ The place gave a thousand savours swote  
And Bacchus god of wine sat her beside  
And Ceres next that doth of hunger boat  
And as I said amids lay cupid  
To whom on knees the young folks cried  
To be their help but thus I let her lie  
And serther in the temple I 'gan espy.   

That in despite of diane the chaste  
Full many a bow ybroke hanged on the wall  
Of maidens such as 'gan their times waste  
In her service and painted over all  
Of many a story of which I touch shall  
A few as of Calyxte and Athalante  
And many a maid of which the name I want.   

Semiramus Candace and Hercules  
Byblys Dido Tesbe and Pyramus  
Trystram ysoude Paris and Achilles  
Heleyne Cleopatra and Troplus  
Sylla and eke the mother Romulus  
All these were painted on that other side  
And all their love and in what plight they died.   

When I was come again into that place  
That I of spoke that was so sweet and grieve  
Forth walked I though myself to solace  
though was I ware where there sat a queen  
That as of light the summer son sheen  
Passeth the star right so over measure  
She fairer was than any creature.   

And in a land upon an hill of flowers  
Was set this noble gods of nature  
Of branches were her halls & her bowers  
Y wrought after her craft and her measure  
Ne there was foul that cometh of engendure  
That there ne were pressed in her presence  
To take her doom and give her audience.   

For this was on saint Valentynes' day  
When every foul cometh there to choose his make  
Of every kind that men think may  
And that so huge a noise 'gan they make  
That earth see and tree and every lake  
So full was that uneath was other space  
For me to stand so full was every place.   

And right as Alayne in the plaint of kind  
deviseth nature of such array and face  
In such array men might her there find  
This noble empress full of grace  
Bade every foul to take her own place  
As they were wont always fro year to year  
On saint Valentynes' day to stand there   

That is to say the fowls of ravin  
Were highest set and than the fowls small  
That eaten as nature would incline  
As worm or thing of which I tell no tale  
But water foul sat lowest in the dale  
And foul that liveth by seed sat on the green  
And that so many that wonder was to seen.   

There might men the royal eagle find  
That with his sharp look pierceth the son  
And other eagles of a lower kind  
Of which that clerks well devysen can  
There was the tyrant with his feathers done  
And green I mean the goshawk that doth pain  
To birds for his outrageous ravine.   

The gentle falcon that with his foot dystreyneth  
The kings hand/ the sparrowhawk eke  
The quails of the merlyon that paineth  
Himself full oft the lark for to leek  
There was the dove with her eyes meek  
The jealous swan against his death that singeth  
The owl eke that of death the bode bringeth.   

¶ The crane the giant with his trumps sewne  
The thief the chough and eke the jangling pie  
The scoruing iaye the eagles foe herowne  
The false lap wing full of treachery  
The stare that the counsel 'gan bewrye  
The tame ruddcke and the coward kit  
The cock that orologe is of thorpes light.   

The sparrow Venus son/ the nightinggale  
That clepyth forth the fresh leaves new  
The swallow mordrer of the fowls small  
That maken honey of flowers fresh of hew  
The wedded turtle with his heart true  
The peacock with his angels feathers bright  
The fesaunte scorner of the cock by night.   

The waker goes the cukkowe ever unkind  
The popyniay full of delycasye  
The drake scorner of his own kind  
The stork wreker of avowtrye  
The hot cormeraunte of gluttony  
The raven and the crow with her voice of care  
The throstle old and the frosty feldfare.   

What should I say of fowls every kind  
That in this world have feathers and stature  
Men might in that place assembled find  
Before that noble gods of nature  
And each of them did his busy cure  
benignly to choose or for to take  
By her accord his formel or his make.   

But to the point nature held on her hand  
A formal eagle of shape the gentlest  
That ever she ymonge her works fond  
The most benign and goodliest  
In her was every virtue at his rest  
So farforth that nature herself had bliss  
To look on her and oft her beke to kiss.   

Nature the vyker of the almighty lord  
That hot cold heavy light moist and dry  
Hath knit by even number of a cord  
In esy voice began to speak and say  
Fowls take heed of my sentence I pray  
And for your ease in furthering of your need  
As fast as I may speak I will me speed.   

Ye know well how on saint Valentynes' day  
By my statute and through my governance  
Ye come for to choose and i'll your way  
With your makes as I prick you with pleasance  
But nethles my rightful governance  
May I not let for all this world to win  
That he that most is worthy shall begin.   

The tercell eagle as that ye known well  
The foul royal above you all in degree  
The wise and worthy the secret true as steel  
The which I have formed as ye may see  
In every part as it best liketh me  
It needeth not his shape you to devise  
He shall first chose and speak in his guise.   

And after him by order shall ye cheese  
After your kind everich as you liketh  
And as your hap is shall ye win or lose  
But which of you that love most entryketh  
God send him her that sorest for him seeketh  
And therewithal the tercell 'gan she call  
And said my son the choice is to you yfalle.   

But nevertheless in this condition  
Must be the choice of everich that is here  
That she agree to his election  
Who so he be that should be her fere  
This is our usage always fro year to year  
And who so may at this time have his grace  
In blissful time he came into this place.   

With heed inclined and with full humble cheer  
This royal tercell spoke and tarried nought  
Unto my sovereign lady and not my fere  
I cheese and chess with will and heart and thought  
The formel on your hand so well I wrought  
Whose I am all and ever will her serve  
Do what her lust to do me live or starve.  
The ꝑ. of fou.   

beseeching her of mercy and of grace  
As she that is my lady sovereign  
Or let me die present in this place  
For certes long may I not live in pain  
For in mine heart is koruen every vain  
Having reward only to my truth  
My dear heart have on my woe some ruth.   

And if I be found to her untrue  
Dysobeysaunte or wilful negligent  
Auauntour or in process love a new  
I pray to you this be my judgement  
That with these fowls I be all to rend  
That ilk day that ever she me find  
To her untrue or in my guilt unkind.   

And sith that none loveth her so well as I  
All though she never of love behette  
Than ought she be mine through her mercy  
For other bond can I none on her knit  
For never for no woe ne shall I let  
To serve her how far so that she wend  
Say what thou lest my tale is an end.   

Right as the fresh reed rose new  
Against the summer son coloured is  
Right so for shame all wexen 'gan the hew  
Of this formel when she heard all this  
Neither she answered well ne said amiss  
So sore abashed was she till that Nature  
Said daughter dread you not I you assure.   

Another tercell eagle spoke anon  
Of lower kind and said that should not be  
I love her better than ye do by saint johan  
Or at lest I love her as well as ye  
And longer have served her in my degree  
And if she should have loved for long loving.  
To me alone had be the guardoning.   

I dare eke say if she me find falls  
Unkind jangler or rebel any wise  
Or ialouse do me hang by the hals  
And but I bear me in her service  
As well as my wit can me suffice  
from point to point her honour for to save  
Take she my life and all the good I have.   

The third tercell eagle answered though  
Now sirs ye see the little leisure here  
For every foul crieth out to be ago  
Forth with his make or with his lady dear  
And eke herself will nought here  
For tarrying her not half that I would say  
And but I speak I must for sorrow dey.   

Of long service avaunt I me nothing  
But as possible is me to die to day  
For woe as he that hath be languishing  
These twenty winter and well happen may  
A man may serve better and more to pay  
In half a year though it were no more  
Than some man doth that hath served full yore.   

I ne say not this by me for I ne can  
Do no service that may my lady please  
But I dare say I am her truest man  
As to my doom and feignest would her please  
At short words till that death me sese  
I will be hers whether I walk or wink  
And true in all that heart may bethink.   

Of all my life sith that day I was borne  
So gentle plea in love or other thing  
Ne herd I never no man me before  
Who that had leisure and cunning  
For to rehearse her cheer and her speaking  
And from the morrow 'gan this speech last  
Till downward went the son wonder fast   

The noise of fowls for to be delivered  
So loud range/ have done and let us wend  
That well wend I the wood all to shivered  
Come of they cried alas ye will us shende  
When shall your cursed pleading have an end  
How should a judge either party leave  
For ye or nay without any prove.   

The goose the duck and the cukkowe also  
So cried keke keke cukko we queke queke high  
That through mine eeres the noise went tho  
The goose said though all this nies worth a fly  
But I can shape hereof a remedy  
And will say my verdict fair and swith  
For water foul who so be sad or blithe.   

And I for worm soul said the foul cuckoo  
For I will of mine own authority  
For commune speed take on me the charge now  
For to deliver us is great charity  
Ye may abide a while yet pard  
Quod the turtle if be your will  
A white may speak him were as good be still.   

I am a seed foul one the unworthiest  
That wot I well and little of cunning  
But better is that a wights tongue rest  
Then entremete him of such doing  
Of which he neither read can nor sing  
And who so doth full foul himself acloyeth  
For office uncommytted oft anoyeth.   

Nature which that always had an ere  
To murmur of the lewdness behind  
With fecund voice said/ hold your tongues there  
And I shall soon I hope a counsel find  
You for to deliver and from this noise unbind  
I judge of every folk men shall one call  
To say the verdict of you fowls all.   

Assented were to this conclusion  
The birds all/ and fowls of ravin  
Have chosen first by plain election  
The tercelet of the falcon to define  
All her sentence and as him lust to termine  
And to nature him they did present  
And she accepteth him with glad intent.  
The assem. of fou.   

The tercelet said then in manner  
Full hard were it to prove it by reason  
Who loveth best this gentle formel here  
For everich hath such replication  
That by skills may none be brought adoune  
I can not see that arguments avail  
Then seemeth it there must be battle.   

All ready quoth this eagles tercelles tho  
Nay sirs quoth he if that I durst it say  
Ye do me wrong my tale is not ydo  
For sirs taketh not a grief I pray  
It may not as ye would in this way  
Ours is the voice that have the charge in hand  
And to the judges doom ye must stand.   

And therefore I say as to my wit  
Me would think how that the worthiest  
Of knighthood/ and longest had used it  
Most of estate of blood the gentlest  
Were sitting to her if that her jest  
And of these three she wot herself I trow  
Which that he be/ for it is light to know.   

The water fowls have their hedes laid  
together/ and of short advisement  
When everich had his large gold said  
They said soothly all by one assent  
How that the goose with her fecund gent  
That so desireth to pronounce our need  
Shall tell our tale and prayed to god her speed.   

And for these water fowls though began  
The goose to speak and in her cakeling  
She said pes now/ take keep every man  
And hearken which a reason I shall forth bring  
My wit is sharp I love no tarrying  
I say I read him though he were my brother  
But she will love him let him love another.   

Lo here a perfit reason of a goose  
Quod the sparrowhawk never moat she the  
Lo such it is to have a tongue loose  
Now pard fool it were better for the  
Have hold thy peace then showed thy nycete  
It lieth not in his wit nor in his will  
But sooth is said a fool cannot be still.   

The laughter arose of gentle fowls all  
And right anon the seed fowls chosen had  
The turtle true/ and did her to them call  
And prayed her to say the sooth sad  
Of this matter/ and asked what she rad  
And she answered that plainly her intent  
She would show/ and soothly what she meant.   

Now god forbid a lover should change  
The turtle said and wax for shame all reed  
Though that his lady evermore be strange  
Yet let him serve her always till he be deed  
For so the I praise nought the goses read  
For though she died I would not other make  
I will be hers till that the death me take.   

Well bourded quoth the duck by my hat  
That men should love always causeless  
Who can a reason find or wit in that  
Danceth he merry that is myrthlesse  
Who should reck of that is reckless  
Ye queke quoth the duck full well and fair  
There be mosterres god wot than a pair.   

Now fie churl quod the gentle tercelette  
Out of the dunghill came that word full right  
Thou rauste not see which thing is well bysette  
Thou farest by love as owls do by light  
The day them blindeth full well they see by night  
Thy kind is of so low a wretchedness  
That what love is thou canst not see nor guess   

though 'gan the cuckoo put himself in preas  
For foul that eateth worm/ and said as belive  
So I quoth he may have my make in peace  
I reck not how long that ye strive  
Let each of them be soleyne all their live  
This is my reed sith they may not accord  
This short lesson needeth not record.   

Ye have the glutton filled enough his paunch  
Than are we well said the emerlyon  
Thou murderer of haysoge on the branch  
That brought the forth thou rueful glutton  
Live thou soleyne worms corruption  
For no force is for lack of thy nature  
Go lewd be thou while thy life may dure.   

Now peace quoth nature I command here  
For I have heard all your opinion  
And in effect yet be we never the near  
But finally this is my conclusion  
That she herself shall have her election  
Of whom her lust who so be wroth or blithe  
Him that she chooseth he shall have her as swith.   

For sith it may not here discussed be  
Who loveth her best as said the tercelet  
Than will I do this favour to her that she  
Shall have right him on whom her heart is set  
And he her that his heart hath on her knet  
This judge I nature for I may not lie  
To none estate I have none other eye.   

But as for counsel to cheese a make  
If I were reason than would I  
counsel you the royal tercell take  
As said the tercelet full skilfully  
As for the gentlest and most worthy  
Which I have wrought so well to my pleasance  
That it ought to be to you a suffisance.   

With dreadful voice the formel her answered  
My right full lady gods of nature  
sooth is that I am ever under your yard  
As is every other creature  
And must be yours while my life may endure  
And therefore grant me my first boon  
And mine intent I shall you say right soon   

I grant it you quoth she and right anon  
This formel eagle spoke in this degree  
almighty queen unto this year be done  
I ask respite for to advise me  
And after that to have my choice all free  
This is all and some that I would speak and say  
Ye get no more all though ye do me dey.   

I will not serve Venus ne cupid  
For such as yet by no manner way  
Now sith it may none other ways betide  
Quod nature here is no more to say  
Than wolke I that these fowls were away  
Yche with his make for tarrying longer here  
And said them thus as ye shall after here.   

To you speak I ye tercelettes said nature  
Be of good heart and serve ye all three  
A year is not so long to endure  
And each of you pain him in his degree  
For to do well for god wot quite is she  
from you this year what after so befall  
This entremesse is dressed fro you all.   

And when this work all wrought was to an end  
To every foul nature gave his make  
By even accord and on their way they wend  
A lord the bliss and joy that they make  
For each of them 'gan other in wings take  
And with their necks each 'gan other wind  
Thanking always the noble gods of kind   

But first were there chosen fowls for to sing  
As year by year was always their usance  
To sing a roundel at their departing  
To do Nature honour and pleasance  
The note I trow ymaked was in France  
The words were such as ye may here find  
The next verse as I now have in mind.   

¶ Queen bien aim atard oblye.  
And with their shout ing when their song was do  
That fowls made at their flight away  
I work/ and other books took me to  
To read upon/ and yet I read always  
I hope y wys to read so some day  
That I shall meet some thing for to far  
The better/ and thus to read I will not spare.   
¶ Explicit tractatus de congregatione volucrum die sancte Vnlentini.  
¶ Thus endeth the congregation of fowls on saint Valentynes' day.   

¶ Envoy of R. Coplande book printer.  

Laid upon shelf/ in leaves all to torn  
With letters dim/ almost defaced clean  
Thy hylling rot/ with worms all to worn  
Thou lay/ that pity it was to seen  
Bound with old quayres/ for age all hoar & grieve  
Thy matter endormed/ for lack of thy presence  
But now thou art loosed/ go show forth thy sentence.   

And where thou become so order thy language  
That in excuse thy printer look thou have  
Which hath the kept from ruinous damage  
In snow swyte paper/ thy matter for to save  
With thilk same language that Chaucer to the gave  
In terms old/ of sentence cleared new  
Than methe much sweeter/ who can his mind avewe.   

And if a lover happen on the to read  
Let be the goose with his lewd sentence  
Unto the turtle and not to her to take heed  
For who so changeth/ true love doth offence  
Love as I read is flower of excellence  
And love also is rote of wretchedness  
Thus be two loves/ scryture beareth witness.   
¶ Finis.   

¶ Imprinted in london in fleet street at the sign of the Son against the conduit/ by me Wynkyn de word. The. xxiv. day of january/ in the year of our lord. M. CCCCC. & xxx