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[OMACL release #3]

The Parliament of Fowles

by Geoffrey Chaucer


The following text is based on that published in THE COMPLETE
WORKS OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER, ed. W.W. Skeat (Oxford, 1900). This
text is in the PUBLIC DOMAIN.

This electronic edition was edited, proofed, and prepared by
Douglas B. Killings ([email protected]), September 1994, based
upon a previous e-text of unknown origin. Additional assistance
provided by Diane M. Brendan.

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Here begynyth the Parlement of Foulys

THE PROEM

1 The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne,
2 Thassay so hard, so sharp the conquering,
3 The dredful Ioy, that alwey slit so yerne,
4 Al this mene I by love, that my feling
5 Astonyeth with his wonderful worching
6 So sore y-wis, that whan I on him thinke,
7 Nat wot I wel wher that I wake or winke.

8 For al be that I knowe nat love in dede,
9 Ne wot how that he quyteth folk hir hyre,
10 Yet happeth me ful ofte in bokes rede
11 Of his miracles, and his cruel yre;
12 Ther rede I wel he wol be lord and syre,
13 I dar not seyn, his strokes been so sore,
14 But God save swich a lord! I can no more.

15 Of usage, what for luste what for lore,
16 On bokes rede I ofte, as I yow tolde.
17 But wherfor that I speke al this? not yore
18 Agon, hit happed me for to beholde
19 Upon a boke, was write with lettres olde;
20 And ther-upon, a certeyn thing to lerne,
21 The longe day ful faste I radde and yerne.

22 For out of olde feldes, as men seith,
23 Cometh al this newe corn fro yeer to yere;
24 And out of olde bokes, in good feith,
25 Cometh al this newe science that men lere.