| | Who can say bet than he that can do wers | |
| | Whan he hath al sayd than hath he doon | |
| | Therfore behoueth hym to haue a long spoon | |
| 595 | That shal ete with a fende thus herde I say | |
| | So atte laste he muste forth his way | |
| | And forth fleith til he com there hym leste | |
| | When it cam hym to purpos for to reste | |
| | I trow he hadde the text in mynde | |
| 600 | That al thing repeyrith to his kynde | |
| | Gladith hym self thus sey men as I gesse | |
| | Men loue of propir kynde newefangilnesse | |
| | As briddis doon that men in cagis fede | |
| | For they thou nyght & day take of hem hede | |
| 605 | And strawe her cage feyre & softe as silk | |
| | And yeue hem suger hony bred and mylk | |
| | Yet right anon as his dore is vp | |
| | He with his feet spurneth doun his cup | |
| | And to the wode he wol and wormes ete | |
| 610 | So newfangil ben they of her mete | |
| | And loue noueltees of proper kynde | |
| | No gentilnesse of blood may hym bynde | |
| | So ferde this Tarcellet allas the day | |
| | Though he were gentil born fresh and gay | |
| 615 | And goodly forto se humble and fre | |
| | He saw vp on a tyme a kyte fle | |
| | And sodenly he louyd this kyte so | |
| | That al his loue is clene fro me go | |
| | And hath his trouthe falsid in this wyse | |
| 620 | Thus hath the kyte my loue in his seruise | |
