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CHAUCER - Alexander Pope, The Complete Poetical Works of Alexander Pope [1903]

Edition used:

The Complete Poetical Works of Alexander Pope. Cambridge Edition, ed. Henry W. Boynton (Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Co., 1903).

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CHAUCER

    • Women ben full of ragerie,
    • Yet swinken not sans secresie.
    • Thilke Moral shall ye understond,
    • From schoole-boy’s Tale of fayre Irelond;
    • Which to the Fennes hath him betake,
    • To filche the grey Ducke fro the Lake.
    • Right then there passen by the way
    • His Aunt, and eke her Daughters tway.
    • Ducke in his trowses hath he hent,
    • Not to be spied of ladies gent.10
    • ‘But ho! our Nephew,’ crieth one;
    • ‘Ho!’ quoth another, ‘Cozen John;’
    • And stoppen, and lough, and callen out—
    • This sely Clerke full low doth lout:
    • They asken that, and talken this,
    • ‘Lo, here is Coz, and here is Miss.’
    • But, as he glozeth with speeches soote,
    • The Ducke sore tickleth his Erse-roote:
    • Fore-piece and buttons all-to-brest,
    • Forth thrust a white neck and red crest.20
    • ‘Te-hee,’ cried ladies; clerke nought spake;
    • Miss stared, and grey Ducke crieth ‘quaake.’
    • ‘O Moder, Moder!’ quoth the Daughter,
    • ‘Be thilke same thing Maids longen a’ter?
    • Bette is to pine on coals and chalke,
    • Then trust on Mon whose yerde can talke.’