The water-foules han her hedes leyd
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Togeder, and of short avysement,
Whan everich had his large golee seyd,
They seyden sothly, al by oon assent,
How that 'the goos, with hir facounde gent,
That so desyreth to pronounce our nede,
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Shal telle our tale,' and preyde 'god hir spede.'
And for these water-foules tho began