'There been mo sterres, god wot, than a paire!'

Now fy, cherl!' quod the gentil tercelet,

Out of the dunghil com that word ful right,

Thou canst noght see which thing is wel be-set:

Thou farest by love as oules doon by light,

600

The day hem blent, ful wel they see by night;

Thy kind is of so lowe a wrechednesse,

That what love is, thou canst nat see ne gesse.'

Tho gan the cukkow putte him forth in prees