[iangelinge] brid that singeth on the heye braunches, that is to seyn,

in the wode, and after is enclosed in a streyt cage: al-though that

the [pleyinge bisinesse] of men yeveth hem honiede drinkes and

large metes with swete studie, yit natheles, yif thilke brid, skippinge

out of hir streyte cage, seeth the [agreables] shadewes of the

20

wodes, she defouleth with hir feet hir metes y-shad, and seketh

mourninge only the wode; and twitereth, desiringe the wode, with

hir swete vois. The yerde of a tree, that is haled a-doun by

mighty strengthe, boweth redily the crop a-doun: but yif that the