And whyl that I, in my drery payne,

Sat, and beheld aboute on every tree

The foules sitten, alway twayne and twayne,

Than thoughte I thus: 'alas! what may this be,

That every foul hath his libertee

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Frely to chesen after his desyre

Everich his make thus, fro yeer to yere?

The sely wrenne, the titmose also,

The litel redbrest, have free eleccioun