To al the briddes that were in that dale,
And gat hem alle into a place in-fere,
And †hem besoughte that they woldë here
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Her disese; and thus began her tale:—
'Ye witen wel, it is not fro yow hid
How the Cukkow and I faste have chid
Ever sithen it was dayes light;
I pray yow alle, that ye do me right