510. 'If it be _your_ wish for any one to speak, it would be as good for
him to be silent; it were better to be silent than to talk as you do.' That
is, the cuckoo only wants to listen to those who will talk nonsense. A mild
rebuke. The turtle explains (l. 514) that it is better to be silent than to
meddle with things which one does not understand.
518. Lit. 'A duty assumed without direction often gives offence.' A proverb
which appears in other forms. In the Canon's Yeoman's Tale, G 1066, it
takes the form--'Profred servyse stinketh'; see note on the line.
_Uncommitted_ is not delegated, not entrusted to one. Cotgrave has:
'_Commis_, assigned, appointed, delegated.'