Tak any brid, and put it in a cage,
And do al thyn entente and thy corage (60)
To fostre it tendrely with mete and drinke, 165
[561: T. 17115-17149.]
Of alle deyntees that thou canst bithinke,
And keep it al-so clenly as thou may;
Al-though his cage of gold be never so gay,
Yet hath this brid, by twenty thousand fold,
Lever in a forest, that is rude and cold, 170
Gon ete wormes and swich wrecchednesse.
For ever this brid wol doon his bisinesse
To escape out of his cage, if he may;
His libertee this brid desireth ay. (70)
163. E. Taak. 170. Cp. Pt. Ln. wilde (_for_ rude); Hl. wyd. 173.
Cp. when; Ln. Hl. whan; _rest_ if. 174. E. Hn. Cm. this; _rest_ the.
Lat take a cat, and fostre him wel with milk, 175
And tendre flesh, and make his couche of silk,
And lat him seen a mous go by the wal;
Anon he weyveth milk, and flesh, and al,
And every deyntee that is in that hous,
Swich appetyt hath he to ete a mous. 180
Lo, here hath lust his dominacioun,
And appetyt flemeth discrecioun.