1 38 May Chaucer^s Fancy. 



With key of armony could not unlocke 



So swete tune as that the throstel can : 



" The lorde of love we praisen " (quod he then, 



And so done all the foules great and lite), 



Honour we May, in false lover's despite. 



" Dominus regnavit" said the pecocke there, 



" The lord of love, that mighty prince ywis, 



He is received here and everywhere. 



Now Jubilate sing." " What meaneth this ? " 



Said then the linnet : " Welcome, lord of blisse." 



Out sterte the owl with " Benedicite, 



What meaneth all this merry fare ? " (quod he.)' 



There is no end to the allusions to singing-birds in 

 Chaucer, but one of the most delicately charming of 

 these consists of three couplets in the ' Romaunt of the 

 Rose,' which always come back to my memory when I 

 hear the birds in May. ' Harde is his heart/ says the 

 poet : 



' Harde is his heart that loveth nought 



In May, when all this mirth is wrought, 



When he may on these branches here 



The smalle birdes singen clere 



Hir blissful sweet song piteous, 



And in this season delitious.' 



