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A CHAUCERIAN PARAPHRASE OF HORACE

Eugene Field

Syn that you, Chloe, to your moder sticken,

Maketh all ye yonge bacheloures full sicken;

Like as a lyttel deere you ben y-hiding

Whenas come lovers with theyre pityse chiding;

Sothly it ben faire to give up your moder

For to beare swete company with some oder;

Your moder ben well enow so farre shee goeth,

But that ben not farre enow, God knoweth;

Wherefore it ben sayed that foolysh ladyes

That marrye not shall leade an aype in Hadys;

But all that do with gode men wed full quickylye

When that they be on dead go to ye seints full sickerly.