resembles one found in a Latin collection of Æsopian fables in a MS. at Göttingen, which he quotes in full (id. p. 114), and refers us for it to Oesterley, Romulus, Berlin, 1870, p. 108.

A translation of Marie's fable, by myself, was printed in The Academy, July 23, 1887 (p. 56); and is here reprinted for the purpose of comparison with Chaucer's story.

THE COCK AND THE Fox.

A Cock our story tells of, who
High on a dunghill stood and crew.

A Fox, attracted, straight drew nigh,
And spake soft words of flattery.

Dear Sir!' said he, 'your look's divine;
I never saw a bird so fine!

I never heard a voice so clear
Except your father's-ah! poor dear!
His voice rang clearly, loudly-but
Most clearly, when his eyes were shut!'
'The same with me!' the Cock replies,
And flaps his wings, and shuts his eyes.
Each note rings clearer than the last-
The Fox starts up, and holds him fast;
Towards the wood he hies apace.

But as he crossed an open space,
The shepherds spy him; off they fly;
The dogs give chase with hue and cry.
The Fox still holds the Cock, though fear
Suggests his case is growing queer.—

Tush!' cries the Cock, cry out, to grieve 'em,

"The cock is mine! I'll never leave him!"

The Fox attempts, in scorn, to shout,

And opes his mouth; the Cock slips out,
And, in a trice, has gained a tree.

Too late the Fox begins to see

How well the Cock his game has play'd;
For once his tricks have been repaid.
In angry language, uncontrolled,

He 'gins to curse the mouth that's bold

To speak, when it should silent be.

'Well,' says the Cock, 'the same with me;

I curse the eyes that go to sleep

Just when they ought sharp watch to keep
Lest evil to their lord befall.'

Thus fools contrariously do all :

They chatter when they should be dumb,
And, when they ought to speak, are mum.

The Notes have been carefully revised throughout, and the opportunity has been taken of verifying all the references, wherever practicable. Besides this, a considerable number of new Notes have been added (from my own stores), so that the additions amount to about a third of the whole.

The Glossarial Index has also been revised, because the numerous slight alterations in the spelling of the text rendered this absolutely necessary. For this purpose, every reference has been verified, and a few misprints in the numbers corrected. The etymologies have, in some cases, been reconsidered and altered.

The List of Proper Names, following the Glossarial Index, is a new addition. See p. lii.

We hope that the present reprint will be of increased service to all students and readers.

CAMBRIDGE,
July 9, 1888.