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From The Nun's Priest's Tale, lines 516-555:
The fox enchants Chauntecleer and asks him to sing		 Previous
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Nun's Priest's Tale
lines 556-571: Chauntecleer falls for the trap


       This Chauntecleer hise wynges gan to bete,
As man that koude his traysoun nat espie,
So was he ravysshed with his flaterie.
       Allas, ye lordes! many a fals flatour
560Is in youre courtes, and many a losengeour,
That plesen yow wel moore, by my feith,
Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith.
Redeth Ecclesiaste of Flaterye;
Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye.
       This Chauntecleer his wings began to beat,
As one that could no treason there espy,
So was he ravished by this flattery
Alas, you lords! Full many a flatterer
560Is in your courts, and many a cozener,
That please your honours much more, by my fay,
Than he that truth and justice dares to say.
Go read the Ecclesiast on flattery;
Beware, my lords, of all their treachery!
565       This Chauntecleer stood hye upon his toos,
Strecchynge his nekke, and heeld hise eyen cloos,
And gan to crowe loude for the nones,
And daun Russell the fox stirte up atones,
And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer,
570And on his bak toward the wode hym beer,
For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed.
565        This Chauntecleer stood high upon his toes,
Stretching his neck, and both his eyes did close,
And so did crow right loudly, for the nonce;
And Russel Fox, he started up at once,
And by the gorget grabbed our Chauntecleer,
570Flung him on back, and toward the wood did steer,
For there was no man who as yet pursued.




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From The Nun's Priest's Tale, lines 572-608:
How women respond to husband-endangering peril		 Next