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From The Squire's Tale, lines 447-471:
Canace, who bears the magical ring, asks the falcon what is wrong
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Squire's Tale
lines 472-498: The falcon falls from the tree and starts talking to Canace


      Tho shrighte this faucoun moore yet pitously
Than ever she dide, and fil to grounde anon
And lith aswowne, deed, and lyk a stoon,
475Til Canacee hath in hir lappe hir take
Unto the tyme she gan of swough awake.
And after that she of hir swough gan breyde,
Right in hir haukes ledene thus she seyde:
"That pitee renneth soone in gentil herte,
480Feelynge his similitude in peynes smerte,
Is preved al day, as men may it see,
As wel by werk as by auctoritee.
For gentil herte kitheth gentillesse.
I se wel, that ye han of my distresse
485Compassioun, my faire Canacee,
Of verray wommanly benignytee
That Nature in youre principles hath set.
But for noon hope for to fare the bet,
But for to obeye unto youre herte free,
490And for to maken othere be war by me,
As by the whelp chasted is the leon,
Right for that cause and that conclusion
Whil that I have a leyser and a space,
Myn harm I wol confessen, er I pace."
495      And evere whil that oon hir sorwe tolde,
That oother weep, as she to water wolde,
Til that the faucoun bad hire to be stille;
And with a syk right thus she seyde hir wille.
      Then shrieked this falcon the more piteously
Than ever, and to ground fell down anon,
And lay there, swooning, deathlike as a stone,
475Till Canace within her lap did take
And hold the bird till she began to wake.
And when from out her fainting fit she made,
All in her own hawk's language thus she said:
"That pity wells up soon in gentle heart,
480Feeling its likeness in all pains that smart,
Is proved, and day by day, as men may see,
As well by deeds as by authority;
For gentle heart can spy out gentleness.
I see well that you have on my distress
485Compassion, my fair Princess Canace,
Of truly womanly benignity
That nature in your character has set.
Not that I hope much good therefrom to get,
But to obey the word of your heart free,
490And so that others may be warned by me,
As by the whelp instructed is the lion,
Just for that cause and reason shall I fly on,
While yet I have the leisure and the space,
The story of my wrongs to you I'll trace."
495And ever, while the one her sorrow said,
The other wept, as she to water'd fled,
Until the falcon bade her to be still;
And with a sigh, right thus she said her will.




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From The Squire's Tale, lines 499-631:
The falcon narrates about her husbands adultery
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