Classic Poem

" Pax vobis, " quod the fox,
" For I am comen to towne. "

It fell ageins the next night
The fox yede to with all his mighte,
Withouten cole or candelight,
Whan that he cam unto the towne.

Whan he cam all in the yarde,
Sore the gees were ill aferde;
" I shall make some of youre berde,
Or that I go from the towne! "

Whan he cam all in the crofte,
There he stalked wunderfull softe;
" For here have I be frayed full ofte
Whan that I have come to towne. "

He hente a goose all be the eye,
Faste the goos began to creye!
Oute yede men as they might heye,
And seide, " Fals fox, ley it downe! "

" Nay, " he saide, " so mot I thee —
Sche shall go unto the wode with me,
Sche and I unther a tree,
Emange the beryes browne.

I have a wyf, and sche lieth seke;
Many smale whelpes sche have to eke —
Many bones they muste pike
Will they ley adowne. "

" Pax vobis ', quod the fox,
For I am comen to towne."

It fell agains the next night
The fox yede to with all his might,
Withouten cole or candel-light,
When that he came unto the towne.

When he came all in the yerde,
Sore the geese were all aferde;
" I shall make some of youre berde
Or that I go from the towne!"

When he came all in the crofte,
There he stalked wunderfull softe;
" For here have I be frayed full ofte
When that I have come to towne."

He hente a goose all by the heye;
Faste the goose began to creye.
Oute yede men as they might heye,
And saide: " Fals fox, lay it downe!"

" Nay", he saide, " so mot I thee!
She shall go unto the wode with me;
She and I under a tree,
Among the beryes browne.

I have a wif, and she lieth seke;
Many smale whelpes she have to-eke;
Many bones they must pike
While they lay adowne."