Classic Poem

In a noon-tide of a sumers day —
The sunne shon ful merye that tide —
I took myn hawk al for to play,
My spaniel renning by my side.

A feisant hen soone gan I see
Myn hound put up ful fair to flight;
I sente my faukun, I let him flee:
It was to me a deinteous sight.

My faukun flegh faste to his pray,
I ran tho with a ful glad chere;
I spurned ful soone on my way,
My leg was hent al with a brere.

This brere forsoothe dide me greef,
And soone it made me to turne aye,
For he bare written in every leef
This word in Latin, revertere .

I kneeled and pulled the brere me fro,
And redde this word ful hendely;
Myn herte fil down unto my to
That was wont sitten ful likingly.

I let myn hawk and feisant fare,
My spaniel fil down to my knee;
Thenne took I me with sighing sare
This new lessoun, revertere .

Revertere is as miche to say
In English tunge as " turne ayen".
Turne ayen, man, I thee pray,
And thinke hertily what thou hast ben.

Of thy livinge bethinke thee rife,
In open and in privite;
That thou may come to everlasting life,
Take to thy minde revertere .