Birdsong: The final bird chorus in The Parliament of Fowls

Final bird chorus from The Parliament of Fowls by Geoffrey Chaucer. irdsong The bird chorus printed on the right, sung to thank the ’noble goddess’ Dame Kind, comes at the end of Chaucer’s Parliament of Fowls, when each bird gets its mate (called its ‘make’ in the song 5 lines from end) in Spring. Spelling slightly modified.

Now welcome summer, with thy sunne softe,
That hast this wintres weather overshake,
And driven away the longe nightes blacke.

Saint Valentine, that art full high on lofte,
Thus singen smalle fowles for thy sake:

Now welcome summer, with thy sunne softe
That hast this wintres weather overshake.

Well have they cause for to gladden ofte,
Sith each of him recovered hath his make,
Full blissful may they singe when they wake:

Now welcome summer, with thy sunne softe,
That hast this wintres weather overshake
And driven away the longe nightes blacke.

Final bird chorus from The Parliament of Fowls by Geoffrey Chaucer. Spelling slightly modified.