And from behind the mill-door took their cake,
Of half a bushel of flour--a right good bake.



CHAUCER'S POEM OF THE CUCKOO AND THE NIGHTINGALE
MODERNISED BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.



1.
The God of Love--ah, benedicite!
How mighty and how great a Lord is he!
For he of low hearts can make high, of high
He can make low, and unto death bring nigh;
And hard hearts he can make them kind and free.

2.
Within a little time, as hath been found,
He can make sick folk whole and fresh and sound;
Them who are whole in body and in mind
He can make sick,--bind can he and unbind
All that he will have bound, or have unbound.

3.
To tell his might my wit may not suffice;
Foolish men he can make them out of wise; -
For he may do all that he will devise;
Loose livers he can make abate their vice,
And proud hearts can make tremble in a trice.