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MEDIÆVAL HYMNS.
Cock is speedy, in his hens
Very sore amercing,
Whom with other than himself
He may find conversing:
Thus the Priest doth, unto them
Due correction giving,
From the Lord who turn away
Unto evil living.
From the egg that cock hath hatch'd
Basilisk proceedeth;[1]
From the negligence of Priest
Satan's increase speedeth;
If he teach not men to fear
Punishment infernal,
If he lead not men to look
Up to joys supernal.
When it draws to vesper-tide,
Cock neglecteth never,
But he goeth straight to roost,
With his subjects ever:
So that then, when midnight comes,
He may well and truly
Call God's Priests to rise and sing
Matin service duly.
- ↑ Du Méril assures us that this belief, namely, that a basilisk will proceed from the egg upon which
