Manciple’s Tale

Phœbus had a crow which he taught to speak; it was white as down, and as big as a swan. He had also a wife, whom he dearly loved. One day, when he came home, the crow cried, “Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!” and Phœbus asked the bird what it meant; whereupon it told the god that his wife was unfaithful to him. Phœbus, in his wrath, seized his bow, and shot his wife through the heart; but to the bird he said, “Curse on thy tell-tale tongue! never more shall it brew mischief.” So he deprived it of the power of speech, and changed its plumage from white to black. Moral—Be no tale-bearer, but keep well thy tongue, and think upon the crow. My sone, bewar, and be noon auctour newe, Of tydyings, whether they ben fals or trewe; Wherso thou comest, amongst high or lowe, Kep wel thy tonge, and think upon the crowe. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales , 17, 291-4 (1388). ⁂ This is Ovid’s tale of “Coronis” in the Metamorphoses , ii. 543, etc.