as it were a castle wall. His bill was black, and as the jet it shone; Like azure were his leggës and his tone; 4267 His nailës whiter than the lily flow’r, And like the burnish’d gold was his coloúr, This gentle cock had in his governánce Sev’n hennës, for to do all his pleasánce, Which were his sisters and his paramours, And wondrous like to him as of coloúrs. Of which the fairest-hued in the throat Was called Damosellë Partelote, Courteous she was, discreet, and debonair, And cómpaniáble, 4268 and bare herself so fair, Sincë the day that she sev’n night was old, That truëly she had the heart in hold Of Chanticleer, locked in every lith; 4269 He lov’d her so, that well was him therewith. But such a joy it was to hear them sing, When that the brightë sunnë gan to spring, In sweet accord, “My lefe