Chaucer's Works (ed. Skeat) Vol. I/VIII
VIII. CHAUCERS WORDES UNTO ADAM, HIS OWNE SCRIVEYN.
Adam scriveyn, if ever it thee bifalle
Boece or Troilus to wryten newe,
Under thy lokkes thou most have the scalle,
But after my making thou wryte trewe.
So ofte a daye I mot thy werk renewe, 5
Hit to correcte and eek to rubbe and scrape;
And al is through thy negligence and rape.
From T. (= MS. R. 3. 20 in Trin. Coll. Library, Cambridge). It also occurs in Stowe's edition (1561).
Title; T. has—Chauciers wordes .a. Geffrey vn-to Adame his owen scryveyne; Stowe has—Chaucers woordes vnto his owne Scriuener.
1. T. scryveyne; byfalle. 2. T. Troylus for to; nuwe. 3. T. thy long lokkes (see note); thowe. 4. T. affter; makyng thowe wryte more truwe (see note). 5. T. offt; renuwe. 6. T. It; corect; Stowe has correcte. T. eke. 7. T. thorugh; neclygence.