Tuesday, May 14, 2019

 

Nescit Vox Missa Reverti

Geoffrey Chaucer, "Manciple's Tale," Canterbury Tales IX.353-356:
But he that hath misseid, I dar wel sayn,
He may by no wey clepe his word again.
Thing that is seid, is seid, and forth it gooth,
Thogh him repente, or be him leef or looth.
In Nevill Coghill's modern English version:
Whereas a wicked word, I tell you plain,
Once said can never be recalled again.
What's said is said and goes upon its way,
Like it or not, repent it as you may.



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