E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Maunciples Tale.
A mediæval version of Ovid’s tale about Coro’nis (Met. ii. 543, etc.). Phœbus had a crow which he taught to speak; it was downy white, and as big as a swan. He had also a wife whom he dearly loved, but she was faithless to him. One day when Phœbus came home his bird’ gan sing “Cuckoo! cuckoo! cuckoo!” Phœbus asked what he meant, and the crow told him of his wife’s infidelity. Phœbus was very angry, and, seizing his bow, shot his wife through the heart; but no sooner did she fall than he repented of his rashness and cursed the bird. “Nevermore shalt thou speak,” said he; “henceforth thy offspring shall be black.” Moral—“Lordlings, by this ensample. take heed what you say; be no tale-bearers, but—
