The Miller's Prologue
3109: Whan that the knyght had thus his tale ytoold, 
3110: In al the route nas ther yong ne oold 
3111: That he ne seyde it was a noble storie, 
3112: And worthy for to drawen to memorie; 
3113: And namely the gentils everichon. 
3114: Oure hooste lough and swoor, so moot I gon, 
3115: This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male. 
3116: Lat se now who shal telle another tale; 
3117: For trewely the game is wel bigonne. 
3118: Now telleth ye, sir monk, if that ye konne 
3119: Somwhat to quite with the knyghtes tale. 
3120: The millere, that for dronken was al pale, 
3121: So that unnethe upon his hors he sat, 
3122: He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat, 
3123: Ne abyde no man for his curteisie, 
3124: But in pilates voys he gan to crie, 
3125: And swoor, by armes, and by blood and bones, 
3126: I kan a noble tale for the nones, 
3127: With which I wol now quite the knyghtes tale. 
3128: Oure hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale, 
3129: And seyde, abyd, robyn, my leeve brother; 
3130: Som bettre man shal telle us first another. 
3131: Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily. 
3132: By goddes soule, quod he, that wol nat I; 
3133: For I wol speke, or elles go my wey. 
3134: Oure hoost answerde, tel on, a devel wey! 
3135: Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome. 
3136: Now herkneth, quod the millere, alle and some! 
3137: But first I make a protestacioun 
3138: That I am dronke, I knowe it by my soun; 
3139: And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye, 
3140: Wyte it the ale of southwerk, I you preye. 
3141: For I wol telle a legende and a lyf 
3142: Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf, 
3143: How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe. 
3144: The reve answerde and seyde, stynt thy clappe! 
3145: Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye. 
3146: It is a synne and eek a greet folye 
3147: To apeyren any man, or hym defame, 
3148: And eek to bryngen wyves in swich fame. 
3149: Thou mayst ynogh of othere thynges seyn. 
3150: This dronke millere spak ful soone ageyn 
3151: And seyde, leve brother osewold, 
3152: Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold. 
3153: But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon; 
3154: Ther been ful goode wyves many oon, 
3155: And evere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde. 
3156: That knowestow wel thyself, but if thou madde. 
3157: Why artow angry with my tale now? 
3158: I have a wyf, pardee, as wel as thow; 
3159: Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh, 
3160: Take upon me moore than ynogh, 
3161: As demen of myself that I were oon; 
3162: I wol bileve wel that I am noon. 
3163: An housbonde shal nat been inquisityf 
3164: Of goddes pryvetee, nor of his wyf. 
3165: So he may fynde goddes foyson there, 
3166: Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere. 
3167: What sholde I moore seyn, but this millere 
3168: He nolde his wordes for no man forbere, 
3169: But tolde his cherles tale in his manere. 
3170: M' athynketh that I shal reherce it heere. 
3171: And therfore every gentil wight I preye, 
3172: For goddes love, demeth nat that I seye 
3173: Of yvel entente, but for I moot reherce 
3174: Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse, 
3175: Or elles falsen som of my mateere. 
3176: And therfore, whoso list it nat yheere, 
3177: Turne over the leef and chese another tale; 
3178: For he shal fynde ynowe, grete and smale, 
3179: Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse, 
3180: And eek moralitee and hoolynesse. 
3181: Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys. 
3182: The millere is a cherl, ye knowe wel this; 
3183: So was the reve eek and othere mo, 
3184: And harlotrie they tolden bothe two. 
3185: Avyseth yow, and put me out of blame; 
3186: And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game.

The Miller's Tale
3187: Whilom ther was dwellynge at oxenford 
3188: A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord, 
3189: And of his craft he was a carpenter. 
3190: With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler, 
3191: Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasye 
3192: Was turned for to lerne astrologye, 
3193: And koude a certeyn of conclusiouns, 
3194: To demen by interrogaciouns, 
3195: If that men asked hym in certein houres 
3196: Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures, 
3197: Or if men asked hym what sholde bifalle 
3198: Of every thyng; I may nat rekene hem alle. 
3199: This clerk was cleped hende nicholas. 
3200: Of deerne love he koude and of solas; 
3201: And therto he was sleigh and ful privee, 
3202: And lyk a mayden meke for to see. 
3203: A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye 
3204: Allone, withouten any compaignye, 
3205: Ful fetisly ydight with herbes swoote; 
3206: And he hymself as sweete as is the roote 
3207: Of lycorys, or any cetewale. 
3208: His almageste, and bookes grete and smale, 
3209: His astrelabie, longynge for his art, 
3210: His augrym stones layen faire apart, 
3211: On shelves couched at his beddes heed; 
3212: His presse ycovered with a faldyng reed; 
3213: And al above ther lay a gay sautrie, 
3214: On which he made a-nyghtes melodie 
3215: So swetely that all the chambre rong; 
3216: And angelus ad virginem he song; 
3217: And after that he song the kynges noote. 
3218: Ful often blessed was his myrie throte. 
3219: And thus this sweete clerk his tyme spente 
3220: After his freendes fyndyng and his rente. 
3221: This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf, 
3222: Which that he lovede moore than his lyf; 
3223: Of eighteteene yeer she was of age. 
3224: Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage, 
3225: For she was wylde and yong, and he was old, 
3226: And demed hymself been lik a cokewold. 
3227: He knew nat catoun, for his wit was rude, 
3228: That bad man sholde wedde his simylitude. 
3229: Men sholde wedden after hire estaat, 
3230: For youthe and elde is often at debaat. 
3231: But sith that he was fallen in the snare, 
3232: He moste endure, as oother folk, his care. 
3233: Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal 
3234: As any wezele hir body gent and smal. 
3235: A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk, 
3236: A barmclooth eek as whit as morne milk 
3237: Upon hir lendes, ful of many a goore. 
3238: Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore 
3239: And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute, 
3240: Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute. 
3241: The tapes of hir white voluper 
3242: Were of the same suyte of hir coler; 
3243: Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye. 
3244: And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye; 
3245: Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two, 
3246: And tho were bent and blake as any sloo. 
3247: She was ful moore blisful on to see 
3248: Than is the newe pere-jonette tree, 
3249: And softer than the wolle is of a wether. 
3250: And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether, 
3251: Tasseled with silk, and perled with latoun. 
3252: In al this world, to seken up and doun, 
3253: There nys no man so wys that koude thenche 
3254: So gay a popelote or swich a wenche. 
3255: Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe 
3256: Than in the tour the noble yforged newe. 
3257: But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne 
3258: As any swalwe sittynge on a berne. 
3259: Therto she koude skippe and make game, 
3260: As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame. 
3261: Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth, 
3262: Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth. 
3263: Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt, 
3264: Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt. 
3265: A brooch she baar upon hir lowe coler, 
3266: As brood as is the boos of a bokeler. 
3267: Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye. 
3268: She was a prymerole, a piggesnye, 
3269: For any lord to leggen in his bedde, 
3270: Or yet for any good yeman to wedde. 
3271: Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas, 
3272: That on a day this hende nicholas 
3273: Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye, 
3274: Whil that hir housbonde was at oseneye, 
3275: As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte; 
3276: And prively he caughte hire by the queynte, 
3277: And seyde, ywis, but if ich have my wille, 
3278: For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille. 
3279: And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones, 
3280: And seyde, lemman, love me al atones, 
3281: Or I wol dyen, also God me save! 
3282: And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave, 
3283: And with hir heed she wryed faste awey, 
3284: And seyde, I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey! 
3285: Why, lat be, quod she, lat be, nicholas, 
3286: Or I wol crie -- out, harrow -- and -- allas! -- 
3287: Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye! 
3288: This nicholas gan mercy for to crye, 
3289: And spak so faire, and profred him so faste, 
3290: That she hir love hym graunted atte laste, 
3291: And swoor hir ooth, by seint thomas of kent, 
3292: That she wol been at his comandement, 
3293: Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie. 
3294: Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie 
3295: That but ye wayte wel and been privee, 
3296: I woot right wel I nam but deed, quod she. 
3297: Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas. 
3298: Nay, therof care thee noght, quod nicholas. 
3299: A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle, 
3300: But if he koude a carpenter bigyle. 
3301: And thus they been accorded and ysworn 
3302: To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn. 
3303: Whan nicholas had doon thus everideel, 
3304: And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel, 
3305: He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie, 
3306: And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie. 
3307: Thanne fil it thus, that to the paryssh chirche, 
3308: Cristes owene werkes for to wirche, 
3309: This goode wyf went on an haliday. 
3310: Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day, 
3311: So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk. 
3312: Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk, 
3313: The which that was ycleped absolon. 
3314: Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon, 
3315: And strouted as a fanne large and brode; 
3316: Ful streight and evene lay his joly shode. 
3317: His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos. 
3318: With poules wyndow corven on his shoos, 
3319: In hoses rede he wente fetisly. 
3320: Yclad he was ful smal and proprely 
3321: Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget; 
3322: Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set. 
3323: And therupon he hadde a gay surplys 
3324: As whit as is the blosme upon the rys. 
3325: A myrie child he was, so God me save. 
3326: Wel koude he laten blood and clippe and shave, 
3327: And maken a chartre of lond or acquitaunce. 
3328: In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce 
3329: After the scole of oxenforde tho, 
3330: And with his legges casten to and fro, 
3331: And pleyen songes on a smal rubible; 
3332: Therto he song som tyme a loud quynyble; 
3333: And as wel koude he pleye on a giterne. 
3334: In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne 
3335: That he ne visited with his solas, 
3336: Ther any gaylard tappestere was. 
3337: But sooth to seyn, he was somdeel squaymous 
3338: Of fartyng, and of speche daungerous. 
3339: This absolon, that jolif was and gay, 
3340: Gooth with a sencer on the haliday, 
3341: Sensynge the wyves of the parisshe faste; 
3342: And many a lovely look on hem he caste, 
3343: And namely on this carpenteris wyf. 
3344: To looke on hire hym thoughte a myrie lyf, 
3345: She was so propre and sweete and likerous. 
3346: I dar wel seyn, if she hadde been a mous, 
3347: And he a cat, he wolde hire hente anon. 
3348: This parissh clerk, this joly absolon, 
3349: Hath in his herte swich a love-longynge 
3350: That of no wyf took he noon offrynge; 
3351: For curteisie, he seyde, he wolde noon. 
3352: The moone, whan it was nyght, ful brighte shoon, 
3353: And absolon his gyterne hath ytake, 
3354: For paramours he thoghte for to wake. 
3355: And forth he gooth, jolif and amorous, 
3356: Til he cam to the carpenteres hous 
3357: A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe, 
3358: And dressed hym up by a shot-wyndowe 
3359: That was upon the carpenteris wal. 
3360: He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal, 
3361: Now, deere lady, if thy wille be, 
3362: I praye yow that ye wole rewe on me, 
3363: Ful wel acordaunt to his gyternynge. 
3364: This carpenter awook, and herde him synge, 
3365: And spak unto his wyf, and seyde anon, 
3366: What! alison! herestow nat absolon, 
3367: That chaunteth thus under oure boures wal? 
3368: And she answerde hir housbonde therwithal, 
3369: Yis, God woot, john, I heere it every deel. 
3370: This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than weel? 
3371: Fro day to day this joly absolon 
3372: So woweth hire that hym is wo bigon. 
3373: He waketh al the nyght and al the day; 
3374: He kembeth his lokkes brode, and made hym gay; 
3375: He woweth hire by meenes and brocage, 
3376: And swoor he wolde been hir owene page; 
3377: He syngeth, brokkynge as a nyghtyngale; 
3378: He sente hire pyment, meeth, and spiced ale, 
3379: And wafres, pipyng hoot out of the gleede; 
3380: And, for she was of town, he profred meede. 
3381: For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse, 
3382: And somme for strokes, and somme for gentillesse. 
3383: Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye, 
3384: He pleyeth herodes upon a scaffold hye. 
3385: But what availleth hym as in this cas? 
3386: She loveth so this hende nicholas 
3387: That absolon may blowe the bukkes horn; 
3388: He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn. 
3389: And thus she maketh absolon hire ape, 
3390: And al his ernest turneth til a jape. 
3391: Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye, 
3392: Men seyn right thus, alwey the nye slye 
3393: Maketh the ferre leeve to be looth. 
3394: For though that absolon be wood or wrooth, 
3395: By cause that he fer was from hire sight, 
3396: This nye nicholas stood in his light. 
3397: Now ber thee wel, thou hende nicholas, 
3398: For absolon may waille and synge allas. 
3399: And so bifel it on a saterday, 
3400: This carpenter was goon til osenay; 
3401: And hende nicholas and alisoun 
3402: Acorded been to this conclusioun, 
3403: That nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle 
3404: This sely jalous housbonde to bigyle; 
3405: And if so be the game wente aright, 
3406: She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght, 
3407: For this was his desir and hire also. 
3408: And right anon, withouten wordes mo, 
3409: This nicholas no lenger wolde tarie, 
3410: But dooth ful softe unto his chambre carie 
3411: Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye, 
3412: And to hire housbonde bad hire for to seye, 
3413: If that he axed after nicholas, 
3414: She sholde seye she nyste where he was, 
3415: Of al that day she saugh hym nat with ye; 
3416: She trowed that he was in maladye, 
3417: For for no cry hir mayde koude hym calle, 
3418: He nolde answere for thyng that myghte falle. 
3419: This passeth forth al thilke saterday, 
3420: That nicholas stille in his chambre lay, 
3421: And eet and sleep, or dide what hym leste, 
3422: Til sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste. 
3423: This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle 
3424: Of nicholas, or what thyng myghte hym eyle, 
3425: And seyde, I am adrad, by seint thomas, 
3426: It stondeth nat aright with nicholas. 
3427: God shilde that he deyde sodeynly! 
3428: This world is now ful tikel, sikerly. 
3429: I saugh to-day a cors yborn to chirche 
3430: That now, on monday last, I saugh hym wirche. 
3431: Go up, quod he unto his knave anoon, 
3432: Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon. 
3433: Looke how it is, and tel me boldely. 
3434: This knave gooth hym up ful sturdily, 
3435: And at the chambre dore whil that he stood, 
3436: He cride and knokked as that he were wood, 
3437: What! how! what do ye, maister nicholay? 
3438: How may ye slepen al the longe day? 
3439: But al for noght, he herde nat a word. 
3440: An hole he foond, ful lowe upon a bord, 
3441: Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe, 
3442: And at that hole he looked in ful depe, 
3443: And at the laste he hadde of hym a sight. 
3444: This nicholas sat evere capyng upright, 
3445: As he had kiked on the newe moone. 
3446: Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister soone 
3447: In what array he saugh this ilke man. 
3448: This carpenter to blessen hym bigan, 
3449: And seyde, help us, seinte frydeswyde! 
3450: A man woot litel what hym shal bityde. 
3451: This man is falle, with his astromye, 
3452: In some woodnesse or in som agonye. 
3453: I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be! 
3454: Men sholde nat knowe of goddes pryvetee. 
3455: Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man 
3456: That noght but oonly his bileve kan! 
3457: So ferde another clerk with astromye; 
3458: He walked in the feeldes, for to prye 
3459: Upon the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle, 
3460: Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle; 
3461: He saugh nat that. But yet, by seint thomas, 
3462: Me reweth soore of hende nicholas. 
3463: He shal be rated of his studiyng, 
3464: If that I may, by jhesus, hevene kyng! 
3465: Get me a staf, that I may underspore, 
3466: Whil that thou, robyn, hevest up the dore. 
3467: He shal out of his studiyng, as I gesse -- 
3468: And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse. 
3469: His knave was a strong carl for the nones, 
3470: And by the haspe he haaf it of atones; 
3471: Into the floor the dore fil anon. 
3472: This nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon, 
3473: And evere caped upward into the eir. 
3474: This carpenter wende he were in despeir, 
3475: And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily, 
3476: And shook hym harde, and cride spitously, 
3477: What! nicholay! what, how! what, looke adoun! 
3478: Awak, and thenk on cristes passioun! 
3479: I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes. 
3480: Therwith the nyght-spel seyde he anon-rightes 
3481: On foure halves of the hous aboute, 
3482: And on the thresshfold of the dore withoute: 
3483: Jhesu crist and seinte benedight, 
3484: Blesse this hous from every wikked wight, 
3485: For nyghtes verye, the white pater-noster! 
3486: Where wentestow, seinte petres soster? 
3487: And atte laste this hende nicholas 
3488: Gan for to sik soore, and seyde, allas! 
3489: Shal al the world be lost aftsoones now? 
3490: This carpenter answerde, what seystow? 
3491: What! thynk on god, as we doon, men that swynke. 
3492: This nicholas answerde, fecche me drynke, 
3493: And after wol I speke in pryvetee 
3494: Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee. 
3495: I wol telle it noon oother man, certeyn. 
3496: This carpenter goth doun, and comth ageyn, 
3497: And broghte of myghty ale a large quart; 
3498: And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part, 
3499: This nicholas his dore faste shette, 
3500: And doun the carpenter by hym he sette. 
3501: He seyde john, myn hooste, lief and deere, 
3502: Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere 
3503: That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye; 
3504: For it is cristes conseil that I seye, 
3505: And if thou telle it man, thou art forlore; 
3506: For this vengeaunce thou shalt han therfore, 
3507: That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood. 
3508: Nay, crist forbede it, for his hooly blood! 
3509: Quod tho this sely man, I nam no labbe; 
3510: Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe. 
3511: Sey what thou wolt, I shal it nevere telle 
3512: To child ne wyf, by hym that harwed helle! 
3513: Now john, quod nicholas, I wol nat lye; 
3514: I have yfounde in myn astrologye, 
3515: As I have looked in the moone bright, 
3516: That now a monday next, at quarter nyght, 
3517: Shal falle a reyn, and that so wilde and wood, 
3518: That half so greet was nevere noes flood. 
3519: This world, he seyde, in lasse than an hour 
3520: Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour. 
3521: Thus shal mankynde drenche, and lese hir lyf. 
3522: This carpenter answerde, allas, my wyf! 
3523: And shal she drenche? allas, myn alisoun! 
3524: For sorwe of this he fil almoost adoun, 
3525: And seyde, is ther no remedie in this cas? 
3526: Why, yis, for gode, quod hende nicholas, 
3527: If thou wolt werken after loore and reed. 
3528: Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed; 
3529: For thus seith salomon, that was ful trewe, 
3530: Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat rewe. -- 
3531: And if thou werken wolt by good conseil, 
3532: I undertake, withouten mast and seyl, 
3533: Yet shal I saven hire and thee and me. 
3534: Hastow nat herd hou saved was noe, 
3535: Whan that oure lord hadde warned hym biforn 
3536: That al the world with water sholde be lorn? 
3537: Yis, quod this carpenter, ful yoore ago. 
3538: Hastou nat herd, quod nicholas, also 
3539: The sorwe of noe with his felaweshipe, 
3540: Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe? 
3541: Hym hadde be levere, I dar wel undertake 
3542: At thilke tyme, than alle his wetheres blake 
3543: That she hadde had a ship hirself allone. 
3544: And therfore, woostou what is best to doone? 
3545: This asketh haste, and of an hastif thyng 
3546: Men may nat preche or maken tariyng. 
3547: Anon go gete us faste into this in 
3548: A knedyng trogh, or ellis a kymelyn, 
3549: For ech of us, but looke that they be large, 
3550: In which we mowe swymme as in a barge, 
3551: And han therinne vitaille suffisant 
3552: But for a day, -- fy on the remenant! 
3553: The water shal aslake and goon away 
3554: Aboute pryme upon the nexte day. 
3555: But robyn may nat wite of this, thy knave, 
3556: Ne eek thy mayde gille I may nat save; 
3557: Axe nat why, for though thou aske me, 
3558: I wol nat tellen goddes pryvetee. 
3559: Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde, 
3560: To han as greet a grace as noe hadde. 
3561: Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute. 
3562: Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute. 
3563: But whan thou hast, for hire and thee and me, 
3564: Ygeten us thise knedyng tubbes thre, 
3565: Thanne shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye, 
3566: That no man of oure purveiaunce spye. 
3567: And whan thou thus hast doon, as I have seyd, 
3568: And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd, 
3569: And eek an ax, to smyte the corde atwo, 
3570: Whan that the water comth, that we may go, 
3571: And breke an hole an heigh, upon the gable, 
3572: Unto the gardyn-ward, over the stable, 
3573: That we may frely passen forth oure way, 
3574: Whan that the grete shour is goon away, 
3575: Thanne shaltou swymme as myrie, I undertake, 
3576: As dooth the white doke after hire drake. 
3577: Thanne wol I clepe, -- how, alison! how, john! 
3578: Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon. -- 
3579: And thou wolt seyn, -- hayl, maister nicholay! 
3580: Good morwe, I se thee wel, for it is day. -- 
3581: And thanne shul we be lordes al oure lyf 
3582: Of al the world, as noe and his wyf. 
3583: But of o thyng I warne thee ful right: 
3584: Be wel avysed on that ilke nyght 
3585: That we ben entred into shippes bord, 
3586: That noon of us ne speke nat a word, 
3587: Ne clepe, ne crie, but be in his preyere; 
3588: For it is goddes owene heeste deere. 
3589: Thy wyf and thou moote hange fer atwynne; 
3590: For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne, 
3591: Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in deede, 
3592: This ordinance is seyd. Go, God thee speede! 
3593: Tomorwe at nyght, whan men ben alle aslepe, 
3594: Into oure knedyng-tubbes wol we crepe, 
3595: And sitten there, abidyng goddes grace. 
3596: Go now thy wey, I have no lenger space 
3597: To make of this no lenger sermonyng. 
3598: Men seyn thus, -- sende the wise, and sey no thyng: -- 
3599: Thou art so wys, it needeth thee nat teche. 
3600: Go, save oure lyf, and that I the biseche. 
3601: This sely carpenter goth forth his wey. 
3602: Ful ofte he seide allas and weylawey, 
3603: And to his wyf he tolde his pryvetee, 
3604: And she was war, and knew it bet than he, 
3605: What al this queynte cast was for to seye. 
3606: But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye, 
3607: And seyde, allas! go forth thy wey anon, 
3608: Help us to scape, or we been dede echon! 
3609: I am thy trewe, verray wedded wyf; 
3610: Go, deere spouse, and help to save oure lyf. 
3611: Lo, which a greet thyng is affeccioun! 
3612: Men may dyen of ymaginacioun, 
3613: So depe may impressioun be take. 
3614: This sely carpenter bigynneth quake; 
3615: Hym thynketh verraily that he may see 
3616: Noees flood come walwynge as the see 
3617: To drenchen alisoun, his hony deere. 
3618: He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory cheere; 
3619: He siketh with ful many a sory swogh; 
3620: He gooth and geteth hym a knedyng trogh, 
3621: And after that a tubbe and a kymelyn, 
3622: And pryvely he sente hem to his in, 
3623: And heng hem in the roof in pryvetee. 
3624: His owene hand he made laddres thre, 
3625: To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes 
3626: Unto the tubbes hangynge in the balkes, 
3627: And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe, 
3628: With breed and chese, and good ale in a jubbe, 
3629: Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day. 
3630: But er that he hadde maad al this array, 
3631: He sente his knave, and eek his wenche also, 
3632: Upon his nede to london for to go. 
3633: And on the monday, whan it drow to nyght, 
3634: He shette his dore withoute candel-lyght, 
3635: And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be. 
3636: And shortly, up they clomben alle thre; 
3637: They seten stille wel a furlong way. 
3638: Now, pater-noster, clom! seyde nicholay, 
3639: And clom, quod john, and clom, seyde alisoun. 
3640: This carpenter seyde his devocioun, 
3641: And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere, 
3642: Awaitynge on the reyn, if he it heere. 
3643: The dede sleep, for wery bisynesse, 
3644: Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse, 
3645: Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel moore; 
3646: For travaille of his goost he groneth soore, 
3647: And eft he routeth, for his heed myslay. 
3648: Doun of the laddre stalketh nicholay, 
3649: And alisoun ful softe adoun she spedde; 
3650: Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde, 
3651: Ther as the carpenter is wont to lye. 
3652: Ther was the revel and the melodye; 
3653: And thus lith alison and nicholas, 
3654: In bisynesse of myrthe and of solas, 
3655: Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge, 
3656: And freres in the chaunsel gonne synge. 
3657: This parissh clerk, this amorous absolon, 
3658: That is for love alwey so wo bigon, 
3659: Upon the monday was at oseneye 
3660: With compaignye, hym to disporte and pleye, 
3661: And axed upon cas a cloisterer 
3662: Ful prively after john the carpenter; 
3663: And he drough hym apart out of the chirche, 
3664: And seyde, I noot, I saugh hym heere nat wirche 
3665: Syn saterday; I trowe that he be went 
3666: For tymber, ther oure abbot hath hym sent; 
3667: For he is wont for tymber for to go, 
3668: And dwellen at the grange a day or two; 
3669: Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn. 
3670: Where that he be, I kan nat soothly seyn. 
3671: This absolon ful joly was and light, 
3672: And thoghte, now is tyme to wake al nyght; 
3673: For sikirly I saugh hym nat stirynge 
3674: Aboute his dore, syn day bigan to sprynge. 
3675: So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe, 
3676: Ful pryvely knokken at his wyndowe 
3677: That stant ful lowe upon his boures wal. 
3678: To alison now wol I tellen al 
3679: My love-longynge, for yet I shal nat mysse 
3680: That at the leeste wey I shal hire kisse. 
3681: Som maner confort shal I have, parfay. 
3682: My mouth hath icched al this longe day; 
3683: That is a signe of kissyng atte leeste. 
3684: Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste. 
3685: Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye, 
3686: And al the nyght thanne wol I wake and pleye. 
3687: Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, anon 
3688: Up rist this joly lovere absolon 
3689: And hym arraieth gay, at poynt-devys. 
3690: But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys, 
3691: To smellen sweete, er he hadde kembd his heer. 
3692: Under his tonge a trewe-love he beer, 
3693: For therby wende he to ben gracious. 
3694: He rometh to the carpenteres hous, 
3695: And stille he stant under the shot-wyndowe -- 
3696: Unto his brest it raughte, it was so lowe -- 
3697: And softe he cougheth with a semy soun -- 
3698: What do ye, hony-comb, sweete alisoun, 
3699: My faire bryd, my sweete cynamome? 
3700: Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me! 
3701: Wel litel thynken ye upon my wo, 
3702: That for youre love I swete ther I go. 
3703: No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete; 
3704: I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete. 
3705: Ywis, lemman, I have swich love-longynge, 
3706: That lik a turtel trewe is my moornynge. 
3707: I may nat ete na moore than a mayde. 
3708: go fro the wyndow, jakke fool, she sayde; 
3709: As help me god, it wol nat be 'com pa me.' 
3710: I love another -- and elles I were to blame -- 
3711: Wel bet than thee, by jhesu, absolon. 
3712: Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston, 
3713: And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey! 
3714: allas, quod absolon, and weylawey, 
3715: That trewe love was evere so yvel biset! 
3716: Thanne kysse me, syn it may be no bet, 
3717: For jhesus love, and for the love of me. 
3718: Wiltow thanne go thy wey therwith? quod she. 
3719: Ye, certes, lemman, quod this absolon. 
3720: Thanne make thee redy, quod she, I come anon. 
3721: And unto nicholas she seyde stille, 
3722: Now hust, and thou shalt laughen al thy fille. 
3723: This absolon doun sette hym on his knees 
3724: And seyde, I am a lord at alle degrees; 
3725: For after this I hope ther cometh moore. 
3726: Lemman, thy grace, and sweete bryd, thyn oore! 
3727: The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste. 
3728: Have do, quod she, com of, and speed the faste, 
3729: Lest that oure neighebores thee espie. 
3730: This absolon gan wype his mouth ful drie. 
3731: Derk was the nyght as pich, or as the cole, 
3732: And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole, 
3733: And absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers, 
3734: But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers 
3735: Ful savourly, er he were war of this. 
3736: Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys, 
3737: For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd. 
3738: He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd, 
3739: And seyde, fy! allas! what have I do? 
3740: Tehee! quod she, and clapte the wyndow to, 
3741: And absolon gooth forth a sory pas. 
3742: A berd! a berd! quod hende nicholas, 
3743: By goddes corpus, this goth faire and weel. 
3744: This sely absolon herde every deel, 
3745: And on his lippe he gan for anger byte, 
3746: And to hymself he seyde, I shal thee quyte. 
3747: Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes 
3748: With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes, 
3749: But absolon, that seith ful ofte, allas! 
3750: My soule bitake I unto sathanas, 
3751: But me were levere than al this toun, quod he, 
3752: Of this despit awroken for to be. 
3753: Allas, quod he, allas, I ne hadde ybleynt! 
3754: His hoote love was coold and al yqueynt; 
3755: For fro that tyme that he hadde kist hir ers, 
3756: Of paramours he sette nat a kers; 
3757: For he was heeled of his maladie. 
3758: Ful ofte paramours he gan deffie, 
3759: And weep as dooth a child that is ybete. 
3760: A softe paas he wente over the strete 
3761: Until a smyth men cleped daun gerveys, 
3762: That in his forge smythed plough harneys; 
3763: He sharpeth shaar and kultour bisily. 
3764: This absolon knokketh al esily, 
3766: What, who artow? it am I, absalon. 
3765: And seyde, undo, gerveys, and that anon. 
3767: What, absolon! for cristes sweete tree, 
3768: Why rise ye so rathe? ey, benedicitee! 
3769: What eyleth yow? som gay gerl, God it woot, 
3770: Hath broght yow thus upon the viritoot. 
3771: By seinte note, ye woot wel what I mene. 
3772: This absolon ne roghte nat a bene 
3773: Of al his pley; no word agayn he yaf; 
3774: He hadde moore tow on his distaf 
3775: Than gerveys knew, and seyde, freend so deere, 
3776: That hoote kultour in the chymenee heere, 
3777: As lene it me, I have therwith to doone, 
3778: And I wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone. 
3779: Gerveys answerde, certes, were it gold, 
3780: Or in a poke nobles alle untold, 
3781: Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smyth. 
3782: Ey, cristes foo! what wol ye do therwith? 
3783: Therof, quod absolon, be as be may. 
3784: I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day -- 
3785: And caughte the kultour by the colde stele. 
3786: Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele, 
3787: And wente unto the carpenteris wal. 
3788: He cogheth first, and knokketh therwithal 
3789: Upon the wyndowe, right as he dide er. 
3790: This alison answerde, who is ther 
3791: That knokketh so? I warante it a theef. 
3792: Why, nay, quod he, God woot, my sweete leef, 
3793: I am thyn absolon, my deerelyng. 
3794: Of gold, quod he, I have thee broght a ryng. 
3795: My mooder yaf it me, so God me save; 
3796: Ful fyn it is, and therto wel ygrave. 
3797: This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse. 
3798: This nicholas was risen for to pisse, 
3799: And thoughte he wolde amenden al the jape; 
3800: He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape. 
3801: And up the wyndowe dide he hastily, 
3802: And out his ers he putteth pryvely 
3803: Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon; 
3804: And therwith spak this clerk, this absolon, 
3805: Spek, sweete bryd, I noot nat where thou art. 
3806: This nicholas anon leet fle a fart, 
3807: As greet as it had been a thonder-dent, 
3808: That with the strook he was almoost yblent; 
3809: And he was redy with his iren hoot, 
3810: And nicholas amydde the ers he smoot. 
3811: Of gooth the skyn an hande-brede aboute, 
3812: The hoote kultour brende so his toute, 
3813: And for the smert he wende for to dye. 
3814: As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye, 
3815: Help! water! water! water! help, for goddes herte! 
3816: This carpenter out of his slomber sterte, 
3817: And herde oon crien water as he were wood, 
3818: And thoughte, allas, now comth nowelis flood! 
3819: He sit hym up withouten wordes mo, 
3820: And with his ax he smoot the corde atwo, 
3821: And doun gooth al; he foond neither to selle, 
3822: Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the celle 
3823: Upon the floor, and ther aswowne he lay. 
3824: Up stirte hire alison and nicholay, 
3825: And criden out and harrow in the strete. 
3826: The neighebores, bothe smale and grete, 
3827: In ronnen for to gauren on this man, 
3828: That yet aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan, 
3829: For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm. 
3830: But stonde he moste unto his owene harm; 
3831: For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun 
3832: With hende nicholas and alisoun. 
3833: They tolden every man that he was wood, 
3834: He was agast so of nowelis flood 
3835: Thurgh fantasie, that of his vanytee 
3836: He hadde yboght hym knedyng tubbes thre, 
3837: And hadde hem hanged in the roof above; 
3838: And that he preyed hem, for goddes love, 
3839: To sitten in the roof, par compaignye. 
3840: The folk gan laughen at his fantasye; 
3841: Into the roof they kiken and they cape, 
3842: And turned al his harm unto a jape. 
3843: For what so that this carpenter answerde, 
3844: It was for noght, no man his reson herde. 
3845: With othes grete he was so sworn adoun 
3846: That he was holde wood in al the toun; 
3847: For every clerk anonright heeld with oother. 
3848: They seyde, the man is wood, my leeve brother; 
3849: And every wight gan laughen at this stryf. 
3850: Thus swyved was this carpenteris wyf, 
3851: For al his kepyng and his jalousye; 
3852: And absolon hath kist hir nether ye; 
3853: And nicholas is scalded in the towte. 
3854: This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte!
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