The Miller's Prologue
1 Whan that the Knyght had thus his tale ytoold,
2 In al the route ne was ther yong ne oold
3 That he ne seyde it was a noble storie,
4 And worthy for to drawen to memorie;
5 And namely the gentils everichon. Notes 4-22
6 Oure Hooste lough, and swoor, So moot I gon,
7 This gooth aright, unbokeled is the male,
8 Lat se now who shal telle another tale,
9 For trewely the game is wel bigonne.
10 Now telleth on, sir Monk, if that ye konne
11 Somwhat to quite with the Knyghtes tale.
12 The Miller that for-dronken was al pale,
13 So that unnethe upon his hors he sat,
14 He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat,
15 Ne abyde no man for his curteisie,
16 But in Pilates voys he gan to crie,
17 And swoor by armes and by blood and bones,
18 I kan a noble tale for the nones,
19 With which I wol now quite the Knyghtes tale.
20 Oure Hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale,
21 And seyde, Abyd, Robyn, my leeve brother,
22 Som bettre man shal telle us first another,
23 Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily.
24 By Goddes soule, quod he, that wol nat I,
25 For I wol speke, or elles go my wey. Notes 25-57
26 Oure Hoost answerde, Tel on, a devele wey!
27 Thou art a fool, thy wit is overcome!
28 Now herkneth, quod the Miller, alle and some,
29 But first I make a protestacioun
30 That I am dronke, I knowe it by my soun;
31 And therfore, if that I mysspeke or seye,
32 Wyte it the ale of Southwerk I you preye.
33 For I wol telle a legende and a lyf
34 Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf,
35 How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe.
36 The Rev answerde and seyde, Stynt thy clappe,
37 Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye,
38 It is a synne and eek a greet folye
39 To apeyren any man or hym defame,
40 And eek to bryngen wyves in swich fame;
41 Thou mayst ynogh of othere thynges seyn.
42 This dronke Miller spak ful soone ageyn,
43 And seyde, Leve brother Osewold,
44 Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold.
45 But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon,
46 Ther been ful goode wyves many oon,
47 And evere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde;
48 That knowestow wel thyself, but if thou madde.
49 Why artow angry with my tale now?
50 I have a wyf, pardee, as wel as thow,
51 Yet nolde I for the oxen in my plogh
52 Take upon me moore than ynogh, Notes 52-87
53 As demen of myself that I were oon;
54 I wol bileve wel, that I am noon.
55 An housbonde shal nat been inquisityf
56 Of Goddes pryvetee, nor of his wyf.
57 So he may fynde Goddes foysoun there,
58 Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere.
59 What sholde I moore seyn, but this Miller
60 He nolde his wordes for no man forbere,
61 But tolde his cherles tale in his manere;
62Me thynketh that I shal reherce it heere.
63 And therfore every gentil wight I preye,
64 For Goddes love, demeth nat that I seye
65 Of yvel entente, but that I moot reherce
66 Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse,
67 Or elles falsen som of my mateere.
68 And therfore who-so list it nat yheere,
69 Turne over the leef, and chese another tale;
70 For he shal fynde ynowe, grete and smale,
71 Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse,
72 And eek moralitee, and hoolynesse.
73 Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys;
74 The Miller is a cherl, ye knowe wel this,
75 So was the Reve, and othere manye mo,
76 And harlotrie they tolden bothe two.
77 Avyseth yow, and put me out of blame,
78 And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game.
The Miller's Tale
79 Whilom ther was dwellynge at oxenford
80 A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord,
81 And of his craft he was a carpenter.
82 With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler,
83 Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasye
84 Was turned for to lerne astrologye,
85 And koude a certeyn of conclusiouns,
86 To demen by interrogaciouns, Notes 88-102
87 If that men asked hym in certein houres
88 Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures,
89 Or if men asked hym what sholde bifalle
90 Of every thyng; I may nat rekene hem alle.
91 This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas.
92 Of deerne love he koude and of solas;
93 And therto he was sleigh and ful privee,
94 And lyk a mayden meke for to see.
95 A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye
96 Allone, withouten any compaignye,
97 Ful fetisly ydight with herbes swoote;
98 And he hymself as sweete as is the roote
99 Of lycorys, or any cetewale.
100 His almageste, and bookes grete and smale,
101 His astrelabie, longynge for his art,
102 His augrym stones layen faire apart,
103 On shelves couched at his beddes heed;
104 His presse ycovered with a faldyng reed;
105 And al above ther lay a gay sautrie, Notes 105-126
106 On which he made a-nyghtes melodie
107 So swetely that all the chambre rong;
108 And Angelus ad virginem he song;
109 And after that he song the kynges noote.
110 Ful often blessed was his myrie throte.
111 And thus this sweete clerk his tyme spente
112 After his freendes fyndyng and his rente.
113 This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf,
114 Which that he lovede moore than his lyf;
115 Of eighteteene yeer she was of age.
116 Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage,
117 For she was wylde and yong, and he was old,
118 And demed hymself been lik a cokewold.
119 He knew nat catoun, for his wit was rude,
120 That bad man sholde wedde his simylitude.
121 Men sholde wedden after hire estaat,
122 For youthe and elde is often at debaat.
123 But sith that he was fallen in the snare,
124 He moste endure, as oother folk, his care.
125 Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal
126 As any wezele hir body gent and smal.
127 A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk,
128 A barmclooth eek as whit as morne milk
129 Upon hir lendes, ful of many a goore. Notes 127-139
130 Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore
131 And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute,
132 Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute.
133 The tapes of hir white voluper
134 Were of the same suyte of hir coler;
135 Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye.
136 And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye;
137 Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two,
138 And tho were bent and blake as any sloo.
139 She was ful moore blisful on to see
140 Than is the newe pere-jonette tree, Notes 140-157
141 And softer than the wolle is of a wether.
142 And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether,
143 Tasseled with silk, and perled with latoun.
144 In al this world, to seken up and doun,
145 There nys no man so wys that koude thenche
146 So gay a popelote or swich a wenche.
147 Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe
148 Than in the tour the noble yforged newe.
149 But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne
150 As any swalwe sittynge on a berne.
151 Therto she koude skippe and make game,
152 As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame.
153 Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth,
154 Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.
155 Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt,
156 Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt.
157 A brooch she baar upon hir lowe coler,
158 As brood as is the boos of a bokeler.
159 Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye.
160 She was a prymerole, a piggesnye, Notes 160-174
161 For any lord to leggen in his bedde,
162 Or yet for any good yeman to wedde.
163 Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas,
164 That on a day this hende Nicholas
165 Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye,
166 Whil that hir housbonde was at oseneye,
167 As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte;
168 And prively he caughte hire by the queynte,
169 And seyde, ywis, but if ich have my wille,
170 For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille.
171 And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones,
172 And seyde, lemman, love me al atones,
173 Or I wol dyen, also God me save!
174 And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave,
175 And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,
176 And seyde, I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey!
177 Why, lat be, quod she, lat be, Nicholas, Notes 175-191
178 Or I wol crie -- out, harrow -- and -- allas! --
179 Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye!
180 This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye,
181 And spak so faire, and profred him so faste,
182 That she hir love hym graunted atte laste,
183 And swoor hir ooth, by seint thomas of kent,
184 That she wol been at his comandement,
185 Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.
186 Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie
187 That but ye wayte wel and been privee,
188 I woot right wel I nam but deed, quod she.
189 Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas.
190 Nay, therof care thee noght, quod Nicholas.
191 A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle,
192 But if he koude a carpenter bigyle.
193 And thus they been accorded and ysworn
194 To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn. Notes 194-210
195 Whan Nicholas had doon thus everideel,
196 And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel,
197 He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie,
198 And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie.
199 Thanne fil it thus, that to the paryssh chirche,
200 Cristes owene werkes for to wirche,
201 This goode wyf went on an haliday.
202 Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day,
203 So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk.
204 Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk,
205 The which that was ycleped Absolon.
206 Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon,
207 And strouted as a fanne large and brode;
208 Ful streight and evene lay his joly shode.
209 His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos.
210 With poules wyndow corven on his shoos,
211 In hoses rede he wente fetisly.
212 Yclad he was ful smal and proprely
213 Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget;
214 Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set.
215 And therupon he hadde a gay surplys Notes 214-230
216 As whit as is the blosme upon the rys.
217 A myrie child he was, so God me save.
218 Wel koude he laten blood and clippe and shave,
219 And maken a chartre of lond or acquitaunce.
220 In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce
221 After the scole of oxenforde tho,
222 And with his legges casten to and fro,
223 And pleyen songes on a smal rubible;
224 Therto he song som tyme a loud quynyble;
225 And as wel koude he pleye on a giterne.
226 In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne
227 That he ne visited with his solas,
228 Ther any gaylard tappestere was.
229 But sooth to seyn, he was somdeel squaymous
230 Of fartyng, and of speche daungerous.
231 This Absolon, that jolif was and gay,
232 Gooth with a sencer on the haliday, Notes 232-252
233 Sensynge the wyves of the parisshe faste;
234 And many a lovely look on hem he caste,
235 And namely on this carpenteris wyf.
236 To looke on hire hym thoughte a myrie lyf,
237 She was so propre and sweete and likerous.
238 I dar wel seyn, if she hadde been a mous,
239 And he a cat, he wolde hire hente anon.
240 This parissh clerk, this joly Absolon,
241 Hath in his herte swich a love-longynge
242 That of no wyf took he noon offrynge;
243 For curteisie, he seyde, he wolde noon.
244 The moone, whan it was nyght, ful brighte shoon,
245 And Absolon his gyterne hath ytake,
246 For paramours he thoghte for to wake.
247 And forth he gooth, jolif and amorous,
248 Til he cam to the carpenteres hous
249 A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe,
250 And dressed hym up by a shot-wyndowe
251 That was upon the carpenteris wal.
252 He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal,
253 Now, deere lady, if thy wille be, Notes 253-273
254 I praye yow that ye wole rewe on me,
255 Ful wel acordaunt to his gyternynge.
256 This carpenter awook, and herde him synge,
257 And spak unto his wyf, and seyde anon,
258 What! Alison! herestow nat Absolon,
259 That chaunteth thus under oure boures wal?
260 And she answerde hir housbonde therwithal,
261 Yis, God woot, John, I heere it every deel.
262 This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than weel?
263 Fro day to day this joly Absolon
264 So woweth hire that hym is wo bigon.
265 He waketh al the nyght and al the day;
266 He kembeth his lokkes brode, and made hym gay;
267 He woweth hire by meenes and brocage,
268 And swoor he wolde been hir owene page;
269 He syngeth, brokkynge as a nyghtyngale;
270 He sente hire pyment, meeth, and spiced ale,
271 And wafres, pipyng hoot out of the gleede;
272 And, for she was of town, he profred meede.
273 For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse,
274 And somme for strokes, and somme for gentillesse.
275 Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye,
276 He pleyeth herodes upon a scaffold hye.
277 But what availleth hym as in this cas?
278 She loveth so this hende Nicholas Notes 276-307
279 That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn;
280 He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn.
281 And thus she maketh Absolon hire ape,
282 And al his ernest turneth til a jape.
283 Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye,
284 Men seyn right thus, alwey the nye slye
285 Maketh the ferre leeve to be looth.
286 For though that Absolon be wood or wrooth,
287 By cause that he fer was from hire sight,
288 This nye Nicholas stood in his light.
289 Now ber thee wel, thou hende Nicholas,
290 For Absolon may waille and synge allas.
291 And so bifel it on a saterday,
292 This carpenter was goon til osenay;
293 And hende Nicholas and Alisoun
294 Acorded been to this conclusioun,
295 That Nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle
296 This sely jalous housbonde to bigyle;
297 And if so be the game wente aright,
298 She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght,
299 For this was his desir and hire also.
300 And right anon, withouten wordes mo,
301 This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie,
302 But dooth ful softe unto his chambre carie
303 Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye,
304 And to hire housbonde bad hire for to seye,
305 If that he axed after Nicholas,
306 She sholde seye she nyste where he was,
307 Of al that day she saugh hym nat with ye;
308 She trowed that he was in maladye, Notes 308-341
309 For for no cry hir mayde koude hym calle,
310 He nolde answere for thyng that myghte falle.
311 This passeth forth al thilke saterday,
312 That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay,
313 And eet and sleep, or dide what hym leste,
314 Til sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste.
315 This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle
316 Of Nicholas, or what thyng myghte hym eyle,
317 And seyde, I am adrad, by seint thomas,
318 It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas.
319 God shilde that he deyde sodeynly!
320 This world is now ful tikel, sikerly.
321 I saugh to-day a cors yborn to chirche
322 That now, on monday last, I saugh hym wirche.
323 Go up, quod he unto his knave anoon,
324 Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon.
325 Looke how it is, and tel me boldely.
326 This knave gooth hym up ful sturdily,
327 And at the chambre dore whil that he stood,
328 He cride and knokked as that he were wood,
329 What! how! what do ye, maister Nicholay?
330 How may ye slepen al the longe day?
331 But al for noght, he herde nat a word.
332 An hole he foond, ful lowe upon a bord,
333 Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe,
334 And at that hole he looked in ful depe,
335 And at the laste he hadde of hym a sight.
336 This Nicholas sat evere capyng upright,
337 As he had kiked on the newe moone.
338 Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister soone
339 In what array he saugh this ilke man.
340 This carpenter to blessen hym bigan,
341 And seyde, "Help us, Seinte Frydeswyde!
342 A man woot litel what hym shal bityde.
343 This man is falle, with his astromye, Notes 342-360
344 In some woodnesse or in som agonye.
345 I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be!
346 Men sholde nat knowe of goddes pryvetee.
347 Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man
348 That noght but oonly his bileve kan!
349 So ferde another clerk with astromye;
350 He walked in the feeldes, for to prye
351 Upon the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle,
352 Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle;
353 He saugh nat that. But yet, by Seint Thomas,
354 Me reweth soore of hende Nicholas.
355 He shal be rated of his studiyng,
356 If that I may, by jhesus, hevene kyng!
357 Get me a staf, that I may underspore,
358 Whil that thou, robyn, hevest up the dore.
359 He shal out of his studiyng, as I gesse --
360 And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse.
361 His knave was a strong carl for the nones,
362 And by the haspe he haaf it of atones;
363 Into the floor the dore fil anon. Notes 361-377
364 This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon,
365 And evere caped upward into the eir.
366 This carpenter wende he were in despeir,
367 And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily,
368 And shook hym harde, and cride spitously,
369 What! Nicholay! what, how! what, looke adoun!
370 Awak, and thenk on cristes passioun!
371 I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes.
372 Therwith the nyght-spel seyde he anon-rightes
373 On foure halves of the hous aboute,
374 And on the thresshfold of the dore withoute
375 Jhesu crist and seinte benedight,
376 Blesse this hous from every wikked wight,
377 For nyghtes verye, the white pater-noster!
378 Where wentestow, seinte petres soster?
379 And atte laste this hende Nicholas Notes 380-408
380 Gan for to sik soore, and seyde, allas!
381 Shal al the world be lost aftsoones now?
382 This carpenter answerde, what seystow?
383 What! thynk on god, as we doon, men that swynke.
384 This Nicholas answerde, fecche me drynke,
385 And after wol I speke in pryvetee
386 Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee.
387 I wol telle it noon oother man, certeyn.
388 This carpenter goth doun, and comth ageyn,
389 And broghte of myghty ale a large quart;
390 And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part,
391 This Nicholas his dore faste shette,
392 And doun the carpenter by hym he sette.
393 He seyde John, myn hooste, lief and deere,
394 Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere
395 That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye;
396 For it is cristes conseil that I seye,
397 And if thou telle it man, thou art forlore;
398 For this vengeaunce thou shalt han therfore,
399 That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood.
400 Nay, crist forbede it, for his hooly blood!
401 Quod tho this sely man, I nam no labbe;
402 Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe.
403 Sey what thou wolt, I shal it nevere telle
404 To child ne wyf, by hym that harwed helle!
405 Now John, quod Nicholas, I wol nat lye;
406 I have yfounde in myn astrologye, Notes 409-437
407 As I have looked in the moone bright,
408 That now a monday next, at quarter nyght,
409 Shal falle a reyn, and that so wilde and wood,
410 That half so greet was nevere Noes flood.
411 This world, he seyde, in lasse than an hour
412 Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour.
413 Thus shal mankynde drenche, and lese hir lyf.
414 This carpenter answerde, allas, my wyf!
415 And shal she drenche? allas, myn Alisoun!
416 For sorwe of this he fil almoost adoun,
417 And seyde, is ther no remedie in this cas?
418 Why, yis, for gode, quod hende Nicholas,
419 If thou wolt werken after loore and reed.
420 Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed;
421 For thus seith salomon, that was ful trewe,
422 Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat rewe. --
423 And if thou werken wolt by good conseil,
424 I undertake, withouten mast and seyl,
425 Yet shal I saven hire and thee and me.
426 Hastow nat herd hou saved was Noe,
427 Whan that oure lord hadde warned hym biforn
428 That al the world with water sholde be lorn?
429 Yis, quod this carpenter, ful yoore ago.
430 Hastou nat herd, quod Nicholas, also
431 The sorwe of Noe with his felaweshipe,
432 Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe?
433 Hym hadde be levere, I dar wel undertake
434 At thilke tyme, than alle his wetheres blake
435 That she hadde had a ship hirself allone.
436 And therfore, woostou what is best to doone?
437 This asketh haste, and of an hastif thyng
438 Men may nat preche or maken tariyng.
439 Anon go gete us faste into this in
440 A knedyng trogh, or ellis a kymelyn, Notes 441-475
441 For ech of us, but looke that they be large,
442 In which we mowe swymme as in a barge,
443 And han therinne vitaille suffisant
444 But for a day, -- fy on the remenant!
445 The water shal aslake and goon away
446 Aboute pryme upon the nexte day.
447 But robyn may nat wite of this, thy knave,
448 Ne eek thy mayde gille I may nat save;
449 Axe nat why, for though thou aske me,
450 I wol nat tellen goddes pryvetee.
451 Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde,
452 To han as greet a grace as Noe hadde.
453 Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute.
454 Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute.
455 But whan thou hast, for hire and thee and me,
456 Ygeten us thise knedyng tubbes thre,
457 Thanne shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye,
458 That no man of oure purveiaunce spye.
459 And whan thou thus hast doon, as I have seyd,
460 And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd,
461 And eek an ax, to smyte the corde atwo,
462 Whan that the water comth, that we may go,
463 And breke an hole an heigh, upon the gable,
464 Unto the gardyn-ward, over the stable,
465 That we may frely passen forth oure way,
466 Whan that the grete shour is goon away,
467 Thanne shaltou swymme as myrie, I undertake,
468 As dooth the white doke after hire drake.
469 Thanne wol I clepe, -- how, Alison! how, John!
470 Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon. --
471 And thou wolt seyn, -- hayl, maister Nicholay!
472 Good morwe, I se thee wel, for it is day. --
473 And thanne shul we be lordes al oure lyf
474 Of al the world, as Noe and his wyf.
475 But of o thyng I warne thee ful right
476 Be wel avysed on that ilke nyght Notes 477-505
477 That we ben entred into shippes bord,
478 That noon of us ne speke nat a word,
479 Ne clepe, ne crie, but be in his preyere;
480 For it is goddes owene heeste deere.
481 Thy wyf and thou moote hange fer atwynne;
482 For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne,
483 Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in deede,
484 This ordinance is seyd. Go, God thee speede!
485 Tomorwe at nyght, whan men ben alle aslepe,
486 Into oure knedyng-tubbes wol we crepe,
487 And sitten there, abidyng goddes grace.
488 Go now thy wey, I have no lenger space
489 To make of this no lenger sermonyng.
490 Men seyn thus, -- sende the wise, and sey no thyng --
491 Thou art so wys, it needeth thee nat teche.
492 Go, save oure lyf, and that I the biseche.
493 This sely carpenter goth forth his wey.
494 Ful ofte he seide allas and weylawey,
495 And to his wyf he tolde his pryvetee,
496 And she was war, and knew it bet than he,
497 What al this queynte cast was for to seye.
498 But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye,
499 And seyde, allas! go forth thy wey anon,
500 Help us to scape, or we been dede echon!
501 I am thy trewe, verray wedded wyf;
502 Go, deere spouse, and help to save oure lyf.
503 Lo, which a greet thyng is affeccioun!
504 Men may dyen of ymaginacioun,
505 So depe may impressioun be take. Notes 507-539
506 This sely carpenter bigynneth quake;
507 Hym thynketh verraily that he may see
508 Noees flood come walwynge as the see
509 To drenchen Alisoun, his hony deere.
510 He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory cheere;
511 He siketh with ful many a sory swogh;
512 He gooth and geteth hym a knedyng trogh,
513 And after that a tubbe and a kymelyn,
514 And pryvely he sente hem to his in,
515 And heng hem in the roof in pryvetee.
516 His owene hand he made laddres thre,
517 To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes
518 Unto the tubbes hangynge in the balkes,
519 And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe,
520 With breed and chese, and good ale in a jubbe,
521 Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day.
522 But er that he hadde maad al this array,
523 He sente his knave, and eek his wenche also,
524 Upon his nede to london for to go.
525 And on the monday, whan it drow to nyght,
526 He shette his dore withoute candel-lyght,
527 And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be.
528 And shortly, up they clomben alle thre;
529 They seten stille wel a furlong way.
530 Now, pater-noster, clom! seyde Nicholay,
531 And clom, quod John, and clom, seyde Alisoun.
532 This carpenter seyde his devocioun,
533 And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere,
534 Awaitynge on the reyn, if he it heere.
535 The dede sleep, for wery bisynesse,
536 Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse,
537 Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel moore;
538 For travaille of his goost he groneth soore,
539 And eft he routeth, for his heed myslay.
540 Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay,
541 And Alisoun ful softe adoun she spedde;
542 Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde,
543 Ther as the carpenter is wont to lye.
544 Ther was the revel and the melodye;
545 And thus lith Alison and Nicholas, Notes 543-569
546 In bisynesse of myrthe and of solas,
547 Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge,
548 And freres in the chaunsel gonne synge.
549 This parissh clerk, this amorous Absolon,
550 That is for love alwey so wo bigon,
551 Upon the monday was at oseneye
552 With compaignye, hym to disporte and pleye,
553 And axed upon cas a cloisterer
554 Ful prively after John the carpenter;
555 And he drough hym apart out of the chirche,
556 And seyde, I noot, I saugh hym heere nat wirche
557 Syn saterday; I trowe that he be went
558 For tymber, ther oure abbot hath hym sent;
559 For he is wont for tymber for to go,
560 And dwellen at the grange a day or two;
561 Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn.
562 Where that he be, I kan nat soothly seyn.
563 This Absolon ful joly was and light,
564 And thoghte, now is tyme to wake al nyght;
565 For sikirly I saugh hym nat stirynge
566 Aboute his dore, syn day bigan to sprynge.
567 So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe,
568 Ful pryvely knokken at his wyndowe
569 That stant ful lowe upon his boures wal.
570 To Alison now wol I tellen al Notes 571-599
571 My love-longynge, for yet I shal nat mysse
572 That at the leeste wey I shal hire kisse.
573 Som maner confort shal I have, parfay.
574 My mouth hath icched al this longe day;
575 That is a signe of kissyng atte leeste.
576 Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste.
577 Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye,
578 And al the nyght thanne wol I wake and pleye.
579 Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, anon
580 Up rist this joly lovere Absolon
581 And hym arraieth gay, at poynt-devys.
582 But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys,
583 To smellen sweete, er he hadde kembd his heer.
584 Under his tonge a trewe-love he beer,
585 For therby wende he to ben gracious.
586 He rometh to the carpenteres hous,
587 And stille he stant under the shot-wyndowe --
588 Unto his brest it raughte, it was so lowe --
589 And softe he cougheth with a semy soun --
590 What do ye, hony-comb, sweete Alisoun,
591 My faire bryd, my sweete cynamome?
592 Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me!
593 Wel litel thynken ye upon my wo,
594 That for youre love I swete ther I go.
595 No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete;
596 I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete.
597 Ywis, lemman, I have swich love-longynge,
598 That lik a turtel trewe is my moornynge.
599 I may nat ete na moore than a mayde.
600 Go fro the wyndow, jakke fool, she sayde;
601 As help me god, it wol nat be 'com pa me.'
602 I love another -- and elles I were to blame --
603 Wel bet than thee, by Jhesu, Absolon. Notes 600-635
604 Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston,
605 And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey!
606 Allas, quod Absolon, and weylawey,
607 That trewe love was evere so yvel biset!
608 Thanne kysse me, syn it may be no bet,
609 For Jhesus love, and for the love of me.
610 Wiltow thanne go thy wey therwith? quod she.
611 Ye, certes, lemman, quod this Absolon.
612 Thanne make thee redy, quod she, I come anon.
613 And unto Nicholas she seyde stille,
614 Now hust, and thou shalt laughen al thy fille.
615 This Absolon doun sette hym on his knees
616 And seyde, I am a lord at alle degrees;
617 For after this I hope ther cometh moore.
618 Lemman, thy grace, and sweete bryd, thyn oore!
619 The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste.
620 Have do, quod she, com of, and speed the faste,
621 Lest that oure neighebores thee espie.
622 This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful drie.
623 Derk was the nyght as pich, or as the cole,
624 And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole,
625 And Absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers,
626 But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers
627 Ful savourly, er he were war of this.
628 Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys,
629 For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd.
630 He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd,
631 And seyde, fy! allas! what have I do?
632 Tehee! quod she, and clapte the wyndow to,
633 And Absolon gooth forth a sory pas.
634 A berd! a berd! quod hende Nicholas,
635 By goddes corpus, this goth faire and weel.
636 This sely Absolon herde every deel, Notes 638-659
637 And on his lippe he gan for anger byte,
638 And to hymself he seyde, I shal thee quyte.
639 Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes
640 With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with
chippes,
641 But Absolon, that seith ful ofte, allas!
642 My soule bitake I unto sathanas,
643 But me were levere than al this toun, quod he,
644 Of this despit awroken for to be.
645 Allas, quod he, allas, I ne hadde ybleynt!
646 His hoote love was coold and al yqueynt;
647 For fro that tyme that he hadde kist hir ers,
648 Of paramours he sette nat a kers;
649 For he was heeled of his maladie.
650 Ful ofte paramours he gan deffie,
651 And weep as dooth a child that is ybete.
652 A softe paas he wente over the strete
653 Until a smyth men cleped daun gerveys,
654 That in his forge smythed plough harneys;
655 He sharpeth shaar and kultour bisily.
656 This Absolon knokketh al esily,
657 And seyde, undo, gerveys, and that anon.
658 What, who artow? it am I, Absalon. Notes 661-703
659 What, Absolon! for cristes sweete tree,
660 Why rise ye so rathe? ey, benedicitee!
661 What eyleth yow? som gay gerl, God it woot,
662 Hath broght yow thus upon the viritoot.
663 By seinte note, ye woot wel what I mene.
664 This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene
665 Of al his pley; no word agayn he yaf;
666 He hadde moore tow on his distaf
667 Than gerveys knew, and seyde, freend so deere,
668 That hoote kultour in the chymenee heere,
669 As lene it me, I have therwith to doone,
670 And I wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone.
671 Gerveys answerde, certes, were it gold,
672 Or in a poke nobles alle untold,
673 Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smyth.
674 Ey, cristes foo! what wol ye do therwith?
675 Therof, quod Absolon, be as be may.
676 I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day --
677 And caughte the kultour by the colde stele.
678 Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele,
679 And wente unto the carpenteris wal.
680 He cogheth first, and knokketh therwithal
681 Upon the wyndowe, right as he dide er.
682 This Alison answerde, who is ther
683 That knokketh so? I warante it a theef.
684 Why, nay, quod he, God woot, my sweete leef,
685 I am thyn Absolon, my deerelyng.
686 Of gold, quod he, I have thee broght a ryng.
687 My mooder yaf it me, so God me save;
688 Ful fyn it is, and therto wel ygrave.
689 This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse.
690 This Nicholas was risen for to pisse,
691 And thoughte he wolde amenden al the jape;
692 He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape.
693 And up the wyndowe dide he hastily,
694 And out his ers he putteth pryvely
695 Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon;
696 And therwith spak this clerk, this Absolon,
697 Spek, sweete bryd, I noot nat where thou art.
698 This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart,
699 As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,
700 That with the strook he was almoost yblent;
701 And he was redy with his iren hoot,
702 And Nicholas amydde the ers he smoot.
703 Of gooth the skyn an hande-brede aboute,
704 The hoote kultour brende so his toute,
705 And for the smert he wende for to dye. Notes 705-746
706 As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye,
707 Help! water! water! water! help, for goddes herte!
708 This carpenter out of his slomber sterte,
709 And herde oon crien water as he were wood,
710 And thoughte, allas, now comth nowelis flood!
711 He sit hym up withouten wordes mo,
712 And with his ax he smoot the corde atwo,
713 And doun gooth al; he foond neither to selle,
714 Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the celle
715 Upon the floor, and ther aswowne he lay.
716 Up stirte hire Alison and Nicholay,
717 And criden out and harrow in the strete.
718 The neighebores, bothe smale and grete,
719 In ronnen for to gauren on this man,
720 That yet aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan,
721 For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm.
722 But stonde he moste unto his owene harm;
723 For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun
724 With hende Nicholas and Alisoun.
725 They tolden every man that he was wood,
726 He was agast so of nowelis flood
727 Thurgh fantasie, that of his vanytee
728 He hadde yboght hym knedyng tubbes thre,
729 And hadde hem hanged in the roof above;
730 And that he preyed hem, for goddes love,
731 To sitten in the roof, par compaignye.
732 The folk gan laughen at his fantasye;
733 Into the roof they kiken and they cape,
734 And turned al his harm unto a jape.
735 For what so that this carpenter answerde,
736 It was for noght, no man his reson herde.
737 With othes grete he was so sworn adoun
738 That he was holde wood in al the toun;
739 For every clerk anonright heeld with oother.
740 They seyde, the man is wood, my leeve brother;
741 And every wight gan laughen at this stryf.
742 Thus swyved was this carpenteris wyf,
743 For al his kepyng and his jalousye;
744 And Absolon hath kist hir nether ye;
745 And Nicholas is scalded in the towte.
746 This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte!