The Canterbury Tales: General PrologueBY GEOFF REY CHAUCER

Here bygynneth the Book of the tales of Caunterbury

Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote, The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veyne in swich licóur Of which vertú engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne, And smale foweles maken melodye, That slepen al the nyght with open ye, So priketh hem Natúre in hir corages, Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; And specially, from every shires ende Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende, The hooly blisful martir for to seke, That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke. 

Bifil that in that seson on a day, In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay, Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage To Caunterbury with ful devout corage, At nyght were come into that hostelrye Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye Of sondry folk, by áventure y-falle In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle, That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde. The chambres and the stables weren wyde, And wel we weren esed atte beste. And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, So hadde I spoken with hem everychon, That I was of hir felaweshipe anon, And made forward erly for to ryse, To take oure wey, ther as I yow devyse. 

But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space, Er that I ferther in this tale pace, Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun To telle yow al the condicioun Of ech of hem, so as it semed me, And whiche they weren and of what degree, And eek in what array that they were inne; And at a Knyght than wol I first bigynne. 

The Prioress' TaleHeere bigynneth the Prioresses Tale.

488        Ther was in Asye, in a greet citee,                  There was in Asia, in a great city,489        Amonges Cristene folk a Jewerye,                  Among Christian folk a Ghetto,490        Sustened by a lord of that contree                  Sustained by a lord of that country491        For foule usure and lucre of vileynye,                  For foul usury and shameful profits,492        Hateful to Crist and to his compaignye;                  Hateful to Christ and to his company;493        And thurgh the strete men myghte ride or wende,                  And through the street men might ride or go,494        For it was free and open at eyther ende.                  For it was free and open at either end.

495        A litel scole of Cristen folk ther stood                  A little school of Christian folk there stood496        Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther were                  Down at the farther end, in which there were497        Children an heep, ycomen of Cristen blood,                  A good many children, descended from Christian blood,498        That lerned in that scole yeer by yere                  That learned in that school year by year499        Swich manere doctrine as men used there,                  Such sort of doctrine as men used there,500        This is to seyn, to syngen and to rede,                  This is to say, to sing and to read,501        As smale children doon in hire childhede.                  As small children do in their childhood.

502        Among thise children was a wydwes sone,                  Among these children was a widow's son,503        A litel clergeon, seven yeer of age,                  A little schoolboy, seven years of age,504        That day by day to scole was his wone,                  Whose custom was day by day to go to school,505        And eek also, where as he saugh th' ymage                  And in addition, moreover, where he saw the image506        Of Cristes mooder, hadde he in usage,                  Of Christ's mother, he had the practice,507        As hym was taught, to knele adoun and seye                  As was taught to him, to kneel down and say508        His Ave Marie, as he goth by the weye.                  His `Hail Mary,' as he goes by the way.

509        Thus hath this wydwe hir litel sone ytaught                  Thus this widow has taught her little son 510        Oure blisful Lady, Cristes mooder deere,                  Our blissful Lady, Christ's dear mother,

536        I lerne song; I kan but smal grammeere."

512        For sely child wol alday soone leere.                  For an innocent child will always quickly learn.513        But ay, whan I remembre on this mateere,                  But always, when I think about this matter,514        Seint Nicholas stant evere in my presence,                  Saint Nicholas stands ever in my mind,515        For he so yong to Crist dide reverence.                  Because he so young did reverence to Christ.

516        This litel child, his litel book lernynge,                  This little child, learning his little book,517        As he sat in the scole at his prymer,                  As he sat in the school at his primer,518        He Alma redemptoris herde synge,                  He heard `Gracious (mother) of the Redeemer' being sung,519        As children lerned hire antiphoner;                  As children learned their antiphonal hymns;520        And as he dorste, he drough hym ner and ner,                  And as he dared, he drew him nearer and nearer,521        And herkned ay the wordes and the noote,                  And listened always to the words and the notes,522        Til he the firste vers koude al by rote.                  Until he knew the first verse entirely by heart.

523        Noght wiste he what this Latyn was to seye,                  He knew not what this Latin meant,524        For he so yong and tendre was of age.                  For he was so young and tender of age.525        But on a day his felawe gan he preye                  But on one day he did pray his fellow526        T' expounden hym this song in his langage,                  To explain to him this song in his language,527        Or telle hym why this song was in usage;                  Or tell him why this song was in regular use;528        This preyde he hym to construe and declare                  This he prayed him to translate and explain529        Ful often tyme upon his knowes bare.                  Very frequently upon his bare knees.

530        His felawe, which that elder was than he,                  His fellow, who was older than he,531        Answerde hym thus: "This song, I have herd seye,                  Answered him thus: "This song, I have heard tell,532        Was maked of our blisful Lady free,                  Was composed about our generous blissful Lady,533        Hire to salue, and eek hire for to preye                  To salute her, and also to pray her 534        To been oure help and socour whan we deye.                  To be our help and succour when we die.535        I kan namoore expounde in this mateere.                  I can explain no more of this matter.

                  I learn song; I know but little grammar."

537        "And is this song maked in reverence                  "And is this song composed in reverence538        Of Cristes mooder?" seyde this innocent.                  Of Christ's mother?" said this innocent.539        "Now, certes, I wol do my diligence                  "Now, certainly, I will do my best efforts540        To konne it al er Cristemasse be went.                  To learn it all before Christmas is gone.541        Though that I for my prymer shal be shent                  Though I for my primer shall be punished542        And shal be beten thries in an houre,                  And shall be beaten thrice in an hour,543        I wol it konne Oure Lady for to honoure!"                  I will learn it to honor Our Lady!"

544        His felawe taughte hym homward prively,                  His fellow privately taught him (as they went) homeward,545        Fro day to day, til he koude it by rote,                  From day to day, until he knew it by heart,546        And thanne he song it wel and boldely,                  And then he sang it well and boldly,547        Fro word to word, acordynge with the note.                  From word to word, in harmony with the tune.548        Twies a day it passed thurgh his throte,                  Twice a day it passed through his throat,549        To scoleward and homward whan he wente;                  When he went toward school and homeward;550        On Cristes mooder set was his entente.                  On Christ's mother his mind was set.

551        As I have seyd, thurghout the Juerie                  As I have said, throughout the Ghetto552        This litel child, as he cam to and fro,                  This little child, as he came to and fro,553        Ful murily than wolde he synge and crie                  Very merrily then would he sing and cry554        O Alma redemptoris everemo.                   Always `O Gracious (mother) of the Redeemer'555        The swetnesse his herte perced so                  So pierced his heart the sweetness 556        Of Cristes mooder that, to hire to preye,                  Of Christ's mother that, to pray to her,557        He kan nat stynte of syngyng by the weye.                  He can not stop singing by the way.

558        Oure firste foo, the serpent Sathanas,                  Our first foe, the serpent Satan,559        That hath in Jues herte his waspes nest,                  That has his wasp's nest in Jews' hearts,560        Up swal, and seide, "O Hebrayk peple, allas!                  Swelled up, and said, "Oh Hebraic people, alas!561        Is this to yow a thyng that is honest,                  Is this a thing that is honorable to you,

586        This poure wydwe awaiteth al that nyght

562        That swich a boy shal walken as hym lest                  That such a boy shall walk as he pleases

563        In youre despit, and synge of swich sentence,                  In scorn of you, and sing of such a subject,564        Which is agayn youre lawes reverence?"                  Which is against your law's (due) reverence?"

565        Fro thennes forth the Jues han conspired                  From thenceforth the Jews have conspired566        This innocent out of this world to chace.                  To drive this innocent out of this world.567        An homycide therto han they hyred,                  For this they have hired a murderer, 568        That in an aleye hadde a privee place;                  Who in an alley had a secret place;569        And as the child gan forby for to pace,                  And as the child began to pass by,570        This cursed Jew hym hente, and heeld hym faste,                  This cursed Jew seized him, and held him tightly,571        And kitte his throte, and in a pit hym caste.                  And cut his throat, and cast him in a pit.

572        I seye that in a wardrobe they hym threwe                  I say that they threw him in a privy 573        Where as thise Jewes purgen hire entraille.                  Where these Jews purge their entrails.574        O cursed folk of Herodes al newe,                  Oh cursed folk of new Herods, 575        What may youre yvel entente yow availle?                  What may your evil intent avail you?576        Mordre wol out, certeyn, it wol nat faille,                  Murder will come out, certainly, it will not fail,577        And namely ther th'onour of God shal sprede;                  And especially where the honor of God shall spread;578        The blood out crieth on youre cursed dede.                  The blood cries out on your cursed deed.

579        O martir, sowded to virginitee,                  Oh martyr, firmly united to virginity,580        Now maystow syngen, folwynge evere in oon                  Now canst thou sing, following continuously581        The white Lamb celestial -- quod she --                  The white celestial Lamb -- said she --582        Of which the grete evaungelist, Seint John,                  Of which the great evangelist, Saint John,583        In Pathmos wroot, which seith that they that goon                  In Pathmos wrote, who says that they that go584        Biforn this Lamb and synge a song al newe,                  Before this Lamb and sing a song all new,585        That nevere, flesshly, wommen they ne knewe.                  (Are) those who never, in a carnal way, knew women.

613        So loude that al the place gan to rynge.

                  This poor widow waits all that night587        After hir litel child, but he cam noght;                  For her little child, but he came not;588        For which, as soone as it was dayes lyght, For which, as soon as it was daylight,589        With face pale of drede and bisy thoght,                  With face pale from dread and intense thought,590        She hath at scole and elleswhere hym soght,                  She has sought him at school and elsewhere,591        Til finally she gan so fer espie                  Until finally she got so far as to discover592        That he last seyn was in the Juerie.                  That he was last seen in the Ghetto.

593        With moodres pitee in hir brest enclosed,                  With mother's pity enclosed in her breast,594        She gooth, as she were half out of hir mynde,                  She goes, as if she were half out of her mind,595        To every place where she hath supposed                  To every place where she has supposed596        By liklihede hir litel child to fynde;                  Most likely to find her little child;597        And evere on Cristes mooder meeke and kynde                  And ever on Christ's meek and kind mother598        She cride, and atte laste thus she wroghte:                  She cried, and at the last thus she acted:599        Among the cursed Jues she hym soghte.                  Among the cursed Jews she sought him.

600        She frayneth and she preyeth pitously                  She asks and she prays piteously601        To every Jew that dwelte in thilke place,                  To every Jew that dwelt in that same place,602        To telle hire if hir child wente oght forby.                  To tell her if her child at all went by there.603        They seyde "nay"; but Jhesu of his grace                  They said "nay"; but Jesus of his grace604        Yaf in hir thoght inwith a litel space                  Gave it in her thought within a short while605        That in that place after hir sone she cryde,                  So that she cried for her son in that place,606        Where he was casten in a pit bisyde.                  Where he was cast in a pit near by.

607        O grete God, that parfournest thy laude                  Oh great God, who performest thy praise608        By mouth of innocentz, lo, heere thy myght!                  By mouths of innocents, lo, here is thy power!609        This gemme of chastite, this emeraude,                  This gem of chastity, this emerald,610        And eek of martirdom the ruby bright,                  And also the bright ruby of martyrdom,611        Ther he with throte ykorven lay upright,                  Where he with throat carved lay on his back,612        He Alma redemptoris gan to synge                  He `Gracious (mother) of the Redeemer' began to sing

640        Yet spak this child, whan spreynd was hooly

                  So loud that all the place began to ring.

614        The Cristene folk that thurgh the strete wente                  The Christian folk who went through the street615        In coomen for to wondre upon this thyng,                  Came in to wonder upon this thing,616        And hastily they for the provost sente;                  And hastily they sent for the magistrate;617        He cam anon withouten tariyng,                  He came quickly without tarrying,618        And herieth Crist that is of hevene kyng,                  And praises Christ who is king of heaven,619        And eek his mooder, honour of mankynde,                  And also his mother, honor of mankind,620        And after that the Jewes leet he bynde.                  And after that he had the Jews bound.

621        This child with pitous lamentacioun                  This child with piteous lamentation622        Up taken was, syngynge his song alway,                  Was taken up, singing his song always,623        And with honour of greet processioun                  And with the honor of a great procession624        They carien hym unto the nexte abbay.                  They carry him unto the nearby abbey.625        His mooder swownynge by his beere lay;                  His mother swooning lay by his bier;626        Unnethe myghte the peple that was theere                  The people that were there could hardly 627        This newe Rachel brynge fro his beere.                  Bring this new Rachel from his bier.

628        With torment and with shameful deeth echon,                  With torment and with shameful death for each one,629        This provost dooth thise Jewes for to sterve                  This magistrate had these Jews put to death 630        That of this mordre wiste, and that anon.                  Who knew of this murder, and that immediately.631        He nolde no swich cursednesse observe.                  He would not tolerate any such cursedness.632        "Yvele shal have that yvele wol deserve";                  "Evil shall have what evil will deserve";633        Therfore with wilde hors he dide hem drawe,                  Therefore with wild horses he had them torn apart,634        And after that he heng hem by the lawe.                  And after that he hanged them by the law.

635        Upon this beere ay lith this innocent                  Upon this bier always lies this innocent636        Biforn the chief auter, whil the masse laste;                  Before the chief altar, while the masse lasted;637        And after that, the abbot with his covent                  And after that, the abbot with his convent638        Han sped hem for to burien hym ful faste;                  Have hurried to bury him very quickly;639        And whan they hooly water on hym caste,                  And when they cast holy water on him,

water,                  Yet spoke this child, when holy water was sprinkled,641        And song O Alma redemptoris mater!                  And sang `O Gracious (mother) of the Redeemer!'

642        This abbot, which that was an hooly man,                  This abbot, who was a holy man,643        As monkes been -- or elles oghte be --                  As monks are -- or else ought to be --644        This yonge child to conjure he bigan,                  He began to entreat this young child,645        And seyde, "O deere child, I halse thee,                  And said, "Oh dear child, I beseech thee,646        In vertu of the hooly Trinitee,                  By power of the holy Trinity,647        Tel me what is thy cause for to synge,                  Tell me what is thy cause to sing,648        Sith that thy throte is kut to my semynge?"                  Since thy throat is cut as it seems to me?"

649        "My throte is kut unto my nekke boon,"                  "My throat is cut unto my neck boon,"650        Seyde this child, "and as by wey of kynde                  Said this child, "and in the natural course of events651        I sholde have dyed, ye, longe tyme agon.                  I should have dyed, yea, a long time ago.652        But Jesu Crist, as ye in bookes fynde,                  But Jesus Christ, as you find in books,653        Wil that his glorie laste and be in mynde,                  Desires that his glory should last and be in mind,654        And for the worship of his Mooder deere                  And for the worship of his Mother dear655        Yet may I synge O Alma loude and cleere.                  Yet can I sing `O Gracious (mother)' loud and clear.

656        "This welle of mercy, Cristes mooder sweete,                  "This well of mercy, Christ's sweet mother,657        I loved alwey, as after my konnynge;                  I loved always, according to my ability,658        And whan that I my lyf sholde forlete,                  And when I had to lose my life,659        To me she cam, and bad me for to synge                  She came to me, and told me to sing660        This anthem verraily in my deyynge,                  This anthem truly as I was dying,661        As ye han herd, and whan that I hadde songe,                  As you have heard, and when I had sung,662        Me thoughte she leyde a greyn upon my tonge.                  It seemed to me that she laid a grain upon my tongue.

663        "Wherfore I synge, and synge moot certeyn,                  "Therefore I sing, and must sing certainly,              

664        In honour of that blisful Mayden free In honor of that blissful generous Maiden665        Til fro my tonge of taken is the greyn;                  Until the grain is taken off my tongue;666        And after that thus seyde she to me:                  And after that thus she said to me:667        `My litel child, now wol I fecche thee,                  `My little child, at that time I will fetch thee,668        Whan that the greyn is fro thy tonge ytake.                  When the grain is taken from thy tongue.669        Be nat agast; I wol thee nat forsake.'"                  Be not afraid; I will not forsake thee.'"

670        This hooly monk, this abbot, hym meene I,                  This holy monk, this abbot, I mean him,671        His tonge out caughte, and took awey the greyn,                  His tongue pulled out, and took away the grain,672        And he yaf up the goost ful softely.                  And he gave up the ghost very gently.673        And whan this abbot hadde this wonder seyn,                  And when this abbot had seen this wonder,674        His salte teeris trikled doun as reyn,                  His salt tears trickled down like rain,675        And gruf he fil al plat upon the grounde,                  And face-down he fell all flat upon the ground,676        And stille he lay as he had ben ybounde.                  And still he lay as if he had been bound.

677        The covent eek lay on the pavement                  The convent also lay on the pavement678        Wepynge, and herying Cristes mooder deere,                  Weeping, and praising Christ's dear mother,679        And after that they ryse, and forth been went,                  And after that they rise, and forth are gone,680        And tooken awey this martir from his beere;                  And took away this martyr from his bier;681        And in a tombe of marbul stones cleere                  And in a tomb of clear marble stones 682        Enclosen they his litel body sweete.                  They enclose his sweet little body.683        Ther he is now, God leve us for to meete!                  There he is now, God grant us to meet!

684        O yonge Hugh of Lyncoln, slayn also                  Oh young Hugh of Lincoln, slain also685        With cursed Jewes, as it is notable,                  By cursed Jews, as it is well known,686        For it is but a litel while ago,                  For it is but a little while ago,687        Preye eek for us, we synful folk unstable,                  Pray also for us, we sinful folk unstable,688        That of his mercy God so merciable                  That of his mercy God so merciful689        On us his grete mercy multiplie,                  Multiply his great mercy on us,690        For reverence of his mooder Marie. Amen                  For reverence of his mother Mary. Amen

Heere is ended the Prioresses Tale

The Pardoner's Prologue

Heere folweth the Prologe of the Pardoners Tale.

Radix malorum est Cupiditas: Ad Thimotheum, 6°.Greed is the root of evils: Paul's Epistle to Timothy,

chapter 6.

329         "Lordynges," quod he, "in chirches whan I preche,                 "Gentlemen," he said, "in churches when I preach,330         I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche,                 I take pains to have a loud voice,331         And rynge it out as round as gooth a belle,                 And ring it out as round as goes a belle,332         For I kan al by rote that I telle.                 For I know all by rote that I tell.333         My theme is alwey oon, and evere was --                 My theme is always the same, and ever was --334         Radix malorum est Cupiditas.                 'Greed is the root of all evil.'335         "First I pronounce whennes that I come,                 "First I pronounce from whence I come,336         And thanne my bulles shewe I, alle and some.                 And then my papal bulls I show, each and every one.337         Oure lige lordes seel on my patente,                 Our liege lord's seal on my letter of authorization,338         That shewe I first, my body to warente,                 I show that first, to protect my body,339         That no man be so boold, ne preest ne clerk,                 So that no man be so bold, neither priest nor clerk,340         Me to destourbe of Cristes hooly werk.                 To hinder me from (doing) Christ's holy work.341         And after that thanne telle I forth my tales;                 And after that then I tell forth my tales;342         Bulles of popes and of cardynales,                 Indulgences of popes and of cardinals,343         Of patriarkes and bishopes I shewe,                 Of patriarchs and bishops I show,344         And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe,                 And in Latin I speak a few words,345         To saffron with my predicacioun,                 With which to add spice to my preaching,346         And for to stire hem to devocioun.                 And to stir them to devotion.347         Thanne shewe I forth my longe cristal stones,                 Then I show forth my long crystal stones,348         Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones --                 Crammed full of rags and of bones --349         Relikes been they, as wenen they echoon.                 Relics they are, as suppose they each one.350         Thanne have I in latoun a sholder-boon                 Then I have mounted in latten (brass-like alloy) a shoulder-bone

351         Which that was of an hooly Jewes sheep.                 Which was of a holy Jew's sheep.352         `Goode men,' I seye, `taak of my wordes keep;                 `Good men,' I say, `take heed of my words;353         If that this boon be wasshe in any welle,                 If this bone be washed in any well,354         If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swelle                 If cow, or calf, or sheep, or ox swell355         That any worm hath ete, or worm ystonge,                 That any worm has eaten, or worm stung,356         Taak water of that welle and wassh his tonge,                 Take water of that well and wash its tongue,357         And it is hool anon; and forthermoore,                 And it is whole right away; and furthermore,358         Of pokkes and of scabbe, and every soore                 Of pocks and of scab, and every sore359         Shal every sheep be hool that of this welle                 Every sheep shall be whole that of this well360         Drynketh a draughte. Taak kep eek what I telle:                 Drinks a draft. Take heed also what I say:361         If that the good-man that the beestes oweth                 If the householder who owns the beasts362         Wol every wyke, er that the cok hym croweth,                 Will every week, before the cock crows,363         Fastynge, drynken of this welle a draughte,                 Fasting, drink of this well a draft,364         As thilke hooly Jew oure eldres taughte,                 As that same holy Jew taught our elders,365         His beestes and his stoor shal multiplie.                 His beasts and his possessions shall multiply.366         `And, sires, also it heeleth jalousie;                 `And, sirs, it also heals jealousy;367         For though a man be falle in jalous rage,                 For though a man be fallen in jealous rage,368         Lat maken with this water his potage,                 Have his potage made with this water,369         And nevere shal he moore his wyf mystriste,                 And he shall never more mistrust his wife,370         Though he the soothe of hir defaute wiste,                 Though he knew the truth of her misdeed,371         Al had she taken prestes two or thre.                 Although she had taken two or three priests.372         `Heere is a miteyn eek, that ye may se.                 `Here is a mitten also, that you may see.373         He that his hand wol putte in this mitayn,                 He that will put his hand in this mitten,374         He shal have multipliyng of his grayn,                 He shall have multiplying of his grain,375         Whan he hath sowen, be it whete or otes,                 When he has sown, be it wheat or oats,376         So that he offre pens, or elles grotes.                 Providing that he offer pennies, or else fourpences.377         `Goode men and wommen, o thyng warne I yow:                 `Good men and women, one thing I warn you:378         If any wight be in this chirche now                 If any person be in this church now

379         That hath doon synne horrible, that he                 Who has done such horrible sin, that he 380         Dar nat, for shame, of it yshryven be,                 Dare not, for shame, be confessed of it,381         Or any womman, be she yong or old,                 Or any woman, be she young or old,382         That hath ymaked hir housbonde cokewold,                 Who has made her husband cuckold,383         Swich folk shal have no power ne no grace                 Such folk shall have no power nor no grace384         To offren to my relikes in this place.                 To offer to my relics in this place.385         And whoso fyndeth hym out of swich blame,                 And whoever finds himself out of such blame,386         He wol come up and offre a Goddes name,                 He will come up and offer in God's name,387         And I assoille him by the auctoritee                 And I will absolve him by the authority388         Which that by bulle ygraunted was to me.'                 Which by papal bull was granted to me.'389         "By this gaude have I wonne, yeer by yeer,                 "By this trick have I won, year after year,390         An hundred mark sith I was pardoner.                 An hundred marks since I was pardoner.391         I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet,                 I stand like a clerk in my pulpit,392         And whan the lewed peple is doun yset,                 And when the ignorant people are set down,393         I preche so as ye han herd bifoore                 I preach as you have heard before394         And telle an hundred false japes moore.                 And tell a hundred more false tales.395         Thanne peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke,                 Then I take pains to stretch forth the neck,396         And est and west upon the peple I bekke,                 And east and west upon the people I nod,397         As dooth a dowve sittynge on a berne.                 As does a dove sitting on a barn.398         Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne                 My hands and my tongue go so quickly399         That it is joye to se my bisynesse.                 That it is joy to see my business.400         Of avarice and of swich cursednesse                 Of avarice and of such cursedness401         Is al my prechyng, for to make hem free                 Is all my preaching, to make them generous402         To yeven hir pens, and namely unto me.                 To give their pennies, and namely unto me.403         For myn entente is nat but for to wynne,                 For my intention is only to make a profit,404         And nothyng for correccioun of synne.                 And not at all for correction of sin.405         I rekke nevere, whan that they been beryed,                 I care not a bit, when they are buried,406         Though that hir soules goon a-blakeberyed!                 Though their souls go picking blackberries! 407         For certes, many a predicacioun                 For certainly, many a sermon408         Comth ofte tyme of yvel entencioun;                 Comes often times from an evil intention;438         Swiche thynges kan they wel reporte and

409         Som for plesance of folk and flaterye,                 Some for pleasure of folk and flattery,410         To been avaunced by ypocrisye,                 To be advanced by hypocrisy,411         And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate.                 And some for vain glory, and some for hate.412         For whan I dar noon oother weyes debate,                 For when I dare debate no other ways,413         Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte                 Then I will sting him with my sharp tongue414         In prechyng, so that he shal nat asterte                 In preaching, so that he shall not escape415         To been defamed falsly, if that he                 To be defamed falsely, if he416         Hath trespased to my bretheren or to me.                 Has trespassed to my brethren or to me.417         For though I telle noght his propre name,                 For though I tell not his proper name,418         Men shal wel knowe that it is the same,                 Men shall well know that it is the same,419         By signes, and by othere circumstances.                 By signs, and by other details.420         Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances;                 Thus I repay folk who make trouble for us pardoners;421         Thus spitte I out my venym under hewe                 Thus I spit out my venom under hue422         Of hoolynesse, to semen hooly and trewe.                 Of holinesses, to seem holy and true.

423         "But shortly myn entente I wol devyse:                 "But shortly my intention I will tell:424         I preche of no thyng but for coveityse.                 I preach of nothing but for greed.425         Therfore my theme is yet, and evere was,                 Therefore my theme is yet, and ever was,426         Radix malorum est Cupiditas.                 `Greed is the root of all evil.'427         Thus kan I preche agayn that same vice                 Thus I can preach against that same vice428         Which that I use, and that is avarice.                 Which I use, and that is avarice.429         But though myself be gilty in that synne,                 But though myself be guilty of that sin,430         Yet kan I maken oother folk to twynne                 Yet I can make other folk to turn away431         From avarice and soore to repente.                 From avarice and bitterly to repent.432         But that is nat my principal entente;                 But that is not my principal intention;433         I preche nothyng but for coveitise.                 I preach nothing but for greed.434         Of this mateere it oghte ynogh suffise.                 Concerning this matter this ought to be enough.

435         "Thanne telle I hem ensamples many oon                 "Then I tell them illustrative tales many a one436         Of olde stories longe tyme agoon.                 Of old stories from long time ago.437         For lewed peple loven tales olde;                 For ignorant people love old tales;

holde.               Such things they can well repeat and hold in memory. 439         What, trowe ye, that whiles I may preche,                 What, do you suppose, that while I can preach,440         And wynne gold and silver for I teche,                 And win gold and silver because I teach,441         That I wol lyve in poverte wilfully?                 That I will live in poverty voluntarily?442         Nay, nay, I thoghte it nevere, trewely!                 Nay, nay, I never thought it, truly!443         For I wol preche and begge in sondry landes;                 For I will preach and beg in various lands;444         I wol nat do no labour with myne handes,                 I will not do any labor with my hands,445         Ne make baskettes and lyve therby,                 Nor make baskets and live thereby,446         By cause I wol nat beggen ydelly.                 Because I will not beg idly.447         I wol noon of the apostles countrefete;                 I will imitate none of the apostles;448         I wol have moneie, wolle, chese, and whete,                 I will have money, wool, cheese, and wheat,449         Al were it yeven of the povereste page,                 Although it were given by the poorest servant boy,450         Or of the povereste wydwe in a village,                 Or by the poorest widow in a village,451         Al sholde hir children sterve for famyne.                 Even though her children should die of hunger.452         Nay, I wol drynke licour of the vyne                 Nay, I will drink liquor of the vine453         And have a joly wenche in every toun.                 And have a pretty wench in every town.454         But herkneth, lordynges, in conclusioun:                 But listen, gentlemen, in conclusion:455         Youre likyng is that I shal telle a tale.                 Your desire is that I shall tell a tale.456         Now have I dronke a draughte of corny ale,                 Now I have drunk a draft of strong ale,457         By God, I hope I shal yow telle a thyng                 By God, I hope I shall tell you a thing458         That shal by reson been at youre likyng.                 That shall, for good reason, be to your liking.459         For though myself be a ful vicious man,                 For though myself be a very vicious man,460         A moral tale yet I yow telle kan,                 Yet I can tell you a moral tale,461         Which I am wont to preche for to wynne.                 Which I am accustomed to preach in order to profit.462         Now hoold youre pees! My tale I wol bigynne."                 Now hold your peace! My tale I will begin."

The Reeve's TaleHeere bigynneth the Reves Tale.

3921         At Trumpyngtoun, nat fer fro Cantebrigge,                    At Trumpington, not far from Cambridge,3922         Ther gooth a brook, and over that a brigge,                    There goes a brook, and over that a bridge,3923         Upon the whiche brook ther stant a melle;                    Upon the which brook there stands a mill;3924         And this is verray sooth that I yow telle:                    And this is absolute truth that I tell you:3925         A millere was ther dwellynge many a day.                    A miller was there dwelling many a day.3926         As any pecok he was proud and gay.                    As any peacock he was proud and gay.3927         Pipen he koude and fisshe, and nettes beete,                    He could play the bagpipe and fish, and mend nets,3928         And turne coppes, and wel wrastle and sheete;                    And play a drinking game, and well wrestle and shoot;3929         Ay by his belt he baar a long panade,                    Always by his belt he carried a long cutlass,3930         And of a swerd ful trenchant was the blade.                    And very sharp was the blade of the sword.3931         A joly poppere baar he in his pouche;                    An elegant dagger he carried in his pouch;3932         Ther was no man, for peril, dorste hym touche.                    There was no man, for peril, dared touch him.3933         A Sheffeld thwitel baar he in his hose.                    A Sheffield knife he carried in his hose.3934         Round was his face, and camus was his nose;                    Round was his face, and he had a pug nose;3935         As piled as an ape was his skulle.                    As bald as an ape was his skull.3936         He was a market-betere atte fulle.                    He was a quarrelsome bully in every way.3937         Ther dorste no wight hand upon hym legge,                    There dared no person lay hand upon him,3938         That he ne swoor he sholde anon abegge.                    That he did not swear he should pay for it right away.3939         A theef he was for sothe of corn and mele,                    A thief he was, in truth, of grain and meal,3940         And that a sly, and usaunt for to stele.                    And that a sly one, and accustomed to steal.3941         His name was hoote deynous Symkyn.                    His name was called haughty Symkyn.3942         A wyf he hadde, ycomen of noble kyn;                    A wife he had, come of noble kin;3943         The person of the toun hir fader was.                    The parson of the town was her father.3944         With hire he yaf ful many a panne of bras,                    With her he gave very many a pan of brass,

3945         For that Symkyn sholde in his blood allye.                    So that Symkyn should be allied with his family.3946         She was yfostred in a nonnerye;                    She was fostered in a nunnery;3947         For Symkyn wolde no wyf, as he sayde,                    For Symkyn would have no wife, as he said,3948         But she were wel ynorissed and a mayde,                    Unless she were well educated and a virgin,3949         To saven his estaat of yomanrye.                    To preserve his state of yeomanry.3950         And she was proud, and peert as is a pye.                    And she was proud, and brazen as is a magpie.3951         A ful fair sighte was it upon hem two;                    A very fair sight was it to look upon those two;3952         On halydayes biforn hire wolde he go                    On holidays before her would he go3953         With his typet wounde aboute his heed,                    With the tip of his hood wound about his head,3954         And she cam after in a gyte of reed;                    And she came after in a gown of red;3955         And Symkyn hadde hosen of the same.                    And Symkyn had hose of the same color.3956         Ther dorste no wight clepen hire but "dame";                    There dared no one call her anything but "lady";3957         Was noon so hardy that wente by the weye                    There was no one so brave that went by the way3958         That with hire dorste rage or ones pleye,                    That dared flirt with her or once play,3959         But if he wolde be slayn of Symkyn                    Unless he wished to be slain by Symkyn3960         With panade, or with knyf, or boidekyn.                    With cutlass, or with knife, or dagger.3961         For jalous folk ben perilous everemo --                    For jealous folk are dangerous always --3962         Algate they wolde hire wyves wenden so.                    At least they would like their wives to think so.3963         And eek, for she was somdel smoterlich,                    And also, because she was a bit besmirched (by her illegitimacy),3964         She was as digne as water in a dich,                    She was as haughty as water in a ditch,3965         And ful of hoker and of bisemare.                    And full of disdain and of scorn.3966         Hir thoughte that a lady sholde hire spare,                    She thought that a lady should be aloof,3967         What for hire kynrede and hir nortelrie                    Considering her family and her education3968         That she hadde lerned in the nonnerie.                    Which she had learned in the nunnery.

3969         A doghter hadde they bitwixe hem two                    A daughter had they between them two3970         Of twenty yeer, withouten any mo,                    Of twenty years of age, without any more,3971         Savynge a child that was of half yeer age;                    Except for a child that was a half year of age;

3972         In cradel it lay and was a propre page.                    In cradle it lay and was a good looking little boy.3973         This wenche thikke and wel ygrowen was,                    This wench was thick and well grown,3974         With kamus nose and eyen greye as glas,                    With pug nose and eyes gray as glass,3975         With buttokes brode and brestes rounde and hye.                    With buttocks broad and breasts round and high.3976         But right fair was hire heer; I wol nat lye.                    But right fair was her hair; I will not lie.3977         This person of the toun, for she was feir,                    This parson of the town, because she was fair,3978         In purpos was to maken hire his heir,                    Was determined to make her his heir,3979         Bothe of his catel and his mesuage,                    Both of his property and his household,3980         And straunge he made it of hir mariage.                    And he raised difficulties about her marriage.3981         His purpos was for to bistowe hire hye                    His purpose was to bestow her high3982         Into som worthy blood of auncetrye;                    Into some worthy family of noble ancestry;3983         For hooly chirches good moot been despended                    For holy church's goods must be dispensed3984         On hooly chirches blood, that is descended.                    To holy church's blood, which is descended from the church.3985         Therfore he wolde his hooly blood honoure,                    Therefore he would his holy blood honor,3986         Though that he hooly chirche sholde devoure.                    Though he holy church should devour.3987         Greet sokene hath this millere, out of doute,                    A profitable monopoly on milling has this miller, out of doubt,3988         With whete and malt of al the land aboute;                    With wheat and malt of all the land about;3989         And nameliche ther was a greet collegge                    And namely there was an important college3990         Men clepen the Soler Halle at Cantebregge;                    People call the Soler Hall at Cambridge;3991         Ther was hir whete and eek hir malt ygrounde.                    There their wheat and also their malt was ground.3992         And on a day it happed, in a stounde,                    And on one day it happened, at a time,3993         Sik lay the maunciple on a maladye;                    The manciple lay sick with a malady;3994         Men wenden wisly that he sholde dye.                    People thought indeed that he should die.3995         For which this millere stal bothe mele and

3996         An hundred tyme moore than biforn;                    A hundred times more than before;3997         For therbiforn he stal but curteisly,                    For before this he stole but courteously,3998         But now he was a theef outrageously,                    But now he was a thief excessively,3999         For which the wardeyn chidde and made fare.                    For which the warden (of the college) complained and made a fuss.4000         But therof sette the millere nat a tare;                    But the miller thought that not worth a weed;4001         He craketh boost, and swoor it was nat so.                    He blustered fiercely, and swore it was not so.4002         Thanne were ther yonge povre scolers two,                    Then were there two young poor scholars,4003         That dwelten in this halle, of which I seye.                    Who dwelt in this hall, of which I tell.4004         Testif they were, and lusty for to pleye,                    Headstrong they were, and eager for sport,4005         And, oonly for hire myrthe and revelrye,                    And, only for their mirth and amusement,4006         Upon the wardeyn bisily they crye                    Upon the warden busily they implore4007         To yeve hem leve, but a litel stounde,                    To give them leave, for but a little while,4008         To goon to mille and seen hir corn ygrounde;                    To go to the mill and see their grain ground;4009         And hardily they dorste leye hir nekke                    And boldly they dared pledge their necks4010         The millere sholde not stele hem half a pekke                    The miller should not steal from them half a peck4011         Of corn by sleighte, ne by force hem reve;                    Of grain by trickery, nor rob them by force;4012         And at the laste the wardeyn yaf hem leve.                    And at the last the warden gave hem leave.4013         John highte that oon, and Aleyn highte that oother;                    John was called that one, and Aleyn was called that other;4014         Of o toun were they born, that highte Strother,                    Of one town were they born, that was called Strother,4015         Fer in the north; I kan nat telle where.                    Far in the north; I can not tell where.4016         This Aleyn maketh redy al his gere,                    This Aleyn makes ready all his gear,4017         And on an hors the sak he caste anon.                    And on a horse the sack he cast immediately.4018         Forth goth Aleyn the clerk, and also John,                    Forth goes Aleyn the clerk, and also John,4019         With good swerd and with bokeler by hir syde.        With good sword and with buckler by their sides.

corn                    For which this miller stole both meal and grain

4020         John knew the wey -- hem nedede no gyde -                John knew the way -- they needed no guide --4021         And at the mille the sak adoun he layth.                    And at the mill he lays the sack down.4022         Aleyn spak first: "Al hayl, Symond, y-fayth!                    Aleyn spoke first: "All hail, Symond, in faith!4023         Hou fares thy faire doghter and thy wyf?"                    How fares thy faire daughter and thy wife?"

4024         "Aleyn, welcome," quod Symkyn, "by my lyf!                    "Aleyn, welcome," said Symkyn, "by my life!4025         And John also, how now, what do ye heer?"                    And John also, how now, what do you here?"

4026         "Symond," quod John, "by God, nede has na peer.                    "Symond," said John, "by God, need knows no law.4027         Hym boes serve hymself that has na swayn,                    He who has no servant must serve himself,4028         Or elles he is a fool, as clerkes sayn.                    Or else he is a fool, as clerks say.4029         Oure manciple, I hope he wil be deed,                    Our manciple, I expect he will be dead,4030         Swa werkes ay the wanges in his heed;                    So continually ache the teeth in his head;4031         And forthy is I come, and eek Alayn,                    And therefore I am come, and also Alayn,4032         To grynde oure corn and carie it ham agayn;                    To grind our grain and carry it home again;4033         I pray yow spede us heythen that ye may."                    I pray you speed us hence as fast as you can."

4034         "It shal be doon," quod Symkyn, "by my fay!                    "It shall be done," said Symkyn, "by my faith!4035         What wol ye doon whil that it is in hande?"                    What will you do while it is being done?"

4036         "By God, right by the hopur wil I stande,"                    "By God, right by the hopper will I stand,"4037         Quod John, "and se howgates the corn gas in.                    Said John, "and see how the grain goes in.4038         Yet saugh I nevere, by my fader kyn,                    Yet saw I never, by my father's kin,4039         How that the hopur wagges til and fra."                    How the hopper wags to and fro."4040         Aleyn answerde, "John, and wiltow swa?                    Aleyn answered, "John, and wilt thou do so?4041         Thanne wil I be bynethe, by my croun,                    Then will I be beneath, by my head,4042         And se how that the mele falles doun                    And see how the meal falls down4043         Into the trough; that sal be my disport.                    Into the trough; that shall be my sport.

4045         I is as ille a millere as ar ye."                    I am as poor a miller as you are."4046         This millere smyled of hir nycetee,                    This miller smiled at their foolishness,4047         And thoghte, "Al this nys doon but for a wyle.                    And thought, "All this is done only for a trick.4048         They wene that no man may hem bigyle,                    They think that no man can trick them,4049         But by my thrift, yet shal I blere hir ye,                    But by my welfare, yet shall I blear their eyes (fool them),4050         For al the sleighte in hir philosophye.                    Despite all the trickery in their philosophy.4051         The moore queynte crekes that they make,                    The more ingenious tricks that they make,4052         The moore wol I stele whan I take.                    The more will I steal when I take.4053         In stide of flour yet wol I yeve hem bren.                    Instead of flour yet will I give them bran.4054         `The gretteste clerkes been noght wisest men,'                    `The greatest clerks are not the wisest men,'4055         As whilom to the wolf thus spak the mare.                    As once to the wolf thus spoke the mare.4056         Of al hir art counte I noght a tare."                    All their learning I reckon not worth a weed."4057         Out at the dore he gooth ful pryvely,                    Out at the door he goes full stealthily,4058         Whan that he saugh his tyme, softely.                    When he saw his time, quietly.4059         He looketh up and doun til he hath founde                    He looks up and down until he has found4060         The clerkes hors, ther as it stood ybounde                    The clerks' horse, where it stood tied4061         Bihynde the mille, under a levesel;                    Behind the mill, under an arbor;4062         And to the hors he goth hym faire and wel;                    And to the horse he goes gently; 4063         He strepeth of the brydel right anon.                    He strips off the bridle right away.4064         And whan the hors was laus, he gynneth gon                    And when the horse was loose, he begins to go4065         Toward the fen, ther wilde mares renne,                    Toward the fen, where wild mares run,4066         And forth with "wehee," thurgh thikke and thurgh thenne.                    And forth with "wehee," through thick and through thin.4067         This millere gooth agayn, no word he seyde,                    This miller goes back to the mill, no word he said,4068         But dooth his note, and with the clerkes pleyde                    But does his work, and with the clerks amused himself

4091         Toward the fen, bothe Aleyn and eek John.

4044         For John, y-faith, I may been of youre sort;For John, in faith, I may be like you;

4069         Til that hir corn was faire and weel ygrounde.                    Until their grain was completely ground.4070         And whan the mele is sakked and ybounde,                    And when the meal is sacked and tied,4071         This John goth out and fynt his hors away,                    This John goes out and finds his horse gone away,4072         And gan to crie "Harrow!" and "Weylaway!                    And began to cry "Help!" and "Wellaway!4073         Oure hors is lorn, Alayn, for Goddes banes,                    Our horse is lost, Alayn, for God's bones,4074         Step on thy feet! Com of, man, al atanes!                    Step on thy feet! Come on, man, quickly!4075         Allas, our wardeyn has his palfrey lorn."                    Alas, our warden has lost his saddle horse."4076         This Aleyn al forgat, bothe mele and corn;                    This Aleyn forgot everything, both meal and grain;4077         Al was out of his mynde his housbondrie.                    All his skillful management was out of his mind.4078         "What, whilk way is he geen?" he gan to crie.                    "What, which way is he gone?" he began to cry.

4079         The wyf cam lepynge inward with a ren.                    The wife cam leaping inward at a run.4080         She seyde, "Allas! youre hors goth to the fen                    She said, "Alas! your horse goes to the fen4081         With wilde mares, as faste as he may go.                    With wild mares, as fast as he can go.4082         Unthank come on his hand that boond hym so,                    Curses come on his hand that tied him so carelessly,4083         And he that bettre sholde han knyt the reyne!"                    And he that should have tied the rein better!"

4084         "Allas," quod John, "Aleyn, for Cristes peyne                    "Alas," said John, "Aleyn, for Christ's pain4085         Lay doun thy swerd, and I wil myn alswa.                    Lay down thy sword, and I will mine also.4086         I is ful wight, God waat, as is a raa;                    I am full strong (swift), God knows, as is a roe deer;4087         By Goddes herte, he sal nat scape us bathe!                    By God's heart, he shall not escape us both!4088         Why ne had thow pit the capul in the lathe?                    Why did thou not put the horse in the barn?4089         Ilhayl! By God, Alayn, thou is a fonne!"                    Bad luck! By God, Alayn, thou art a fool!"4090         Thise sely clerkes han ful faste yronne

                    Toward the fen, both Aleyn and also John.4092         And whan the millere saugh that they were gon,                    And when the miller saw that they were gone,4093         He half a busshel of hir flour hath take,                    He half a bushel of their flour has taken,4094         And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake.                    And ordered his wife to go knead it in a cake.4095         He seyde, "I trowe the clerkes were aferd.                    He said, "I suppose the clerks were leery (of what I might do).4096         Yet kan a millere make a clerkes berd,                    Yet can a miller make a clerk's beard (trick a clerk),4097         For al his art; now lat hem goon hir weye!                    Despite all his learning; now let them go their way!4098         Lo, wher he gooth! Ye, lat the children pleye.                    Lo, there he goes! Yes, let the children play.4099         They gete hym nat so lightly, by my croun."                    They will not catch him easily, by my crown."4100         Thise sely clerkes rennen up and doun                    These hapless clerks run up and down4101         With "Keep! Keep! Stand! Stand! Jossa, warderere,                    With "Stop! Stop! Stand! Stand! Down there, watch out behind,4102         Ga whistle thou, and I shal kepe hym heere!"                    Go whistle thou, and I shall catch him here!"4103         But shortly, til that it was verray nyght,                    But shortly, until that it was truly night,4104         They koude nat, though they dide al hir myght,                    They could not, though they did al their might,4105         Hir capul cacche, he ran alwey so faste,                    Catch their horse, he ran always so fast,4106         Til in a dych they caughte hym atte laste.                    Until in a ditch they caught him at the last.4107         Wery and weet, as beest is in the reyn,                    Weary and wet, as a beast is in the rain,4108         Comth sely John, and with him comth Aleyn.                    Comes hapless John, and with him comes Aleyn.4109         "Allas," quod John, "the day that I was born!                    "Alas," said John, "the day that I was born!4110         Now are we dryve til hethyng and til scorn.                    Now are we driven to contempt and to scorn.4111         Oure corn is stoln; men wil us fooles calle,                    Our grain is stolen; men will call us fools,4112         Bathe the wardeyn and oure felawes alle,                    Both the warden and all our fellows,

4135         Loo, heere oure silver, redy for to spende."                    Lo, here is our silver, ready to spend."

                    These hapless clerks have run very fast 

4113         And namely the millere, weylaway!"                    And namely the miller, wellaway!"

4114         Thus pleyneth John as he gooth by the way                    Thus laments John as he goes by the way4115         Toward the mille, and Bayard in his hond.                    Toward the mill, and the horse Bayard in his hand.4116         The millere sittynge by the fyr he fond,                    The miller sitting by the fire he found,4117         For it was nyght, and forther myghte they noght;                    For it was night, and further they could not go;4118         But for the love of God they hym bisoght                    But for the love of God they ask him 4119         Of herberwe and of ese, as for hir peny.                    For lodging and for refreshment, for their cash.

4120         The millere seyde agayn, "If ther be eny,                    The miller said in reply, "If there be any,4121         Swich as it is, yet shal ye have youre part.                    Such as it is, yet shall you have your share.4122         Myn hous is streit, but ye han lerned art;                    My house is small, but you have learned the art of logic;4123         Ye konne by argumentes make a place                    You know how by logical arguments to make a place4124         A myle brood of twenty foot of space.                    A mile broad out of twenty feet of space.4125         Lat se now if this place may suffise,                    Let's see now if this place may suffice,4126         Or make it rowm with speche, as is youre gise."                    Or make it large by speech, as is your custom."4127         "Now, Symond," seyde John, "by Seint Cutberd,                    "Now, Symond," said John, "by Saint Cuthbert,4128         Ay is thou myrie, and this is faire answerd.                    Thou art always joking, and this is nicely answered.4129         I have herd seyd, `Man sal taa of twa thynges:                    I have heard said, `Man shall take one of two things:4130         Slyk as he fyndes, or taa slyk as he brynges.'                    Such as he finds, or take such as he brings.'4131         But specially I pray thee, hooste deere,                    But specially I pray thee, host dear,4132         Get us som mete and drynke, and make us cheere,                    Get us some food and drink, and make us good cheer,4133         And we wil payen trewely atte fulle.                    And we will pay truly at the full.

4136         This millere into toun his doghter sende                    This miller into town his daughter sent4137         For ale and breed, and rosted hem a goos,                    For ale and bread, and roasted them a goose,4138         And boond hire hors, it sholde namoore go loos,                    And tied up their horse, it should no more go loose,4139         And in his owene chambre hem made a bed,                    And in his own bedroom made them a bed,4140         With sheetes and with chalons faire yspred                    With sheets and with blankets nicely spread4141         Noght from his owene bed ten foot or twelve.                    Not ten feet or twelve from his own bed.4142         His doghter hadde a bed, al by hirselve,                    His daughter had a bed, all by herself,4143         Right in the same chambre by and by.                    Right in the same chamber side by side.4144         It myghte be no bet, and cause why?                    It could be no better, and (do you know) the cause why?4145         Ther was no roumer herberwe in the place.                    There was no larger lodging in the place.4146         They soupen and they speke, hem to solace,                    They sup and they converse, to entertain themselves,4147         And drynken evere strong ale atte beste.                    And drink ever strong ale of the best quality.4148         Aboute mydnyght wente they to reste.                    About midnight they went to bed.4149         Wel hath this millere vernysshed his heed;                    Well has this miller varnished his head (drank heavily);4150         Ful pale he was for dronken, and nat reed.                    Full pale he was for drunkenness, and not red.4151         He yexeth, and he speketh thurgh the nose                    He belches, and he speaks through the nose4152         As he were on the quakke, or on the pose.                    As if he had hoarseness, or had a cold.4153         To bedde he goth, and with hym goth his wyf.                    To bed he goes, and with him goes his wife.4154         As any jay she light was and jolyf,                    She was as cheerful and jolly as any jay,4155         So was hir joly whistle wel ywet.                    So was her jolly whistle well wetted.4156         The cradel at hir beddes feet is set,                    The cradle at her bed's feet is set,4157         To rokken, and to yeve the child to sowke.                    To rock, and to give the child to suck.4158         And whan that dronken al was in the crowke,                    And when all that was in the crock was drunk,4159         To bedde wente the doghter right anon;                    To bed went the daughter right away;

                    For my loss, I will have satisfaction.4187         By Goddes sale, it sal neen other bee!"

4134         With empty hand men may na haukes tulle;                    With empty hand men may lure no hawks;

4160         To bedde goth Aleyn and also John;                    To bed goes Aleyn and also John;4161         Ther nas na moore -- hem nedede no dwale.                    There was no more -- they needed no sleeping potion.4162         This millere hath so wisely bibbed ale                    This miller has imbibed so much ale4163         That as an hors he fnorteth in his sleep,                    That he snorts like a horse in his sleep,4164         Ne of his tayl bihynde he took no keep.                    And of his tail behind he took no heed.4165         His wyf bar hym a burdon, a ful strong;                    His wife bore him a bass accompaniment, very loud;4166         Men myghte hir rowtyng heere two furlong;                    One could hear their snoring two furlongs away;4167         The wenche rowteth eek, par compaignye.                    The wench snores also, to keep them company.4168         Aleyn the clerk, that herde this melodye,                    Aleyn the clerk, who heard this melody,4169         He poked John, and seyde, "Slepestow?                    He poked John, and said, "Sleepest thou?4170         Herdestow evere slyk a sang er now?                    Heardest thou ever such a song before now?4171         Lo, swilk a complyn is ymel hem alle;                    Lo, such a compline (evening service) is made by them all;4172         A wilde fyr upon thair bodyes falle!                    May a wild fire upon their bodies fall!4173         Wha herkned evere slyk a ferly thyng?                    Who heard ever such an amazing thing?4174         Ye, they sal have the flour of il endyng.                    Yes, they shall have the best (i.e., the worst) of a bad ending.4175         This lange nyght ther tydes me na reste;                    This long night there comes to me no sleep;4176         But yet, na fors, al sal be for the beste.                    But yet, no matter, all shall be for the best.4177         For, John," seyde he, "als evere moot I thryve,                    For, John," said he, "as ever I may thrive,4178         If that I may, yon wenche wil I swyve.                    If I can, yon wench will I screw.4179         Som esement has lawe yshapen us,                    Some redress the law has shaped for us,4180         For, John, ther is a lawe that says thus:                    For, John, there is a law that says thus:4181         That gif a man in a point be agreved,                    That if a man in one point is injured,4182         That in another he sal be releved.                    That in another he shall be relieved.4183         Oure corn is stoln, sothly, it is na nay,                    Our grain is stolen, truly, it can not be denied,4184         And we han had an il fit al this day;                    And we have had a hard time all this day;4185         And syn I sal have neen amendement                    And since I shall have no recompense

                    By God's soul, it shall be no other way!"

4188         This John answerde, "Alayn, avyse thee!                    This John answered, "Alayn, be careful!4189         The millere is a perilous man," he seyde,                    The miller is a perilous man," he said,4190         "And gif that he out of his sleep abreyde,                    "And if he out of his sleep suddenly awoke,4191         He myghte doon us bathe a vileynye."                    He might do injury to us both."

4192         Aleyn answerde, "I counte hym nat a flye."                    Aleyn answered, "I reckon him not worth a fly."4193         And up he rist, and by the wenche he crepte.                    And up he rises, and by the wench he crept.4194         This wenche lay uprighte and faste slepte,                    This wench lay on her back and fast slept,4195         Til he so ny was, er she myghte espie,                    Until he was so near, before she could see him,4196         That it had been to late for to crie,                    It was too late to cry out,4197         And shortly for to seyn, they were aton.                    And shortly to speak, they were together. 4198         Now pley, Aleyn, for I wol speke of John.                    Now play, Aleyn, for I will speak of John.4199         This John lith stille a furlong wey or two,                    This John lies still five minutes or so,4200         And to hymself he maketh routhe and wo.                    And to himself he laments and feels sorry.4201         "Allas!" quod he, "this is a wikked jape;                    "Alas!" said he, "this is a wicked trick;4202         Now may I seyn that I is but an ape.                    Now may I say that I am nothing but a fool.4203         Yet has my felawe somwhat for his harm;                    Yet has my fellow something for his harm;4204         He has the milleris doghter in his arm.                    He has the miller's daughter in his arm.4205         He auntred hym, and has his nedes sped,                    He took a risk, and has accomplished his purpose,4206         And I lye as a draf-sak in my bed;                    And I lie like a sack of rubbish in my bed;4207         And when this jape is tald another day,                    And when this trick is told another day,4208         I sal been halde a daf, a cokenay!                    I shall be considered a fool, a weakling!4209         I wil arise and auntre it, by my fayth!                    I will arise and chance it, by my faith!4210         `Unhardy is unseely,' thus men sayth."                    `The timid one is unlucky,' thus people say."4211         And up he roos, and softely he wente                    And up he rose, and quietly he went4212         Unto the cradel, and in his hand it hente,                    To the cradle, and in his hand seized it,

                    And said, "Farewell, Malyne, sweet creature!4237         The day is come; I may no lenger byde;

4186         Agayn my los, I will have esement.

4213         And baar it softe unto his beddes feet.                    And carried it quietly to the foot of his bed.4214         Soone after this the wyf hir rowtyng leet,                    Soon after this the wife stopped her snoring,4215         And gan awake, and wente hire out to pisse,                    And awoke, and went out to piss,4216         And cam agayn, and gan hir cradel mysse,                    And came back, and began to miss her cradle,4217         And groped heer and ther, but she foond noon.                    And groped here and there, but she found none.4218         "Allas!" quod she, "I hadde almoost mysgoon;                    "Alas!" said she, "I had almost gone wrong;4219         I hadde almoost goon to the clerkes bed.                    I had almost gone to the clerks' bed.4220         Ey, benedicite! Thanne hadde I foule ysped!"                    Ay, bless me! Then I would have made a mess of it!"4221         And forth she gooth til she the cradel fond.                    And forth she goes until she found the cradle.4222         She gropeth alwey forther with hir hond,                    She gropes always further with her hand,4223         And foond the bed, and thoghte noght but good,                    And found the bed, and thought all was well,4224         By cause that the cradel by it stood,                    Because the cradle by it stood,4225         And nyste wher she was, for it was derk;                    And did not know where she was, for it was dark;4226         But faire and wel she creep in to the clerk,                    But gently she crept in to the clerk,4227         And lith ful stille, and wolde han caught a sleep.                    And lies full still, and would have gone to sleep.4228         Withinne a while this John the clerk up leep,                    Within a moment this John the clerk leaped up,4229         And on this goode wyf he leith on soore.                    And on this good wife he lays on vigorously.4230         So myrie a fit ne hadde she nat ful yoore;                    She had not had so merry an experience for a long time;4231         He priketh harde and depe as he were mad.                    He stabs hard and deep as if he were mad.4232         This joly lyf han thise two clerkes lad                    This jolly life have these two clerks led4233         Til that the thridde cok bigan to synge.                    Until the third cock began to sing (an hour before dawn).4234         Aleyn wax wery in the dawenynge,                    Aleyn grew weary at the time of dawn,4235         For he had swonken al the longe nyght,                    For he had labored all the long night,4236         And seyde, "Fare weel, Malyne, sweete

                    The day is come; I may no longer remain here;4238         But everemo, wher so I go or ryde,                    But evermore, wherever I walk or ride,4239         I is thyn awen clerk, swa have I seel!"                    I am thine own clerk, as I may prosper!"

4240         "Now, deere lemman," quod she, "go, far weel!                    "Now, dear sweetheart," said she, "go, farewell!4241         But er thow go, o thyng I wol thee telle:                    But before thou go, one thing I will tell thee:4242         Whan that thou wendest homward by the melle,                    When thou go homeward by the mill,4243         Right at the entree of the dore bihynde                    Right at the entry behind the door 4244         Thou shalt a cake of half a busshel fynde                    Thou shalt find a cake of half a bushel4245         That was ymaked of thyn owene mele,                    That was made of thine own meal,4246         Which that I heelp my sire for to stele.                    Which I helped my father to steal.4247         And, goode lemman, God thee save and kepe!"                    And, good sweetheart, God save and keep thee!"4248         And with that word almoost she gan to wepe.                    And with that word she almost began to weep.4249         Aleyn up rist, and thoughte, "Er that it dawe,                    Aleyn up rises, and thought, "Before it dawns,4250         I wol go crepen in by my felawe,"                    I will go creep in by my fellow,"4251         And fond the cradel with his hand anon.                    And found the cradle with his hand right away.4252         "By God," thoughte he, "al wrang I have mysgon.                    "By God," thought he, "I have gone all wrong.4253         Myn heed is toty of my swynk to-nyght,                    My head is dizzy from my work to-night,4254         That makes me that I ga nat aright.                    That makes me go not right.4255         I woot wel by the cradel I have mysgo;                    I know well by the cradle I have gone wrong;4256         Heere lith the millere and his wyf also."                    Here lies the miller and his wife also."4257         And forth he goth, a twenty devel way,                    And forth he goes, in the name of twenty devils,4258         Unto the bed ther as the millere lay.                    Unto the bed where the miller lay.4259         He wende have cropen by his felawe John,              He expected to have crept in by his fellow John,

4285         And with the fal out of hir sleep she breyde.                    And with the fall out of her sleep she started

wight!

4260         And by the millere in he creep anon,                    And in by the miller he crept right then,4261         And caughte hym by the nekke, and softe he spak.                    And caught him by the neck, and quietly he spoke.4262         He seyde, "Thou John, thou swynes-heed, awak,                    He said, "Thou John, thou pig's-head, awake,4263         For Cristes saule, and heer a noble game.                    For Christ's soul, and hear a real joke.4264         For by that lord that called is Seint Jame,                    For by that lord that is called Saint James,4265         As I have thries in this shorte nyght                    I have three times in this short night4266         Swyved the milleres doghter bolt upright,                    Screwed the miller's daughter flat on her back,4267         Whil thow hast, as a coward, been agast."                    While thou hast, like a coward, been terrified."

4268         "Ye, false harlot," quod the millere, "hast?                    "Yes, false scoundrel," said the miller, "hast (thou done so)?4269         A, false traitour! False clerk!" quod he,                    Ah, false traitor! False clerk!" said he,4270         "Thow shalt be deed, by Goddes dignitee!                    "Thou shalt be dead, by God's worthiness!4271         Who dorste be so boold to disparage                    Who dared be so bold to degrade4272         My doghter, that is come of swich lynage?"                    My daughter, who is come from such noble lineage?"4273         And by the throte-bolle he caughte Alayn,                    And by the Adam's apple he caught Alayn,4274         And he hente hym despitously agayn,                    And he seized him angrily in turn,4275         And on the nose he smoot hym with his fest.                    And on the nose he smote him with his fist.4276         Doun ran the blody streem upon his brest;                    Down ran the bloody stream upon his breast;4277         And in the floor, with nose and mouth tobroke,                    And on the floor, with nose and mouth badly broken,4278         They walwe as doon two pigges in a poke;                    They wallow as do two pigs in a bag;4279         And up they goon, and doun agayn anon,                    And up they go, and down again straightway,4280         Til that the millere sporned at a stoon,                    Until the miller stumbled on a stone,4281         And doun he fil bakward upon his wyf,                    And down he fell backward upon his wife,4282         That wiste no thyng of this nyce stryf;                    Who knew nothing of this foolish strife;4283         For she was falle aslepe a lite wight                    For she was fallen asleep a little bit4284         With John the clerk, that waked hadde al

up.4286         "Help! hooly croys of Bromeholm," she seyde,                    "Help! holy cross of Bromeholm," she said,4287         "In manus tuas! Lord, to thee I calle!                    "In your hands! Lord, to Thee I call!4288         Awak, Symond! The feend is on me falle.                    Awake, Symond! The fiend has fallen on me.4289         Myn herte is broken; help! I nam but deed!                    My heart is broken; help! I am as good as dead!4290         Ther lyth oon upon my wombe and on myn heed.                    There lies one upon my belly and one on my head.4291         Help, Symkyn, for the false clerkes fighte!"                    Help, Symkyn, for the false clerks fight!"4292         This John stirte up as faste as ever he myghte,                    This John started up as fast as ever he could,4293         And graspeth by the walles to and fro,                    And grasps by the walls to and fro,4294         To fynde a staf; and she stirte up also,                    To find a staff; and she leaped up also,4295         And knew the estres bet than dide this John,                    And knew the interior of the house better than did this John,4296         And by the wal a staf she foond anon,                    And by the wall a staff she found right away,4297         And saugh a litel shymeryng of a light,                    And saw a little glimmering of a light,4298         For at an hole in shoon the moone bright,                    For at a hole in shone the moon bright,4299         And by that light she saugh hem bothe two,                    And by that light she saw both the two of them,4300         But sikerly she nyste who was who,                    But surely she did not know who was who,4301         But as she saugh a whit thyng in hir ye.                    But she saw a white thing in her eye.4302         And whan she gan this white thyng espye,                    And when she did espy this white thing,4303         She wende the clerk hadde wered a volupeer,                    She thought the clerk had worn a night cap,4304         And with the staf she drow ay neer and neer,                    And with the staff she drew ever nearer and nearer,4305         And wende han hit this Aleyn at the fulle,                    And intended to have hit this Aleyn squarely,4306         And smoot the millere on the pyled skulle,                    And smote the miller on the bald skull,4307         That doun he gooth, and cride, "Harrow! I dye!"                    So that down he goes, and cried, "Help! I die!"

nyght,                    With John the clerk, who had been awake all night,

4308         Thise clerkes beete hym weel and lete hym lye,                    These clerks beat him well and let him lie,4309         And greythen hem, and tooke hir hors anon,                    And dress themselves, and took their horse straightway,4310         And eek hire mele, and on hir wey they gon.                    And also their meal, and on their way they go.4311         And at the mille yet they tooke hir cake                    And at the mill yet they took their cake4312         Of half a busshel flour, ful wel ybake.                    Of half a bushel flour, very well baked.

4313         Thus is the proude millere wel ybete,                    Thus is the proud miller well beaten,4314         And hath ylost the gryndynge of the whete,                    And has lost the charge for grinding of the wheat,4315         And payed for the soper everideel                    And paid for the supper every bit4316         Of Aleyn and of John, that bette hym weel.                    Of Aleyn and of John, who beat him well.4317         His wyf is swyved, and his doghter als.                    His wife is screwed, and his daughter also.4318         Lo, swich it is a millere to be fals!                    Lo, this is how it is when a miller is false!4319         And therfore this proverbe is seyd ful sooth,                    And therefore this proverb is said very truly,4320         "Hym thar nat wene wel that yvele dooth."                    "One who does evil should not expect good."4321         A gylour shal hymself bigyled be.                    A trickster shall himself be tricked.4322         And God, that sitteth heighe in magestee,                    And God, that sits high in majesty,4323         Save al this compaignye, grete and smale!                    Save al this company, high ranking and low (every one)!4324         Thus have I quyt the Millere in my tale.                    Thus have I repaid the Miller in my tale.

 

Heere is ended the Reves Tale

 

The Miller's Tale Heere bigynneth the Millere his tale.

Here begins The Miller's Tale.

3187         Whilom ther was dwellynge at Oxenford                    There was once dwelling at Oxford3188         A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord,                    A rich churl, who took in boarders,3189         And of his craft he was a carpenter.                    And of his craft he was a carpenter.3190         With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler,                    With him there was dwelling a poor scholar,3191         Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasye                    Who had learned the arts curriculum, but all his desire3192         Was turned for to lerne astrologye,                    Was turned to learning astrology,3193         And koude a certeyn of conclusiouns,                    And he knew a certain (number of) of astronomical operations,3194         To demen by interrogaciouns,                    To determine by scientific calculations,3195         If that men asked hym, in certein houres                    If men asked him, in specific (astronomical) hours3196         Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures,                    When men should have drought or else showers,3197         Or if men asked hym what sholde bifalle                    Or if people asked him what should happen3198         Of every thyng; I may nat rekene hem alle.                    Concerning every thing; I can not reckon them all.3199         This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas.                    This clerk was called clever Nicholas.3200         Of deerne love he koude and of solas;                    Of secret love he knew and of its satisfaction;3201         And therto he was sleigh and ful privee,                    And moreover he was sly and very discreet,3202         And lyk a mayden meke for to see.                    And like a maiden meek in appearance.3203         A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye                    A room had he in that hostelry3204         Allone, withouten any compaignye,                    Alone, without any company,3205         Ful fetisly ydight with herbes swoote;                    Very elegantly strewn with sweet-smelling herbs;3206         And he hymself as sweete as is the roote                    And he himself as sweet as is the root3207         Of lycorys or any cetewale.                    Of licorice or any zedoary (a ginger-like herb).3208         His Almageste, and bookes grete and

3209         His astrelabie, longynge for his art,                    His astrolabe, belonging to his art (of astronomy),3210         His augrym stones layen faire apart,                    His counting stones (for his abacus) lie neatly apart,3211         On shelves couched at his beddes heed;                    Arranged on shelves at his bed's head;3212         His presse ycovered with a faldyng reed;                    His linen press covered with a red woolen cloth;3213         And al above ther lay a gay sautrie,                    And all above there lay a fine psaltery,3214         On which he made a-nyghtes melodie                    On which at night he made melody3215         So swetely that all the chambre rong;                    So sweetly that all the room rang;3216         And Angelus ad virginem he song;                    And "The Angel to the Virgin" he sang;3217         And after that he song the Kynges Noote.                    And after that he sang the King's Tune.3218         Ful often blessed was his myrie throte.                    Very often his merry throat was blessed.3219         And thus this sweete clerk his tyme spente                    And thus this sweet clerk spent his time 3220         After his freendes fyndyng and his rente.                    Living on his friends' support and his (own) income.3221         This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf,                    This carpenter had recently wedded a wife,3222         Which that he lovede moore than his lyf;                    Whom he loved more than his life;3223         Of eighteteene yeer she was of age.                    She was eighteen years of age.3224         Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage,     Jealous he was, and held her narrowly in confinement,3225         For she was wylde and yong, and he was old                    For she was wild and young, and he was old3226         And demed hymself been lik a cokewold.                    And believed himself likely to be a cuckold.3227         He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude,                    He knew not Cato, for his wit was rude,3228         That bad man sholde wedde his simylitude.                    Who advised that man should wed his equal.3229         Men sholde wedden after hire estaat,                    Men should wed according to their status in life,3230         For youthe and elde is often at debaat.                    For youth and old age are often in conflict.3231         But sith that he was fallen in the snare,                    But since he was fallen in the snare,3232         He moste endure, as oother folk, his care.                    He must endure, like other folk, his troubles.3233         Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal

smale,                    His Almagest, and books large and small,

3235         A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk,                    A belt she wore, with decorative strips all of silk,3236         A barmclooth as whit as morne milk                    An apron as white as morning milk3237         Upon hir lendes, ful of many a goore.                    Upon her loins, full of many a flounce.3238         Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore                    White was her smock, and embroidered all in front3239         And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute,                    And also behind, around her collar,3240         Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute.                    With coal-black silk, within and also without.3241         The tapes of hir white voluper                    The ribbons of her white cap3242         Were of the same suyte of hir coler;                    Were of the same color as her collar;3243         Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye.                    Her headband broad of silk, and set very high.3244         And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye;                    And surely she had a wanton eye;3245         Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two,                    Her two eyebrows were plucked very thin,3246         And tho were bent and blake as any sloo.                    And those were bent and black as any sloe.3247         She was ful moore blisful on to see                    She was much more blissful to look upon3248         Than is the newe pere-jonette tree,                    Than is the new early-ripe pear tree,3249         And softer than the wolle is of a wether.                    And softer than the wool is of a sheep.3250         And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether,                    And by her girdle hung a purse of leather,3251         Tasseled with silk and perled with latoun.                    Tasseled with silk and ornamented with latten "pearls."3252         In al this world, to seken up and doun,                    In all this world, to seek up and down,3253         There nys no man so wys that koude thenche                    There is no man so wise that he could imagine3254         So gay a popelote or swich a wenche.                    So lovely a little doll or such a wench.3255         Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe                    Much brighter was the shining of her complexion3256         Than in the Tour the noble yforged newe.                    Than the newly minted noble in the Tower.3257         But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne                    But of her song, it was as loud and lively3258         As any swalwe sittynge on a berne.                    As any swallow sitting on a barn.3259         Therto she koude skippe and make game,                    Moreover she could skip and play,3260         As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame.                    Like any kid or calf following its mother.

                    Fair was this young wife, and moreover3234         As any wezele hir body gent and smal.        As any weasel was her body graceful and slender.

3262         Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.                    Or a hoard of apples laid in hay or heather.3263         Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt,                    Skittish she was, as is a spirited colt,3264         Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt.                    Tall as a mast, and straight as an arrow.3265         A brooch she baar upon hir lowe coler,                    A brooch she wore upon her low collar,3266         As brood as is the boos of a bokeler.                    As broad as is the boss of a shield.3267         Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye.                    Her shoes were laced high on her legs.3268         She was a prymerole, a piggesnye,                    She was a primrose, a pig's eye (a flower),3269         For any lord to leggen in his bedde,                    For any lord to lay in his bed,3270         Or yet for any good yeman to wedde.                    Or yet for any good yeoman to wed. 3271         Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas                    Now, sir, and again, sir, it so happened3272         That on a day this hende Nicholas                    That one day this clever Nicholas3273         Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye,                    Happened with this young wife to flirt and play,3274         Whil that hir housbonde was at Oseneye,                    While her husband was at Oseneye,3275         As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte;                    For clerks are very subtle and very clever;3276         And prively he caughte hire by the queynte,                    And intimately he caught her by her crotch,3277         And seyde, "Ywis, but if ich have my wille,                    And said, "Indeed, unless I have my will,3278         For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille."                    For secret love of thee, sweetheart, I die."3279         And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones,                    And held her hard by the thigh,3280         And seyde, "Lemman, love me al atones,                    And said, "Sweetheart, love me immediately3281         Or I wol dyen, also God me save!"                    Or I will die, so save me God!"3282         And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave,                    And she sprang as a colt does when restrained,3283         And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,                    And with her head she twisted fast away,3284         And seyde, "I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey!                    And said, "I will not kiss thee, by my faith!3285         Why, lat be!" quod she. "Lat be, Nicholas,              Why, let me be!" said she. "Let me be, Nicholas,3286         Or I wol crie `out, harrow' and `allas'!                    Or I will cry `out, help' and `alas'!3287         Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye!"                    Take away your hands, for your courtesy!"3288         This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye,                    This Nicholas began to cry for mercy,3289         And spak so faire, and profred him so faste,

3261         Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth Her mouth was sweet as ale and honey or mead,

3291      And swoor hir ooth, by Seint Thomas of Kent,              And swore her oath, by Saint Thomas of Kent,3292         That she wol been at his comandement,                    That she will be at his commandment,3293         Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.                    When she may well espy her opportunity.3294         "Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie                    "My husband is so full of jealousy3295         That but ye wayte wel and been privee,               That unless you wait patiently and are secretive,3296         I woot right wel I nam but deed," quod she.              I know right well I am as good as dead," said she.3297         "Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas."                    "You must been very secret in this matter."3298     "Nay, therof care thee noght," quod Nicholas.                    "No, care thee not about that," said Nicholas.3299         "A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle,                    "A clerk had badly wasted his time (studying),3300         But if he koude a carpenter bigyle."                    If he could not outwit a carpenter."3301         And thus they been accorded and ysworn                    And thus they are agreed and sworn3302         To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn.                    To wait for a time, as I have told before.3303         Whan Nicholas had doon thus everideel                    When Nicholas had done thus every bit3304         And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel,                    And well patted her about the loins,3305         He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie,                    He kissed her sweetly and takes his psaltery,3306         And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie.                    And plays fast, and makes melody.3307         Thanne fil it thus, that to the paryssh chirche,              Then it thus happened, that to the parish church,3308         Cristes owene werkes for to wirche,                    Christ's own works to do,3309         This goode wyf went on an haliday.                    This good wife went on a holiday.3310         Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day,                    Her forehead shone as bright as any day,3311         So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk.                    It was so washed when she left her work.3312         Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk,                Now was there of that church a parish clerk,3313         The which that was ycleped Absolon.                    Who was called Absolon.3314         Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon,                    Curly was his hair, and as the gold it shone,3315         And strouted as a fanne large and brode;                    And stretched out like a fan large and broad;3316         Ful streight and evene lay his joly shode.             Very straight and even lay his elegant parted hair.3317         His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos.        His complexion was ruddy, his eyes gray as a goose.3318         With Poules wyndow corven on his shoos,                    With St. Paul's window carved on his shoes,3319         In hoses rede he wente fetisly.

               And spoke so fair, and pressed his suit so fast,3290         That she hir love hym graunted atte laste,                    That she granted him her love at the last,3320         Yclad he was ful smal and proprely                    Clad he was very trimly and properly3321         Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget;                    All in a tunic of a light blue;3322         Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set.                    Very fair and thick are the laces set.3323         And therupon he hadde a gay surplys                    And over that he had a gay surplice3324         As whit as is the blosme upon the rys.                    As white as is the blossom upon the branch.3325         A myrie child he was, so God me save.                    A merry lad he was, so save me God.3326   Wel koude he laten blood, and clippe and shave,            Well could he draw blood, and cut hair and shave,3327         And maken a chartre of lond or acquitaunce.              And make a charter of land or a legal release. 3328     In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce            In twenty different ways could he trip and dance3329         After the scole of Oxenforde tho,                    After the school of Oxford as it was then,3330         And with his legges casten to and fro,                    And with his legs kick to and fro,3331         And pleyen songes on a smal rubible;                    And play songs on a small fiddle,3332         Therto he song som tyme a loud quynyble;             To which he some times sang a loud high treble;3333         And as wel koude he pleye on a giterne.                    And he could play as well on a guitar.3334         In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne            In all the town there was no brew house nor tavern3335         That he ne visited with his solas,                    That he did not visit with his entertainment,3336         Ther any gaylard tappestere was.                    Where any merry barmaid was.3337         But sooth to seyn, he was somdeel squaymous            But to say the truth, he was somewhat squeamish3338         Of fartyng, and of speche daungerous.                    About farting, and fastidious in his speech.3339         This Absolon, that jolif was and gay,                    This Absolon, who was elegant and gay,3340         Gooth with a sencer on the haliday,                    Goes with a censer on the holiday,3341         Sensynge the wyves of the parisshe faste;                    Censing the wives of the parish eagerly;3342         And many a lovely look on hem he caste,                    And many a lovely look he cast on them,3343         And namely on this carpenteris wyf.                    And especially on this carpenter's wife.3344         To looke on hire hym thoughte a myrie lyf,                    To look on her he thought a merry life,3345         She was so propre and sweete and likerous.          She was so attractive and sweet and flirtatious.3346         I dar wel seyn, if she hadde been a mous,                    I dare well say, if she had been a mouse,3347         And he a cat, he wolde hire hente anon.           And he a cat, he would have grabbed her at once.

                    In red hose he went elegantly.

3349         Hath in his herte swich a love-longynge                    Has in his heart such a love-longing3350         That of no wyf took he noon offrynge;                    That of no wife took he any offering;3351         For curteisie, he seyde, he wolde noon.                    For courtesy, he said, he would have none.3352         The moone, whan it was nyght, ful brighte shoon,                    The moon, when it was night, very brightly shone,3353         And Absolon his gyterne hath ytake;                    And Absolon his guitar has taken;3354         For paramours he thoghte for to wake.                    For the sake of love he intended to stay awake.3355         And forth he gooth, jolif and amorous,                    And forth he goes, elegant and amorous,3356         Til he cam to the carpenteres hous                    Until he came to the carpenter's house3357         A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe,                    A little after cocks had crowed,3358         And dressed hym up by a shot-wyndowe                    And took his place up by a casement window3359         That was upon the carpenteris wal.                    That was upon the carpenter's wall.3360         He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal,                    He sings in his voice gentle and high,3361         "Now, deere lady, if thy wille be,                    "Now, dear lady, if it be thy will,3362         I praye yow that ye wole rewe on me,"                    I pray yow that you will have pity on me,"3363         Ful wel acordaunt to his gyternynge.                    Very well in harmony with his guitar-playing.3364         This carpenter awook, and herde him synge,                    This carpenter awoke, and heard him sing,3365         And spak unto his wyf, and seyde anon,                    And spoke unto his wife, and said at once,3366         "What! Alison! Herestow nat Absolon,                    "What! Alison! Hearest thou not Absolon,3367         That chaunteth thus under oure boures wal?"                    That chants thus next to our bedroom's wall?"3368         And she answerde hir housbonde therwithal,                    And she answered her husband immediately,3369         "Yis, God woot, John, I heere it every deel."                    "Yes indeed, God knows, John, I hear it every bit."3370         This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than weel?                    This goes on; what more would you have?3371         Fro day to day this joly Absolon                    From day to day this elegant Absolon3372         So woweth hire that hym is wo bigon.                    So woos her that he is in a sorry state.3373         He waketh al the nyght and al the day;                    He stays awake all the night and all the day;3374         He kembeth his lokkes brode, and made hym gay; He combs his flowing locks, and dressed

3348         This parissh clerk, this joly Absolon,                    This parish clerk, this elegant Absolon,3375         He woweth hire by meenes and brocage,                    He woos her by go-betweens and agents,3376         And swoor he wolde been hir owene page;                    And swore he would be her own servant;3377         He syngeth, brokkynge as a nyghtyngale;                    He sings, trilling like a nightingale;3378         He sente hire pyment, meeth, and spiced ale,                    He sent her sweetened wine, mead, and spiced ale,3379         And wafres, pipyng hoot out of the gleede;                    And wafers, piping hot out of the fire;3380         And, for she was of town, he profred meede;                    And, because she was a townie, he offered money;3381         For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse,                    For some folk will be won for riches,3382         And somme for strokes, and somme for gentillesse.                    And some by force, and some for noble character.3383         Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye,                    Sometimes, to show his agility and skill,3384         He pleyeth Herodes upon a scaffold hye.                    He plays Herod upon a high stage.3385         But what availleth hym as in this cas?                    But what good does it do him in this case?3386         She loveth so this hende Nicholas                    She so loves this clever Nicholas3387         That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn;                    That Absolon may go whistle;3388         He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn.                    He had for his labor nothing but scorn.3389         And thus she maketh Absolon hire ape,                    And thus she makes Absolon her fool,3390         And al his ernest turneth til a jape.                    And turns all his earnestness into a joke.3391         Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye,                    Very true is this proverb, it is no lie,3392         Men seyn right thus: "Alwey the nye slye                    Men say right thus: "Always the nearby sly one3393         Maketh the ferre leeve to be looth."                    Makes the distant loved one to be disliked."3394         For though that Absolon be wood or wrooth,                    For though Absolon be crazed or angry,3395         By cause that he fer was from hire sight,                    Because he was far from her sight,3396         This nye Nicholas stood in his light.                    This nearby Nicholas cast him in the shadow.3397         Now ber thee wel, thou hende Nicholas,                    Now bear thyself well, thou clever Nicholas,3398         For Absolon may waille and synge "allas."                    For Absolon may wail and sing "alas."3399         And so bifel it on a Saterday,                    And so it happened on a Saturday,3400         This carpenter was goon til Osenay;                    This carpenter was gone to Osenay;

himself elegantly;

3402         Acorded been to this conclusioun,                    Are agreed on this plan,3403         That Nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle                    That Nicholas shall devise a trick3404         This sely jalous housbonde to bigyle;                    To beguile this hapless jealous husband;3405         And if so be the game wente aright,                    And if it so be the game went right,3406         She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght,                    She should sleep in his arms all night,3407         For this was his desir and hire also.                    For this was his desire and hers also.3408         And right anon, withouten wordes mo,                    And right away, without more words,3409         This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie,                    This Nicholas no longer would tarry,3410         But dooth ful softe unto his chambre carie                    But has carried very quietly unto his chamber3411         Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye,                    Both food and drink for a day or two,3412         And to hire housbonde bad hire for to seye,                    And told her to say to her husband,3413         If that he axed after Nicholas,                    If he asked about Nicholas,3414         She sholde seye she nyste where he was;                    She should say she knew not where he was;3415         Of al that day she saugh hym nat with ye;                    Of all that day she saw him not with eye;3416         She trowed that he was in maladye,                    She believed that he was ill,3417         For, for no cry hir mayde koude hym calle,                    Because, for no shout could her maid call him,3418     He nolde answere for thyng that myghte falle.           He would not answer for anything that might befall.3419         This passeth forth al thilke Saterday,                    This goes on all that same Saturday,3420         That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay,                    That Nicholas still in his chamber lay,3421         And eet and sleep, or dide what hym leste,                    And ate and slept, or did what he pleased,3422         Til Sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste.                    Until Sunday, when the sun goes to rest.3423         This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle                    This hapless carpenter has great marvel3424       Of Nicholas, or what thyng myghte hym eyle,                    About Nicholas, or what thing might ail him,3425         And seyde, "I am adrad, by Seint Thomas,                    And said, "I am afraid, by Saint Thomas,3426         It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas.                    Things are not right with Nicholas.3427         God shilde that he deyde sodeynly!                    God forbid that he should suddenly die!3428         This world is now ful tikel, sikerly.                    This world is now very ticklish, surely.3429         I saugh today a cors yborn to chirche                    I saw today a corpse carried to church3430   That now, on Monday last, I saugh hym wirche.                    That just now, on last Monday, I saw him

3401         And hende Nicholas and Alisoun                    And clever Nicholas and Alisoun

3431         "Go up," quod he unto his knave anoon,                    "Go up," he said unto his servant at once,3432         "Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon.                    "Call at his door, or knock with a stone.3433         Looke how it is, and tel me boldely."                    Look how it is, and tell me quickly."3434         This knave gooth hym up ful sturdily,                    This servant goes up very resolutely,3435         And at the chambre dore whil that he stood,                    And at the chamber door while he stood,3436         He cride and knokked as that he were wood,                    He cried and knocked as if he were crazy,3437         "What, how! What do ye, maister Nicholay?                    "What, hey! What do you, master Nicholay?3438         How may ye slepen al the longe day?"                    How can you sleep all the long day?"3439         But al for noght; he herde nat a word.                    But all for naught; he heard not a word.3440         An hole he foond, ful lowe upon a bord,                    He found a hole, very low upon a board,3441         Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe,                    Where the cat was accustomed to creep in,3442         And at that hole he looked in ful depe,                    And through that hole he looked in very carefully,3443         And at the laste he hadde of hym a sight.                    And at the last he had a sight of him.3444         This Nicholas sat evere capyng upright,                    This Nicholas sat ever gaping upward,3445         As he had kiked on the newe moone.                    As if he were gazing on the new moon.3446         Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister soone                    Down he goes, and told his master immediately3447         In what array he saugh this ilke man.                    In what condition he saw this same man.3448         This carpenter to blessen hym bigan,                    This carpenter began to bless himself,3449         And seyde, "Help us, Seinte Frydeswyde!                    And said, "Help us, Saint Frideswide!3450         A man woot litel what hym shal bityde.                    A man knows little what shall happen to him.3451         This man is falle, with his astromye,                    This man is fallen, because of his astronomy,3452         In some woodnesse or in som agonye.                    In some madness or in some fit.3453         I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be!                    I always thought well how it should be!3454         Men sholde nat knowe of Goddes pryvetee.                    Men should not know of God's secrets.3455         Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man                    Yes, blessed be always an unlearned man3456         That noght but oonly his bileve kan!                    Who knows nothing but only his belief!3457         So ferde another clerk with astromye;                    So fared another clerk with astronomy;3458         He walked in the feeldes for to prye                    He walked in the fields to look 

work.

3460         Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle;                    Until he was fallen in a fertilizer pit;3461         He saugh nat that. But yet, by Seint Thomas,                    He did not see that. But yet, by Saint Thomas,3462         Me reweth soore of hende Nicholas.                    I feel very sorry for clever Nicholas.3463         He shal be rated of his studiyng,                    He shall be scolded for his studying,3464         If that I may, by Jhesus, hevene kyng!                    If that I may, by Jesus, heaven's king!3465         Get me a staf, that I may underspore,                    Get me a staff, that I may pry up from below, 3466         Whil that thou, Robyn, hevest up the dore.                    While thou, Robyn, lift up the door.3467         He shal out of his studiyng, as I gesse."                    He shall (come) out of his studying, as I guess."3468         And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse.                    And to the chamber door he turned his attention.3469         His knave was a strong carl for the nones,                    His servant was a strong fellow for this purpose,3470         And by the haspe he haaf it of atones;                    And by the hasp he heaved it off at once;3471         Into the floor the dore fil anon.                    Onto the floor the door fell straightway.3472         This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon,                    This Nicholas sat ever as still as stone,3473         And evere caped upward into the eir.                    And ever gaped upward into the air.3474         This carpenter wende he were in despeir,                    This carpenter supposed he was in despair,3475         And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily,                    And seized him by the shoulders vigorously,3476         And shook hym harde, and cride spitously,                    And shook him hard, and cried loudly,3477         "What! Nicholay! What, how! What, looke adoun!                    "What! Nicholay! What, how! What, look down!3478         Awak, and thenk on Cristes passioun!                    Awake, and think on Christ's passion!3479         I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes."              I bless thee from elves and from evil creatures."3480         Therwith the nyght-spel seyde he anon-rightes             Therewith the night-charm he said straightway3481         On foure halves of the hous aboute,                    On four corners of the house about,3482         And on the thresshfold of the dore withoute:                    And on the threshold of the door outside:3483         "Jhesu Crist and Seinte Benedight,                    "Jesus Christ and Saint Benedict,3484         Blesse this hous from every wikked wight,                    Bless this house from every wicked creature,3485         For nyghtes verye, the white pater-noster!

3459         Upon the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle,                    Upon the stars, (to find) there what should happen,3486         Where wentestow, Seinte Petres soster?"                    Where went thou, Saint Peter's sister?"3487         And atte laste this hende Nicholas                    And at the last this clever Nicholas3488         Gan for to sik soore, and seyde, "Allas!                    Began to sigh deeply, and said, "Alas!3489         Shal al the world be lost eftsoones now?"                    Shall all the world be lost right now?"3490         This carpenter answerde, "What seystow?                    This carpenter answered, "What sayest thou?3491         What! Thynk on God, as we doon, men that swynke."                    What! Think on God, as we do, men who work."3492         This Nicholas answerde, "Fecche me drynke,                    This Nicholas answered, "Fetch me drink,3493         And after wol I speke in pryvetee                    And after will I speak in private3494         Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee.                    About a certain matter that concerns me and thee.3495         I wol telle it noon oother man, certeyn."                    I will tell it to no other man, certainly."3496         This carpenter goth doun, and comth ageyn,                    This carpenter goes down, and comes again,3497         And broghte of myghty ale a large quart;                    And brought of strong ale a large quart;3498         And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part,                    And when each of them had drunk his part,3499         This Nicholas his dore faste shette,                    This Nicholas shut fast his door,3500         And doun the carpenter by hym he sette.                    And the carpenter sat down by him.3501         He seyde, "John, myn hooste, lief and deere,                    He said, "John, my host, beloved and dear,3502         Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere                    Thou shalt upon thy pledged word swear to me here3503         That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye,                    That to no person thou shalt this counsel reveal,3504         For it is Cristes conseil that I seye,                    For it is Christ's secrets that I say,3505         And if thou telle it man, thou art forlore;         And if thou tell it to anyone, thou art completely lost;3506         For this vengeaunce thou shalt han therfore,                    For this vengeance thou shalt have therefore,3507         That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood."                    That if thou betray me, thou shalt go mad."3508         "Nay, Crist forbede it, for his hooly blood!"                    "Nay, Christ forbid it, for his holy blood!"3509         Quod tho this sely man, "I nam no labbe,          Said then this hapless man, "I am no blabbermouth,3510         Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe.

           For evil spirits of the nights, the white pater-noster!

3512         To child ne wyf, by hym that harwed helle!"                    To child nor wife, by Him that rescued souls from hell!"3513         "Now John," quod Nicholas, "I wol nat lye;                    "Now John," said Nicholas, "I will not lie;3514         I have yfounde in myn astrologye,                    I have found in my astrology,3515         As I have looked in the moone bright,                    As I have looked on the bright moon,3516         That now a Monday next, at quarter nyght,                    That now on Monday next, after midnight,3517         Shal falle a reyn, and that so wilde and wood                    Shall fall a rain, and that so wild and raging3518         That half so greet was nevere Noes flood.                    That Noah's flood was never half so large.3519         This world," he seyde, "in lasse than an hour                    This world," he said, "in less than an hour3520         Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour.                    Shall all be drowned, so hideous is the shower.3521         Thus shal mankynde drenche, and lese hir lyf."                    Thus shall mankind drown, and lose their lives."3522         This carpenter answerde, "Allas, my wyf!                    This carpenter answered, "Alas, my wife!3523         And shal she drenche? Allas, myn Alisoun!"                    And shall she drown? Alas, my Alisoun!"3524         For sorwe of this he fil almoost adoun,                    For sorrow of this he almost fell down,3525         And seyde, "Is ther no remedie in this cas?"                    And said, "Is there no remedy in this case?"3526         "Why, yis, for Gode," quod hende Nicholas,                    "Why, yes indeed, by God," said clever Nicholas,3527         "If thou wolt werken after loore and reed.                    "If thou will act in accordance with learning and (good) advice.3528         Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed;                    Thou mayst not act according to thine own ideas;3529         For thus seith Salomon, that was ful trewe:                    For thus says Salomon, which was very true:3530         `Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat rewe.'                    `Do all in accordance with good advice, and thou shalt not rue (it).'3531         And if thou werken wolt by good conseil,          And if thou will act in accordance with good advice,3532         I undertake, withouten mast and seyl,                    I guarantee, without mast and sail,3533         Yet shal I saven hire and thee and me.                    Yet shall I save her and thee and me.3534         Hastow nat herd hou saved was Noe,                    Hast thou not heard how Noah was saved,3535         Whan that oure Lord hadde warned hym biforn

                    And, though I say it, I do not like to gab.3511         Sey what thou wolt, I shal it nevere telle                    Say what thou will, I shall never tell it 

3536         That al the world with water sholde be lorn?"                    That all the world should be destroyed by water?"3537         "Yis," quod this Carpenter, "ful yoore ago."                    "Yes indeed," said this Carpenter, "very long ago."3538         "Hastou nat herd," quod Nicholas, "also                    "Hast thou not heard," said Nicholas, "also3539         The sorwe of Noe with his felaweshipe,                    The sorrow of Noah with his fellowship,3540         Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe?                    Before he could get his wife onto the ship?3541         Hym hadde be levere, I dar wel undertake,                    He would rather, I dare well guarantee,3542         At thilke tyme, than alle his wetheres blake                    At that time, than have all his black sheep3543         That she hadde had a ship hirself allone.                    That she had had a ship for herself alone.3544         And therfore, woostou what is best to doone?                    And therefore, knowest thou what is best to do?3545         This asketh haste, and of an hastif thyng                    This needs haste, and of a hasty thing3546         Men may nat preche or maken tariyng.                    Men may not preach nor make tarrying.3547         "Anon go gete us faste into this in                    "Right now go bring us quickly into this dwelling3548         A knedyng trogh, or ellis a kymelyn,                    A kneading trough, or else a large vat,3549         For ech of us, but looke that they be large,                    For each of us, but see that they be large,3550         In which we mowe swymme as in a barge,                    In which we may float as in a barge,3551         And han therinne vitaille suffisant                    And have therein sufficient victuals3552         But for a day -- fy on the remenant!                    But for a day -- fie on the remnant!3553         The water shal aslake and goon away                    The water shall recede and go away3554         Aboute pryme upon the nexte day.                    About nine a.m. on the next day.3555         But Robyn may nat wite of this, thy knave,                    But Robin, thy knave, may not know of this, 3556         Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat save;                    And also thy maid Gille I can not save;3557         Axe nat why, for though thou aske me,                    Ask not why, for though thou ask me,3558         I wol nat tellen Goddes pryvetee.                    I will not tell God's secrets.3559         Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde,                    It suffices thee, unless thy wits go mad,3560         To han as greet a grace as Noe hadde.                    To have as great a grace as Noah had.3561         Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute.                    Thy wife shall I well save, beyond doubt.

                    When our Lord had warned him before

3563         "But whan thou hast, for hire and thee and me,                    "But when thou hast, for her and thee and me,3564         Ygeten us thise knedyng tubbes thre,                    Got us these three kneading tubs,3565    Thanne shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye,                    Then shalt thou hang them in the roof very high,3566         That no man of oure purveiaunce espye.                    In a way that no man may espy our preparations.3567     And whan thou thus hast doon as I have seyd,                    And when thou thus hast done as I have said,3568         And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd,                    And hast laid our victuals carefully in them,3569         And eek an ax to smyte the corde atwo,                    And also an axe to smite the cord in two,3570         Whan that the water comth, that we may go                    When the water comes, so that we may go3571         And breke an hole an heigh, upon the gable,                    And break a hole on high, upon the gable,3572         Unto the gardyn-ward, over the stable,                    Toward the garden, over the stable,3573         That we may frely passen forth oure way,                    That we may freely pass forth on our way,3574         Whan that the grete shour is goon away.                    When the great shower is gone away.3575         Thanne shaltou swymme as myrie, I undertake,                    Then shalt thou float as merry, I guarantee,3576         As dooth the white doke after hire drake.                    As does the white duck after her drake.3577         Thanne wol I clepe, `How, Alison! How, John!                    Then will I call, `How, Alison! How, John!3578         Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon.'                    Be merry, for the flood will soon pass.'3579         And thou wolt seyn, `Hayl, maister Nicholay!                    And thou will say, `Hail, master Nicholay!3580         Good morwe, I se thee wel, for it is day.'                    Good morrow, I see thee well, for it is day.'3581         And thanne shul we be lordes al oure lyf                    And then shall we be lords all our life3582         Of al the world, as Noe and his wyf.                    Of all the world, like Noah and his wife.3583         "But of o thyng I warne thee ful right:                    "But of one thing I warn thee very sternly:3584         Be wel avysed on that ilke nyght                    Be well advised on that same night3585         That we ben entred into shippes bord,                    On which we are entered onto shipboard,3586         That noon of us ne speke nat a word,                    That not one of us speak a word,3587         Ne clepe, ne crie, but be in his preyere;                    Nor call, nor cry, but be in his prayer;3588         For it is Goddes owene heeste deere.                    For it is God's own dear command.3589         "Thy wyf and thou moote hange fer atwynne,

3562         Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute.                    Go now thy way, and speed thee on this business.3590         For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne,                    So that between yow shall be no sin,3591         Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in deede.                    No more in looking than there shall be in deed.3592         This ordinance is seyd. Go, God thee speede!                    This ordinance is said. Go, God give thee success!3593         Tomorwe at nyght, whan men ben alle aslepe,                    Tomorrow at night, when people are all asleep,3594         Into oure knedyng-tubbes wol we crepe,                    Into our kneading-tubs will we creep,3595         And sitten there, abidyng Goddes grace.                    And sit there, awaiting God's grace.3596         Go now thy wey; I have no lenger space                    Go now thy way; I have no more time3597         To make of this no lenger sermonyng.                    To make of this any longer preaching.3598         Men seyn thus, `sende the wise, and sey no thyng.'                    Men say thus, `send the wise, and say nothing.'3599         Thou art so wys, it needeth thee nat teche.                    Thou art so wise, one needs not teach thee.3600         Go, save oure lyf, and that I the biseche."                    Go, save our life, and that I beseech thee."3601         This sely carpenter goth forth his wey.                    This hapless carpenter goes forth his way.3602         Ful ofte he seide "Allas and weylawey,"                    Very often he said "Alas and woe is me,"3603         And to his wyf he tolde his pryvetee,                    And to his wife he told his secret,3604         And she was war, and knew it bet than he,                    And she was aware, and knew it better than he,3605         What al this queynte cast was for to seye.                    What all this ingenious scheme meant.3606         But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye,                    But nonetheless she acted as if she would die,3607         And seyde, "Allas! go forth thy wey anon,                    And said, "Alas! go forth thy way quickly,3608         Help us to scape, or we been dede echon!                    Help us to escape, or we are dead each one of us!3609         I am thy trewe, verray wedded wyf;                    I am thy faithful, truly wedded wife;3610         Go, deere spouse, and help to save oure lyf."                    Go, dear spouse, and help to save our lives."3611         Lo, which a greet thyng is affeccioun!                    Lo, what a great thing is emotion!3612         Men may dyen of ymaginacioun,                    One can die of imagination,3613         So depe may impressioun be take.

                    "Thy wife and thou must hang far apart,

3615         Hym thynketh verraily that he may see                    He thinks truly that he can see3616         Noees flood come walwynge as the see                    Noah's flood come surging like the sea3617         To drenchen Alisoun, his hony deere.                    To drown Alisoun, his honey dear.3618         He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory cheere;                    He weeps, wails, looks wretched;3619         He siketh with ful many a sory swogh;                    He sighs with very many a sorry groan;3620         He gooth and geteth hym a knedyng trogh,                    He goes and gets him a kneading trough,3621         And after that a tubbe and a kymelyn,                    And after that a tub and a large vat,3622         And pryvely he sente hem to his in,                    And secretly he sent them to his dwelling,3623         And heng hem in the roof in pryvetee.                    And hanged them in the roof secretly.3624         His owene hand he made laddres thre,                    With his own hand he made three ladders,3625         To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes                    To climb by the rungs and the uprights3626         Unto the tubbes hangynge in the balkes,                    Unto the tubs hanging in the beams,3627         And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe,                    And provisioned them, both trough and tub,3628         With breed, and chese, and good ale in a jubbe,                 With bread, and cheese, and good ale in a jug,3629         Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day.                    Sufficing just enough for a day.3630         But er that he hadde maad al this array,                    But before he had made all this preparation,3631         He sente his knave, and eek his wenche also,                    He sent his servant, and also his servant girl,3632         Upon his nede to London for to go.                    Upon his business to go to London.3633         And on the Monday, whan it drow to nyght,                    And on the Monday, when it drew toward night,3634         He shette his dore withoute candel-lyght,                    He shut his door without candlelight,3635         And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be.                    And prepared everything as it should be.3636         And shortly, up they clomben alle thre;                    And shortly, up they climbed all three;3637         They seten stille wel a furlong way.              They sat still a good two and one-half minutes.3638         "Now, Pater-noster, clom!" seyde Nicholay,                    "Now, Pater-noster, quiet!" said Nicholay,3639         And "Clom!" quod John, and "Clom!" seyde Alisoun.                    And "Quiet!" said John, and "Quiet!" said Alisoun.3640         This carpenter seyde his devocioun,                    This carpenter said his devotion,3641         And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere,                    And still he sits, and says his prayer,

                    So deeply may a mental image be taken.3614         This sely carpenter bigynneth quake;                    This hapless carpenter begins to tremble;

3642         Awaitynge on the reyn, if he it heere.                    Awaiting the rain, if he might hear it.3643         The dede sleep, for wery bisynesse,                    The dead sleep, for weary business,3644         Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse,                    Fell on this carpenter right, as I guess,3645         Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel moore;                    About curfew time, or a little more;3646         For travaille of his goost he groneth soore,                    For suffering of his spirit he groans deeply,3647         And eft he routeth, for his heed myslay.                    And also he snores, for his head lay wrong.3648         Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay,                    Down on the ladder stalks Nicholay,3649         And Alisoun ful softe adoun she spedde;                    And Alisoun very quietly down she sped;3650         Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde,                    Without more words they go to bed,3651         Ther as the carpenter is wont to lye.                    Where the carpenter is accustomed to lie.3652         Ther was the revel and the melodye;                    There was the revel and the sounds of festivity;3653         And thus lith Alison and Nicholas,                    And thus lie Alison and Nicholas,3654         In bisynesse of myrthe and of solas,                    In business of mirth and of pleasure,3655         Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge,                    Until the bell of the early morning service began to ring,3656         And freres in the chauncel gonne synge.                    And friars in the chapel began to sing.3657         This parissh clerk, this amorous Absolon,                    This parish clerk, this amorous Absolon,3658         That is for love alwey so wo bigon,                    That is for love always so woebegone,3659         Upon the Monday was at Oseneye                    Upon the Monday was at Oseneye3660         With compaignye, hym to disporte and pleye,                    With company, to be merry and amuse himself,3661         And axed upon cas a cloisterer                    And by chance asked a cloistered monk3662         Ful prively after John the carpenter;                    Very discreetly about John the carpenter;3663         And he drough hym apart out of the chirche,                    And he drew him apart out of the church,3664         And seyde, "I noot; I saugh hym heere nat wirche                    And said, "I know not; I have not seen him working here3665         Syn Saterday; I trowe that he be went                    Since Saturday; I suppose that he is gone3666         For tymber, ther oure abbot hath hym sent;                    For timber, where our abbot has sent him;3667         For he is wont for tymber for to go                    For he is accustomed to go for timber 

3670         Where that he be, I kan nat soothly seyn."                    Where he may be, I can not truly say."3671         This Absolon ful joly was and light,                    This Absolon very was jolly and happy,3672         And thoghte, "Now is tyme to wake al nyght,                    And thought, "Now is time to stay awake all night,3673         For sikirly I saugh hym nat stirynge                    For surely I saw him not stirring3674         Aboute his dore, syn day bigan to sprynge.                    About his door, since day began to spring.3675         "So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe,                    "As I may prosper, I shall, at cock's crow,3676         Ful pryvely knokken at his wyndowe                    Very quietly knock at his window3677         That stant ful lowe upon his boures wal.                    That stands very low upon his bedroom's wall.3678         To Alison now wol I tellen al                    To Alison now I will tell all3679         My love-longynge, for yet I shal nat mysse                    My love-longing, for yet I shall not miss3680         That at the leeste wey I shal hire kisse.                    That at the very least I shall her kiss.3681         Som maner confort shal I have, parfay.                    Some sort of comfort shall I have, by my faith.3682         My mouth hath icched al this longe day;                    My mouth has itched all this long day;3683         That is a signe of kissyng atte leeste.                    That is a sign of kissing at the least.3684         Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste.                    All night I dreamed also I was at a feast.3685         Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye,                    Therefore I will go sleep an hour or two,3686         And al the nyght thanne wol I wake and pleye."                    And all the night then will I stay awake and play."3687         Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, anon                    When the first cock has crowed (about midnight), at once3688         Up rist this joly lovere Absolon,                    Up rises this elegant lover Absolon,3689         And hym arraieth gay, at poynt-devys.                    And dresses himself handsomely, in every detail.3690         But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys,                    But first he chews cardamom and licorice,3691         To smellen sweete, er he hadde kembd his heer.                    To smell sweet, ere he had combed his hair.3692         Under his tonge a trewe-love he beer,                    Under his tongue he had a true-love herb,3693         For therby wende he to ben gracious.                    For thus he thought he would be gracious.3694         He rometh to the carpenteres hous,                    He goes to the carpenter's house,3695         And stille he stant under the shot-wyndowe --               And he stands still under the casement window -

3668         And dwellen at the grange a day or two;                    And dwell at the granary a day or two;3669         Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn.                    Or else he is at his house, certainly.3696         Unto his brest it raughte, it was so lowe --                    Unto his breast it reached, it was so low --3697         And softe he cougheth with a semy soun:                    And softly he coughs with a gentle sound:3698         "What do ye, hony-comb, sweete Alisoun,                    "What do you, honey-comb, sweet Alisoun,3699         My faire bryd, my sweete cynamome?                    My fair bird, my sweet cinnamon?3700         Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me!                    Awake, sweetheart mine, and speak to me!3701         Wel litel thynken ye upon my wo,                    Well little you think upon my woe,3702         That for youre love I swete ther I go.                    That for your love I sweat wherever I go.3703         No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete;                    No wonder is though that I swelter and sweat;3704         I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete.                    I mourn as does a lamb after the tit.3705         Ywis, lemman, I have swich love-longynge                    Indeed, sweetheart, I have such love-longing3706         That lik a turtel trewe is my moornynge.                    That like a true turtledove is my mourning.3707         I may nat ete na moore than a mayde."                    I can eat no more than a maiden."3708         "Go fro the wyndow, Jakke fool," she sayde;                    "Go from the window, you idiot," she said;3709         "As help me God, it wol nat be `com pa me.'                    "So help me God, it will not be `come kiss me.'3710         I love another -- and elles I were to blame --                    I love another -- and else I were to blame --3711         Wel bet than thee, by Jhesu, Absolon.                    Well better than thee, by Jesus, Absolon.3712         Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston,                    Go forth thy way, or I will cast a stone,3713         And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey!"                    And let me sleep, in the name of twenty devils!"3714         "Allas," quod Absolon, "and weylawey,                    "Alas," said Absolon, "and woe is me,3715         That trewe love was evere so yvel biset!                    That true love was ever in such miserable circumstances!3716         Thanne kysse me, syn it may be no bet,                    Then kiss me, since it can be no better,3717         For Jhesus love, and for the love of me."                    For Jesus' love, and for the love of me."3718         "Wiltow thanne go thy wey therwith?" quod she.                    "Wilt thou then go thy way with that?" said she.3719         "Ye, certes, lemman," quod this Absolon.            "Yes, certainly, sweetheart," said this Absolon.3720         "Thanne make thee redy," quod she, "I come anon."     "Then make thee ready," said she, "I come right now." 3721         And unto Nicholas she seyde stille,                    And unto Nicholas she said quietly,

  3723         This Absolon doun sette hym on his knees                    This Absolon set himself down on his knees3724         And seyde, "I am a lord at alle degrees;                    And said, "I am a lord in every way;3725         For after this I hope ther cometh moore.                    For after this I hope there comes more.3726         Lemman, thy grace, and sweete bryd, thyn oore!"                    Sweetheart, thy grace, and sweet bird, thy mercy!"3727         The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste.                    The window she undoes, and that in haste.3728         "Have do," quod she, "com of, and speed the faste,                    "Get done with it," said she, "come on, and hurry up,3729         Lest that oure neighebores thee espie."                    Lest our neighbors espy thee."3730         This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful drie.                    This Absolon wiped his mouth very dry.3731         Derk was the nyght as pich, or as the cole,                    Dark was the night as pitch, or as the coal,3732         And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole,                    And at the window out she put her hole,3733         And Absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers,                    And Absolon, to him it happened no better nor worse,3734         But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers                But with his mouth he kissed her naked behind3735         Ful savourly, er he were war of this.                    With great relish, before he was aware of this.3736         Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys,                    Back he jumped, and thought it was amiss,3737         For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd.                    For well he knew a woman has no beard.3738         He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd,                    He felt a thing all rough and long haired,3739         And seyde, "Fy! allas! what have I do?"                    And said, "Fie! alas! what have I done?"3740         "Tehee!" quod she, and clapte the wyndow to,                    "Tehee!" said she, and clapped the window to,3741         And Absolon gooth forth a sory pas.                    And Absolon goes forth walking sadly.3742         "A berd! A berd!" quod hende Nicholas,                    "A beard! A beard!" said clever Nicholas,3743         "By Goddes corpus, this goth faire and weel."                    "By God's body, this goes fair and well."3744         This sely Absolon herde every deel,                    This hapless Absolon heard every bit,3745         And on his lippe he gan for anger byte,                    And on his lip he began for anger to bite,3746         And to hymself he seyde, "I shal thee quyte."           And to himself he said, "I shall pay thee back." 3747         Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes                    Who rubs now, who now scrubs his lips

3722         "Now hust, and thou shalt laughen al thy fille."  "Now hush, and thou shalt laugh all thy fill."

3748         With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes,                    With dust, with sand, with straw, with cloth, with chips,3749         But Absolon, that seith ful ofte, "Allas!"                    But Absolon, who says very often, "Alas!"3750         "My soule bitake I unto Sathanas,                    "My soul I entrust to Satan,3751         But me were levere than al this toun," quod he,                    If I would not rather than (have) all this town," said he,3752         "Of this despit awroken for to be.                    "Be avenged for this insult.3753         Allas," quod he, "allas, I ne hadde ybleynt!"                    Alas," said he, "alas, I did not turn away!"3754         His hoote love was coold and al yqueynt;                    His hot love was cold and all extinguished;3755         For fro that tyme that he hadde kist hir ers,                    For from that time that he had kissed her ass,3756         Of paramours he sette nat a kers,                    Love-making he thought not worth not a watercress,3757         For he was heeled of his maladie.                    For he was healed of his malady.3758         Ful ofte paramours he gan deffie,                    Very often he did renounce love-making,3759         And weep as dooth a child that is ybete.                    And wept as does a child that is beaten.3760         A softe paas he wente over the strete                    At a slow pace he went down the street3761         Until a smyth men cleped daun Gerveys,                    To a smith men called dan Gerveys,3762         That in his forge smythed plough harneys;                    Who in his forge made plowing equipment; 3763         He sharpeth shaar and kultour bisily.                    He sharpens ploughshares and plough blades busily.3764         This Absolon knokketh al esily,                    This Absolon knocked all gently,3765         And seyde, "Undo, Gerveys, and that anon."                    And said, "Open up, Gerveys, and that right now."3766         "What, who artow?" "It am I, Absolon."                    "What, who art thou?" "It am I, Absolon."3767         "What, Absolon! for Cristes sweete tree,                    "What, Absolon! for Christ's sweet cross,3768         Why rise ye so rathe? Ey, benedicitee!                    Why rise you so early? Ay, bless me!3769         What eyleth yow? Som gay gerl, God it woot,                    What ails yow? Some pretty girl, God knows it,3770         Hath broght yow thus upon the viritoot.           Hath brought you to be running around like this.3771         By Seinte Note, ye woot wel what I mene."                    By Saint Note, you know well what I mean."3772         This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene

3774         He hadde moore tow on his distaf                    He had more business on hand 3775         Than Gerveys knew, and seyde, "Freend so deere,                    Than Gerveys knew, and said, "Friend so dear,3776         That hoote kultour in the chymenee heere,                    That hot plough blade in the hearth here,3777         As lene it me; I have therwith to doone,                    Lend it to me; I have something to do with it,3778         And I wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone."                    And I will bring it back to thee very soon."3779         Gerveys answerde, "Certes, were it gold,                    Gerveys answered, "Certainly, were it gold,3780         Or in a poke nobles alle untold,                    Or in a sack countless silver coins,3781         Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smyth.                    Thou sholdest have it, as I am true smith.3782         Ey, Cristes foo! What wol ye do therwith?"                    Ay, Christ's foe! What will you do with it?"3783         "Therof," quod Absolon, "be as be may.                    "Concerning that," said Absolon, "be as be may.3784         I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day" --                    I shall well tell it to thee to-morrow" --3785         And caughte the kultour by the colde stele.                    And caught the plough blade by the cold handle.3786         Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele,                    Very softly out at the door he began to steal,3787         And wente unto the carpenteris wal.                    And went unto the carpenter's wall. 3788         He cogheth first, and knokketh therwithal                    He coughs first, and knocks then3789         Upon the wyndowe, right as he dide er.                    Upon the window, just as he did before.3790         This Alison answerde, "Who is ther                    This Alison answered, "Who is there3791         That knokketh so? I warante it a theef."                    That knocks so? I swear it is a thief."3792         "Why, nay," quod he, "God woot, my sweete leef,                    "Why, nay," said he, "God knows, my sweet beloved,3793         I am thyn Absolon, my deerelyng.                    I am thy Absolon, my darling.3794         Of gold," quod he, "I have thee broght a ryng.                    Of gold," said he, "I have brought thee a ring.3795         My mooder yaf it me, so God me save;                    My mother gave it to me, as God may save me;3796         Ful fyn it is, and therto wel ygrave.                    Very fine it is, and also nicely engraved.3797         This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse."                    This will I give thee, if thou kiss me."3798         This Nicholas was risen for to pisse,                    This Nicholas was risen to piss,3799         And thoughte he wolde amenden al the jape;             And thought he would make the joke even better;

                    This Absolon cared not a bean3773         Of al his pley; no word agayn he yaf;                    For all his joking; no word he gave in reply;

3800         He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape.                    He should kiss his behind before he escapes.3801         And up the wyndowe dide he hastily,                    And he opened up the window hastily,3802         And out his ers he putteth pryvely                    And he puts out his behind stealthily3803         Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon;                    Over the buttock, to the thigh;3804         And therwith spak this clerk, this Absolon,                    And then spoke this clerk, this Absolon,3805         "Spek, sweete bryd, I noot nat where thou art."                    "Speak, sweet bird, I know not where thou art."3806         This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart                    This Nicholas immediately let fly a fart3807         As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,                    As great as if it had been a thunder-bolt,3808         That with the strook he was almoost yblent;                    So that with the stroke he was almost blinded;3809         And he was redy with his iren hoot,                    And he was ready with his hot iron,3810         And Nicholas amydde the ers he smoot.                    And he smote Nicholas in the middle of the ass.3811         Of gooth the skyn an hande-brede aboute,                    Off goes the skin a hand's breadth about,3812         The hoote kultour brende so his toute,                    The hot plough blade so burned his rump3813         And for the smert he wende for to dye.                    And for the pain he thought he would die.3814         As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye,                    As if he were crazy, for woe he began to cry,3815         "Help! Water! Water! Help, for Goddes herte!"                    "Help! Water! Water! Help, for God's heart!"3816         This carpenter out of his slomber sterte,                    This carpenter woke suddenly out of his slumber,3817         And herde oon crien "water!" as he were wood,                    And heard someone cry "water!" as if he were crazy,3818         And thoughte, "Allas, now comth Nowelis flood!"                    And thought, "Alas, now comes Nowell's flood!"3819         He sit hym up withouten wordes mo,                    He sits up without more words,3820         And with his ax he smoot the corde atwo,                    And with his ax he smote the cord in two,3821         And doun gooth al; he foond neither to selle,                    And down goes all; he found nothing to sell (wasted no time),3822         Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the celle                    Neither bread nor ale, until he came to the

3824         Up stirte hire Alison and Nicholay,                    Up started Alison and Nicholay,3825         And criden "Out" and "Harrow" in the strete.                    And cried "Out" and "Help" in the street.3826         The neighebores, bothe smale and grete,                    The neighbors, both low-ranking and high,3827         In ronnen for to gauren on this man,                    Run in to gawk at this man,3828         That yet aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan,                    Who yet lay in a swoon, both pale and wan,3829         For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm.                    For with the fall he had broken his arm.3830         But stonde he moste unto his owene harm;                    But he had to stand up for himself, though it went badly;3831         For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun                    For when he spoke, he was immediately put down3832         With hende Nicholas and Alisoun.                    By clever Nicholas and Alisoun.3833         They tolden every man that he was wood;                    They told every one that he was crazy;3834         He was agast so of Nowelis flood                    He was so afraid of Nowell's flood3835         Thurgh fantasie that of his vanytee                    Because of his imagination that in his foolishness3836         He hadde yboght hym knedyng tubbes thre,                    He had bought himself three kneading tubs,3837         And hadde hem hanged in the roof above;                    And had hanged them in the roof above;3838         And that he preyed hem, for Goddes love,                    And that he begged them, for God's love,3839         To sitten in the roof, par compaignye.                    To sit in the roof, to keep him company.3840         The folk gan laughen at his fantasye;                    The folk did laugh at his foolishness;3841         Into the roof they kiken and they cape,                    Into the roof they stare and they gape,3842         And turned al his harm unto a jape.                    And turned all his harm into a joke.3843         For what so that this carpenter answerde,                    For whatever this carpenter answered,3844         It was for noght; no man his reson herde.                    It was for naught; no one listened to his explanation,3845         With othes grete he was so sworn adoun                    With oaths great he was so sworn down3846         That he was holde wood in al the toun;                    That he was considered crazy in all the town;3847         For every clerk anonright heeld with oother.           For every clerk immediately agreed with the other.3848         They seyde, "The man is wood, my leeve brother";           They said, "The man is crazy, my dear brother";3849         And every wight gan laughen at this stryf.                    And every person did laugh at this strife.3850         Thus swyved was this carpenteris wyf,                    Thus screwed was this carpenter's wife,3851         For al his kepyng and his jalousye,                    In spite of all his guarding and his jealousy, 

pavement3823         Upon the floor, and ther aswowne he lay.                    Upon the floor, and there he lay in a swoon.

3852         And Absolon hath kist hir nether ye,                    And Absolon has kissed her lower eye,3853         And Nicholas is scalded in the towte.                    And Nicholas is scalded in the rump.3854         This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte!                    This tale is done, and God save all this company! 

Heere endeth the Millere his Tale [Here ends the Miller's Tale]