The Miller's Prologue

Heere folwen the wordes bitwene the Hoost and the Millere

Whan that the Knyght had thus his tale ytoold,

In al the route ne was ther yong ne oold

That he ne seyde it was a noble storie,

And worthy for to drawen to memorie;

5 And namely the gentils everichon.

Oure Hooste lough, and swoor, "So moot I gon,

This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male,

Lat se now who shal telle another tale,

For trewely the game is wel bigonne.

10 Now telleth on, sir Monk, if that ye konne

Somwhat to quite with the Knyghtes tale."

The Millere that for dronken was al pale,

So that unnethe upon his hors he sat,

He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat,

15 Ne abyde no man for his curteisie,

But in Pilates voys he gan to crie,

And swoor, "By armes and by blood and bones,

I kan a noble tale for the nones,

With which I wol now quite the Knyghtes tale."

20 Oure Hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale,

And seyde, "Abyd, Robyn, my leeve brother,

Som bettre man shal telle us first another,

Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily."

"By Goddes soule," quod he, "that wol nat I,

25 For I wol speke, or elles go my wey."

Oure Hoost answerde, "Tel on, a devel wey!

Thou art a fool, thy wit is overcome!

"Now herkneth," quod the Miller, "alle and some,

But first I make a protestacioun

30 That I am dronke, I knowe it by my soun;

And therfore, if that I mysspeke or seye,

Wyte it the ale of Southwerk I you preye.

For I wol telle a legende and a lyf

Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf,

35 How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe."

The Reve answerde and seyde, "Stynt thy clappe,

Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye,

It is a synne and eek a greet folye

To apeyren any man or hym defame,

40 And eek to bryngen wyves in swich fame;

Thou mayst ynogh of othere thynges seyn."

This dronke Millere spak ful soone ageyn,

And seyde, "Leve brother Osewold,

Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold.

45 But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon,

Ther been ful goode wyves many oon,

And evere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde;

That knowestow wel thyself, but if thou madde.

Why artow angry with my tale now?

50 I have a wyf, pardee, as wel as thow,

Yet nolde I for the oxen in my plogh

Take upon me moore than ynogh,

As demen of myself that I were oon;

I wol bileve wel, that I am noon.

55 An housbonde shal nat been inquisityf

Of Goddes pryvetee, nor of his wyf.

So he may fynde Goddes foysoun there,

Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere."

What sholde I moore seyn, but this Millere

60 He nolde his wordes for no man forbere,

But tolde his cherles tale in his manere;

Me thynketh that I shal reherce it heere.

And therfore every gentil wight I preye,

For Goddes love, demeth nat that I seye

65 Of yvel entente, but that I moot reherce

Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse,

Or elles falsen som of my mateere.

And therfore who-so list it nat yheere,

Turne over the leef, and chese another tale;

70 For he shal fynde ynowe, grete and smale,

Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse,

And eek moralitee, and hoolynesse.

Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys;

The Millere is a cherl, ye knowe wel this,

75 So was the Reve, and othere manye mo,

And harlotrie they tolden bothe two.

Avyseth yow, and put me out of blame,

And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game.

The Miller's Tale

Heere bigynneth the Millere his Tale

Whilom ther was dwellynge at Oxenford

80 A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord,

And of his craft he was a carpenter.

With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler,

Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasye

Was turned for to lerne astrologye,

85 And koude a certeyn of conclusiouns,

To demen by interrogaciouns,

If that men asked hym in certain houres

Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures,

Or if men asked hym what sholde bifalle

90 Of every thyng; I may nat rekene hem alle.

This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas.

Of deerne love he koude and of solas;

And therto he was sleigh and ful privee,

And lyk a mayden meke for to see.

95 A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye

Allone, withouten any compaignye,

Ful fetisly ydight with herbes swoote;

And he hymself as sweete as is the roote

Of lycorys, or any cetewale.

100 His Almageste, and bookes grete and smale,

His astrelabie, longynge for his art,

His augrym stones layen faire apart,

On shelves couched at his beddes heed;

His presse ycovered with a faldyng reed

105 And al above ther lay a gay sautrie,

On which he made a-nyghtes melodie

So swetely that all the chambre rong;

And Angelus ad virginem he song;

And after that he song the Kynges Noote.

110 Ful often blessed was his myrie throte.

And thus this sweete clerk his tyme spente

After his freendes fyndyng and his rente.

This carpenter hadde newe a wyf,

Which that he lovede moore than his lyf;

115 Of eighteteene yeer she was of age.

Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage,

For she was wylde and yong, and he was old,

And demed hymself, been lik a cokewold.

He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude,

120 That bad man sholde wedde his simylitude.

Men sholde wedden after hire estaat,

For youth and elde is often at debaat.

But sith that he was fallen in the snare,

Her moste endure, as oother folk, his care.

125 Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal

As any wezele hir body gent and smal.

A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk,

A barmclooth as whit as morne milk

Upon her lendes, ful of many a goore.

130 Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore

And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute,

Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute.

The tapes of hir white voluper

Were of the same suyte of his coler;

135 Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye.

And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye;

Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two,

And tho were bent and blake as any sloo.

She was ful moore blisful on to see

140 Than is the newe pere-jonette tree,

And softer than the wolle is of a wether.

And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether,

Tasseled with silk, and perled with latoun.

In al this world, to seken up and doun,

145 There nys no man so wys that koude thenche

So gay a popelote or swich a wenche.

Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe

Than in the Tour the noble yforged newe.

But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne

150 As any swalwe sittynge on a berne.

Therto she koude skippe and make game,

As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame.

Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth,

Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.

155 Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt,

Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt.

A brooch she baar upon hir lowe coler,

As brood as is the boos of a bokeler.

Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye.

160 She was a prymerole, a piggesnye,

For any lord to leggen in his bedde,

Or yet for any good yeman to wedde.

Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas,

That on a day this hende Nicholas

165 Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye,

Whil that her housbonde was at Oseneye,

As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte;

And prively he caughte hire by the queynte,

And seyde, "Ywis, but if ich have my wille,

170 For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille."

And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones,

And seyde, "Lemman, love me al atones,

Or I wol dyen, also God me save!"

And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave,

175 And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,

And seyde, "I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey!

Why, lat be," quod she, "lat be, Nicholas,

Or I wol crie 'out harrow' and 'allas!'

Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye!"

180 This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye,

And spak so faire, and profred him so faste,

That she hir love hym graunted atte laste,

Ans swoor hir ooth, by seint Thomas of Kent,

That she wol been at his comandement,

185 Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.

"Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie

That but ye wayte wel and been privee,

I woot right wel I nam but deed," quod she.

"Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas."

190 "Nay, therof care thee noght," quod Nicholas.

"A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle,

But if he koude a carpenter bigyle."

And thus they been accorded and ysworn

To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn.

195 Whan Nicholas had doon thus everideel,

And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel,

He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie,

And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie.

Thanne fil it thus, that to the paryssh chirche,

200 Cristes owene werkes for to wirche,

This goode wyf went on a haliday.

Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day,

So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk.

Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk,

205 The which that was ycleped Absolon.

Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon,

And strouted as a fanne large and brode;

Ful streight and evene lay his joly shode;

His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos.

210 With Poules wyndow corven on his shoos,

In hoses rede he wente fetisly.

Yclad he was ful smal and proprely

Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget;

Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set.

215 And therupon he hadde a gay surplys

As whit as is the blosme upon the rys.

A myrie child he was, so God me save.

Wel koude he laten blood and clippe and shave,

And maken a chartre of lond or acquitaunce.

220 In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce

After the scole of Oxenforde tho,

And with his legges casten to and fro,

And pleyen songes on a smal rubible;

Therto he song som tyme a loud quynyble;

225 And as wel koude he pleye on a giterne.

In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne

That he ne visited with his solas,

Ther any gaylard tappestere was.

But sooth to seyn, he was somdeel squaymous

230 Of fartyng, and of speche daungerous.

This Absolon, that jolif was and gay,

Gooth with a sencer on the haliday,

Sensynge the wyves of the parisshe faste;

And many a lovely look on hem caste,

235 And namely on this carpenteris wyf.

To looke on hire hym thoughte a myrie lyf,

She was so propre and sweete and likerous.

I dar wel seyn, if she hadde been a mous,

And I the cat, he wolde hire hente anon.

240 This parissh clerk, this joly Absolon,

Hath in his herte swich a love-longynge

That of no wyf took he noon offrynge;

For curteisie, he seyde, he wolde noon.

The moone, whan it was nyght, ful brighte shoon,

245 And Absolon his gyterne hath ytake,

For paramours he thoghte for to wake.

And forth he gooth, jolif and amorous,

Til he cam to the carpenters hous

A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe,

250 And dressed hym up by a shot-wyndowe

That was upon the carpenteris wall.

He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal,

'Now, deere lady, if thy wille be,

I praye yow that ye wole rewe on me,'

255 Ful wel acordaunt to his gyternynge.

This carpenter awook, and herde him synge,

And spak unto his wyf, and seyde anon,

"What! Alison! Herestow nat Absolon,

That chaunteth thus under oure boures wal?"

260 Ans she answerde hir housbonde therwithal,

"Yis, God woot, John, I heere it every deel."

This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than weel?

Fro day to day this joly Absolon

So woweth hire that hym is wo bigon.

265 He waketh al the nyght and al the day;

He kembeth his lokkes brode, and made hym gay;

He woweth hire by meenes and brocage,

And swoor he wolde been hir owene page;

He syngeth, brokkynge as a nyghtyngale;

270 He sente hire pyment, meeth, and spiced ale,

And wafres, pipyng hoot out of the gleede;

And, for she was of towne, he profred meede.

For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse,

And somme for strokes, and somme for gentillesse.

275 Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye,

He pleyeth Herodes upon a scaffold hye.

But what availleth hym as in the cas?

She loveth so this hende Nicholas

That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn;

280 He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn.

And thus she maketh Absolon hire ape,

And al his ernest turneth til a jape.

Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye,

Men seyn right thus, 'Alwey the nye slye

285 Maketh the ferre leeve to be looth.'

For though that Absolon be wood or wrooth,

By cause that he fer was from hire sight,

This nye Nicholas stood in his light.

Now ber thee wel, thou hende Nicholas,

290 For Absolon may waille and synge 'allas.'

And so bifel it on a Saturday,

This carpenter was goon til Osenay;

And hende Nicholas and Alison

Acorded been to this conclusioun,

295 That Nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle

This sely jalous housbonde to bigyle;

And if so be the game wente aright,

She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght,

For this was his desir and hire also.

300 And right anon, withouten wordes mo,

This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie,

But dooth ful softe unto his chambre carie

Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye,

And to hire housbonde bad hire for to seye,

305 If that he axed after Nicholas,

She sholde seye she nyste where he was,

Of al that day she saugh hym nat with ye;

She trowed that he was in maladye,

For for no cry hir mayde koude hym calle,

310 He nolde answere for thyng that myghte falle.

This passeth forth al thilke Saterday,

That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay,

And eet and sleep, or dide what hym leste,

Til Sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste.

315 This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle

Of Nicholas, or what thyng myghte hym eyle,

And seyde, "I am adrad, by Seint Thomas,

It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas.

God shilde that he deyde sodeynly!

320 This world is now ful tikel, sikerly.

I saugh today a cors yborn to chirche

That now, on Monday last, I saugh hym wirche.

'Go up,' quod he unto his knave anoon,

"Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon.

325 Looke how it is, and tel me boldely."

This knave gooth hym up ful sturdily,

And at the chambre dore whil that he stood,

He cride and knokked as that he were wood,

"What! how! what do ye, maister Nicholay?

330 How may ye slepen al the longe day?"

But al for noghte, he herde nat a word.

An hole he foond, ful lowe upon a bord,

Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe,

And at that hole he looked in ful depe,

335 And at the laste he hadde of hym a sight.

This Nicholas sat evere capyng upright,

As he had kiked on the newe moone.

Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister soone

In what array he saugh this ilke man.

340 This carpenter to blessen hym bigan,

And seyde, "Help us, seinte Frydeswyde!

A man woot litel what hym shal bityde.

This man is falle, with his astromye,

In som woodnesse or in som agonye,

345 I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be!

Men sholde nat knowe of Goddes pryvetee.

Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man

That noght but oonly his bileve kan!

So ferde another clerk with astromye;

350 He walked in the feeldes, for to prye

Upon the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle,

Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle;

He saugh nat that. But yet, by seint Thomas,

Me reweth soore of hende Nicholas.

355 He shal be rated of his studiyng,

If that I may, Jhesus, hevene kyng!

Get me a staf, that I may underspore,

Whil that thou, Robyn, hevest up the dore.

He shal out of his studiyng, as I gesse"

360 And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse.

His knave was a strong carl for the nones,

And by the haspe he haaf it of atones;

Into the floor the dore fil anon.

This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon,

365 And evere caped upward into the eir.

This carpenter wende he were in despeir,

And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily

And shook him harde, and cride spitously,

"What! Nicholay! what, how! what, looke adoun!

370 Awak, and thenk on Christes passioun!

I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes.

Therwith the nyght-spel seyde he anon-rightes

On foure halves of the hous aboute,

And on the tresshfold of the dore withoute:

375 "Jhesu Crist and seinte Benedight,

Blesse this hous from every wikked wight,

For nyghtes verye, the white pater-noster!

Where wentestow, seinte Petres soster?"

And atte laste this hende Nicholas

380 Gan for to sike soore, and seyde, "Allas!

Shal al the world be lost eftsoones now?"

This carpenter answerde, "What seystow?

What! Thynk on God, as we doon, men that swynke."

This Nicholas answerde, "Fecche me drynke,

385 And after wol I speke in pryvetee

Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee.

I wol telle it noon oother man, certeyn."

This carpenter gooth doun, and comth ageyn,

And broghte of myghty ale a large quart;

390 And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part,

This Nicholas his dore faste shette,

And doun the carpenter by hym he sette.

He seyde "John, myn hooste, lief and deere,

Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere

395 That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye;

For it is Cristes conseil that I seye,

And if thou telle it man, thou art forlore;

For this vengeaunce thou shalt han therfore,

That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood."

400 "Nay, Crist forbede it, for his hooly blood!"

Quod tho this sely man, "I nam no labbe;

Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe.

Sey what thou wolt, I shal it nevere telle

To child ne wyf, by hym that harwed helle!"

405 "Now John," quod Nicholas, "I wol nat lye;

I have yfounde in myn astrologye,

As I have looked in the moone bright,

That now a Monday next, at quarter nyght,

Shal falle a reyn, and that so wilde and wood,

410 That half so greet was nevere Noes flood.

This world," he seyde, "in lasse than an hour

Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour.

Thus shal mankynde drenche, and lese hir lyf."

This carpenter answerde, "Allas, my wif!

415 And shal she drenche? Allas, myn Alisoun!"

For sorwe of this fil almoost adoun,

And seyde, "Is ther no remedie in this cas?"

"Why, yis, for Gode," quod hende Nicholas,

"If thou wolt werken after loore and reed.

420 Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed;

For thus seith Salomon, that was ful trewe,

'Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt not rewe.'

And if thou werken wolt by good conseil,

I undertake, withouten mast and seyl,

425 Yet shal I saven hire and thee and me.

Hastow nat herd hou saved was Noe,

Whan that oure Lord hadde warned hym biforn

That al the world with water sholde be lorn?"

"Yis," quod this Carpenter, "ful yoore ago."

430 "Hastou nat herd," quod Nicholas, "also

The sorwe of Noe with his felawshipe,

Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe?

Hym hadde be levere, I dar wel undertake,

At thilke tyme, than alle wetheres blake

435 That she hadde had a ship hirself allone.

And therfore, woostou what is best to doone?

This asketh haste, and of an hastif thyng

Men may nat preche or maken tariyng.

"Anon go gete us faste into this in

440 A knedyng-trogh, or ellis a kymelyn,

For ech of us, but looke that they be large,

In which we mowe swymme as in a barge,

And han therinne vitaille suffisant

But for a day - fy on the remenant!

445 The water shal aslake and goon away

Aboute pryme upon the nexte day.

But Robyn may nat wite of this, thy knave,

Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat save;

Axe nat why, for though thou aske me,

450 I wol nat tellen Goddes pryvetee.

Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde,

To han as greet a grace as Noe hadde.

Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute.

Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute.

455 "But whan thou hast, for hire and thee and me,

Ygeten us thise knedyng-tubbes three,

Thanne shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye,

That no man of oure purveiaunce espye.

And whan thou thus hast doon, as I have seyd,

460 And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd

And eek an ax, to smyte the corde atwo,

Whan that the water comth, that we may go,

And breke an hole an heigh, upon the gable,

Unto the gardyn-ward, over the stable,

465 That we may frely passen forth oure way,

Whan that the grete shour is goon away,

Thanne shaltou swymme as myrie, I undertake,

As dooth the white doke after hire drake.

Thanne wol I clepe, 'How, Alison! how, John

470 Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon.'

And thou wolt seyn, 'Hayl, maister Nicholay!

Good morwe, I see thee wel, for it is day.'

And thanne shul we be lordes al oure lyf

Of al the world, as Noe and his wyf.

475 "But of o thyng I warne thee ful right:

Be wel avysed on that ilke nyght

That we ben entred into shippes bord,

That noon of us ne speke nat a word,

Ne clepe, ne crie, but be in his preyere;

480 For it is Goddes owene heeste deere.

"Thy wyf and thou moote hange fer atwynne;

For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne,

Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in deede,

This ordinance is seyd. Go, God thee speede!

485 Tomorwe at nyght, whan men ben alle aslepe,

Into oure knedyng-tubbes wol we crepe,

And sitten there, abidyng Goddes grace.

Go now thy wey, I have no lenger space

To make of this no lenger sermonyng.

490 Men seyn thus, 'sende the wise, and sey no thyng:'

Thou art so wys, it needeth thee nat teche.

Go, save oure lyf, and that I the biseche."

This sely carpenter goth forth his wey.

Ful ofte he seide 'Allas' and 'weylawey,'

495 And to his wyf he tolde his pryvetee,

And she was war, and knew it bet than he,

What als his queynte cast was for to seye.

But natheless she ferde as she wolde deye,

And seyde, "Allas! go forth thy wey anon,

500 Help us to scape, or we been dede echon!

I am thy trewe, verray wedded wyf;

Go, deere spouse, and help to save oure lyf."

Lo, with a greet thyng is affeccioun!

Men may dyen of ymaginacioun,

505 So depe may impressioun be take.

This sely carpenter bigynneth quake;

Hym thynketh verraily that he may see

Noees flood come walwynge as the see

To drenchen Alisoun, his hony deere.

510 He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory cheere;

He siketh with ful many a sory swogh;

He gooth and geteth hym a knedyng-trogh,

And after that a tubbe and a kymelyn,

And pryvely he sente hem to his in,

515 And heng hem in the roof in pryvetee.

His owene hand he made laddres thre,

To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes

Unto the tubbes hangynge in the balkes,

And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe,

520 With breed and chese, and good ale in a jubbe,

Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day.

But er that he hadde maad al this array,

He sente his knave, and eek his wenche also,

Upon his nede to London for to go.

525 And on the Monday, whan it drow to nyght,

He shette his dore withoute candel-lyght,

And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be.

And shortly, up they clomben alle thre;

They seten stille wel a furlong way.

530 "Now, Pater-noster, clom!" seyde Nicholay,

And "Clom," quod John, and "clom," seyde Alisoun.

This carpenter seyde his devocioun,

And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere,

Awaitynge on the reyn, if he it heere.

535 The dede sleep, for wery bisynesse,

Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse,

Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel moore;

For travaille of his goost he groneth soore

And eft he routeth, for his heed myslay.

540 Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay,

And Alisoun ful softe adoun she spedde;

Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde,

Ther as the carpenter is wont to lye.

Ther was the revel and the melodye;

545 And thus lith Alison and Nicholas,

In bisynesse of myrthe and of solas,

Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge,

And freres in the chauncel gonne synge.

This parissh clerk, this amorous Absolon,

550 That is for love alwey so wo bigon,

Upon the Monday was at Oseneye

With compaignye, hym to disporte and pleye,

And axed upon cas a cloisterer

Ful prively after John the carpenter;

555 And he drough hym apart out of the chirche,

And seyde, "I noot, I saugh hym heere nat wirche

Syn Saterday; I trowe that he be went

For tymber, ther oure abott hath hym sent;

For he is wont for tymber for to go,

560 And dwellen at the grange a day or two;

Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn.

Where that he be, I kan nat soothly seyn."

This Absolon ful joly was and light,

And thoghte, "Now is tyme to wake al nyght;

565 For sikirly I saugh hym nat stirynge

Aboute his dore, syn day bigan to sprynge.

So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe,

Ful pryvely knokken at his wyndowe

That stant ful lowe upon his boures wal.

570 To Alison now wol I tellen al

My love-longynge, for yet I shal nat mysse

That at the leeste wey I shal hire kisse.

Som maner confort shal I have, parfay.

My mouth hath icched al this longe day;

575 That is a signe of kissyng atte leeste.

Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste.

Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye,

And al the nyght thanne wol I wake and pleye."

Whan that the firste cok hathe crowe, anon

580 Up rist this joly lovere Absolon,

And hym arraieth gay, at poynt-devys.

But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys,

To smellen sweete, er he hadde kembd his heer.

Under his tonge a trewe-love he beer,

585 For therby wende he to ben gracious.

He rometh to the carpenteres hous,

And stille he stant under the shot-wyndowe -

Unto his brest it raughte, it was so lowe -

And softe he cougheth with a semy soun:

590 "What do ye, hony-comb, sweete Alisoun,

My faire bryd, my sweete cynamome?

Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me!

Wel lithel thynken ye upon me wo,

That for youre love I swete ther I go.

595 No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete;

I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete.

Ywis, lemman, I have swich love-longynge,

That lik a turtel trewe is my moornynge.

I may nat ete na moore than a mayde."

600 "Go fro the wyndow, Jakke fool," she sayde;

"As help me God, it wol not be 'com pa me.'

I love another - and elles I were to blame -

Wel bet than thee, by Jhesu, Absolon.

Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston,

605 And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey!"

"Allas," quod Absolon, "and weylawey,

That trewe love was evere so yvel biset!

Thanne kysse me, syn it may be no bet,

For Jhesus love, and for the love of me."

610 "Wiltow thanne go thy wey therwith?" quod she.

"Ye, certes, lemman," quod Absolon.

"Thanne make thee redy," quod she, "I come anon."

And unto Nicholas she seyde stille,

"Now hust, and thou shalt laughen al thy fille."

615 This Absolon doun sette hym on his knees

And seyde, "I am a lord at alle degrees;

For after this I hope ther cometh moore.

Lemman, thy grace, and sweete bryd, thyn oore!"

The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste.

620 "Have do," quod she, "com of, and speed the faste,

Lest that oure neighebores thee espie."

This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful drie.

Derk was the nyght as pich, or as a cole,

And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole,

625 And Absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers,

But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers

Ful savorly, er he were war of this.

Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys,

For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd.

630 He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd,

And seyde, "Fy! allas! what have I do?"

"Tehee!" quod she, and clapte the wyndow to,

And Absolon gooth forth a sory pas.

"A berd! a berd!" quod hende Nicholas,

635 "By Goddes corpus, this goth faire and weel."

This sely Absolon herde every deel,

And on his lippe he gan for anger byte,

And to hymself he seyde, "I shall thee quyte."

Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes

640 With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes,

But Absolon, that seith ful ofte, "Allas!"

My soule bitake I unto Sathanas,

But me were levere than al this toun," quod he,

"Of this despit awroken for to be.

645 Allas," quod he, "allas, I ne hadde ybleynt!"

His hoote love was coold and al yqueynt;

For fro that tyme that he hadde kist her ers,

Of paramours he sette nat a kers;

For he was heeled of his maladie.

650 Ful ofte paramours he gan deffie,

And weep as dooth a child that is ybete.

A softe paas he wente over the strete

Until a smyth men cleped daun Gerveys,

That in his forge smythed plough harneys;

655 He sharpeth shaar and kultour bisily.

This Absolon knokketh al esily,

And seyde, "Undo, Gerveys, and that anon."

"What, who artow?" "It am I, Absolon."

"What, Absolon! For Cristes sweete tree,

660 Why rise ye so rathe? Ey, benedicitee!

What eyleth yow? Som gay gerl, God it woot,

Hath broght yow thus upon the viritoot.

By seinte Note, ye woot wel what I mene."

This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene

665 Of all his pley; no word agayn he yaf;

He hadde moore tow on his distaf

Than Gerveys knew, and seyde, "Freend so deere,

That hoote kultour in the chymenee heere,

As lene it me, I have therwith to doone,

670 And I wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone."

Gerveys answerde, "Certes, were it gold,

Or in a poke nobles alle untold,

Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smyth.

Ey, Cristes foo! What wol ye do therwith?"

675 "Therof," quod Absolon, "be as be may.

I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day" -

And caughte the kultour by the colde stele,

Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele,

And wente unto the carpenteris wal.

680 He cogheth first, and knokketh therwithal

Upon the wyndowe, right as he dide er.

This Alison answerde, "Who is ther

That knokketh so? I warante it a theef."

"Why, nay," quod he, "God woot, my sweete leef,

685 I am thyn Absolon, my deerelyng.

Of gold," quod he, "I have thee broght a ryng.

My mooder yaf it me, so God me save;

Ful fyn it is, and therto wel ygrave.

This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse."

690 This Nicholas was risen for to pisse,

And thoughte he wolde amenden al the jape;

He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape.

And up the wyndowe dide he hastily,

And out his ers he putteth pryvely

695 Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon;

And therwith spak this clerk, this Absolon,

"Spek, sweete bryd, I noot nat where thou art."

This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart,

As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,

700 That with the strook he was almoost yblent;

And he was redy with his iren hoot,

And Nicholas amydde the ers he smoot,

Of gooth the skyn an hande brede aboute,

The hoote kultour brende so his toute,

705 And for the smert he wende for to dye.

As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye,

"Help! Water! Water! Help for Goddes herte!"

This carpenter out of his slomber sterte,

And herde oon crien 'water' as he were wood,

710 And thoughte, "Allas, now comth Nowelis flood!"

He sit hym up withouten wordes mo,

And with his ax he smoot the corde atwo,

And doun gooth al; he foond neither to selle,

Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the celle

715 Upon the floor, and ther aswowne he lay.

Up stirte hire Alison and Nicholay,

And criden "Out" and "Harrow" in the strete.

The neighebores, bothe smale and grete,

In ronnen for to gauren on this man,

720 That yet aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan,

For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm.

But stonde he moste unto his owene harm;

For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun

With hende Nicholas and Alisoun.

725 They tolden every man that he was wood,

He was agast so of Nowelis flood

Thurgh fantasie, that of his vanytee

He hadde yboght hym knedyng-tubbes thre,

And hadde hem hanged in the roof above;

730 And that he preyed hem, for Goddes love,

To sitten in the roof, par compaignye.

The folk gan laughen at his fantasye;

Into the roof they kiken and they cape;

And turned al his harm unto a jape.

735 For what so that this carpenter answerde,

It was for noght, no man his reson herde.

With othes grete he was so sworn adoun

That he was holde wood in al the toun;

For every clerk anonright heeld with oother.

740 They seyde, "The man is wood, my leeve brother";

And every wight gan laughen at this stryf.

Thus swyved was this carpenteris wyf,

For al his kepyng and his jalousye;

And Absolon hath kist hir nether ye;

745 And Nicholas is scalded in the towte.

This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte!

Heere endeth the Millere his Tale.