The Canterbury Tales TRANSLATED INTO MODERN ENGLISH BY NEVILL COGHILL PENGUIN BOOKSWords besweon the Host andthe Miler ‘Your love (unless his sulerings deceive me) ‘He would be worth considering, believe me. ‘Annoble mercy should surpass right” ‘And then he said to Palamon the knight, ‘Think there needs but ite sermoning ‘To gain your own assent to such a thing. Come nea, and tke your lady by the hand? ‘And they were joined together by the band ‘That is called matrimony, also mariage, By counsel of the Duke and all his peerage, ‘And thus with every bliss and melody Palamon was espouse to Eel, ‘And God that allthis wide, wide word has wrought, Send them his love, for ie was dearly bought! ‘Now Palamon's in joy, amid wealth Ofbiiss and splendour, happiness and health, ‘He's tenderly beloved of Emily ‘And serves her with a gentle constancy, “And never a jealous word between them spoken, other sorrow ina love unbroken, ‘Thus ended Palamon snd Enily, ‘And God save all this happy company! ‘Amen. The Miller’s Tale Words between the Host and the Miller snRN we had beard the tale the Knight had tld, ‘Not one among the pilgrims, young or old, But ssid it wos indeed a noble story ‘Worthy tobe remembered fr is glory, ‘And it especially pleased the gentlefolk. ‘Our Host began to laugh and swore in joke: ‘Words beacon the Hot end the Miller “es going well, we've opened up the bales Now, let me see. Who'l tell another tale? ‘Upon my soul the game has begun welll ‘Come on, Sir Moni, if you've a tale to el, [Repay the Knight ite for his tale!” ‘The Millet, very drunk and rather pale, ‘Was straddled on his hort halon hal-of And in no mood for manners r to dott “His hood or hut, oF wait on any man, But ina voice like Pilate’ he began ‘To hus and swear. “By blood and bones and belly, Te gota noble story Team tll'e, Tlpay the Knight his wages, no the Monk (Our Host perceived at once that he was drunk And said ‘Now hold on, Robin, dea old brother; ‘Well get some better man to tell another; ‘You wait bit, L's have sme cormmon sense? “God's soul, F won't! suid he, “Atal events mean to tlk of else Yl go my way Our Host replied, “Wel, blast you then, you may, ‘You fool! Your wits have gone beyond recall” “Now listen’ said the Miler, “one and all, ‘To what Thave to say. But fst Yn bound ‘To say I'm drunk, I know it by my sound, ‘And if the words get mudiled in my tle Just put it down to too much Southwark ale, Twill late a legend and a life (fan od carpenter and of his wife, ‘And bow a student came and set his exp ‘The Reeve looked up and shouted, ‘Shut your trap! Give over with your drunken harloty, Iisa sn and foolishness? said he, ‘To sander any man or bring sandal (On wives in genera. Why can't you handle Some other tale? There's other things beside? ‘To this the drunken Miler then replied, “My dear old brother Oswald, such life. ‘A man's no cuckold if he has no wife, 103Words bexaen the Host and the Miler oral that, I'm not saying you are one ‘There's many virtuous wives all said and gone, Ever a thousand good for one that’s bad, ‘As well you know yourself unless you're mad. ‘Why are you angry? What is this to-do? Thavea wife, God knows, as well as you, ‘Yet not forall the oxen in my plough ‘Would I engage to take it on me now ‘To think myself a cuckold just because 1m prety sure I'm not and never was. (One shoulda’t be too inquisitive in ite ‘Either about God's secrets or one's wife, ‘You'l find God's plenty all you could desies Of the remainder, beter not enquire” ‘What can I add? The Mille had begun, ‘He woul not old his peace for anyone, ‘But tod his chur’ ale is own way, I fexn, ‘And Tregrt Imus repeat it here, ‘And so I beg ofall who are refined * ‘For God's love not to thiak me il-inclined (Or evil in my purpose, I rehearse ‘Their tales a told, for better or for wore, For ele I shouldbe file to what occured, So if this tale had berter not be heard, Jost turn the page and choose another sort; ‘You'll find them here in plenty, long and shorts ‘Many historical, that wil profess ‘Morality, god breeding, ssntiness, ‘Do not blame me if you should choose ami ‘The Miler was a chur, I've told you this, So was the Reeve, and other some as wel, ‘And hacotry was all they had t tell Consider then and hold me fee of blames ‘And why be serious about a game? 104 The Milles Tle The Miller’s Tale Lont time ago there was a ich old codger Wh lived in Oxford and who took a logget. “The fellow was a carpenter by trade, His lodger a poor student who had made Some studies in the rt, bur all his fancy ‘Tured to astrology and geomancy, ‘And ie could del wih certain propositions ‘And make a forecast under some conditions ‘About the likelihood of drought or showers For those who asked at favourable hoursy (Or puta question how their ick would fall Tr this or that, I can’t describe them al. "This lad was known a8 Nicholas the Gallant, ‘And making love in secret was his alent Forke was very close and sly, and took ‘Advantage of is mes and gilsh look, ie rented a small chamber in the kip “Alby himeelf without companionship. ‘He decked ic charmingly with herbs and fruit ‘And he hime was seeter than the root Of liquorice, or any fragrant herb. “is astronomic text-book were superb, [He had an astrolabe to match his ar ‘And calculating counters aid apart (On handy shelves that stood above his bed. “is press was curtained coarsely and in eds “Above there ly a gallant harp insight (On which he played melodiously at night ‘With nich a touch thar all the chamber rang twas The Virgie Angelus he sang, ‘And aftr that he sang King Willan’s Note, [And people often blessed his merry throat. ‘And that was hov this charming scholar spent His time and money, which his friends had seat. 105,‘The Miers Tale ‘This earpenter had macried a new wife ‘Not ong before, and loved her more than Lie, ‘She wat a gil of eighteen years of ae. Jealous he was and kept he in the casey Fore was old and she was wild and youngs ‘He thought himself quite likly tobe stung. ‘He might have known, were Cato on his shelf, ‘Arman should marry someone like himself; ‘Aman should pic an equal fr his mate. ‘Youth and old age ar aften in debate. However, he had fallen inthe snare, ‘And had to bear his eros as others bear. ‘She was afar young wife, her body es slender ‘As any westel's, and 28 soft and tender; ‘She used to wear a gicdle of srped sik ‘Her apron was a white as morning mile (Over her loins, ll guseted and pleated. ‘White was her smock; embroidery repeated 1 pattern on the collar, front and back, Inside and out twas of silk, and black. ‘The tapes and ribbons af her malky mutch ‘Were made to match her collar toa touchs ‘She wore abroad sil fle, rather high, ‘And certainly she had a lecherous eye. ‘And she had plucked hes eyebrows ito bows, ‘Slenderly arched they were, and black as shoes ‘And a moze truly Blissful sight to see ‘She was than blossom on a cherry-r0, ‘And softer than the wool upoa a wethers ‘And by her girdle hung a purse of leather, ‘Tassclled with sik and silver droplets, peated; “eyou went seeking up and down the woeld, ‘The wisest man you met would have to wrench ‘His fancy to imagine such a wench; ‘And her complexion ha a brighter dint ‘Than a new florin from the Royal Mint {As toher song, it was as loud and quick ‘Asany svallow’s chipping ona rick 106 ‘The Miers Tale ‘And she would ship or ply some game or ther ‘Like any Kd or calf behind is mothe, ‘Her mouth was meet as mead or honey ~ sy ‘A board of apples fying ia the ay. ‘Skits she was, and jolly a a colt, “Tall as mat and upright asa bole (Out of bow. Her collaret revealed ‘A brooch s big a boss upon a shield. ‘High shoes she wore, and laced them w the top. ‘She was a dairy, a Lollypop ‘For any nobleman fo tke 1 bed ‘Or some good man of yeoman stock to wed ‘Now, gentlemen, this Gallant Nicholas (One day bepan to romp and make a past ‘At this young woman, in mood of play, Her husband being out, down Osney way. Students are sly, and giving way to whim, ‘He made grab and caught ber bythe quien ‘And esd, “Unless Ihave my will of 300 Tile of secret love ~O, darling, do!" “Then held her haunches hard and gave a ery 0 tovermeall-et-once oI shall del” ‘She gave a spring, just lik @ skitish colt ‘Boxed ina frame for shoeing, and witha jolt ‘Managed in time to wrench er head away, ‘And sti, ‘Give over, Nichola I say! Noy won't kis you! Stop itt Let me 39 (Ori shall scream! 1 let the neighbours know! ‘Where are your manners? Take away your paws! “Then Nicholas began to plead his cause ‘And spoke s fai in proffering what he could “That in the end she promised him she would, ‘Swearing she'd love him, witha solemn promise "To beat his disposal, by St Thomas, ‘When she could spy an opportunity. “My husband iss Full of jealousy, ‘Unless you watch your step and hold your Breath ‘Thaow for certain ie wil be my death” worThe Mille? Tale ‘She said, ‘So keep it well under your at” ‘Ob, nevermind about a thing lke that.” Said he;‘A scholar does't have to stir ls wits so much to trick a carpenter.” ‘And so they both agreed tt, and swore ‘To watch ther chance, as Thave suid before. ‘When things were sted thus as they thought ft, ‘nd Nicholas had stoked her loins abit ‘And Kissed her sweety, he took down his harp ‘And played avay,a mecry tune and sharp. Tehappened later she went offto church, ‘This worthy wife, one holiday to search Her conscience and todo the works of Crist, ‘She put her work aside and she enticed "The colour to he face to make her marks ‘ee forebead shone. There wat pavsh clerk Serving the church, whose name was Absalon. ‘Hishai wasall in golden curs and shone Just ikea fan it strutted ourwards, searing “To left and sight from an accomplished parting. Ruddy his fae, his eyes as grey as goose, ls ses cutout i tracery, a a we In old St Pauls, The hose upon his feet ‘Showed scaciet through, and all is clothes were nest ‘And proper, Ina jacket of light blu, ‘Flounced atthe waist and tagged with laces to, He went nd wore a surplice just a gay ‘And white a any blossom on the spray. ‘God bless my soul, he was a merry knave! Hie knew how to lt blood, cut hae and shave, ‘And dea up legal deeds at other whiles ‘He used to dance in tveny different sles (After the current school at Oxford though ‘Casting is legs about him ro and fro). ‘He played a two-stringed fiddle, dd it proud, ‘And sang a high falsetto, rather loud; ‘And be was jst as good on the guitar. ‘There was no publi-house in town, cr bar, 108 The Mille’ Tale le di’ visit with his merry face ‘there were saucy barmaids ound the place, "He was litle squeamish in the mater Of farting, and satirical in chatter. ‘This Absalon, 10 jolly in his was, ‘Would tear the censer round on oly days ‘And cense the parish women. He would east ‘Many aloveora lok before he passed, Expecally a this carpenter's young wifes Looking at her would make a happy life ‘She was so neat, so sweet, so lecherous! ‘And I dae sy if she had been a mouse ‘And he eat, she'd have been pounced upon. Ta taking the collection Absalon ‘Would find his heart asset in sch a wie Of love, he would take nothing fom agit, For courtesy, he sad, it wast right. "That evening, when the moon Was shining bright “He ups with his guitar and off he tours ‘On the look-out fr any paramour, ‘Larky and emorous, away he strode ‘Until be reached the carpenter's abode A linteaftercock-crow, tok his stand Beside the casement window close at hand (le was set low upon the eataze-ace) ‘And started singing softly and with grace, "Now dearest lad if thy plea be Ln thoughts of lve, thik tndery of me” Oa his guitar he plucked aronefl string. “This carpenter awoke and hesed him sing ‘And turning to his wife said, ‘Alison! ‘Wife! Do you hear im ? There goes Absalon (Chanting away under our chamber wall” [And the, "Yes, John, God knows Theat ital.” [she thought more of tse didnt tl. ‘So things went on. What's bewce than ‘Al's wel”? ‘From day to day this jolly Absalon, ‘Wooing any, became quite woe-begones 109The Mills Tale ‘He lay awate all night, and all the day, (Combed his thick locks and tied to ps for gsy, ‘Wooed her by go-berween and wooed by proxy, ‘Swore tobe page and servant to his doxy, ‘Trilled and rouladed like a nightingtle, Sent her sweet wine ind mead and spicy ale, And wafers piping hot and jars of honey, ‘And, as she lived in town, he offered maney.* For there are some a money-bag provokes ‘And some are won by kindness, some by stokes, ‘Once, inthe hope his talent might engage, ‘He played the part of Herod on the stage. ‘What was the good? Were he s bold a brass, ‘She was in love wit gallant Nicholas; ‘However Absalon might blow his hora ‘His labour won him noching but her scorn. ‘She looked upoa him as er private ape ‘Aad eld his earnest wooing all jae, ‘There isa proverb, tru, 35 you may find, ‘That Out-f- Sights also Outof-Mind. ‘For Nigh-and-Sly bas the advantage theres ‘And, much as Absalon might tear his bal, ‘And rage at being seldom inher sight, ‘Nicholas, nigh and sly, stood in is ight. Now, show your paces, Nichols you spark! ‘And leave lamenting to the parish clerk. ‘And soit happened that one Saturday, ‘When the old carpenter was safe away At Osney, Nicholas and Alison ‘Agreed at lst in what was to be done. Nicholas was to exereise his wits ‘On her suspicious husband's fotish fs, ‘And, if so be the tick worked ou all ight, ‘She then would sleep sith Nicholas all night, ‘For such was his desire and hers aswel “And even quicker than it takes to tell, ‘Young Nicholas, who simply couldn't wait, ‘Weat to his room oa tp-toe with a plate The Mile’ Tale Of food and drink, enough to last a day (Or two, and Alison was told to say, In ate her husband atked for Nicolas, ‘That she had no idea where he was, ‘And that she hada’ st eyes cn him ll day ‘And thought he must be il she couldn't say ‘And more than once the mid had given a cll ‘And shouted but ne answer came st al ‘Sot continued ll that Saturday ‘Withouta sound feom Nicholas, who lay Upstairs, and ate or slept as pleased him best ‘Till Sunday when the sun went down to rest. ‘This foolish carpenter was lost in wonder ‘At Nicholas} wht could have go him under? He sid, ‘Tean'thelp thinking, by the Mass, ‘Things can'e be going right with Nicholas. \What ithe tok and ded! ? God guard his ways! A ticklish place the word is, nowadays. saw a corpse this morning borne to kick ‘That only Monday lst saw at work. ‘Run up’ he tld the verving-lad, “be quick, ‘Shout at his dor, or knock ie with beck, ‘Take a good lok and tell me how he fares” “The serving-boy went sturdy upstairs, Stopped atthe door an, standing there, the lad Shouted away and, hasnerng like mad, (Cele, “Ho! What's up? Hit Master Nicholay! low can you le up there aslecp all day?" ‘Butall for nought, he didn’ hear a soul, Hye found a brokea panel with hole Fight the bottom useful tthe cat ‘For ereeping in by: 60 be looked through that, ‘And, inthe end, he sar him through the erack, ‘This Nicholas ly gaping on his back ‘As ifhe'd caught glimpse ofthe new moon. ‘Dow wear the boy and told his master oom ‘About the tate fn which he found the man. (On heating this the carpenter begs,‘The Mille? Tale ‘To cross himself and sid ‘St Frideswie bless ust Welitde know whats coming to distress us. “The man has fallen, with this here ‘astromy’, Into afi, or lunacy maybe. ‘always thought that was how it would go. ‘God has some secrets that we shoulda't know. How blesed are the simple, aye, indeed, ‘That only know enough to say their creed! Happened just so with such another student ‘Of astromy and he was 0 imprudent ‘Astostare upwards while he crosed ofl, Busy foresecing what the stars revealed ‘And what should happen but he fll down fat nto a marl-pt. He didn’ foreee that! ‘Bur by the Saints we've reached a sorry pass; ‘ean’ help worrying for Nicholas. He shall be scolded for his studying ET know how to scold, by Christ the King! Get mea suff to prise agains the oor. ‘Robia, you pu your shoulder to the door. Wel shake the study out of him, I guess!” ‘The pai of them began to heave and press _Agrinet the door. Happened the lad was strong. ‘And soit didnt take them very ong ‘The carpenter supposed it was despa ‘And enught him by the shouldecs mightily, ‘Shook hn and shouted with aspevcy: ‘What, Nichola! Hey! Leok down! Is that fishion "To ace? Wake up and think upon Chriss passion, sig you with the cross from elves and spite!” ‘And he began the spell for use at nights Inall four corners ofthe room and out ‘Acros the threshold to and round about: "Jone Chris and Benedict Szincad ‘Bless this howe fom creature ante, The Miles Tale Drive axaynighthage, white Paternoster, Where di you go, St Peters suter? ‘And in the end the dendy Nicholas ‘Began to sigh, ‘And must come to pass?” “He sid “Must all the world be castaway?” ‘The carpenter replied “What's that you say? Put trust in God as we do, working men.” Nicholas answered, “Fetch some iguor then, ‘And afterwards, in strictest sectecy, ‘Fil speakof something touching you and me, ‘But not another soul mort kom that’s pain? "This carpenter went down and came agin Bringing some powerful ale ~a lrgsh quart, ‘Whea eich had had his share a this support, ‘Young Nicholas got up and shut the door ‘And, sitting down beside him onthe floor, Said to the carpenter, ‘Now, John, my dear, ‘My excellent host, sea on your honour here ‘Not to repeat syllable I sy, For here are Chris’ inentins, to betray ‘Which toa soul puts you among the lst, ‘And vengeance for it at bites cost Shall fall upon you. You'll be driven mad!” * Christ and His holy blood forbid i lad” “The sil fellow answered ‘'m no biab, ‘Though I should say it. 'm noe given to gab, Say what you ike, for T shall never tll ‘Man, worn or child by Him tat harrowed Hell! “Now, John said Nicholas, “believe you me, have found out by my astrology, ‘Aad looking a the moon when it was bright, ‘That Monday nex, a quarter way through night, Rain ito fll in torent, such a scud {ewill be ce as bad at Nosh’s Food, ‘This worl, be said, “in just about an hour, ‘Shull all be drowned, i's such @ hideous shower, ‘And all mankind, with total loss of ie? ‘The carpenter exclaimed, “Als, my wife! 13‘The Mill's Tale [My litle Alison! Te she to drown?” ‘Ani in is gee he very near fell down, is there no reeds,’ he sai, forthis?® “Thanks be to God said Nichola, ‘there i {you willdo exaciy what Tsay ‘And don't stare thinking up some other way. ‘In wise old Solomon you'l find the vere “Who takes advice shall never fare the wore,” ‘And so if good advice is to prevail ‘undertake with neither mest nor sil ‘To save her yet, and save myself and you, Haven't you heard how Noah wat sed too ‘When God forewarned him and his sons and daughters ‘That all the world should sink beneath the waters?” “Yes, sid the carpenter, ‘along time back?” “Haven't you heard suid Nicholas, “what a black Busines twas, whea Noah tied vo whip ‘His wife (ho woulda’t come) on board the ship? He'd have been beter pleated, Pil undertake, With all that weather jus about ro break, she had had a vessel of her own, [Now what are we todo? We ean't postpone ‘The thing; i’ coming soon, as I was saying, Teas forhaste, not preaching or delaying, “Trwant you, now, a once, 10 hurry off And fetch a shallow ub or kneading-trough For each of us, bur ste that they are large ‘And such 28 we ean flost in, ike a barge. ‘And fave ther loaded with suficlent vitual ‘To lst a day ~ we only needa litle, ‘The waters will abate and flow sway Round nine o'lock upon the following day. Robin the lad mayn’t know of ths, poor nave, ‘Nor Jil the mai, those rwo T canoe save, ‘Don't ask me why and even if you do Tean't disclose God's secret thoughts to you, ‘You should be satisfied unless you're mad, ‘To find as great a grace as Noah had. m4 “And when the tubs have been callected, thre, “That's one for her and for yourself and me, ‘Then hang them in the root below the thatching ‘That no one may discover what we're hatching, ‘When you have finshed doing what Isid ‘And stowed the victuals in them ovecheed, ‘Also an axe to hack the opes spare, So, when the water ses, we can art, ‘And, las, when you've broken ou the gable, ‘The garden one that’s just above the stable, ‘So that we may cst five without delay ‘After the mighty shower has gone aa ‘You'l oat as merrily, T undertake, As any lily-white duck behind her dake, ‘And Tcl out, “Hey, Alison! Hey, John! ‘Caer yourselves up! The food will oon be gone” ‘And you'll shoat back, “Hail, Master Nichola! Good morning! Tean se you well, 1s day!” ‘We shall be lords forall the rest of life ‘Ofall the world ike Nooh and his wife *One thing I war you of t's only right. ‘Wermnst be very careful on the night, ace we have safely managed to emback, ‘To hold our tongues, to utter no remark, No ery orally for we mus fll t payer. ‘This the Lord's dear wil so have a are. “Your wife and you must hang tome way apart, For there must be no sin before we start, ‘No more in longing looks than in the deed. “Those are your orders, Of with you! God speed! “To-morrow night when everyone's asleep ‘Well al go quietly upstairs and creep Tnto our tubs, ewaiting Heaven's grace, ‘And now be off. No time to pu the ease ‘At greter length, no time to sermonizes ‘The proverb says, “Say nothing, send the wise? us‘The Miles Tale ‘You're wie enough, donot have ro teach you, Go, save ou ives for us, a8 [beseech you. ‘This sly carpenter then went his way ‘Mttering to himself, “Alas the day ‘And to his wife in strictest secrecy. ‘She wes aware, far more indeed thane, ‘What this quaint stratagem might have ia sight, Bust she pretended tobe dead with fight. “Alest” she said,“ Whatever it may cost, ‘Hurry and help, or we shall ll be los. Tam your honest, true and wedded wife, Go, dearest husband, help to save my fel” low fancy throws us into perturbation! People can de of mere imagination, So deep isthe impression one can take, ‘This silly carpenter began to quake, [Before his eyes there verily seemed to be ‘The floods of Noah, wallowing ike the ea ‘And drowning Alison his honey-pet ‘He wept and wailed, his fearres were all et Ti grief, he sighed with many a dolefel grunt. He went and gota tub, begaa to hunt For kneading-troughs, found two, and had them sent ‘Home to his house in secret; then he went ‘And, unbeknowns, he hung them from a rafter. ‘With his own hands be made three ladders afte, ‘Uprights and rungs, to help them in thee scheme Ofeimbing where they hung upon the beam, ‘He victualed tub and trough and made all sug ‘With bread and cheese nd ae ina large jug, ‘Enough for tree of them tae the day, ‘Andy just before completing this array, ‘Packed off the maid and his apprentice too ‘To London on a jb they had to do. ‘And on the Monday when i dew 0 night Hie shut his door and doweed the candlelight ‘And made quite sure all was a t shouldbe. ‘Aad shortly, up they clambered, all the tres, 16 The Mill's Tae Silent and separate. They began to pray ‘And ‘Pater Noster mam’, sid Nicbolay, ‘And ‘mum’ sid John and ‘mum’ sid Alison, ‘The carpenter's devotions being done, Hie sat quite still then felt prayer again ‘With one car cocked, however, forthe rn, ‘The earpente, with all the work he'd seen, Fell dead asleep ~ round cure, must have been, ‘Maybe lite later on the whole. He groaned in sleep for travail of his soul ‘And snored because his head wat turned awry. ‘Down by thei ladders, stalking from on high (Came Nicholas and Alison, and sped Softly downstairs, without a word, to bed, ‘And where this carpenter was wont tobe “The revels started and the melody. And thus lay Nicholas and Alison ‘Busy in solace and the quest of fn, ‘Until the bell for lauds had started vinging ‘And in the chance friars began thei singing. "This parish clerk, this amorous Absalon, Loverstricken sll and very woe-begone, ‘Upon the Monday was in company ‘At Oxney with his fends fr jlits, ‘And chanced to ak a resident cloister ‘What had become of John the carpenter. “The fellow drew him out of church tos, “Don't know; not been at work since Sarurday. ean say where hei Think he went ‘To fetch the Abbot timber. He is sent ‘Often enough fr timber, has to go (Out tothe Grange and stop a day or 905 ot, he's certainly at home to-day ‘Bue where he is can't exscly sy.” ‘Absalon was ajolly lad and light ‘Of heart; he thought, ‘Tl stay awake to-nig ‘Vn certain that I baven't sen him stirring “About his door siace dawns i's safe inferring 07The Mille’ Tale ‘That he's away. As 'm alive Tl go ‘And ap his window softly atthe crow ‘Of cock ~ the sil is Tow-set oa the wall, shal se Alison and tll er all ‘My loveonging, and I can hardly miss ‘Some favour fom her, at the least ass Tl get some satisfaction anyways ‘There's been an itching in my mouth all dy ‘And tha’sa sign of kissing the least, ‘And al last night T dreamt about a feast. Think Tu go and sleep an hour or t#0, ‘Then wake and have some fun, that's what 1 do." ‘The first cock crew atlas, and thereupon Up rose this jolly liver Absslon in gayest clothes, garnished with that and this; But frst he chewed a grain of liquorice ‘To charm his breath before he combed his ait. ‘Under his tongue the com nestling there ‘Would make him gracious. He began to roam “Towards the carpenter's he reached thes home ‘nd by the easement window took bis sand, Breasthigh I stood, no higher than his hand, ‘He gave a cough, it was a semi-sounds ‘Alison, heney-cemb, are you around? ‘Sweet cinnamon, my le prety bisd, Sweethear, wake up and say a itl word! ‘You seldom think of mein all my woe, I sweat for love of you wherever Igo! {No wonder iT do, I pine and blest ‘As any ambkin hungerng forthe teat, ‘Believe me, darling, I'm so deep in love TTeroon with loging like a turie-dovey Leatas lle as. girl at school” ‘You go away,’ she answered, ‘you Tom-foolL ‘There's no come-up-and-kis-me ere for you. love another and why shouldn't It00? Better than you, by Jesu, Absalon! ‘Take yourself off or I shall throw a stone, a8 Tha Miles Tale want to get some sleep, You goto Hell?” ‘Ast sid Absalon T nev it well, ‘True love i always mocked and pirded at ‘Sokiss me, ifyou can’t do more than that, For Jesus lve and forthe lve of mel” “And if do, will you be off?” sid she “Promise you, dating? answered Absalon. ‘Get ready thens wats 'l pu something on? ‘She said and then she added under breath ‘To Nicholas, ‘Hush... we shall augh t death” "Thie Absalon went down upon his knees; ‘Tam lord!" he thought, ‘And by degrees ‘There may be more to come; the plot may thicken “Morey, my love!” be sai, Your mouth, my chicken!" ‘She fing the window open then in haste ‘And said, “Have done, come on, no time to waste, “The neighbours here are alvays onthe spy." ‘Absalon started wiping his mouth dry. Dark was the night as pitch, a black as oa ‘And at the window out se put her ole, ‘And Absalon, so fortune framed the farce, Purup his mouth and kissed her naked ase ‘Mast savorousy before he knew of this. ‘And back he started, Something was amiss He knew quite well a woran has no beard, ‘Yer something ough and hairy had appeared. “What have I done ?he said, "Can that be you? ‘Techee!” she cred and lapped the window to, ‘Off went poor Absalon sadly trough the dark. “A beard! a beard” ried Nicholas the Spark. God's body tat was something like a joke!” ‘And Absalon, oretheaing what he spoke, ‘Bion his lips and nearly threw aie Ta rage and thought, pay you back frit” ‘Who's busy ubbing, scraping at his lips ‘With dust, with snd, wid sta, with cloth, wih chips But Absalon? He thought, bring him dowal {woulda let this go forall the town. 19The Milles Tale a tke my soul and sell itt the Devil ‘Tobe revenged upon him! I'l get level © God, why did Ilet myself be fooled?* ‘The fiery beat of love by now had cooled, ‘For from the time he kised her hinder parts, He dida't givea takers curse for tarts; His malady was cured by this endeavour ‘And be defied all pramours whatever. So, weeping lke a child chat has been whipped, He turned away; across the road he slipped ‘And called on Gervase. Gervase was a smiths His forge was fall of things for ploughing with ‘And be was busy sharpening a share. “Absalon knocked, and with an cay it (Called, “Gervase! Open up the door, come on!” ‘Whats that? Who's there?" It's me, is Absalon? ‘What, Absalon? By Jesus blessed wee You're caly up! Hey, bodice, ‘What's wrong? Some oly gia ike a5 not las coated you out and set you onthe tot. [Blessed St Neotl You know the thing I mean.” ‘But Absalon, who dia’ pve a bean For all his joking, offered no debate. ‘He had a good deal more upoa his pate ‘Than Gervase knew and said, ‘Wold it be fair “To borrow that coulter in the chimney there, ‘The hot one, se it? I've job to do; Tewon't take log, Pl bring ie back to you? Gervase replied, “Why, ifyou asked for god ‘A bag of sovereigns or of wealth untold, {re shouldbe yours, 28 I'm an honest smith ‘But, Christ, why borrow that todo it with ?* “Let that? seid Absalon, ‘be as it mays ‘You'll hear about ial some other day.” "He caught the coulter up ~ the hat was cool = ‘And left the smithy softy with the tol, ‘Crepe tothe ile window inthe wall ‘And coughed, He knocked and gave aie call The Mille’ Tale ‘Under the window ashe ha before. ‘Alison snd, “There's someone a the doo. Who's knocking there? PU warrant e's. thie? ‘Why, no; said he, ‘my lite flower-leaf, It’s your own Absalon, my sweety-thing! ‘Look what I've brought you ~ t's a golden ring ‘My mother gave me as Tmay be saved, 1 very fine, and prety engraved give it to you, darling for abs. ‘Now Nichola had risen fora pss, ‘And thought he could improve upon the jape ‘And make him kis his arse ere he escape, ‘And opening the window witha er, Stuck out his arse, a handsome piece of work, ‘Buttocks and all, as far a5 to the haunch. Stid Absalon, all se to make a lunch, “Speak, prety ied, Tkoow aot where thou at” ‘This Nicholas at once le fy a fart As loud as it were a thunder-clap. He was near Blinded by the Blast, poor chap, ‘Buti hot roa was ready; with a thump ‘He smote him inthe middle ofthe rump. (Of went the skin a hand's breads round about ‘Where the hot coulter struck and burnt i out Such was the pain, he thought he must be dying ‘And, mad with agony, he started crying, ater! Water! Help! For Heaven's love!” “The carpenter, stared from sleep sbove, ‘And bearing shouts for wate snd athed, ‘Thought, ‘Heaven help us! Here comes Nowel's Flood ‘And up he st and with no mere ado He took his axe and smete the ropes in #0 ‘And down went everything. He didn’ stop ‘To sel his bread and ae, but came down flop ‘Upon the flor and fainted right away. ‘Up started Alison and Nicolay ‘And shouted “Help!” and Murder!” inthe sret, ‘The neighbours all came running up in heatThe Miller's Tae ‘And stood there staring atthe wretched man, He lay there fainting, pale beneath his tan ‘His am in falling had been broken double. But sil he was obliged to face his trouble, For when e spoke he was at once borne down. By Nicholas and hs wife. They tld the town ‘That he was mad, there'd got into his blood Some sort of nonsense about “Nowe!'s Flood”, ‘That vain imaginings and fantasy ad made him buy the kneading-rubs that he “ad tung them in the rafters up above ‘And that he'd begged them both for heaven's love ‘To situp inthe roof for company. ‘All started laughing at this lunacy ‘And streamed upstairs to gape and pry ang! poke, ‘And treated al is suferings ata joke, ‘No matter what the carpenter asserted Te went for nothing, noone was converted; With powerful oats they swore the fellow down And be was held for mad by all the towns ‘The students al ganged up with one another ‘Saying: ‘The fellow’s crazy, my dear brother” ‘And every one among them laughed and joked. ‘And so the carpenter's wife was truly poked, Asis jealousy to justify, ‘And Absalon hat Kissed her nether eye ‘And Nicholas i branded on the bum ‘And God bring all of us to Kingdom Come, The Reeve’s Tale The Reeve’s Prologue HRW al had laughed a the preposterous lat. OF Absalon and Nicholas the Spark, ‘Various folk made various comment after ‘Bot the majority dissolved in laughter, [Nor did T soe a soul it reemed to grieve ‘Unless it might be Oswald, the wld Reeve, For, ashe wasa carpenter by trade, He wa linie angry sill and made ‘Grumbling remarks and scalded fora bit, “As I'ma man P'd pay you back fri” ‘He sid, ‘with how they bleared a Miller's eye, [ET liked dire and wished to argu. ‘But Tam old. Dirt doesn’ go with doddering, Grase-time is done and I'm for witerfoddering. ‘My hoary top-knoe writes me down for old Same as my hair, my ear is fll of mould, ‘Unless Ibe like them there medlar-frut, ‘Them tha gets rottener a8 they ripen to ‘Til they be rotted dove in saw and dung. ‘That's how we gett be, no longer young. ‘Wanting e hoary head and a geen til, ‘Like lcks have got the strength to play that game sone, though we love foolishness the same, ‘What we can't do no more we alk about ‘And rake the ashes when the fire out. “Yet we have four live coals, as Ycan shows Lis, boasting, greed and rage will aways glow. 33