| Whilom ther was dwellynge at Oxenford |
| A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord, |
| And of his craft he was a carpenter. |
| 3190 | With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler, |
| Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasye |
| Was turned for to lerne astrologye, |
| And koude a certeyn of conclusiouns, |
| To demen by interrogaciouns, |
| 3195 | If that men asked hym, in certein houres |
| Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures, |
| Or if men asked hym what sholde bifalle |
| Of every thyng; I may nat rekene hem alle. |
| This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas. |
| 3200 | Of deerne love he koude and of solas; |
| And therto he was sleigh and ful privee, |
| And lyk a mayden meke for to see. |
| A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye |
| Allone, withouten any compaignye, |
| 3205 | Ful fetisly ydight with herbes swoote; |
| And he hymself as sweete as is the roote |
| Of lycorys or any cetewale. |
| His Almageste, and bookes grete and smale, |
| His astrelabie, longynge for his art, |
| 3210 | His augrym stones layen faire apart, |
| On shelves couched at his beddes heed; |
| His presse ycovered with a faldyng reed; |
| And al above ther lay a gay sautrie, |
| On which he made a-nyghtes melodie |
| 3215 | So swetely that all the chambre rong; |
| And Angelus ad virginem he song; |
| And after that he song the Kynges Noote. |
| Ful often blessed was his myrie throte. |
| And thus this sweete clerk his tyme spente |
| 3220 | After his freendes fyndyng and his rente. |
| This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf, |
| Which that he lovede moore than his lyf; |
| Of eighteteene yeer she was of age. |
| Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage, |
| 3225 | 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, |
| That bad man sholde wedde his simylitude. |
| Men sholde wedden after hire estaat, |
| 3230 | For youthe and elde is often at debaat. |
| But sith that he was fallen in the snare, |
| He moste endure, as oother folk, his care. |
| Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal |
| As any wezele hir body gent and smal. |
| 3235 | A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk, |
| A barmclooth as whit as morne milk |
| Upon hir lendes, ful of many a goore. |
| Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore |
| And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute, |
| 3240 | Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute. |
| The tapes of hir white voluper |
| Were of the same suyte of hir coler; |
| Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye. |
| And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye; |
| 3245 | Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two, |
| And tho were bent and blake as any sloo. |
| She was ful moore blisful on to see |
| Than is the newe pere-jonette tree, |
| And softer than the wolle is of a wether. |
| 3250 | 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, |
| There nys no man so wys that koude thenche |
| So gay a popelote or swich a wenche. |
| 3255 | 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 |
| As any swalwe sittynge on a berne. |
| Therto she koude skippe and make game, |
| 3260 | 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. |
| Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt, |
| Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt. |
| 3265 | 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. |
| She was a prymerole, a piggesnye, |
| For any lord to leggen in his bedde, |
| 3270 | Or yet for any good yeman to wedde. |
| Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas |
| That on a day this hende Nicholas |
| Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye, |
| Whil that hir housbonde was at Oseneye, |
| 3275 | 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, |
| For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille." |
| And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones, |
| 3280 | 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, |
| And with hir heed she wryed faste awey, |
| And seyde, "I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey! |
| 3285 | Why, lat be!" quod she. "Lat be, Nicholas, |
| Or I wol crie `out, harrow' and `allas'! |
| Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye!" |
| This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye, |
| And spak so faire, and profred him so faste, |
| 3290 | That she hir love hym graunted atte laste, |
| And swoor hir ooth, by Seint Thomas of Kent, |
| That she wol been at his comandement, |
| Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie. |
| "Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie |
| 3295 | 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." |
| "Nay, therof care thee noght," quod Nicholas. |
| "A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle, |
| 3300 | But if he koude a carpenter bigyle." |
| And thus they been accorded and ysworn |
| To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn. |
| Whan Nicholas had doon thus everideel |
| And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel, |
| 3305 | He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie, |
| And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie. |
| Thanne fil it thus, that to the paryssh chirche, |
| Cristes owene werkes for to wirche, |
| This goode wyf went on an haliday. |
| 3310 | 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, |
| The which that was ycleped Absolon. |
| Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon, |
| 3315 | 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. |
| With Poules wyndow corven on his shoos, |
| In hoses rede he wente fetisly. |
| 3320 | Yclad he was ful smal and proprely |
| Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget; |
| Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set. |
| And therupon he hadde a gay surplys |
| As whit as is the blosme upon the rys. |
| 3325 | 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. |
| In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce |
| After the scole of Oxenforde tho, |
| 3330 | And with his legges casten to and fro, |
| And pleyen songes on a smal rubible; |
| Therto he song som tyme a loud quynyble; |
| And as wel koude he pleye on a giterne. |
| In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne |
| 3335 | That he ne visited with his solas, |
| Ther any gaylard tappestere was. |
| But sooth to seyn, he was somdeel squaymous |
| Of fartyng, and of speche daungerous. |
| This Absolon, that jolif was and gay, |
| 3340 | Gooth with a sencer on the haliday, |
| Sensynge the wyves of the parisshe faste; |
| And many a lovely look on hem he caste, |
| And namely on this carpenteris wyf. |
| To looke on hire hym thoughte a myrie lyf, |
| 3345 | She was so propre and sweete and likerous. |
| I dar wel seyn, if she hadde been a mous, |
| And he a cat, he wolde hire hente anon. |
| This parissh clerk, this joly Absolon, |
| Hath in his herte swich a love-longynge |
| 3350 | That of no wyf took he noon offrynge; |
| For curteisie, he seyde, he wolde noon. |
| The moone, whan it was nyght, ful brighte shoon, |
| And Absolon his gyterne hath ytake; |
| For paramours he thoghte for to wake. |
| 3355 | And forth he gooth, jolif and amorous, |
| Til he cam to the carpenteres hous |
| A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe, |
| And dressed hym up by a shot-wyndowe |
| That was upon the carpenteris wal. |
| 3360 | He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal, |
| "Now, deere lady, if thy wille be, |
| I praye yow that ye wole rewe on me," |
| Ful wel acordaunt to his gyternynge. |
| This carpenter awook, and herde him synge, |
| 3365 | And spak unto his wyf, and seyde anon, |
| "What! Alison! Herestow nat Absolon, |
| That chaunteth thus under oure boures wal?" |
| And she answerde hir housbonde therwithal, |
| "Yis, God woot, John, I heere it every deel." |
| 3370 | This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than weel? |
| Fro day to day this joly Absolon |
| So woweth hire that hym is wo bigon. |
| He waketh al the nyght and al the day; |
| He kembeth his lokkes brode, and made hym gay; |
| 3375 | He woweth hire by meenes and brocage, |
| And swoor he wolde been hir owene page; |
| He syngeth, brokkynge as a nyghtyngale; |
| He sente hire pyment, meeth, and spiced ale, |
| And wafres, pipyng hoot out of the gleede; |
| 3380 | And, for she was of town, he profred meede; |
| For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse, |
| And somme for strokes, and somme for gentillesse. |
| Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye, |
| He pleyeth Herodes upon a scaffold hye. |
| 3385 | But what availleth hym as in this cas? |
| She loveth so this hende Nicholas |
| That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn; |
| He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn. |
| And thus she maketh Absolon hire ape, |
| 3390 | 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 |
| Maketh the ferre leeve to be looth." |
| For though that Absolon be wood or wrooth, |
| 3395 | By cause that he fer was from hire sight, |
| This nye Nicholas stood in his light. |
| Now ber thee wel, thou hende Nicholas, |
| For Absolon may waille and synge "allas." |
| And so bifel it on a Saterday, |
| 3400 | This carpenter was goon til Osenay; |
| And hende Nicholas and Alisoun |
| Acorded been to this conclusioun, |
| That Nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle |
| This sely jalous housbonde to bigyle; |
| 3405 | And if so be the game wente aright, |
| She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght, |
| For this was his desir and hire also. |
| And right anon, withouten wordes mo, |
| This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie, |
| 3410 | 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, |
| If that he axed after Nicholas, |
| She sholde seye she nyste where he was; |
| 3415 | 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, |
| He nolde answere for thyng that myghte falle. |
| This passeth forth al thilke Saterday, |
| 3420 | That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay, |
| And eet and sleep, or dide what hym leste, |
| Til Sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste. |
| This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle |
| Of Nicholas, or what thyng myghte hym eyle, |
| 3425 | And seyde, "I am adrad, by Seint Thomas, |
| It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas. |
| God shilde that he deyde sodeynly! |
| This world is now ful tikel, sikerly. |
| I saugh today a cors yborn to chirche |
| 3430 | 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. |
| Looke how it is, and tel me boldely." |
| This knave gooth hym up ful sturdily, |
| 3435 | 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? |
| How may ye slepen al the longe day?" |
| But al for noght; he herde nat a word. |
| 3440 | 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, |
| And at the laste he hadde of hym a sight. |
| This Nicholas sat evere capyng upright, |
| 3445 | As he had kiked on the newe moone. |
| Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister soone |
| In what array he saugh this ilke man. |
| This carpenter to blessen hym bigan, |
| And seyde, "Help us, Seinte Frydeswyde! |
| 3450 | A man woot litel what hym shal bityde. |
| This man is falle, with his astromye, |
| In some woodnesse or in som agonye. |
| I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be! |
| Men sholde nat knowe of Goddes pryvetee. |
| 3455 | Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man |
| That noght but oonly his bileve kan! |
| So ferde another clerk with astromye; |
| He walked in the feeldes for to prye |
| Upon the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle, |
| 3460 | Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle; |
| He saugh nat that. But yet, by Seint Thomas, |
| Me reweth soore of hende Nicholas. |
| He shal be rated of his studiyng, |
| If that I may, by Jhesus, hevene kyng! |
| 3465 | 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." |
| And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse. |
| His knave was a strong carl for the nones, |
| 3470 | And by the haspe he haaf it of atones; |
| Into the floor the dore fil anon. |
| This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon, |
| And evere caped upward into the eir. |
| This carpenter wende he were in despeir, |
| 3475 | And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily, |
| And shook hym harde, and cride spitously, |
| "What! Nicholay! What, how! What, looke adoun! |
| Awak, and thenk on Cristes passioun! |
| I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes." |
| 3480 | Therwith the nyght-spel seyde he anon-rightes |
| On foure halves of the hous aboute, |
| And on the thresshfold of the dore withoute: |
| "Jhesu Crist and Seinte Benedight, |
| Blesse this hous from every wikked wight, |
| 3485 | For nyghtes verye, the white pater-noster! |
| Where wentestow, Seinte Petres soster?" |
| And atte laste this hende Nicholas |
| Gan for to sik soore, and seyde, "Allas! |
| Shal al the world be lost eftsoones now?" |
| 3490 | This carpenter answerde, "What seystow? |
| What! Thynk on God, as we doon, men that swynke." |
| This Nicholas answerde, "Fecche me drynke, |
| And after wol I speke in pryvetee |
| Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee. |
| 3495 | I wol telle it noon oother man, certeyn." |
| This carpenter goth doun, and comth ageyn, |
| And broghte of myghty ale a large quart; |
| And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part, |
| This Nicholas his dore faste shette, |
| 3500 | And doun the carpenter by hym he sette. |
| He seyde, "John, myn hooste, lief and deere, |
| Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere |
| That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye, |
| For it is Cristes conseil that I seye, |
| 3505 | 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." |
| "Nay, Crist forbede it, for his hooly blood!" |
| Quod tho this sely man, "I nam no labbe, |
| 3510 | 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!" |
| "Now John," quod Nicholas, "I wol nat lye; |
| I have yfounde in myn astrologye, |
| 3515 | 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 |
| That half so greet was nevere Noes flood. |
| This world," he seyde, "in lasse than an hour |
| 3520 | Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour. |
| Thus shal mankynde drenche, and lese hir lyf." |
| This carpenter answerde, "Allas, my wyf! |
| And shal she drenche? Allas, myn Alisoun!" |
| For sorwe of this he fil almoost adoun, |
| 3525 | And seyde, "Is ther no remedie in this cas?" |
| "Why, yis, for Gode," quod hende Nicholas, |
| "If thou wolt werken after loore and reed. |
| Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed; |
| For thus seith Salomon, that was ful trewe: |
| 3530 | `Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat rewe.' |
| And if thou werken wolt by good conseil, |
| I undertake, withouten mast and seyl, |
| Yet shal I saven hire and thee and me. |
| Hastow nat herd hou saved was Noe, |
| 3535 | Whan that oure Lord hadde warned hym biforn |
| That al the world with water sholde be lorn?" |
| "Yis," quod this Carpenter, "ful yoore ago." |
| "Hastou nat herd," quod Nicholas, "also |
| The sorwe of Noe with his felaweshipe, |
| 3540 | Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe? |
| Hym hadde be levere, I dar wel undertake, |
| At thilke tyme, than alle his wetheres blake |
| That she hadde had a ship hirself allone. |
| And therfore, woostou what is best to doone? |
| 3545 | This asketh haste, and of an hastif thyng |
| Men may nat preche or maken tariyng. |
| "Anon go gete us faste into this in |
| A knedyng trogh, or ellis a kymelyn, |
| For ech of us, but looke that they be large, |
| 3550 | In which we mowe swymme as in a barge, |
| And han therinne vitaille suffisant |
| But for a day -- fy on the remenant! |
| The water shal aslake and goon away |
| Aboute pryme upon the nexte day. |
| 3555 | 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, |
| I wol nat tellen Goddes pryvetee. |
| Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde, |
| 3560 | 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. |
| "But whan thou hast, for hire and thee and me, |
| Ygeten us thise knedyng tubbes thre, |
| 3565 | 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, |
| And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd, |
| And eek an ax to smyte the corde atwo, |
| 3570 | 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, |
| That we may frely passen forth oure way, |
| Whan that the grete shour is goon away. |
| 3575 | Thanne shaltou swymme as myrie, I undertake, |
| As dooth the white doke after hire drake. |
| Thanne wol I clepe, `How, Alison! How, John! |
| Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon.' |
| And thou wolt seyn, `Hayl, maister Nicholay! |
| 3580 | Good morwe, I se thee wel, for it is day.' |
| And thanne shul we be lordes al oure lyf |
| Of al the world, as Noe and his wyf. |
| "But of o thyng I warne thee ful right: |
| Be wel avysed on that ilke nyght |
| 3585 | 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; |
| For it is Goddes owene heeste deere. |
| "Thy wyf and thou moote hange fer atwynne, |
| 3590 | For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne, |
| Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in deede. |
| This ordinance is seyd. Go, God thee speede! |
| Tomorwe at nyght, whan men ben alle aslepe, |
| Into oure knedyng-tubbes wol we crepe, |
| 3595 | And sitten there, abidyng Goddes grace. |
| Go now thy wey; I have no lenger space |
| To make of this no lenger sermonyng. |
| Men seyn thus, `sende the wise, and sey no thyng.' |
| Thou art so wys, it needeth thee nat teche. |
| 3600 | Go, save oure lyf, and that I the biseche." |
| This sely carpenter goth forth his wey. |
| Ful ofte he seide "Allas and weylawey," |
| And to his wyf he tolde his pryvetee, |
| And she was war, and knew it bet than he, |
| 3605 | What al this queynte cast was for to seye. |
| But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye, |
| And seyde, "Allas! go forth thy wey anon, |
| Help us to scape, or we been dede echon! |
| I am thy trewe, verray wedded wyf; |
| 3610 | Go, deere spouse, and help to save oure lyf." |
| Lo, which a greet thyng is affeccioun! |
| Men may dyen of ymaginacioun, |
| So depe may impressioun be take. |
| This sely carpenter bigynneth quake; |
| 3615 | Hym thynketh verraily that he may see |
| Noees flood come walwynge as the see |
| To drenchen Alisoun, his hony deere. |
| He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory cheere; |
| He siketh with ful many a sory swogh; |
| 3620 | He gooth and geteth hym a knedyng trogh, |
| And after that a tubbe and a kymelyn, |
| And pryvely he sente hem to his in, |
| And heng hem in the roof in pryvetee. |
| His owene hand he made laddres thre, |
| 3625 | To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes |
| Unto the tubbes hangynge in the balkes, |
| And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe, |
| With breed, and chese, and good ale in a jubbe, |
| Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day. |
| 3630 | 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. |
| And on the Monday, whan it drow to nyght, |
| He shette his dore withoute candel-lyght, |
| 3635 | And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be. |
| And shortly, up they clomben alle thre; |
| They seten stille wel a furlong way. |
| "Now, Pater-noster, clom!" seyde Nicholay, |
| And "Clom!" quod John, and "Clom!" seyde Alisoun. |
| 3640 | This carpenter seyde his devocioun, |
| And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere, |
| Awaitynge on the reyn, if he it heere. |
| The dede sleep, for wery bisynesse, |
| Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse, |
| 3645 | Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel moore; |
| For travaille of his goost he groneth soore, |
| And eft he routeth, for his heed myslay. |
| Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay, |
| And Alisoun ful softe adoun she spedde; |
| 3650 | Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde, |
| Ther as the carpenter is wont to lye. |
| Ther was the revel and the melodye; |
| And thus lith Alison and Nicholas, |
| In bisynesse of myrthe and of solas, |
| 3655 | Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge, |
| And freres in the chauncel gonne synge. |
| This parissh clerk, this amorous Absolon, |
| That is for love alwey so wo bigon, |
| Upon the Monday was at Oseneye |
| 3660 | With compaignye, hym to disporte and pleye, |
| And axed upon cas a cloisterer |
| Ful prively after John the carpenter; |
| And he drough hym apart out of the chirche, |
| And seyde, "I noot; I saugh hym heere nat wirche |
| 3665 | Syn Saterday; I trowe that he be went |
| For tymber, ther oure abbot hath hym sent; |
| For he is wont for tymber for to go |
| And dwellen at the grange a day or two; |
| Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn. |
| 3670 | 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, |
| For sikirly I saugh hym nat stirynge |
| Aboute his dore, syn day bigan to sprynge. |
| 3675 | "So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe, |
| Ful pryvely knokken at his wyndowe |
| That stant ful lowe upon his boures wal. |
| To Alison now wol I tellen al |
| My love-longynge, for yet I shal nat mysse |
| 3680 | That at the leeste wey I shal hire kisse. |
| Som maner confort shal I have, parfay. |
| My mouth hath icched al this longe day; |
| That is a signe of kissyng atte leeste. |
| Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste. |
| 3685 | Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye, |
| And al the nyght thanne wol I wake and pleye." |
| Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, anon |
| Up rist this joly lovere Absolon, |
| And hym arraieth gay, at poynt-devys. |
| 3690 | But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys, |
| To smellen sweete, er he hadde kembd his heer. |
| Under his tonge a trewe-love he beer, |
| For therby wende he to ben gracious. |
| He rometh to the carpenteres hous, |
| 3695 | 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: |
| "What do ye, hony-comb, sweete Alisoun, |
| My faire bryd, my sweete cynamome? |
| 3700 | Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me! |
| Wel litel thynken ye upon my wo, |
| That for youre love I swete ther I go. |
| No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete; |
| I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete. |
| 3705 | Ywis, lemman, I have swich love-longynge |
| That lik a turtel trewe is my moornynge. |
| I may nat ete na moore than a mayde." |
| "Go fro the wyndow, Jakke fool," she sayde; |
| "As help me God, it wol nat be `com pa me.' |
| 3710 | 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, |
| And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey!" |
| "Allas," quod Absolon, "and weylawey, |
| 3715 | 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." |
| "Wiltow thanne go thy wey therwith?" quod she. |
| "Ye, certes, lemman," quod this Absolon. |
| 3720 | "Thanne make thee redy," quod she, "I come anon." |
| And unto Nicholas she seyde stille, |
| "Now hust, and thou shalt laughen al thy fille." |
| This Absolon doun sette hym on his knees |
| And seyde, "I am a lord at alle degrees; |
| 3725 | For after this I hope ther cometh moore. |
| Lemman, thy grace, and sweete bryd, thyn oore!" |
| The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste. |
| "Have do," quod she, "com of, and speed the faste, |
| Lest that oure neighebores thee espie." |
| 3730 | This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful drie. |
| Derk was the nyght as pich, or as the cole, |
| And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole, |
| And Absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers, |
| But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers |
| 3735 | Ful savourly, er he were war of this. |
| Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys, |
| For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd. |
| He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd, |
| And seyde, "Fy! allas! what have I do?" |
| 3740 | "Tehee!" quod she, and clapte the wyndow to, |
| And Absolon gooth forth a sory pas. |
| "A berd! A berd!" quod hende Nicholas, |
| "By Goddes corpus, this goth faire and weel." |
| This sely Absolon herde every deel, |
| 3745 | And on his lippe he gan for anger byte, |
| And to hymself he seyde, "I shal thee quyte." |
| Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes |
| With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes, |
| But Absolon, that seith ful ofte, "Allas!" |
| 3750 | "My soule bitake I unto Sathanas, |
| But me were levere than al this toun," quod he, |
| "Of this despit awroken for to be. |
| Allas," quod he, "allas, I ne hadde ybleynt!" |
| His hoote love was coold and al yqueynt; |
| 3755 | For fro that tyme that he hadde kist hir ers, |
| Of paramours he sette nat a kers, |
| For he was heeled of his maladie. |
| Ful ofte paramours he gan deffie, |
| And weep as dooth a child that is ybete. |
| 3760 | A softe paas he wente over the strete |
| Until a smyth men cleped daun Gerveys, |
| That in his forge smythed plough harneys; |
| He sharpeth shaar and kultour bisily. |
| This Absolon knokketh al esily, |
| 3765 | And seyde, "Undo, Gerveys, and that anon." |
| "What, who artow?" "It am I, Absolon." |
| "What, Absolon! for Cristes sweete tree, |
| Why rise ye so rathe? Ey, benedicitee! |
| What eyleth yow? Som gay gerl, God it woot, |
| 3770 | Hath broght yow thus upon the viritoot. |
| By Seinte Note, ye woot wel what I mene." |
| This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene |
| Of al his pley; no word agayn he yaf; |
| He hadde moore tow on his distaf |
| 3775 | Than Gerveys knew, and seyde, "Freend so deere, |
| That hoote kultour in the chymenee heere, |
| As lene it me; I have therwith to doone, |
| And I wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone." |
| Gerveys answerde, "Certes, were it gold, |
| 3780 | Or in a poke nobles alle untold, |
| Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smyth. |
| Ey, Cristes foo! What wol ye do therwith?" |
| "Therof," quod Absolon, "be as be may. |
| I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day" -- |
| 3785 | And caughte the kultour by the colde stele. |
| Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele, |
| And wente unto the carpenteris wal. |
| He cogheth first, and knokketh therwithal |
| Upon the wyndowe, right as he dide er. |
| 3790 | This Alison answerde, "Who is ther |
| That knokketh so? I warante it a theef." |
| "Why, nay," quod he, "God woot, my sweete leef, |
| I am thyn Absolon, my deerelyng. |
| Of gold," quod he, "I have thee broght a ryng. |
| 3795 | 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." |
| This Nicholas was risen for to pisse, |
| And thoughte he wolde amenden al the jape; |
| 3800 | He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape. |
| And up the wyndowe dide he hastily, |
| And out his ers he putteth pryvely |
| Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon; |
| And therwith spak this clerk, this Absolon, |
| 3805 | "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, |
| That with the strook he was almoost yblent; |
| And he was redy with his iren hoot, |
| 3810 | And Nicholas amydde the ers he smoot. |
| Of gooth the skyn an hande-brede aboute, |
| The hoote kultour brende so his toute, |
| And for the smert he wende for to dye. |
| As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye, |
| 3815 | "Help! Water! Water! Help, for Goddes herte!" |
| This carpenter out of his slomber sterte, |
| And herde oon crien "water!" as he were wood, |
| And thoughte, "Allas, now comth Nowelis flood!" |
| He sit hym up withouten wordes mo, |
| 3820 | 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 |
| Upon the floor, and ther aswowne he lay. |
| Up stirte hire Alison and Nicholay, |
| 3825 | And criden "Out" and "Harrow" in the strete. |
| The neighebores, bothe smale and grete, |
| In ronnen for to gauren on this man, |
| That yet aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan, |
| For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm. |
| 3830 | But stonde he moste unto his owene harm; |
| For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun |
| With hende Nicholas and Alisoun. |
| They tolden every man that he was wood; |
| He was agast so of Nowelis flood |
| 3835 | Thurgh fantasie that of his vanytee |
| He hadde yboght hym knedyng tubbes thre, |
| And hadde hem hanged in the roof above; |
| And that he preyed hem, for Goddes love, |
| To sitten in the roof, par compaignye. |
| 3840 | The folk gan laughen at his fantasye; |
| Into the roof they kiken and they cape, |
| And turned al his harm unto a jape. |
| For what so that this carpenter answerde, |
| It was for noght; no man his reson herde. |
| 3845 | With othes grete he was so sworn adoun |
| That he was holde wood in al the toun; |
| For every clerk anonright heeld with oother. |
| They seyde, "The man is wood, my leeve brother"; |
| And every wight gan laughen at this stryf. |
| 3850 | Thus swyved was this carpenteris wyf, |
| For al his kepyng and his jalousye, |
| And Absolon hath kist hir nether ye, |
| And Nicholas is scalded in the towte. |
| This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte! |