| 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. |
| 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. |
|
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. |
|
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 wyf! |
| 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 , |
| 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! |
