| 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. |
|
|
This carpenter went down and came again, |
| And brought of potent ale a brimming quart; |
| 390 | And when each one of them had drunk his part, |
| Nicholas shut the door fast, and with that |
| He drew a seat and near the carpenter sat. |
| He said: "Now, John, my good host, lief and dear, |
| You must upon your true faith swear, right here, |
| 395 | That to no man will you this word betray; |
| For it is Christ's own word that I will say, |
| And if you tell a man, you're ruined quite; |
| This punishment shall come to you, of right, |
| That if you're traitor you'll go mad- and should!" |
| 400 | "Nay, Christ forbid it, for His holy blood!" |
| Said then this simple man: "I am no blab, |
| Nor, though I say it, am I fond of gab. |
| Say what you will, I never will it tell |
| To child or wife, by Him that harried Hell!" |
| 405 | "Now, John," said Nicholas, "I will not lie; |
| But I've found out, from my astrology, |
| As I have looked upon the moon so bright, |
| That now, come Monday next, at nine of night, |
| Shall fall a rain so wildly mad as would |
| 410 | Have been, by half, greater than Noah's flood. |
| This world," he said, "in less time than an hour, |
| Shall all be drowned, so terrible is this shower; |
| Thus shall all mankind drown and lose all life." |
| This carpenter replied: "Alas, my wife! |
| 415 | And shall she drown? Alas, my Alison!" |
| For grief of this he almost fell down. |
| He said: "Is there no remedy in this case?" |
| "Why yes, good luck," said clever Nicholas, |
| "If you will work by counsel of the wise; |
| 420 | You must not act on what your wits advise. |
| For so says Solomon, and it's all true, |
| 'Work by advice and thou shalt never rue.' |
| And if you'll act as counselled and not fail, |
| I undertake, without a mast or sail, |
| 425 | To save us all, aye you and her and me. |
| Haven't you heard of, Noah, how saved was he, |
| Because Our Lord had warned him how to keep |
| Out of the flood that covered earth so deep?" |
| "Yes," said this carpenter, "long years ago." |
| 430 | "Have you not heard," asked Nicholas, "also |
| The sorrows of Noah and his fellowship |
| In getting his wife to go aboard the ship? |
| He would have rather, I dare undertake, |
| At that time, and for all the weather black, |
| 435 | That she had one ship for herself alone. |
| Therefore, do you know what would best be done? |
| This thing needs haste, and of a hasty thing |
| Men must not preach nor do long tarrying. |
|
