| "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." |
|
|
"Presently go, and fetch here to this inn |
| 440 | A kneading-tub, or brewing vat, and win |
| One each for us, but see that they are large, |
| Wherein we may swim out as in a barge, |
| And have therein sufficient food and drink |
| For one day only; that's enough, I think. |
| 445 | The water will dry up and flow away |
| About the prime of the succeeding day. |
| But Robin must not know of this, your knave, |
| And even Jill, your maid, I may not save; |
| Ask me not why, for though you do ask me, |
| 450 | I will not tell you of God's privity. |
| Suffice you, then, unless your wits are mad, |
| To have as great a grace as Noah had. |
| Your wife I shall not lose, there is no doubt, |
| Go, now, your way, and speedily about, |
| 455 | But when you have, for you and her and me, |
| Procured these kneading-tubs, or beer-vats, three, |
| Then you shall hang them near the roof-tree high, |
| That no man our purveyance may espy. |
| And when you thus have done, as I have said, |
| 460 | And have put in our drink and meat and bread, |
| Also an axe to cut the ropes in two |
| When the flood comes, that we may float and go, |
| And cut a hole, high up, upon the gable, |
| Upon the garden side, over the stable, |
| 465 | That we may freely pass forth on our way |
| When the great rain and flood are gone that day - |
| Then shall you float as merrily, I'll stake, |
| As does the white duck after the white drake. |
| Then I will call, 'Ho, Alison! Ho, John! |
| 470 | Be cheery, for the flood will pass anon.' |
| And you will say, 'Hail. Master Nicholay! |
| Good morrow, I see you well, for it is day!' |
| And then shall we be barons all our life |
| Of all the world, like Noah and his wife. |
| 475 | "But of one thing I warn you now, outright. |
| Be well advised, that on that very night |
| When we have reached our ships and got aboard, |
| Not one of us must speak or whisper word, |
| Nor call, nor cry, but sit in silent prayer; |
| 480 | For this is God's own bidding, hence- don't dare! |
| "Your wife and you must hang apart, that in |
| The night shall come no chance for you to sin |
| Either in looking or in carnal deed. |
| These orders I have told you, go, God speed! |
| 485 | Tomorrow night, when all men are asleep, |
| Into our kneading-tubs will we three creep |
| And sit there, still, awaiting God's high grace. |
| Go, now, your way, I have no longer space |
| Of time to make a longer sermoning. |
| 490 | Men say thus: 'Send the wise and say no thing.' |
| You are so wise it needs not that I teach; |
| Go, save our lives, and that I do beseech." |
|
