|
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." |
|
|
This parish clerk, this amorous Absalom, |
| 550 | Whom love has made so woebegone and dumb, |
| Upon the Monday was down Osney way, |
| With company, to find some sport and play; |
| And there he chanced to ask a cloisterer, |
| Privately, after John the carpenter. |
| 555 | This monk drew him apart, out of the kirk, |
| And said: "I have not seen him here at work. |
| Since Saturday; I think well that he went |
| For timber, that the abbot has him sent; |
| For he is wont for timber thus to go, |
| 560 | Remaining at the grange a day or so; |
| Or else he's surely at his house today; |
| But which it is I cannot truly say." |
| This Absalom right happy was and light, |
| And thought: "Now is the time to wake all night; |
| 565 | For certainly I saw him not stirring |
| About his door since day began to spring. |
| So may I thrive, as I shall, at cock's crow, |
| Knock cautiously upon that window low |
| Which is so placed upon his bedroom wall. |
| 570 | To Alison then will I tell of all |
| My love-longing, and thus I shall not miss |
| That at the least I'll have her lips to kiss. |
| Some sort of comfort shall I have, I say, |
| My mouth's been itching all this livelong day; |
| 575 | That is a sign of kissing at the least. |
| All night I dreamed, too, I was at a feast. |
| Therefore I'll go and sleep two hours away |
| And all this night then will I wake and play." |
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