|
This millere gooth agayn, no word he seyde, |
| But dooth his note, and with the clerkes pleyde, |
| 215 | Til that hir corn was faire and weel ygrounde. |
| And whan the mele is sakked and ybounde, |
| This John goth out and fynt his hors away, |
| And gan to crie "Harrow!" and "Weylaway! |
| Oure hors is lorn, Alayn, for Goddes banes, |
| 220 | Step on thy feet! Com of man, man, al atanes! |
| Allas, our wardeyn has his palfrey lorn." |
| This Aleyn al forgat, bothe mele and corn; |
| Al was out of his mynde his housbonderie. |
| "What, whilk way is he geen?" he gan to crie. |
| 225 | The wyf cam lepynge inward with a ren. |
| She seyde, "Allas! youre hors goth to the fen |
| With wilde mares, as faste as he may go. |
| Unthank come on his hand that boond hym so, |
| And he that bettre sholde han knyt the reyne!" |
| 230 | "Allas," quod John, "Aleyn, for Cristes peyne, |
| Lay doun thy swerd, and I wil myn alswa. |
| I is ful wight, God waat, as is a raa; |
| By Goddes herte, he sal nat scape us bathe! |
| Why ne had thow pit the capul in the lathe? |
| 235 | Ilhayl! by God, Alayn, thou is a fonne!" |
| Thise sely clerkes han ful faste yronne |
| Toward the fen, bothe Aleyn and eek John. |
| And whan the millere saugh that they were gon, |
| He half a busshel of hir flour hath take, |
| 240 | And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake. |
| He seyde, "I trowe the clerkes were aferd |
| Yet kan a millere make a clerkes berd, |
| For al his art; now lat hem goon hir weye! |
| Lo, wher he gooth! ye, lat the children pleye. |
| 245 | They gete hym nat so lightly, by my croun." |
| Thise sely clerkes rennen up and doun |
| With 'Keep! keep! stand! stand! jossa, warderere, |
| Ga whistle thou, and I shal kepe hym heere!' |
| But shortly, til that it was verray nyght, |
| 250 | They koude nat, though they dide al hir myght, |
| Hir capul cacche, he ran alwey so faste, |
| Til in a dych they caughte hym atte laste. |
|
|
This miller straight went back and no word said, |
| But does his business and with these students played, |
| 215 | Until their corn was fairly, fully ground. |
| But when the flour was sacked and the ears bound, |
| This John went out, to find his horse away, |
| And so he cried: "Hello!" and "Weladay! |
| Our horse is lost! Alain, for God's bones |
| 220 | Get to your feet, come out, man, now, at once! |
| Alas, our warden's palfrey's gone and lost!" |
| This Alain forgot all, flour, corn and cost, |
| Clean out of mind was all his cautiousness and care, |
| "What? Which way did he go?" he cried. "Where?" |
| 225 | The wife came running from the house, and then |
| She said: "Alas! Your horse went to the fen, |
| With the wild mares, as fast as he could go. |
| A curse lies on the hand that tied him so, |
| And him that better should have knit the reins!" |
| 230 | "Alas!" said John, "Alain, for Jesus' pains, |
| Lay down your sword, and I will mine also; |
| I am as fleet, God knows, as is a roe; |
| By God's heart, he shall not escape us both! |
| Why didn't you put him in the barn? My oath! |
| 235 | Bad luck, by God, Alain, you are a fool!" |
| These foolish students began to run and roll |
| Toward the marshes, both Alain and John. |
| And when the miller saw that they were gone, |
| He half a bushel of their flour did take |
| 240 | And bade his wife go knead it and bread make. |
| He said: "I think those clerks some trickery feared; |
| Yet can a miller match a clerkling's beard, |
| For all their learning; let them go their way. |
| Look where they go, yea, let the children play, |
| 245 | They'll catch him not so easily, on my crown!" |
| Those simple clerks went running up and down |
| With "Look out! Halt! Halt! here! 'Ware the rear! |
| Go whistle, you, and I will watch him here!" |
| But briefly, it wasn't until night |
| 250 | They could not, though they put forth all their might, |
| That horse to catch, he always ran so fast, |
| Till in a ditch they trapped him at the last. |
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