|
Aleyn the clerk, that herde this melodye, |
| 315 | He poked John, and seyde, "Slepestow? |
| Herdestow evere slyk a sang er now? |
| Lo, swilk a complyn is ymel hem alle, |
| A wilde fyr upon thair bodyes falle! |
| Wha herkned evere slyk a ferly thyng? |
| 320 | Ye, they sal have the flour of il endyng. |
| This lange nyght ther tydes me na reste; |
| But yet, nafors, al sal be for the beste. |
| For, John," seyde he, "als evere moot I thryve, |
| If that I may, yon wenche wil I swyve. |
| 325 | Som esement has lawe yshapen us; |
| For, John, ther is a lawe that says thus, |
| That gif a man in a point be agreved, |
| That in another he sal be reveled. |
| Oure corn is stoln, sothly, it is na nay, |
| 330 | And we han had an il fit al this day; |
| And syn I sal have neen amendement |
| Agayn my los, I will have esement. |
| By Goddes sale, it sal neen other bee!" |
| This John answerde, "Alayn, avyse thee! |
| 335 | The millere is a perilous man, "he seyde, |
| "And gif that he out of his sleep abreyde, |
| He myghte doon us bathe a vileynye." |
| Aleyn answerde, "I counte hym nat a flye." |
| And up he rist, and by the wenche he crepte. |
| 340 | This wenche lay uprighte, and faste slepte, |
| Til he so ny was, er she myghte espie, |
| That it had been to late for to crie, |
| And shortly for to seyn, they were aton. |
| Now pley, Aleyn, for I wol speke of John. |
|
| Alain the clerk, who heard this melody, |
| 315 | He poked at John and said: "Asleep? But how? |
| Have you ever heard such a noice before now? |
| Lo, what a compline is among them all! |
| Now may the wild-fire on their bodies fall! |
| Who ever heard so outlandish a thing? |
| 320 | But they shall have the flour of ill ending. |
| Through this long night there'll be for me no rest; |
| But never mind, 'twill all be for the best. |
| For, John," said he, "as ever I'll take my luck, |
| As, if I can, that very wench I'll fuck. |
| 325 | Some compensation the law allows to us; |
| For, John, there is a statute which says thus, |
| That if a man in one point be aggrieved, |
| Yet in another shall he be relieved. |
| Our corn is stolen, there's no denial to that, |
| 330 | An evil time all this day we had. |
| But since I may not have amending, now, |
| Against my loss I'll set some fun - and how! |
| By God's great soul it shall not be otherwise!" |
| This John replied: "Alain, let me advise. |
| 335 | The miller is a dangerous man," he said, |
| "And if he be awakened, I'm afraid |
| He may well do us both an injury." |
| But Alain said: "I count him not a flea." |
| And up he rose and to the girl he crept. |
| 340 | This wench lay on her back and soundly slept, |
| Until he'd come so near, before she might spy, |
| It was too late to struggle then, or cry; |
| And, to be brief, these two were soon at one. |
| Now play, Alain! For I will speak of John. |
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