The Reeve's Tale
Folio 55r
6 of 11 folios
Wery and wete as bestys in þe Reyn
Comth sely Iohñ and wiþ him comþ aleyn
Allas qd Iohñ þat day þat I was born
190
Now are we dryue til heþing and to scorn
Oure corn is stole men woln vs foles calle /
Bathe þe wardeyn and eek our felaws alle /
And namely þe myller weyloway
Thus pleyneth Iohñ as he goþ by þe way
195
Toward þe mylle and bayard in his hand
Þe myller sittyng by þe fyr he fand
For it was nigħt and forþer migħt þey nouȝt
But for þe loue of god þey him bisougħt
As herberwħ and of ese as for her peny
200
Þe myller sayd agayn if þer be eny
Swich as it is ȝit schul ȝe haue ȝour part
Myn hous is streyt . but ȝe han lerned art
Ȝe come by argumentes make a place
A myle brood of twenty foote of space /
205
Let se now if þis place may suffyse
Or make it rom wiþ speche as is ȝour gyse
Now Symond seyde þis Ioħñ by seynt Cuthberd
Ay is þou mery and þat is fair answerd /
I haue herd say men suld take of twa þinges
210
Slik as he fynt / or tak slik as he bringes
But specially I pray þe host ful deere
Get vs som mete and drynk and mak vs cheere
And we wol paye trewly at þe fulle
Wiþ empty hand men may na hawkes tulle
215
Lo heer our siluer redy for to spende
This meller in to toun his dought er sende
For ale and breed and rosted hem a goos
And band her hors he schold no more go loos
And in his owne chambir hem made a bed
220
With schetys and with chaloūs fair I spred
Nat from his owen bed ten foot or twelue /
His doughter had a bed al by hir selue
Right in þe same chambre by and by
Hit mighte be no bet and cause why