The Miller's Tale
Folio 177r
3 of 17 folios
65
Tassellid wt sylk & perlit wt latoū
In al this world to sekyn vp & doū
There is no man so wys that coude thȳche
So gay a popelote or swych a wenche
Ful bryght was the schynynge of here hewe
70
Than in þõ tour / the noble forgit newe
But of here song it was as loude & ȝerne
As ony swalwe syttynge on a berne
And þerto sche coude skippe & make game
As ony kede or kalf folwende hese dame
75
Here mouth was swete as braket or the methe
Or hord of appillis leyd ī hay or hethe
Wynsynge sche was as is a ioly colt
Long as a mast & vp ryght as a bolt
A broche sche bar vp on here lowe coler
80
As brod as is the bos of a bokeler
Here schois were lasyd on here leggis hye
Sche was a prȳrole & a piggis nye
For ony lord to liggȳ in hese bedde
Or ek for ony good ȝeman to wedde
85
Now sere & eft sere so be fel the cas
That on a day this hendyn Nicholas
Fil with þis ȝynge wif rage & pleye
Whil þt here husbonde was at hoseneye
As clerkys ben ful sotyl & ful queynte
90
And piuyly he caughte here bi þõ queynte
And seyde I wis but I mowe haue myn wille
For derne loue of the lēman I spille
And held here harde be the haūche bonys
And seyde lēman loue me al at onys
95
Or I wele deyin al so god me saue
And sche sprong as a colt doth in the traue
And wt here hed sche wrythed faste a wey
Sche seyde I wol not kysse þõ be my fey
Whi let be quod sche let be nycholas
100
Or I wele crye out harrow allas