The Miller's Tale
Folio 43v
3 of 19 folios
As eny wesil hir body gent and smal
A seynt sche wered barred al of silk
50
A barmcloþ eek as whit as morne mylk
Vpon hir lendes ful of many a gore
Whit was hir smok and browdid albyfore
And eek byhynde on hir coler aboute
Of coleblak silk wiþinne and eek wiþoute
55
The tapes of hir white voluper
Weren of þe same sute of hire coler
Hir filet brood of silk y set ful heye
And certeynly sche hadd a licorous eyȝe
Ful smal y pulled weren hir browes two /
60
And þo were bent as blak as a slo
Sche was wel more blisful on to see
Than is þe newe perionette tree
And softer þan þe wol is of a weþir
And by hir gurdil hyng a purs of leþir
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Tassid wiþ silk and perled wiþ latou~
In al þis world to seken vp and doun
Ther nys no man so wys þat couþe þenche /
So gay a popillot or such a wenche /
For brighter was þe smylyng of hir hewe
70
Than in þe tour þe noble I forged newe
But of hir song it was as lowde and ȝerne
As eny swalwe chiteryng on a berne
Ther to sche cowde skippe and make game
As eny kyde or calf folwyng his dame
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Hir mouth was sweete as bragat is or meth
Or hoord of apples layd in hay or heth
Wynsyng sche was as is a Ioly colt
Long as a mast / and vprigħt as a bolt /
A broch sche bar vpon hir loue coleer
80
As brod as is þe bos of a bocleer
Hir schos were laced / on hir legges heyȝe
Sche was a primerole a pigges neyȝe
For eny lord have liggyng in his bedde
Or ȝet for eny good ȝeman to wedde
85
Now sir and eft sir / so bifel þe cas