The Reeve's Tale
Folio 52v
1 of 11 folios
65
He can wel in myn eye seen a stalke
But in his owne he can nought seen a balke
HEre endeþ þe prologe of þe Reue
And here bygynneþ his tale
AT Trompyngtoū nat fer fro Cantebrigge
Ther goth a brook and ouer þat a brigge
Vpon þe whiche brook þer stant a melle
And þis is verray soþ þat I ȝou telle /
5
A meller was þer dwellyng many a day
As eny Pecok he was prowd and gay
Pipen he coude and fissħ and nettys beete
And turne cuppes wrastle wel and scheete /
Ay by his belt he bar a long panade
10
And of a swerd ful trenchaūt was þe blade /
A Ioly popper bar he in his pouche
Ther was no man for perel durst him touche /
A Scheffeld thwitel bar he in his hose
Round was his face and camois was his nose
15
As pyled as an ape was his skulle /
He was a market beter at þe fulle
Ther durste no wigħt hand vpon him legge
That he ne swor anon he schuld abegge /
A þeef he was for soþ of corn and mele /
20
And þat a sleigħ and vsyng for to stele /
His name was hoote deynous Symekyn
A wyf he hadde / come of noble kyn
The persoū of þe toun hir fader was
With hire he ȝaf ful many a panne of bras
25
For þat Symkyn schuld in his blood allye
Sche was I fostryd in a Nonnerye
For Symkyn wolde no wyf as he sayde
But sche were wel I norissched and a mayde /
To sauen his estaat and ȝemanrye
30
And sche was proud and pert as is a pye
A ful fair sigħte was þer on hem two /
On haly dayes bifore hir wolde he go
Wiþ his typet ybounde aboute his heed
And sche cam aftir in a gyte of reed