The Miller's Tale
Folio 40v
3 of 17 folios
Sche was ful more blisfuƚƚ for to see
Thane is þe newe perionet tree
And softer þan wolle is of a weþer
And be hir purse \gyrdel/ hinge a purs of leþere
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Tassilde wiþ selke ad perlid wiþ laton
In al þis werlde to seken vpe & downe
Þere is noman so wise þat couþe þenche
So Gaye a popelote or swiche a wenche
Ful brihter was þe schinoinge of hir hewe
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Than in þe toure þe noble forgodenewe
Bott of hir songe it was so lowde & ȝerne
As any swalowe Chiterynge on a berne
There to sche couþe skippe & make a game
As any kide or calfe foloweynge his dame
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Hir mouþe was swete as braket or þe meþe
Or horde of appeles layde in haye or heþe
Wynsinge sche was as \a/ Ioli colte
Longe as a maste & vpriht as a bolte
A broche sche bare on hir loue colere
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As brode as is þe boos of a bokelere
Hir schoes were laced on hir legges hihe
Sche was a pimerol a pigges nye
For any lorde to liggen in his bedde
Or ȝit for any good ȝoman to wedde
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¶ Nowe sire & eft sire so be feƚƚ þe cas
That on .a. daie þis hende Nicholas
Fil wiþ þis ȝonge wif to rage & to plaie
While þat hire husbond was att Osenaye
As clerkes ben ful sotel & ful whenite
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And piuelye he cauht hire be þe queynte
And seide . ywis bot if .I. haue my . wiƚƚ .
For derne loue of þe lēman .I. spiƚƚ
And held hire harde be þe haunche bones
And seide lēman loue me wele att ones
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Or .I. wille deyen also god me saue
And sche spronge as a colte doþe in þe traue
And wiþ hire hede sche wried fast awaie
Sche seide .I. wil nouht kisse þe be my . faie
Whi labbe qd iche lat be nycholas
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Or .I. wiƚƚ crie oute harrowe & alas
Do weie ȝoure hondes for ȝoure curtesie
This Nicholas gan mercie for to crie .