The Miller's Tale
Folio 42r
6 of 17 folios
He wakeþ al þe nyght & al þe daie
He kembed his lokkes brode & maade hem gaie
He woweþ hire be menes & brocage
190
And swore he wolde bene hir owen page
He singeþ brokkinge as a nyghtingale
He sente hir Meþe & Periment & spyced ale
And weifres pipeinge hote vnder þe glede
And for sche was of towne he proferd mede
195
For some folke wil be wonne wt richesse
And sum for strokes & sōme for gentilnesse
Somtime to schewe his lyhtnesse and Maistre
He plaieþ heraude vpon a scafolde hihe
Bot what aveileþ him as in þis caas
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Sche loueþ soo þis hende Nicholas
That absolon maie blowe þe bokkes horne
He ne haþe for his laboure bot a scorene
And þus sche makeþ Absolon hire Ape
And al his erneste torneþ tiƚƚ a Iape
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For soþe is þis prouerbe it is no lye
Men sein right þus Alweie þe neighe sleyȝe
Makeþ þe fer leue to be loþe
For þouhe þat Absolon be woode or wroþe
Be cause þat he fer was from hir siht
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This nyhe Nicholas stode in his liht
¶ Nowe bere ȝowe wele hende Nicholas
For Absolon may waile & singe Alas
And so befeƚƚ it on a seturdaie
This Carpentier was gone to Oseneye
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And hende Nicholas & Alison
Accorded bue to þis conclusione
That Nicholas schapen hem awile
Þese sely Ielouse husbonde to be guyle
And if so be þe game went ariht
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Sche scholde slepen in his arme alnyht
For þis was his desire & hire also
And riht anone wiþ oute wordes moo
This Nicholas no langere wolde tarye
Bot doþe soft vnto his chambre Carye
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Boþe mete & drinke for a daie or tweye
And to hir husbonde bad hire for to seie
If þat he axede after Nicholas
Sche scholde seie sche nyst where he was