The Miller's Tale
Folio 46v
15 of 17 folios
565
Alas qd he alas .I. ne hadde yblente
His hote loue is colde & al yquente
For fro þat time þat he had kissed here ers
Of paramours he sett nouht a cres
For he was helede of his maladye
570
Ful oft paramours he gan defie
And weppe as doþe a childe þat is ybete
A soft pas he wente ouere þe strete
Vnto a smyþe Men clepen Daun geruays
Þat in his forge smyþeieþ . plouhe hernays
575
He scharpeþ schare & culter bisilie
This Absolon knokkeþ al eselye
And seide vn to geruais & þat anone
What who art þou . It am .I. Absolone
What Absolone . what cristes swete tree
580
Whi rise ȝe so raþe \ey/ benedicite
Whate eyleþ ȝowe some gaie gerle god it wote
Haþe brouht ȝowe þus on þe veritote
Be seint note ȝe wote wele whatt .I. mene
This Absolon ne rouht nouht abene
585
Of al his pleie no worde aȝeine he ȝaffe
He had more towe on his distaffe
Than geruays knewe & seide frende so dere
The hote Culter in þe chymene here
As lene it me .I. haue þer wiþþe to done
590
.I. wil bringe it aȝein ful sone
Gerueys ansewerde Certes were it golde
Or in apoke nobles al vntolde
Thowe scholdest haue as .I. am trewe smyþþe
Ey Cristes foo what wil ȝe do þer wiþþe
595
There of qd Absolon be as be maye
.I. schal wele telne it þe to morwe daie
And cauhte þe Culter be þe colde stele
Ful softe owte att þe dore he gan stele
And wente vnto þe Carpentiers wal
600
He koughed first & knokked þer wiþ al
Vpon þe wyndowe riht as he dide ere
This Alison ansewarde who his þere
Þat knokkeþ so .I. warant. it a þefe
Whi naye qd he god wote my swete lefe
605
.I. am þin Absolon þin derleinge
Of golde qd he .I. haue þe browht aringe