The Reeve's Tale
Folio 49v
3 of 10 folios
85
And oonely for her mirþe & reuelrie
Vppoñ þe wardeine besely þei crie
To ȝeue hem leue bot a litel stounde
To goone to melle & seen her corne . y grounde
And hardely þei dorst leiue her neke
90
Þe Meller schold nouht stele hem half a pekke
Of corne ne be sleihte ne be force heme reue
And att þe laste þe wardeine ȝaf hem leue
Ioħn hight þat one . & Aleyne hiht þat oþere
Of one towne were þei borne þat hiht stroþere
95
Fer in the Norþe .I. can nouht tel where
This Aleine makeþ redi al his gere
And one an hors þis sak he cast a none
Forþe goþe Aleyne þe clerke & also Ione
Wiþ good swerde & wiþ bokeler be his side
100
Iohñ knewe þe weie him nedeþ no gide
And att þe melrie þe sakke adoune he laythe
Alayn spak first . alhaile Simonde in fayþe
Howe fareþ þi faire douhter & þi wife
Alayne welcome qd Simkin be my life
105
And Iohñ also howe nowe what do ȝe here
Be god qd Ioħn . Simond . nede haþe no pere
Him be houeþ serue him self þat haþe no sweyne
Or elles he is a foole as clerkes seine
Oure maunciple .I. hope he wil be dede
110
Swa werkes him þe wanges in his hede
And þere fore es .I. come & alswa Aleine
To grinde oure corne & carie it ham aȝeine
.I. prei ȝowe spede vs heþen þat ȝe maye
It schal be done qd Simkin be my faye
115
¶ What wiƚƚ ȝe done while þat it is in hande
Be god . riht be þe hoper wil .I. stande
Qd Ioħn & see howe þe corne goþe Inne
Ȝit sawe .I. neuer be my fader kinne
Howe þat þe hoper wagges tiƚƚ & fra
120
Aleyne Ansewerd Iohñ wil tow swa
Than wil .I. be by neþe be my croune
And see howe gates þe mele falles adowne
In tiƚƚ þe troughe þat schaƚƚ be my disporte
Qd Iohñ in faaþe .I. es al of ȝowre sorte
125
.I. es as il a Melnere as es ȝe
This Mellere smyled of here Nicite .