The Reeve's Tale
Folio 51v
7 of 10 folios
Wha herde euere slyke a ferly þinge
Ȝe þei schal haue þe floure of il endynge
255
¶ This lange nyhte þer sal .I. haue na reste
Bot ȝit na force al sal be for þe beste
For Iohñ seide he as euere mote .I. þriue
If þat .I. maye þe wenche wil .I. swyue
Some esement haþ þe lawe schapen vs
260
For Iohñ þere is a lawe þat seiþe þus
Þat if a man in opointe be agreuede
Þat in anoþer he sal be releuede
Oure corne is stollen soþely it is no naye
And we haue hade an yuel fitte to daye
265
And seen .I. schal haue none amendement
Ageyn my losse .I. wil haue esement
Be goddes saule it sal nane oþere be
This Iohñ ansewerde Aleine avise þe
The meller is a perlous man he seide
270
And if þat he oute of his slepe a breide
He myhte done vs baþe a velanye
Aleyne ansewarde .I. count \him/ nat a flye
And vpe he reste & be þe wenche he crepte
Þis wenche lay vp riht & fast sche slepte
275
Tyl he so nyhe was or sche myht spye
That it hadde bene to late for to crie
And schortly for to seye þei were att one
Now plaie Aleine for .I. wil speke of Iohñe
This Iohñ liþe stiƚƚ a fur longe waie or two
280
And to him selfe he makeþ reuþe & woo
Alas qd he þis is a wikked Iape
Now may .I. saie þat .I. es bot an ape
Ȝit haþe my felawe sum what for his harme
He haþe þe mellers douhter ī his arme
285
He Auntre him & haþ his nedes spedde
And .I. ly as a darf sakke in my bedde
And whan þis Iape is tolde anoþer daie
.I. saƚƚ be holden a daff a Cokeneye
.I. wil arise & aūtre it it be my faithe
290
Vnhardy is vnsely þus men seyþe
And vppe he ros & softly he went
Vn to þe cradel & in his honde it hente
And bare it soft vn to his beddes fete
Sone after þe wife hire routeynge lete