The Canterbury tales

The Reeve's Tale

At trumpyngtoun, nat fer fro cantebrigge, Line 3921 Ther gooth a brook, and over that a brigge, Line 3922 Upon the whiche brook ther stant a melle; Line 3923 And this is verray sooth that I yow telle: Line 3924 A millere was ther dwellynge many a day. Line 3925 As any pecok he was proud and gay. Line 3926 Pipen he koude and fisshe, and nettes beete, Line 3927 And turne coppes, and wel wrastle and sheete; Line 3928 Ay by his belt he baar a long panade, Line 3929 And of a swerd ful trenchant was the blade Line 3930 A joly poppere baar he in his pouche; Line 3931 Ther was no man, for peril, dorste hym touche. Line 3932 A sheffeld thwitel baar he in his hose. Line 3933 Round was his face, and camus was his nose; Line 3934 As piled as an ape was his skulle. Line 3935 He was a market-betere atte fulle. Line 3936 Ther dorste no wight hand upon hym legge, Line 3937 That he ne swoor he sholde anon abegge. Line 3938 A theef he was for sothe of corn and mele, Line 3939 And that a sly, and usaunt for to stele. Line 3940 His name was hoote deynous symkyn. Line 3941 A wyf he hadde, ycomen of noble kyn; Line 3942 The person of the toun hir fader was. Line 3943 With hire he yaf ful many a panne of bras, Line 3944 For that symkyn sholde in his blood allye. Line 3945 She was yfostred in a nonnerye; Line 3946 For symkyn wolde no wyf, as he sayde, Line 3947 But she were wel ynorissed and a mayde, Line 3948 To saven his estaat of yomanrye. Line 3949 And she was proud, and peert as is a pye. Line 3950 A ful fair sighte was it upon hem two; Line 3951 On halydayes biforn hire wolde he go Line 3952 With his typet bounden aboute his heed, Line 3953 And she cam after in a gyte of reed; Line 3954 And symkyn hadde hosen of the same. Line 3955 Ther dorste no wight clepen hire but dame; Line 3956 Was noon so hardy that wente by the weye Line 3957 That with hire dorste rage or ones pleye, Line 3958 But if he wolde be slayn of symkyn Line 3959 With panade, or with knyf, or boidekyn. Line 3960 For jalous folk ben perilous everemo; Line 3961 Algate they wolde hire wyves wenden so. Line 3962 And eek, for she was somdel smoterlich, Line 3963 She was as digne as water in a dich, Line 3964 And ful of hoker and of bisemare. Line 3965 Hir thoughte that a lady sholde hire spare, Line 3966 What for hire kynrede and hir nortelrie Line 3967 That she hadde lerned in the nonnerie. Line 3968 A doghter hadde they bitwixe hem two Line 3969 Of twenty yeer, withouten any mo, Line 3970 Savynge a child that was of half yeer age; Line 3971 In cradel it lay and was a propre page. Line 3972 This wenche thikke and wel ygrowen was, Line 3973 With kamus nose, and eyen greye as glas, Line 3974 With buttokes brode, and brestes rounde and hye; Line 3975 But right fair was hire heer, I wol nat lye. Line 3976 This person of the toun, for she was feir, Line 3977 In purpos was to maken hire his heir, Line 3978 Bothe of his catel and his mesuage, Line 3979 And straunge he made it of hir mariage. Line 3980 His purpos was for to bistowe hire hye Line 3981 Into som worthy blood of auncetrye; Line 3982 For hooly chirches good moot been despended Line 3983 On hooly chirches blood, that is descended. Line 3984 Therfore he wolde his hooly blood honoure, Line 3985 Though that he hooly chirche sholde devoure. Line 3986 Greet sokene hath this millere, out of doute, Line 3987 With whete and malt of al the land aboute; Line 3988 And nameliche ther was a greet collegge Line 3989 Men clepen the soler halle at cantebregge; Line 3990 Ther was hir whete and eek hir malt ygrounde. Line 3991 And on a day it happed, in a stounde, Line 3992 Sik lay the maunciple on a maladye; Line 3993 Men wenden wisly that he sholde dye. Line 3994 For which this millere stal bothe mele and corn Line 3995 An hundred tyme moore than biforn; Line 3996 For therbiforn he stal but curteisly, Line 3997 But now he was a theef outrageously, Line 3998 For which the wardeyn chidde and made fare. Line 3999 But therof sette the millere nat a tare; Line 4000 He craketh boost, and swoor it was nat so. Line 4001 Thanne were ther yonge povre scolers two, Line 4002 That dwelten in this halle, of which I seye. Line 4003 Testif they were, and lusty for to pleye, Line 4004 And, oonly for hire myrthe and revelrye, Line 4005 Upon the wardeyn bisily they crye Line 4006 To yeve hem leve, but a litel stounde, Line 4007 To goon to mille and seen hir corn ygrounde; Line 4008 And hardily they dorste leye hir nekke Line 4009 The millere sholde not stele hem half a pekke Line 4010 Of corn by sleighte, ne by force hem reve; Line 4011 And at the laste the wardeyn yaf hem leve. Line 4012 John highte that oon, and aleyn highte that oother; Line 4013

Line 4013 Of o toun were they born, that highte strother, Line 4014 Fer in the north, I kan nat telle where. Line 4015 This aleyn maketh redy al his gere, Line 4016 And on an hors the sak he caste anon. Line 4017 Forth goth aleyn the clerk, and also john, Line 4018 With good swerd and with bokeler by hir syde. Line 4019 John knew the wey, -- hem nedede no gyde, -- Line 4020 And at the mille the sak adoun he layth. Line 4021 Aleyn spak first, al hayl, symond, y-fayth! Line 4022 Hou fares thy faire doghter and thy wyf? Line 4023 Aleyn, welcome, quod symkyn, by my lyf! Line 4024 And john also, how now, what do ye heer? Line 4025 Symond, quod john, by god, nede has na peer. Line 4026 Hym boes serve hymself that has na swayn, Line 4027 Or elles he is a fool, as clerkes sayn. Line 4028 Oure manciple, I hope he wil be deed, Line 4029 Swa werkes ay the wanges in his heed; Line 4030 And forthy is I come, and eek alayn, Line 4031 To grynde oure corn and carie it ham agayn; Line 4032 I pray yow spede us heythen that ye may. Line 4033 It shal be doon, quod symkyn, by my fay! Line 4034 What wol ye doon whil that it is in hande? Line 4035 By god, right by the hopur wil I stande, Line 4036 Quod john, and se howgates the corn gas in. Line 4037 Yet saugh I nevere, by my fader kyn, Line 4038 How that the hopur wagges til and fra. Line 4039 Aleyn answerde, john, and wiltow swa? Line 4040 Thanne wil I be bynethe, by my croun, Line 4041 And se how that the mele falles doun Line 4042 Into the trough; that sal be my disport. Line 4043 For john, y-faith, I may been of youre sort; Line 4044 I is as ille a millere as ar ye. Line 4045 This millere smyled of hir nycetee, Line 4046 And thoghte, al this nys doon but for a wyle. Line 4047 They wene that no man may hem bigyle, Line 4048 But by my thrift, yet shal I blere hir ye, Line 4049 For al the sleighte in hir philosophye. Line 4050 The moore queynte crekes that they make, Line 4051 The moore wol I stele whan I take. Line 4052 In stide of flour yet wol I yeve hem bren. Line 4053 -- The gretteste clerkes been noght wisest men, -- Line 4054 As whilom to the wolf thus spak the mare. Line 4055 Of al hir art ne counte I noght a tare. Line 4056 Out at the dore he gooth ful pryvely, Line 4057 Whan that he saugh his tyme, softely. Line 4058 He looketh up and doun til he hath founde Line 4059 The clerkes hors, ther as it stood ybounde Line 4060 Bihynde the mille, under a levesel; Line 4061 And to the hors he goth hym faire and wel; Line 4062 He strepeth of the brydel right anon. Line 4063 And whan the hors was laus, he gynneth gon Line 4064 Toward the fen, ther wilde mares renne, Line 4065 And forth with wehee, thurgh thikke and thurgh thenne. Line 4066 This millere gooth agayn, no word he seyde, Line 4067 But dooth his note, and with the clerkes pleyde, Line 4068 Til that hir corn was faire and well ygrounde. Line 4069 And whan the mele is sakked and ybounde, Line 4070 This john goth out and fynt his hors away, Line 4071 And gan to crie harrow! and weylaway! Line 4072

Line 4072 Oure hors is lorn, alayn, for goddes banes, Line 4073 Step on thy feet! com of, man, al atanes! Line 4074 Allas, our wardeyn has his palfrey lorn. Line 4075 This aleyn al forgat, bothe mele and corn; Line 4076 Al was out of his mynde his housbondrie. Line 4077 What, whilk way is he geen? he gan to crie. Line 4078 The wyf cam lepynge inward with a ren. Line 4079 She seyde, allas! youre hors goth to the fen Line 4080 With wilde mares, as faste as he may go. Line 4081 Unthank come on his hand that boond hym so, Line 4082 And he that bettre sholde han knyt the reyne! Line 4083 Allas, quod john, aleyn, for cristes peyne Line 4084 Lay doun thy swerd, and I wil myn alswa. Line 4085 I is ful wight, God waat, as is a raa; Line 4086 By goddes herte, he sal nat scape us bathe! Line 4087 Why ne had thow pit the capul in the lathe? Line 4088 Ilhayl! by god, alayn, thou is a fonne! Line 4089 Thise sely clerkes han ful faste yronne Line 4090 Toward the fen, bothe aleyn and eek john. Line 4091 And whan the millere saugh that they were gon, Line 4092 He half a busshel of hir flour hath take, Line 4093 And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake. Line 4094 He seyde, I trowe the clerkes were aferd. Line 4095 Yet kan a millere make a clerkes berd, Line 4096 For al his art; now lat hem goon hir weye! Line 4097 Lo, wher he gooth! ye, lat the children pleye. Line 4098 They gete hym nat so lightly, by my croun. Line 4099 Thise sely clerkes rennen up and doun Line 4100 With keep! keep! stand! stand! jossa, warderere, Line 4101 Ga whistle thou, and I shal kepe hym heere! Line 4102 But shortly, til that it was verray nyght, Line 4103 They koude nat, though they dide al hir myght, Line 4104 Hir capul cacche, he ran alwey so faste, Line 4105 Til in a dych they caughte hym atte laste. Line 4106 Wery and weet, as beest is in the reyn, Line 4107 Comth sely john, and with him comth aleyn. Line 4108 Allas, quod john, the day that I was born! Line 4109 Now are we dryve til hethyng and til scorn. Line 4110 Oure corn is stoln, men wil us fooles calle, Line 4111 Bathe the wardeyn and oure felawes alle, Line 4112 And namely the millere, weylaway! Line 4113 Thus pleyneth john as he gooth by the way Line 4114 Toward the mille, and bayard in his hond. Line 4115 The millere sittynge by the fyr he fond, Line 4116 For it was nyght, and forther myghte they noght; Line 4117 But for the love of God they hym bisoght Line 4118 Of herberwe and of ese, as for hir peny. Line 4119 The millere seyde agayn, if ther be eny, Line 4120 Swich as it is, yet shal ye have youre part. Line 4121 Myn hous is streit, but ye han lerned art; Line 4122 Ye konne by argumentes make a place Line 4123 A myle brood of twenty foot of space. Line 4124 Lat se now if this place may suffise, Line 4125 Or make it rowm with speche, as is youre gise. Line 4126 Now, symond, seyde john, by seint cutberd, Line 4127 Ay is thou myrie, and this is faire answerd. Line 4128 I have herd seyd, -- man sal taa of twa thynges Line 4129 Slyk as he fyndes, or taa slyk as he brynges. -- Line 4130 But specially I pray thee, hooste deere, Line 4131 Get us som mete and drynke, and make us cheere, Line 4132 And we wil payen trewely atte fulle. Line 4133 With empty hand men may na haukes tulle; Line 4134 Loo, heere oure silver, redy for to spende. Line 4135 This millere into toun his doghter sende Line 4136 For ale and breed, and rosted hem a goos, Line 4137 And boond hire hors, it sholde namoore go loos; Line 4138 And in his owene chambre hem made a bed, Line 4139 With sheetes and with chalons faire yspred Line 4140 Noght from his owene bed ten foot or twelve. Line 4141 His doghter hadde a bed, al by hirselve, Line 4142 Right in the same chambre by and by. Line 4143 It myghte be no bet, and cause why? Line 4144 Ther was no roumer herberwe in the place. Line 4145 They soupen and they speke, hem to solace, Line 4146 And drynken evere strong ale atte beste. Line 4147 Aboute mydnyght wente they to reste. Line 4148 Wel hath this millere vernysshed his heed; Line 4149 Ful pale he was for dronken, and nat reed. Line 4150 He yexeth, and he speketh thurgh the nose Line 4151 As he were on the quakke, or on the pose. Line 4152 To bedde he goth, and with hym goth his wyf. Line 4153 As any jay she light was and jolyf, Line 4154 So was hir joly whistle wel ywet. Line 4155 The cradel at hir beddes feet is set, Line 4156 To rokken, and to yeve the child to sowke. Line 4157 And whan that dronken al was in the crowke, Line 4158 To bedde wente the doghter right anon; Line 4159 To bedde goth aleyn and also john; Line 4160 Ther nas na moore, -- hem nedede no dwale. Line 4161 This millere hath so wisely bibbed ale Line 4162 That as an hors he fnorteth in his sleep, Line 4163 Ne of his tayl bihynde he took no keep. Line 4164 His wyf bar hym a burdon, a ful strong; Line 4165 Men myghte hir rowtyng heere two furlong; Line 4166 The wenche rowteth eek, par compaignye. Line 4167 Aleyn the clerk, that herde this melodye, Line 4168 He poked john, and seyde, slepestow? Line 4169 Herdestow evere slyk a sang er now? Line 4170 Lo, swilk a complyn is ymel hem alle, Line 4171 A wilde fyr upon thair bodyes falle! Line 4172 Wha herkned evere slyk a ferly thyng? Line 4173 Ye, they sal have the flour of il endyng. Line 4174 This lange nyght ther tydes me na reste; Line 4175 But yet, nafors, al sal be for the beste. Line 4176 For, john, seyde he, als evere moot I thryve, Line 4177 If that I may, yon wenche wil I swyve. Line 4178 Som esement has lawe yshapen us; Line 4179 For, john, ther is a lawe that says thus, Line 4180 That gif a man in a point be agreved, Line 4181 That in another he sal be releved. Line 4182 Oure corn is stoln, sothly, it is na nay, Line 4183 And we han had an il fit al this day; Line 4184 And syn I sal have neen amendement Line 4185 Agayn my los, I will have esement. Line 4186 By goddes sale, it sal neen other bee! Line 4187 This john answerde, alayn, avyse thee! Line 4188 The millere is a perilous man, he seyde, Line 4189 And gif that he out of his sleep abreyde, Line 4190 He myghte doon us bathe a vileynye. Line 4191 Aleyn answerde, I counte hym nat a flye. Line 4192 And up he rist, and by the wenche he crepte. Line 4193 This wenche lay uprighte, and faste slepte, Line 4194 Til he so ny was, er she myghte espie, Line 4195 That it had been to late for to crie, Line 4196 And shortly for to seyn, they were aton. Line 4197 Now pley, aleyn, for I wol speke of john. Line 4198 This john lith stille a furlong wey or two, Line 4199 And to hymself he maketh routhe and wo. Line 4200 Allas! quod he, this is a wikked jape; Line 4201 Now may I seyn that I is but an ape. Line 4202 Yet has my felawe somwhat for his harm; Line 4203 He has the milleris doghter in his arm. Line 4204 He auntred hym, and has his nedes sped, Line 4205 And I lye as a draf-sak in my bed; Line 4206 And when this jape is tald another day, Line 4207 I sal been halde a daf, a cokenay! Line 4208 I wil arise and auntre it, by my fayth! Line 4209 -- Unhardy is unseely, -- thus men sayth. Line 4210 And up he roos, and softely he wente Line 4211 Unto the cradel, and in his hand it hente, Line 4212 And baar it softe unto his beddes feet. Line 4213 Soone after this the wyf hir rowtyng leet, Line 4214 And gan awake, and wente hire out to pisse, Line 4215 And cam agayn, and gan hir cradel mysse, Line 4216 And groped heer and ther, but she foond noon. Line 4217

Line 4217 Allas! quod she, I hadde almoost mysgoon; Line 4218 I hadde almoost goon to the clerkes bed. Line 4219 Ey, benedicite! thanne hadde I foule ysped. Line 4220 And forth she gooth til she the cradel fond. Line 4221 She gropeth alwey forther with hir hond, Line 4222 And foond the bed, and thoghte noght but good, Line 4223 By cause that the cradel by it stood, Line 4224 And nyste wher she was, for it was derk; Line 4225 But faire and wel she creep in to the clerk, Line 4226 And lith ful stille, and wolde han caught a sleep. Line 4227 Withinne a while this john the clerk up leep, Line 4228 And on this goode wyf he leith on soore. Line 4229 So myrie a fit ne hadde she nat ful yoore; Line 4230 He priketh harde and depe as he were mad. Line 4231 This joly lyf han thise two clerkes lad Line 4232 Til that the thridde cok bigan to synge. Line 4233 Aleyn wax wery in the dawenynge, Line 4234 For he had swonken al the longe nyght, Line 4235 And seyde, fare weel, malyne, sweete wight! Line 4236 The day is come, I may no lenger byde; Line 4237 But everemo, wher so I go or ryde, Line 4238 I is thyn awen clerk, swa have I seel! Line 4239 Now, deere lemman, quod she, go, far weel! Line 4240 But er thow go, o thyng I wol thee telle: Line 4241 Whan that thou wendest homward by the melle, Line 4242 Right at the entree of the dore bihynde Line 4243 Thou shalt a cake of half a busshel fynde Line 4244 That was ymaked of thyn owene mele, Line 4245 Which that I heelp my sire for to stele. Line 4246 And, goode lemman, God thee save and kepe! Line 4247 And with that word almoost she gan to wepe. Line 4248 Aleyn up rist, and thoughte, er that it dawe, Line 4249 I wol go crepen in by my felawe; Line 4250 And fond the cradel with his hand anon. Line 4251 By god, thoughte he, al wrang I have mysgon. Line 4252 Myn heed is toty of my swynk to-nyght, Line 4253 That makes me that I ga nat aright. Line 4254 I woot wel by the cradel I have mysgo; Line 4255 Heere lith the millere and his wyf also. Line 4256 And forth he goth, a twenty devel way, Line 4257 Unto the bed ther as the millere lay. Line 4258 He wende have cropen by his felawe john, Line 4259 And by the millere in he creep anon, Line 4260 And caughte hym by the nekke, and softe he spak. Line 4261 He seyde, thou john, thou swynes-heed, awak, Line 4262 For cristes saule, and heer a noble game. Line 4263 For by that lord that called is seint jame, Line 4264 As I have thries in this shorte nyght Line 4265 Swyved the milleres doghter bolt upright, Line 4266 Whil thow hast, as a coward, been agast. Line 4267 Ye, false harlot, quod the miller, hast? Line 4268 A, false traitour! false clerk! quod he, Line 4269 Thow shalt be deed, by goddes dignitee! Line 4270 Who dorste be so boold to disparage Line 4271 My doghter, that is come of swich lynage? Line 4272 And by the throte-bolle he caughte alayn, Line 4273 And he hente hym despitously agayn, Line 4274 And on the nose he smoot hym with his fest. Line 4275 Doun ran the blody streem upon his brest; Line 4276 And in the floor, with nose and mouth tobroke, Line 4277 They walwe as doon two pigges in a poke; Line 4278 And up they goon, and doun agayn anon, Line 4279 Til that the millere sporned at a stoon, Line 4280 And doun he fil bakward upon his wyf, Line 4281 That wiste no thyng of this nyce stryf; Line 4282 For she was falle aslepe a lite wight Line 4283 With john the clerk, that waked hadde al nyght, Line 4284 And with the fal out of hir sleep she breyde. Line 4285 Help! hooly croys of bromeholm, she seyde, Line 4286 In manus tuas! lord, to thee I calle! Line 4287 Awak, symond! the feend is on me falle. Line 4288 Myn herte is broken; help! I nam but deed! Line 4289 Ther lyth oon upon my wombe and on myn heed. Line 4290 Help, symkyn, for the false clerkes fighte! Line 4291 This john stirte up as faste as ever he myghte, Line 4292 And graspeth by the walles to and fro, Line 4293 To fynde a staf; and she stirte up also, Line 4294 And knew the estres bet than dide this john, Line 4295 And by the wal a staf she foond anon, Line 4296 And saugh a litel shymeryng of a light, Line 4297 For at an hole in shoon the moone bright; Line 4298 And by that light she saugh hem bothe two, Line 4299 But sikerly she nyste who was who, Line 4300 But as she saugh a whit thyng in hir ye. Line 4301 And whan she gan this white thyng espye, Line 4302 She wende the clerk hadde wered a volupeer, Line 4303 And with the staf she drow ay neer and neer, Line 4304 And wende han hit this aleyn at the fulle, Line 4305 And smooth the millere on the pyled skulle, Line 4306 That doun he gooth, and cride, harrow! I dye! Line 4307 Thise clerkes beete hym weel and lete hym lye; Line 4308 And greythen hem, and tooke hir hors anon, Line 4309 And eek hire mele, and on hir wey they gon. Line 4310 And at the mille yet they tooke hir cake Line 4311 Of half a busshel flour, ful wel ybake. Line 4312

Line 4312 Thus is the proude millere wel ybete, Line 4313 And hath ylost the gryndynge of the whete, Line 4314 And payed for the soper everideel Line 4315 Of aleyn and of john, that bette hym weel. Line 4316 His wyf is swyved, and his doghter als. Line 4317 Lo, swich it is a millere to be fals! Line 4318 And therfore this proverbe is seyd ful sooth, Line 4319 Hym thar nat wene wel that yvele dooth; Line 4320 A gylour shal hymself bigyled be. Line 4321 And god, that sitteth heighe in magestee, Line 4322 Save al this compaignye, grete and smale! Line 4323 Thus have I quyt the millere in my tale. Line 4324