The Tale + 

Whilom there was dwelling in Oxenford + 

A richë gnof, that guestës held to board, + 

And of his craft he was a carpentér. + 

With him there was dwelling a poor scholér, + 

Had learned art, but all his fantasy + 

Was turned for to learn astrology. + 

He coudë a certain of conclusions + 

To deemë by interrogations, + 

If that men asked him in certain hours, + 

When that men should have drought or ellës show’rs: + 

Or if men asked him what shouldë fall + 

Of everything, I may not reckon all. + 

This clerk was called Hendy Nicholas; + 

Of dernë love he knew and of solace; + 

And therewith he was sly and full privy, + 

And like a maiden meekë for to see. + 

A chamber had he in that hostelry + 

Alone, withouten any company, + 

Full fetisly y-dight with herbës swoot, + 

And he himself was sweet as is the root + 

Of liquorice, or any setewall. + 

His Almagest, and bookës great and small, + 

His astrolabe, belonging to his art, + 

His augrim stonës, layed fair apart + 

On shelvës couched at his beddë’s head, + 

His press y-cover’d with a falding red. + 

And all above there lay a gay psalt’ry + 

On which he made at nightës melody, + 

So sweetëly, that all the chamber rang: + 

And Angelus ad virginem he sang. + 

And after that he sung the kingë’s note; + 

Full often blessed was his merry throat. + 

And thus this sweetë clerk his timë spent + 

After his friendës finding and his rent. + 

This carpenter had wedded new a wife, + 

Which that he loved morë than his life: + 

Of eighteen year, I guess, she was of age. + 

Jealous he was, and held her narr’w in cage, + 

For she was wild and young, and he was old, + 

And deemed himself bélike a cuckóld. + 

He knew not Cato, for his wit was rude, + 

That bade a man wed his similitude. + 

Men shouldë wedden after their estate, + 

For youth and eld are often at debate. + 

But since that he was fallen in the snare, + 

He must endure (as other folk) his care. + 

Fair was this youngë wife, and therewithal + 

As any weasel her body gent and small. + 

A seint she weared, barred all of silk, + 

A barm-cloth eke as white as morning milk + 

Upon her lendës, full of many a gore. + 

White was her smock, and broider’d all before, + 

And eke behind, on her collar about + 

Of coal-black silk, within and eke without. + 

The tapës of her whitë volupere + 

Were of the samë suit of her collére; + 

Her fillet broad of silk, and set full high: + 

And sickerly she had a likerous eye. + 

Full small y-pulled were her browës two, + 

And they were bent, and black as any sloe. + 

She was well more blissful on to see + 

Than is the newë perjenetë tree; + 

And softer than the wool is of a wether. + 

And by her girdle hung a purse of leather, + 

Tassel’d with silk, and pearlëd with latoun. + 

In all this world to seeken up and down + 

There is no man so wise, that coudë thenche + 

So gay a popelot, or such a wench. + 

Full brighter was the shining of her hue, + 

Than in the Tower the noble forged new. + 

But of her song, it was as loud and yern, + 

As any swallow chittering on a bern. + 

Thereto she couldë skip, and make a game, + 

As any kid or calf following his dame. + 

Her mouth was sweet as braket, or as methe, + 

Or hoard of apples, laid in hay or heath. + 

Wincing she was as is a jolly colt, + 

Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt. + 

A brooch she bare upon her low collére, + 

As broad as is the boss of a bucklére. + 

Her shoon were laced on her leggës high; + 

She was a primerole, a piggesnie, + 

For any lord t’ have ligging in his bed, + 

Or yet for any good yeoman to wed. + 

Now, sir, and eft sir, so befell the case, + 

That on a day this Hendy Nicholas + 

Fell with this youngë wife to rage and play, + 

While that her husband was at Oseney, + 

As clerkës be full subtle and full quaint. + 

And privily he caught her by the queint, + 

And said; “Y-wis, but if I have my will, + 

For dernë love of thee, leman, I spill.” + 

And heldë her fast by the haunchë bones, + 

And saidë “Leman, love me well at once, + 

Or I will dien, all so God me save.” + 

And she sprang as a colt doth in the trave: + 

And with her head she writhed fast away, + 

And said; “I will not kiss thee, by my fay. + 

Why let be,” quoth she, “let be, Nicholas, + 

Or I will cry out harow and alas! + 

Do away your handës, for your courtesy.” + 

This Nicholas gan mercy for to cry, + 

And spake so fair, and proffer’d him so fast, + 

That she her love him granted at the last, + 

And swore her oath by Saint Thomas of Kent, + 

That she would be at his commandement, + 

When that she may her leisure well espy. + 

“My husband is so full of jealousy, + 

That but ye waitë well, and be privy, + 

I wot right well I am but dead,” quoth she. + 

“Ye mustë be full derne as in this case.” + 

“Nay, thereof care thee nought,” quoth Nicholas: + 

“A clerk had litherly beset his while, + 

But if he could a carpenter beguile.” + 

And thus they were accorded and y-sworn + 

To wait a time, as I have said beforn. + 

When Nicholas had done thus every deal, + 

And thwacked her about the lendës well, + 

He kiss’d her sweet, and taketh his psalt’ry + 

And playeth fast, and maketh melody. + 

Then fell it thus, that to the parish church, + 

Of Christë’s owen workës for to wirch, + 

This good wife went upon a holy day: + 

Her forehead shone as bright as any day, + 

So was it washen, when she left her werk. + 

Now was there of that church a parish clerk, + 

The which that was y-cleped Absolon. + 

Curl’d was his hair, and as the gold it shone, + 

And strutted as a fannë large and broad; + 

Full straight and even lay his jolly shode. + 

His rode was red, his eyen grey as goose, + 

With Paulë’s windows carven on his shoes. + 

In hosen red he went full fetisly. + 

Y-clad he was full small and properly, + 

All in a kirtle of a light waget; + 

Full fair and thickë be the pointës set. + 

And thereupon he had a gay surplíce, + 

As white as is the blossom on the rise. + 

A merry child he was, so God me save; + 

Well could he letten blood, and clip, and shave, + 

And make a charter of land, and a quittance. + 

In twenty manners could he trip and dance, + 

After the school of Oxenfordë tho, + 

And with his leggës castë to and fro; + 

And playen songës on a small ribible; + 

Thereto he sung sometimes a loud quinible. + 

And as well could he play on a gitérn. + 

In all the town was brewhouse nor tavérn, + 

That he not visited with his solas, + 

There as that any garnard tapstere was. + 

But sooth to say he was somedeal squaimous + 

Of farting, and of speechë dangerous. + 

This Absolon, that jolly was and gay, + 

Went with a censer on the holy day, + 

Censing the wivës of the parish fast; + 

And many a lovely look he on them cast, + 

And namëly on this carpénter’s wife: + 

To look on her him thought a merry life. + 

She was so proper, and sweet, and likerous. + 

I dare well say, if she had been a mouse, + 

And he a cat, he would her hent anon. + 

This parish clerk, this jolly Absolon, + 

Hath in his heartë such a love-longing! + 

That of no wife took he none offering; + 

For courtesy he said he wouldë none. + 

The moon at night full clear and brightë shone, + 

And Absolon his gitern hath y-taken, + 

For paramours he thoughtë for to waken, + 

And forth he went, jolif and amorous, + 

Till he came to the carpentérë’s house, + 

A little after the cock had y-crow, + 

And dressed him under a shot window, + 

That was upon the carpentérë’s wall. + 

He singeth in his voice gentle and small; + 

“Now, dear lady, if thy will be, + 

I pray that ye will rue on me;” + 

Full well accordant to his giterning. + 

This carpenter awoke, and heard him sing, + 

And spake unto his wife, and said anon, + 

“What, Alison, hear’st thou not Absolon, + 

That chanteth thus under our bower wall?” + 

And she answer’d her husband therewithal; + 

“Yes, God wot, John, I hear him every deal.” + 

This passeth forth; what will ye bet than well? + 

From day to day this jolly Absolon + 

So wooeth her, that him is woebegone. + 

He waketh all the night, and all the day, + 

To comb his lockës broad, and make him gay. + 

He wooeth her by means and by brocage, + 

And swore he wouldë be her owen page. + 

He singeth brokking as a nightingale. + 

He sent her piment, mead, and spiced ale, + 

And wafers piping hot out of the glede: + 

And, for she was of town, he proffer’d meed. + 

For some folk will be wonnen for richéss, + 

And some for strokes, and some with gentiless. + 

Sometimes, to show his lightness and mast’ry, + 

He playeth Herod on a scaffold high. + 

But what availeth him as in this case? + 

So loveth she the Hendy Nicholas, + 

That Absolon may blow the buckë’s horn: + 

He had for all his labour but a scorn. + 

And thus she maketh Absolon her ape, + 

And all his earnest turneth to a jape. + 

Full sooth is this provérb, it is no lie; + 

Men say right thus alway; the nighë sly + 

Maketh oft time the far lief to be loth. + 

For though that Absolon be wood or wroth + 

Because that he far was from her sight, + 

This nigh Nicholas stood still in his light. + 

Now bear thee well, thou Hendy Nicholas, + 

For Absolon may wail and sing “Alas!” + 

And so befell, that on a Saturday + 

This carpenter was gone to Oseney, + 

And Hendy Nicholas and Alisón + 

Accorded were to this conclusión, + 

That Nicholas shall shapë him a wile + 

The silly jealous husband to beguile; + 

And if so were the gamë went aright, + 

She shouldë sleepen in his arms all night; + 

For this was her desire and his also. + 

And right anon, withoutë wordës mo’, + 

This Nicholas no longer would he tarry, + 

But doth full soft unto his chamber carry + 

Both meat and drinkë for a day or tway. + 

And to her husband bade her for to say, + 

If that he asked after Nicholas, + 

She shouldë say, “She wist not where he was; + 

Of all the day she saw him not with eye; + 

She trowed he was in some maladý, + 

For no cry that her maiden could him call + 

He would answer, for nought that might befall.” + 

Thus passed forth all thilkë Saturday, + 

That Nicholas still in his chamber lay, + 

And ate, and slept, and diddë what him list + 

Till Sunday, that the sunnë went to rest. + 

This silly carpenter had great marvail + 

Of Nicholas, or what thing might him ail, + 

And said; “I am adrad, by Saint Thomas! + 

It standeth not aright with Nicholas: + 

God shieldë that he died suddenly. + 

This world is now full tickle sickerly. + 

I saw to-day a corpse y-borne to chirch, + 

That now on Monday last I saw him wirch. + 

“Go up,” quod he unto his knave, “anon; + 

Clepe at his door, or knockë with a stone: + 

Look how it is, and tell me boldëly.” + 

This knavë went him up full sturdily, + 

And, at the chamber door while that he stood, + 

He cried and knocked as that he were wood: + 

“What how? what do ye, Master Nicholay? + 

How may ye sleepen all the longë day?” + 

But all for nought, he heardë not a word. + 

An hole he found full low upon the board, + 

There as the cat was wont in for to creep, + 

And at that hole he looked in full deep, + 

And at the last he had of him a sight. + 

This Nicholas sat ever gaping upright, + 

As he had kyked on the newë moon. + 

Adown he went, and told his master soon, + 

In what array he saw this ilkë man. + 

This carpenter to blissen him began, + 

And said: “Now help us, Saintë Frideswide. + 

A man wot little what shall him betide. + 

This man is fall’n with his astronomy + 

Into some woodness or some agony. + 

I thought aye well how that it shouldë be. + 

Men should know nought of Goddë’s privity. + 

Yea, blessed be alway a lewëd man, + 

That nought but only his believë can. + 

So far’d another clerk with astrónomý: + 

He walked in the fieldës for to pry + 

Upon the starrës, what there should befall, + 

Till he was in a marlë pit y-fall. + 

He saw not that. But yet, by Saint Thomas! + 

Me rueth sore of Hendy Nicholas: + 

He shall be rated of his studying, + 

If that I may, by Jesus, heaven’s king! + 

Get me a staff, that I may underspore + 

While that thou, Robin, heavest off the door: + 

He shall out of his studying, as I guess.” + 

And to the chamber door he gan him dress. + 

His knavë was a strong carl for the nonce, + 

And by the hasp he heav’d it off at once; + 

Into the floor the door fell down anon. + 

This Nicholas sat aye as still as stone, + 

And ever he gap’d upward into the air. + 

The carpenter ween’d he were in despair, + 

And hent him by the shoulders mightily, + 

And shook him hard, and cried spitously; + 

“What, Nicholas? what how, man? look adown: + 

Awake, and think on Christë’s passioún. + 

I crouchë thee from elvës, and from wights.” + 

Therewith the night-spell said he anon rights, + 

On the four halvës of the house about, + 

And on the threshold of the door without. + 

“Lord Jesus Christ, and Saintë Benedight, + 

Blessë this house from every wicked wight, + 

From the night mare, the white Pater-noster; + 

Where wonnest thou now, Saintë Peter’s sister?” + 

And at the last this Hendy Nicholas + 

Gan for to sigh full sore, and said; “Alas! + 

Shall all time world be lost eftsoonës now?” + 

This carpenter answér’d; “What sayest thou? + 

What? think on God, as we do, men that swink.” + 

This Nicholas answer’d; “Fetch me a drink; + 

And after will I speak in privity + 

Of certain thing that toucheth thee and me: + 

I will tell it no other man certain.” + 

This carpenter went down, and came again, + 

And brought of mighty ale a largë quart; + 

And when that each of them had drunk his part, + 

This Nicholas his chamber door fast shet, + 

And down the carpentér by him he set, + 

And saidë; “John, mine host full lief and dear, + 

Thou shalt upon thy truthë swear me here, + 

That to no wight thou shalt my counsel wray: + 

For it is Christë’s counsel that I say, + 

And if thou tell it man, thou art forlore: + 

For this vengeance thou shalt have therefor, + 

That if thou wrayë me, thou shalt be wood.” + 

“Nay, Christ forbid it for his holy blood!” + 

Quoth then this silly man; “I am no blab, + 

Nor, though I say it, am I lief to gab. + 

Say what thou wilt, I shall it never tell + 

To child or wife, by him that harried Hell.” + 

“Now, John,” quoth Nicholas, “I will not lie; + 

I have y-found in my astrology, + 

As I have looked in the moonë bright, + 

That now on Monday next, at quarter night, + 

Shall fall a rain, and that so wild and wood, + 

That never half so great was Noë’s flood. + 

This world,” he said, “in less than half an hour + 

Shall all be dreint, so hideous is the shower: + 

Thus shall mankindë drench, and lose their life.” + 

This carpenter answér’d; “Alas, my wife! + 

And shall she drench? alas, mine Alisoún!” + 

For sorrow of this he fell almost adown, + 

And said; “Is there no remedy in this case?” + 

“Why, yes, for God,” quoth Hendy Nicholas; + 

“If thou wilt worken after lore and rede; + 

Thou may’st not worken after thine own head. + 

For thus saith Solomon, that was full true: + 

Work all by counsel, and thou shalt not rue. + 

And if thou workë wilt by good counseil, + 

I undertake, withoutë mast or sail, + 

Yet shall I savë her, and thee, and me. + 

Hast thou not heard how saved was Noë, + 

When that our Lord had warned him beforn, + 

That all the world with water should be lorn?” + 

“Yes,” quoth this carpenter, “full yore ago.” + 

“Hast thou not heard,” quoth Nicholas, “also + 

The sorrow of Noë, with his fellowship, + 

That he had ere he got his wife to ship? + 

Him had been lever, I dare well undertake, + 

At thilkë time, than all his wethers black, + 

That she had had a ship herself alone. + 

And therefore know’st thou what is best to be done? + 

This asketh haste, and of an hasty thing + 

Men may not preach or makë tarrying. + 

Anon go get us fast into this inn + 

A kneading trough, or else a kemelin, + 

For each of us; but look that they be large, + 

In whichë we may swim as in a barge: + 

And have therein vitaillë suffisant + 

But for one day; fie on the remenant; + 

The water shall aslake and go away + 

Aboutë prime upon the nextë day. + 

But Robin may not know of this, thy knave, + 

Nor eke thy maiden Gill I may not save: + 

Ask me not why: for though thou askë me + 

I will not tellë Goddë’s privity. + 

Sufficeth thee, but if thy wit be mad, + 

To have as great a grace as Noë had; + 

Thy wife shall I well saven out of doubt. + 

Go now thy way, and speed thee hereabout. + 

But when thou hast for her, and thee, and me, + 

Y-gotten us these kneading tubbës three, + 

Then shalt thou hang them in the roof full high, + 

So that no man our purveyance espy: + 

And when thou hast done thus as I have said, + 

And hast our vitaille fair in them y-laid, + 

And eke an axe to smite the cord in two + 

When that the water comes, that we may go, + 

And break an hole on high upon the gable + 

Into the garden-ward, over the stable, + 

That we may freely passë forth our way, + 

When that the greatë shower is gone away. + 

Then shalt thou swim as merry, I undertake, + 

As doth the whitë duck after her drake: + 

Then will I clepe, ‘How, Alison? How, John? + 

Be merry: for the flood will pass anon.’ + 

And thou wilt say, ‘Hail, Master Nicholay, + 

Good-morrow, I see thee well, for it is day.’ + 

And then shall we be lordës all our life + 

Of all the world, as Noë and his wife. + 

But of one thing I warnë thee full right, + 

Be well advised, on that ilkë night, + 

When we be enter’d into shippë’s board, + 

That none of us not speak a single word, + 

Nor clepe nor cry, but be in his prayére, + 

For that is Goddë’s owen hestë dear. + 

Thy wife and thou must hangen far atween, + 

For that betwixtë you shall be no sin, + 

No more in looking than there shall in deed. + 

This ordinance is said: go, God thee speed. + 

To-morrow night, when men be all asleep, + 

Into our kneading tubbës will we creep, + 

And sittë there, abiding Goddë’s grace. + 

Go now thy way, I have no longer space + 

To make of this no longer sermoníng: + 

Men say thus: Send the wise, and say nothing: + 

Thou art so wise, it needeth thee nought teach. + 

Go, save our lives, and that I thee beseech.” + 

This silly carpenter went forth his way, + 

Full oft he said, “Alas! and Well-a-day!” + 

And to his wife he told his privity, + 

And she was ware, and better knew than he + 

What all this quaintë cast was for to say. + 

But natheless she fear’d as she would dey, + 

And said: “Alas! go forth thy way anon. + 

Help us to scape, or we be dead each one. + 

I am thy true and very wedded wife; + 

Go, dearë spouse, and help to save our life.” + 

Lo, what a great thing is affectión! + 

Men may die of imaginatión, + 

So deeply may impressión be take. + 

This silly carpenter begins to quake: + 

He thinketh verily that he may see + 

This newë flood come weltering as the sea + 

To drenchen Alison, his honey dear. + 

He weepeth, waileth, maketh sorry cheer; + 

He sigheth, with full many a sorry sough. + 

He go’th, and getteth him a kneading trough, + 

And after that a tub, and a kemelin, + 

And privily he sent them to his inn: + 

And hung them in the roof full privily. + 

With his own hand then made he ladders three, + 

To climbë by the ranges and the stalks + 

Unto the tubbës hanging in the balks; + 

And victualed them, kemelin, trough, and tub, + 

With bread and cheese, and good ale in a jub, + 

Sufficing right enough as for a day. + 

But ere that he had made all this array, + 

He sent his knave, and eke his wench also, + 

Upon his need to London for to go. + 

And on the Monday, when it drew to night, + 

He shut his door withoutë candle light, + 

And dressed every thing as it should be. + 

And shortly up they climbed all the three. + 

They sattë stillë well a furlong way. + 

“Now, Pater noster, clum,” said Nicholay, + 

And “clum,” quoth John; and “clum,” said Alison: + 

This carpenter said his devotión, + 

And still he sat and bidded his prayére, + 

Awaking on the rain, if he it hear. + 

The deadë sleep, for weary business, + 

Fell on this carpenter, right as I guess, + 

About the curfew-time, or little more, + 

For travail of his ghost he groaned sore, + 

And eft he routed, for his head mislay. + 

Adown the ladder stalked Nicholay; + 

And Alison full soft adown she sped. + 

Withoutë wordës more they went to bed, + 

There as the carpenter was wont to lie: + 

There was the revel, and the melody. + 

And thus lay Alison and Nicholas, + 

In business of mirth and in solace, + 

Until the bell of laudes gan to ring, + 

And friars in the chancel went to sing. + 

This parish clerk, this amorous Absolon, + 

That is for love alway so woebegone, + 

Upon the Monday was at Oseney + 

With company, him to disport and play; + 

And asked upon cas a cloisterer + 

Full privily after John the carpenter; + 

And he drew him apart out of the church, + 

And said, “I n’ot; I saw him not here wirch + 

Since Saturday; I trow that he be went + 

For timber, where our abbot hath him sent. + 

For he is wont for timber for to go, + 

And dwellen at the Grange a day or two: + 

Or else he is at his own house certain. + 

Where that he be, I cannot soothly sayn.” + 

This Absolon full jolly was and light, + 

And thought, “Now is the time to wake all night, + 

For sickerly I saw him not stirríng + 

About his door, since day began to spring. + 

So may I thrive, but I shall at cock crow + 

Full privily go knock at his windów, + 

That stands full low upon his bower wall: + 

To Alison then will I tellen all + 

My lovë-longing; for I shall not miss + 

That at the leastë way I shall her kiss. + 

Some manner comfort shall I have, parfay, + 

My mouth hath itched all this livelong day: + 

That is a sign of kissing at the least. + 

All night I mette eke I was at a feast. + 

Therefore I will go sleep an hour or tway, + 

And all the night then will I wake and play.” + 

When that the first cock crowed had, anon + 

Up rose this jolly lover Absolon, + 

And him arrayed gay, at point devise. + 

But first he chewed grains and liquorice, + 

To smellë sweet, ere he had combed his hair. + 

Under his tongue a truë love he bare, + 

For thereby thought he to be gracious. + 

Then came he to the carpentérë’s house, + 

And still he stood under the shot window; + 

Unto his breast it raught, it was so low; + 

And soft he coughed with a semisoún’. + 

“What do ye, honeycomb, sweet Alisoún? + 

My fairë bird, my sweet cinamomé, + 

Awaken, leman mine, and speak to me. + 

Full little thinkë ye upon my woe, + 

That for your love I sweat there as I go. + 

No wonder is that I do swelt and sweat. + 

I mourn as doth a lamb after the teat. + 

Y-wis, leman, I have such love-longíng, + 

That like a turtle true is my mourníng. + 

I may not eat, no morë than a maid.” + 

“Go from the window, thou jack fool,” she said: + 

“As help me God, it will not be, come ba me. + 

I love another, else I were to blamë, + 

Well better than thee, by Jesus, Absolon. + 

Go forth thy way, or I will cast a stone; + 

And let me sleep; a twenty devil way.” + 

“Alas!” quoth Absolon, “and well away! + 

That true love ever was so ill beset: + 

Then kiss me, since that it may be no bet, + 

For Jesus’ love, and for the love of me.” + 

“Wilt thou then go thy way therewith?” quoth she. + 

“Yea, certes, leman,” quoth this Absolon. + 

“Then make thee ready,” quoth she, “I come anon.” + 

[And unto Nicholas she said full still: + 

“Now peace, and thou shalt laugh anon thy fill.”] + 

This Absolon down set him on his knees, + 

And said; “I am a lord at all degrees: + 

For after this I hope there cometh more; + 

Leman, thy grace, and, sweetë bird, thine ore.” + 

The window she undid, and that in haste. + 

“Have done,” quoth she, “come off, and speed thee fast, + 

Lest that our neighëbours should thee espy.” + 

Then Absolon gan wipe his mouth full dry. + 

Dark was the night as pitch or as the coal, + 

And at the window she put out her hole, + 

And Absolon him fell ne bet ne werse, + 

But with his mouth he kiss’d her naked erse + 

Full savourly. When he was ware of this, + 

Aback he start, and thought it was amiss, + 

For well he wist a woman hath no beard. + 

He felt a thing all rough, and long y-hair’d, + 

And saidë; “Fy, alas! what have I do?” + 

“Te he!” quoth she, and clapt the window to; + 

And Absolon went forth at sorry pace. + 

“A beard, a beard,” said Hendy Nicholas; + 

“By God’s corpus, this game went fair and well.” + 

This silly Absolon heard every deal, + 

And on his lip he gan for anger bite; + 

And to himself he said, “I shall thee quite.” + 

Who rubbeth now, who frotteth now his lips + 

With dust, with sand, with straw, with cloth, with chips, + 

But Absolon? that saith full oft, “Alas! + 

My soul betake I unto Sathanas, + 

But me were lever than all this town,” quoth he, + 

“Of this despite awroken for to be. + 

Alas! alas! that I have been y-blent.” + 

His hotë love is cold, and all y-quent. + 

For from that time that he had kiss’d her erse, + 

Of paramours he settë not a kers, + 

For he was healed of his malady; + 

Full often paramours he gan defy, + 

And weep as doth a child that hath been beat. + 

A softë pace he went over the street + 

Unto a smith, men callen Dan Gerveis, + 

That in his forgë smithed plough-harnéss; + 

He sharped share and culter busily. + 

This Absolon knocked all easily, + 

And said; “Undo, Gerveis, and that anon.” + 

“What, who art thou?” “It is I, Absolon.” + 

“What? Absolon, what? Christë’s sweetë tree, + 

Why rise so rath? hey! benedicite, + 

What aileth you? some gay girl, God it wote, + 

Hath brought you thus upon the virëtote: + 

By Saint Neot, ye wot well what I mean.” + 

This Absolon he raughtë not a bean + 

Of all his play; no word again he gaf, + 

For he had morë tow on his distaff + 

Than Gerveis knew, and saidë; “Friend so dear, + 

That hotë culter in the chimney here + 

Lend it to me, I have therewith to don: + 

I will it bring again to thee full soon.” + 

Gerveis answered; “Certes, were it gold, + 

Or in a pokë nobles all untold, + 

Thou shouldst it have, as I am a true smith. + 

Hey! Christë’s foot, what will ye do therewith?” + 

“Thereof,” quoth Absolon, “be as be may; + 

I shall well tell it thee another day:” + 

And caught the culter by the coldë stele. + 

Full soft out at the door he gan to steal, + 

And went unto the carpentérë’s wall + 

He coughed first, and knocked therewithal + 

Upon the window, light as he did ere. + 

This Alison answered; “Who is there + 

That knocketh so? I warrant him a thief.” + 

“Nay, nay,” quoth he, “God wot, my sweetë lefe, + 

I am thine Absolon, my own darling. + 

Of gold,” quoth he, “I have thee brought a ring, + 

My mother gave it me, so God me save! + 

Full fine it is, and thereto well y-grave: + 

This will I give to thee, if thou me kiss.” + 

Now Nicholas was risen up to piss, + 

And thought he would amenden all the jape; + 

He shouldë kiss his erse ere that he scape: + 

And up the window did he hastily, + 

And out his erse he put full privily + 

Over the buttock, to the haunchë bone. + 

And therewith spake this clerk, this Absolon, + 

“Speak, sweetë bird, I know not where thou art.” + 

This Nicholas anon let fly a fart, + 

As great as it had been a thunder dent; + 

That with the stroke he was well nigh y-blent; + 

But he was ready with his iron hot, + 

And Nicholas amid the erse he smote. + 

Off went the skin an handbreadth all about. + 

The hotë culter burned so his tout, + 

That for the smart he weened he would die; + 

As he were wood, for woe he gan to cry, + 

“Help! water, water, help for Goddë’s heart!” + 

This carpenter out of his slumber start, + 

And heard one cry “Water,” as he were wood, + 

And thought, “Alas! now cometh Noë’s flood.” + 

He sat him up withoutë wordës mo’, + 

And with his axe he smote the cord in two; + 

And down went all; he found neither to sell + 

Nor bread nor ale, till he came to the sell, + 

Upon the floor, and there in swoon he lay. + 

Up started Alison and Nicholay, + 

And cried out an “harow!” in the street. + 

The neighbours allë, bothë small and great + 

In rannë, for to gauren on this man, + 

That yet in swoonë lay, both pale and wan: + 

For with the fall he broken had his arm. + 

But stand he must unto his owen harm, + 

For when he spake, he was anon borne down + 

With Hendy Nicholas and Alisoún. + 

They told to every man that he was wood; + 

He was aghastë so of Noë’s flood, + 

Through phantasy, that of his vanity + 

He had y-bought him kneading-tubbës three, + 

And had them hanged in the roof above; + 

And that he prayed them for Goddë’s love + 

To sitten in the roof for company. + 

The folk gan laughen at his phantasy. + 

Into the roof they kyken, and they gape, + 

And turned all his harm into a jape. + 

For whatsoe’er this carpenter answér’d, + 

It was for nought, no man his reason heard. + 

With oathës great he was so sworn adown, + 

That he was holden wood in all the town. + 

For every clerk anon right held with other; + 

They said, “The man was wood, my levë brother;” + 

And every wight gan laughen at his strife. + 

Thus swived was the carpentérë’s wife, + 

For all his keeping and his jealousy; + 

And Absolon hath kiss’d her nether eye; + 

And Nicholas is scalded in the tout. + 

This tale is done, and God save all the rout. + 