The Tale

“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