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