seemed all coming down. And up they rise, and down again they roll; Till that the Miller, stumbling o’er a coal, Went plunging headlong like a bull at bait, And met his wife, and both fell flat as slate. “Help, holy cross of Bromeholm!” loud she cried, “And all ye martyrs, fight upon my side! In manus tuas—help!—on thee I call! Simon, awake! the fiend on me doth fall: He crusheth me—help!—I am well-nigh dead: He lieth along my heart, and heels, and head. Help, Simkin! for the false clerks rage and fight!” Now sprang up John as fast as ever he might, And graspeth by the dark walls to and fro To find a staff: the wife starts up alsó. She knew the place far better than this John, And by the wall she caught a staff anon. She saw a little shimmering of a light, For at an hole in shone the moon all bright, And by that gleam she saw the struggling two, But knew not, as for certain, who was who, Save that she saw a white thing in her eye. And when that she this white thing ’gan espy, She thought that Allen did a nightcap wear, And with the staff she drew near, and more near, And, thinking ’twas the clerk, she smote at full Disdainful Simkin on his bald ape’s skull. Down goes the Miller, crying, “Harow, I die!” These clerks they beat him well, and let him lie. They make them ready, and take their horse anon, And eke their meal, and on their way are gone; And from behind the mill-door took their cake, Of half a bushel of flour—a right good bake. p. 63CHAUCER’S POEM OF The Cuckoo And The Nightingale. p. 63 MODERNISED BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. MODERNISED BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. 1. The God of Love—ah, benedicite! How mighty and how great a Lord is he! For he of low hearts can make high, of high He can make low, and unto death bring nigh; And hard hearts he can make them kind and free. The 2. Within a little time, as hath been found, He can make sick folk whole and fresh and sound; Them who are whole in body and in mind He can make sick,—bind can he and unbind All that he will have bound, or have unbound.
Prev.
Back
Top