Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

L

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

THE

MILLER of Trompington,

ON THE

Reve's TALE from Chaucer..

A

By the fame.

T Trompington, Not far from Cambridge ftood,

Across a pleasant ftream, a bridge of wood.

Near it, a mill, in low and plashy ground,

Where corn for all the neighb'ring parts was grown'd. The sturdy miller with his powder'd locks,

Proud as a peacock, fabtle as a fox,

[blocks in formation]

Could pipe, and fish, and wrestle, throw a net,
Turn drinking cups, and teach young dogs to fet.
Brawny, big-bon'd, ftrong made was every limb,
But few durft venture to contend with him.
A dagger hanging at his belt he had,

Made of an ancient fword's well-temper'd blade.
He wore a Sheffield whittle in his hofe.
Broad was his face, and very flat his nose ;
Bald as an ape behind was this man's crown,
No one could better beat a market down.
But millers will be thieves; he us'd to fteal,
Slyly, and artfully, much corn, and meal.

This miller's wife came of a better race,
The parfon's daughter of the town she was.
Her portion fmal', her education high,
She had her breeding in a nunnery.

Whoe'er he marry'd (Simkin boldly faid)

Should be a maid, well born, and nicely bred.
You'd laugh to fee him in his beft array,

Strutting before her on a holy day.

If any boldly durft accoft his wife,

He drew his dagger, or his Sheffield knife. 'Tis dang'rous to provoke a jealous fool; She manag'd cunningly her ftubborn tool.

To

« ZurückWeiter »