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THE

MILLER of Trompington,

OR THE

Reve's TALE from Chaucer.

By the Same.

A

T Trompington, not far from Cambridge

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Across a pleasant stream, 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, fubtle as a fox,

Could

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,

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Made of an ancient fword's well-temper'd blade.
He wore a Sheffield whittle in his hose.
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 steal,
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 fmall, 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 best array,
Strutting before her on a holyday.
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 stubborn tool.

Το

To all beneath her infolently high,

Walk'd like a duck, and chatter'd like a pye:
Proud of her breeding, froward, full of fcorn,
As if he were of noble parents born.

With other virtues of the fame degree,
All learn'd in that choice fchool, the nunnery.

Their daughter was just twenty, courfe and bold: A boy too in a cradle, fix months old.

Thick, fhort, and brawny, this plump damfel was,
Her nofe was flat, her eyes were grey as glass.
Her haunches broad, with breafts up to her chin,
Fair was her hair, but tawny was her skin.

A mighty trade this lufty miller drove,
All for convenience came, not one for love.
Much grift from Cambridge to his lot did fall,
And all the corn they us'd at Scholars-hall.
Their manciple fell dangerously ill; ..

Bread must be had, their grift went to the mill.
This Simkin moderately ftole before,

Their fteward fick, he robb'd 'em ten times more.
Their bread fell fhort; the warden ftorm'd; with skill,
Examin'd thofe who brought it from the mill.:

The miller to a strict account they call,
He impudently fwears he gave 'em all.

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Two poor young scholars, hungry, much diftrefs'd, (Who thought themselves more wife than all the rest) Intreat the warden, the next corn he fent,

To truft it to their prudent management :
Both would attend him with fuch care, and art,
Defie him then to steal the smallest part.

At last the warden grants what they defire,
All is got ready as these two require.
Bold men, tho' disappointed, ne'er are sham'd;
One was call'd Allen, t'other John was nam'd :
Both nothern men, both in one town were born,
They mount, and lead the horse that bears the corn.
Be careful, Allen cries, and do not stray:
Fear nothing, he replies, I know the Way.
Thus they jog on, and on the road contrive
To catch the thief; till at the mill they 'rive.

Ho Sim, fays John, what ho, the miller there? Who calls, cries Simkin, tell me who you are? How fares your comely daughter and your wife? What, John and Allen? welcome by my life! The miller faid, what wind has brought you hither? That which makes old wives trudge, brought us together.

Who

Who keeps no man, muft his own fervant be,
Our manciple is very fick, and we

Are with the corn from our good warden come,
To fee it grown'd, and bring it fafely home:
Dispatch it, Sim, with all the hafte you may.
It fhall be done (he fays) without delay.
What will you do while I have this in hand?
Says John juft at the hopper will I ftand,
(In my whole life I never faw grift grown'd,)
And mark the clack, how juftly it will found.
A ha, chum John (fays Allen) will you fo?
Then will I watch how it fteals out below.

Sim, at their plot, maliciously did smile;
None cou'd, they thought, fuch learned clarks beguile.
He meant to caft a mist before their eye,

(In fpight of all their fine philofophy,)

Neither should find where he convey'd the meal;
The narrower they watch'd, the more he'd fteal.
These scholars for their flour, fhall have the bran;
The learned'ft clark, is not the wifeft man :
Then out he steals, and finds, where, by the head,
Their horfe hung faften'd underneath a fhed;
He flips the bridle o'er his neck; the steed

Makes to the fenns, where mares and fillies feed.

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