Unmifs'd comes Sim, finds John fix'd at his poft,
And Allen diligent, no meal was lost :

Now do me justice friends, he says, you can
Convince your warden I'm an honest man.
Now the great work is done, their corn is grown'd,
The grift is fack'd, and every fack well bound:
John runs to fetch the horse; aloud he cries,
Come hither Allen; Allen to him flies.

O friend, we are undone-What mean you, John?
Look, there's the bridle, but our horse is gone!
Gone! whither? fays he Nay heav'n knows,

not I

Out bolts Sim's wife, and (with a ready lie)
She cries, I saw him toss his head and play,
Then flip the loofen'd reins, and trot away.
Which way? they both demand-With wanton
bounds,

I faw him fcamp'ring tow'rd yon fenny grounds:
Wild mares and colts in thofe low marshes feed.
Away the scholars run with utmoft speed,
Forget their former cautious husbandry ;
Their fack does at the miller's mercy. lie.
He half a bushel of their flour does take,

Then bids his wife fecure it in a cake.

I'll fend thefe empty boys again to school,

To plod and study who's the greater fool:
Look were the learned blockheads make their way,
Let us be merry, while thofe children play.
These filly scholars ran from place to place,

Now here, now there, unequal was the chace.
They call him by his name, whistle, and cry
Ho Ball; but Ball is pleas'd with liberty.

At night into a narrow place they brought him,
Drove him into a ditch, and there they caught him.
Weary and wet, as cattle in the rain,

Allen, and fimple John, come back again.

ૐ.

Alas, cries John, would I had ne'er been born!

When we return we shall be laught to fcorn.
Call'd by the fellows, and our warden, fools:
Our grift is ftoln, and we the miller's tools.
Thus John complains; Allen without remorfe
Goes to the barn, and in he turns the horse.
Both cold and hungry, wet and dawb'd with mire;
They find the miller fitting at his fire.

We can't return, they fay, before 'tis light;
So beg for lodging in your mill to night.

Simkin replies, Welcome with all my heart,
I'll find you out the most convenient part.

4

My house is straight, but you are learned men ;
You can by dint of argument maintain,

That twenty yards a mile in breadth comprise :
Now fhew your art, and make a miller wife.
You're merry friend; but wet and clammy earth,
Hunger and cold, provokes few men to mirth.
A man complies with neceffary things,
Content with what he finds, or what he brings.
'Tis meat and drink we earnestly defire;
To warm and dry us with a better fire.
Look, we have coin to pay what you demand;
We ne'er catch falcons with an empty hand.

Sim fends his daughter to a neighb'ring house
For good strong ale, and roasts a well-fed goofe.
Tho' homely was this room, it was not finall;
They had no other, it must ferve them all.
The daughter makes for thefe two youths a bed,
Lays on clean fheets, with blankets fairly fpread.
Twelve foot beyond, in the remoteft place,
There flood another for their daughter Grace.
The fupper does with fprightly mirth abound,
Each has his jeft, the nappy ale goes round.
Nor the fquab daughter, nor the wife were nice,
Each health the youths began, Sim pledg'd it twice.

The

The heady liquor ftupifies their care,

But midnight paft, they all to reft repair.
The miller yawn'd, his eyes began to close ;
The wife got Sim to bed, he had his dose.
She follow'd him, but she was gay and light,
Her whistle had been wetted too that night;
She plac'd the child in cradle by her fide,
To give it fuck, or rock it if it cry'd.

The daughter too, when once the ale was gone,
Retir'd to bed; fo Allen did, and John.

Sleep on the most did inftantly prevail ;
The miller's lufty dofe of potent ale
Made him like any ftone-horfe fnort and fnore,
The treble was behind, the base before :
The wife's horfe-tenor vacant parts did fill,
The daughter bore her part with wondrous skill,
They might be heard a furlong from the mill.

When this melodious confort first began,
Young Allen tumbling, pushes his friend John.
It is impoffible to fleep, he fays,

I'll up and dance, while this choice mufick plays.

He cries, What means my brother?

I mean to fteal into the daughter's bed.

Allen faid,

'Tis faid, the man who in one point is griev'd,
Ought in another point to be reliev'd.

Our corn is ftoln, and we like fools are caught,
The daughter fhall repay the father's fault.
O Allen, he replies, think while you can,
'Fore heav'n the miller is a dangerous man!
Should he discover you, I would be loath
The thief fhould wreak his vengeance on us both.
I fear him not, fays Allen, I am young;

Tho' he's well fet, my finews are as ftrong.
Then up he gets; now friend good luck (he faid.)
The daughter's trumpet led him to her bed.
Half stupify'd with ale, fhe sprawling lay;
He foftly creeping in, foon hit his way;
Soon put all knotty queftions out of doubt,
Stopping her mouth, prevented crying out.

John grumbling lay, while Allen's place was void. Am I then idle, while my friend's employ'd ? He can revenge himself for all his harms, He has the miller's daughter in his arms, While I lie fpiritlefs, benumb'd and cold; I fhall be jear'd to death when this is told They nothing can perform, who ne'er begin: Faint heart, they fay, did ne'er fair lady win.

Then