|
But al for noghte, he herde nat a word. |
| An hole he foond, ful lowe upon a bord, |
| Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe, |
| And at that hole he looked in ful depe, |
| 335 | And at the laste he hadde of hym a sight. |
| This Nicholas sat evere capyng upright, |
| As he had kiked on the newe moone. |
| Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister soone |
| In what array he saugh this ilke man. |
| 340 | This carpenter to blessen hym bigan, |
| And seyde, "Help us, seinte Frydeswyde! |
| A man woot litel what hym shal bityde. |
| This man is falle, with his astromye, |
| In som woodnesse or in som agonye, |
| 345 | I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be! |
| Men sholde nat knowe of Goddes pryvetee. |
| Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man |
| That noght but oonly his bileve kan! |
| So ferde another clerk with astromye; |
| 350 | He walked in the feeldes, for to prye |
| Upon the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle, |
| Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle; |
| He saugh nat that. But yet, by seint Thomas, |
| Me reweth soore of hende Nicholas. |
| 355 | He shal be rated of his studiyng, |
| If that I may, Jhesus, hevene kyng! |
| Get me a staf, that I may underspore, |
| Whil that thou, Robyn, hevest up the dore. |
| He shal out of his studiyng, as I gesse" |
| 360 | And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse. |
| His knave was a strong carl for the nones, |
| And by the haspe he haaf it of atones; |
| Into the floor the dore fil anon. |
| This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon, |
| 365 | And evere caped upward into the eir. |
| This carpenter wende he were in despeir, |
| And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily |
| And shook him harde, and cride spitously, |
| "What! Nicholay! what, how! what, looke adoun! |
| 370 | Awak, and thenk on Christes passioun! |
| I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes. |
| Therwith the nyght-spel seyde he anon-rightes |
| On foure halves of the hous aboute, |
| And on the tresshfold of the dore withoute: |
| 375 | "Jhesu Crist and seinte Benedight, |
| Blesse this hous from every wikked wight, |
| For nyghtes verye, the white pater-noster! |
| Where wentestow, seinte Petres soster?" |
| And atte laste this hende Nicholas |
| 380 | Gan for to sike soore, and seyde, "Allas! |
| Shal al the world be lost eftsoones now?" |
| This carpenter answerde, "What seystow? |
| What! Thynk on God, as we doon, men that swynke." |
| This Nicholas answerde, "Fecche me drynke, |
| 385 | And after wol I speke in pryvetee |
| Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee. |
| I wol telle it noon oother man, certeyn." |
|
|
But all for naught, he never heard a word; |
| A hole he found, low down upon a board, |
| Through which the house cat had been wont to creep; |
| And to that hole he stooped, and through did peep, |
| 335 | And finally he ranged him in his sight. |
| This Nicholas sat gaping there, upright, |
| As if he'd looked too long at the new moon. |
| Downstairs he went and told his master soon |
| In what array he'd found this self-same man. |
| 340 | This carpenter to cross himself began, |
| And said: "Now help us, holy Frideswide! |
| Little a man can know what shall betide. |
| This man is fallen, with his astromy, |
| Into some madness or some agony; |
| 345 | I always feared that somehow this would be! |
| Men should not meddle in God's privity. |
| Aye, blessed always be the ignorant man, |
| Whose creed is, all he ever has to scan! |
| So fared another clerk with astromy; |
| 350 | He walked into the meadows for to pry |
| Into the stars, to learn what should befall, |
| Until into a clay-pit he did fall; |
| He saw not that. But yet, by Saint Thomas, |
| I'm sorry for this clever Nicholas. |
| 355 | He shall be scolded for his studying, |
| If not too late, by Jesus, Heaven's King! |
| "Get me a staff, that I may pry before, |
| The while you, Robin, heave against the door. |
| We'll take him from this studying, I guess." |
| 360 | And on the chamber door, then, he did press. |
| His servant was a stout lad, if a dunce, |
| And by the hasp he heaved it up at once; |
| Upon the floor that portal fell anon. |
| This Nicholas sat there as still as stone, |
| 365 | Gazing, with gaping mouth, straight up in air. |
| This carpenter thought he was in despair, |
| And took him by the shoulders, mightily, |
| And shook him hard, and cried out, vigorously: |
| "What! Nicholay! Why how now! Come, look down! |
| 370 | Awake, and think on Jesus' death and crown! |
| I cross you from all elves and magic wights!" |
| And then the night-spell said he out, by rights, |
| At the four corners of the house about, |
| And at the threshold of the door, without: - |
| 375 | "O Jesus Christ and good Saint Benedict, |
| Protect this house from all that may afflict, |
| For the night hag the white Paternoster! - |
| Where hast thou gone, Saint Peter's sister?" |
| And at the last this clever Nicholas |
| 380 | Began to sigh full sore, and said: "Alas! |
| Shall all the world be lost so soon again?" |
| This carpenter replied: "What say you, then? |
| What! Think on God, as we do, men that swink." |
| This Nicholas replied: "Go fetch me drink; |
| 385 | And afterward I'll tell you privately |
| A certain thing concerning you and me; |
| I'll tell it to no other man or men." |
|
