| 615 |
This Absolon doun sette hym on his knees |
| And seyde, "I am a lord at alle degrees; |
| For after this I hope ther cometh moore. |
| Lemman, thy grace, and sweete bryd, thyn oore!" |
| The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste. |
| 620 | "Have do," quod she, "com of, and speed the faste, |
| Lest that oure neighebores thee espie." |
| This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful drie. |
| Derk was the nyght as pich, or as a cole, |
| And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole, |
| 625 | And Absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers, |
| But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers |
| Ful savorly, er he were war of this. |
| Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys, |
| For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd. |
| 630 | He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd, |
| And seyde, "Fy! allas! what have I do?"
| | "Tehee!" quod she, and clapte the wyndow to, |
| And Absolon gooth forth a sory pas. |
| "A berd! a berd!" quod hende Nicholas, |
| 635 | "By Goddes corpus, this goth faire and weel." |
|
| 615 |
This Absalom plumped down upon his knees, |
| And said: "I am a lord in all degrees; |
| For after this there may be better still |
| Darling, my sweetest bird, I wait your will." |
| The window she unbarred, and that in haste. |
| 620 | "Have done," said she, "come on, and do it fast, |
| Before we're seen by any neighbour's eye." |
| This Absalom did wipe his mouth all dry; |
| Dark was the night as pitch, aye dark as coal, |
| And through the window she put out her hole. |
| 625 | And Absalom no better felt nor worse, |
| But with his mouth he kissed her naked arse |
| Right greedily, before he knew of this. |
| Aback he leapt- it seemed somehow amiss, |
| For well he knew a woman has no beard; |
| 630 | He'd felt a thing all rough and longish haired, |
| And said, "Oh fie, alas! What did I do?" |
| "Teehee!" she laughed, and closed the window too; |
| And Absalom went forth a sorry pace. |
| "A beard! A beard!" cried clever Nicholas, |
| 635 | "Now by God's corpus, this goes fair and well!" |
|
