theprologue
whenfolkhadlaughedallatthisnicecase
ofabsolonandhendynicholas,
diversefolkdiverselytheysaid,
butforthereparttheylaughdandplayd;**werediverted
andatthistaleisawnomanhimgrieve,
butitwereonlyosewoldthereeve。
becausehewasofcarpenterescraft,
alittleireisinhisheartelaft*;*left
hegantogrudge*andblameditalite。***murmur**little。
"sothe*i,"quothhe,"fullwellcouldihimquite***thrive**match
withblearing*ofaproudemillerseye,*dimming
ifthatmelisttospeakofribaldry。
butiald;melistnotplayforage;
grasstimeisdone,myfodderisnowforage。
thiswhitetop*writethmineoldeyears;*head
mineheartisalsoulded*asminehairs;*grownuldy
andidofareasdothanopen-erse*;*medlar
thatilke*fruitiseverlongerwerse,*same
tillitberotten*inmullokorinstre*。*onthegroundorinstraw*
weoldemen,idread,sofarewe;
tillweberotten,canwenotberipe;
wehop*away,whilethattheworldwillpipe;*dance
forinourwilltherestickethayeanail,
tohaveanhoaryheadandagreentail,
ashathaleek;forthoughourmightbegone,
ourwilldesirethfollyever-in-one*:*continually
forwhenwemaynotdo,thenwillwespeak,