I  saw  to-day  a  corps  ybome  to  cherche,
That  now  on  Monday  last  I  saw  him  wercheu

Go  up  (qjuod  he  unto  his  knave)  anon ;
.y  Clepe^  at  his  dore,  or  knoeke  with  a  ston:

\l^  Loke  how  it  is,  and  tell  me  boldely.
This  knave  goth  him  up  ful  sturdely.
And  at  the  chambre  dore  while  that  he  stood,
He  cried  and  knocked  as  that  he  were  wood:
What  how?  what  do  ye,  maister  Nicholay?
How  may  ye  slepen  all  the  longe  day  ?
But  all  for  nought,  he  herde  not  a  word.
An  hole  he  fond  ful  low  upon  the  bord,
Ther  as  the  cat  was  wont  in  for  to  crepe,
And  at  the  hole  he  loked  in  ful  depe,

>  Silly.  2  FearfW.
s  Uucertain.  *  Call.
3443-3478.  THE  MTLLERES  TALE.  97

And  at  the  last  he  had  of  him  a  sight.
This  Nicholas  sat  ever  gaping  upright,
As  he  had  kyked^  on  the  newe  mone.
Adown  he  goth,  and  telleth  his  maister  sone,
In  what  array  he  saw  this  ilke  man.
This  carpenter  to  blissen  him  began,
And  said ;  Now  helpe  us  Seinte  Fndeswide.'
A  man  wote  litel  what  shal  him  betide.
This  man  is  faUen  with  his  astronomie
In  som  woodnesse'  or  in  som  agonie.
I  thought  ay  wel  how  that  it  shulde  be.
Men  shulde  not  knowe  of  Goddes  privetee,
Ya  blessed  be  alway  a  lewed  man.
That  nought  but  only  his  beleve*  can.
