Test Your Reading of the Reeve's Tale (Lines 3855-4020)

Translate each of bold-faced words in the following lines into clear modern English (it is best to write out your translation):

3855 Whan folk hadde laughen at this nyce cas

3863 He gan to grucche, and blamed it a lite.

3866 If that me liste speke of ribaudye.

3871 But if I fare as dooth an open-ers --

3878 To have an hoor heed and a grene tayl,

3884 Avauntyng, liyng, anger, coveitise;

3885 Thise foure sparkles longen unto eelde.

3892 Deeth drough the tappe of lyf and leet it gon,

3901 He seide, "What amounteth al this wit?

3912 For leveful is with force force of-showve.

3918 I pray to God his nekke mote to-breke;

3923 Upon the whiche brook ther stant a melle;

3931 A joly poppere baar he in his pouche;

3936 He was a market-betere atte fulle.

3941 His name was hoote deynous Symkyn.

3949 To saven his estaat of yomanrye.

3958 That with hire dorste rage or ones pleye,

3964 She was as digne as water in a dich,

3967 What for hire kynrede and hir nortelrie

3972 In cradel it lay and was a propre page.

3981 His purpos was for to bistowe hire hye

3992 And on a day it happed, in a stounde,

3999 For which the wardeyn chidde and made fare.

4000 But therof sette the millere nat a tare;

4005 And, oonly for hire myrthe and revelrye,

4020 John knew the wey -- hem nedede no gyde --

 

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