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

 



 ##  

  expand\_more  

 
  

 

**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** --

**Compare your translation with the page** [**glosses**](/glosses-quiz-1-reeves-prologue-and-tale-lines-i3855-4045) **for these lines**