The wenche routed eke for company. Alein the clerk, that heard this melody, He poked John, and saide: “Sleepest thou? Heardest thou ever such a song ere now? Lo what a compline<21> is y-mell* them all. *among A wilde fire upon their bodies fall, Who hearken’d ever such a ferly* thing? *strange <22> Yea, they shall have the flow’r of ill ending! This longe night there *tides me* no rest. *comes to me* But yet no force*, all shall be for the best. *matter For, John,” said he, “as ever may I thrive, If that I may, yon wenche will I swive*. *enjoy carnally Some easement* has law y-shapen** us *satisfaction **provided For, John, there is a law that sayeth thus, That if a man in one point be aggriev’d, That in another he shall be relievd. Our corn is stol’n, soothly it is no nay, And we have had an evil fit to-day. And since I shall have none amendement Against my loss, I will have easement: By Godde’s soul, it shall none, other be.” This John answer’d; Alein, *avise thee*: *have a care* The miller is a perilous man,” he said, “And if that he out of his sleep abraid*, *awaked He mighte do us both a villainy*.” *mischief Alein answer’d; “I count him not a fly. And up he rose, and by the wench he crept. This wenche lay upright, and fast she slept, Till he so nigh was, ere she might espy, That it had been too late for to cry: And, shortly for to say, they were at one. Now play, Alein, for I will speak of John.