This Allen maketh ready all his gear,
And on a horse the sack he cast anon:
Forth go these merry clerks, Allen and John,
With good sword and with buckler by their side.
John knew the way, and needed not a guide;
And at the mill the sack adown he layeth.

Allen spake first:- "Simon, all hail! in faith,
How fares thy daughter, and thy worthy wife?"
"Allen," quoth Simkin, "welcome, by my life;
And also John:- how now! what do ye here?"
"Simon," quoth John, "compulsion has no peer.
They who've nae lackeys must themselves bestir,
Or else they are but fools, as clerks aver.
Our Manciple, I think, will soon be dead,
Sae slowly work the grinders in his head;
And therefore am I come with Allen thus,
To grind our corn, and carry it hame with us:
I pray you speed us, that we may be gone."

Quoth Simkin, "By my faith it shall be done;
What will ye do while that it is in hand?"
"Gude's life! right by the hopper will I stand,"
(Quoth John), "and see how that the corn goes in.
I never yet saw, by my father's kin,
How that the hopper waggles to and fro."

Allen continued,--"John, and wilt thou so?
Then will I be beneath it, by my crown,
And see how that the meal comes running down