| |
| So long he rode he drew anigh | |
| A mill upon the river’s brim, | |
| That seem’d a goodly place to him, | |
| For o’er the oily smooth millhead | |
| There hung the apples growing red, | 5 |
| And many an ancient apple-tree | |
| Within the orchard could he see, | |
| While the smooth millwalls white and black | |
| Shook to the great wheel’s measur’d clack, | |
| And grumble of the gear within; | 10 |
| While o’er the roof that dull’d that din | |
| The doves sat crooning half the day, | |
| And round the half-cut stack of hay | |
| The sparrows flutter’d twittering. | |
| There smiling stay’d the joyous king, | 15 |
| And since the autumn noon was hot | |
| Thought good anigh that pleasant spot | |
| To dine that day, and therewith sent | |
| To tell the miller his intent: | |
| Who held the stirrup of the king, | 20 |
| Bareheaded, joyful at the thing, | |
| While from his horse he lit adown, | |
| Then led him o’er an elm-beam brown, | |
| New cut in February tide, | |
| That cross’d the stream from side to side; | 25 |
| So underneath the apple trees | |
| The king sat careless, well at ease, | |
| And ate and drank right merrily. | |
| To whom the miller drew anigh | |
| Among the courtiers, bringing there | 30 |
| Such as he could of country fare, | |
| Green yellowing plums from off his wall, | |
| Wasp-bitten pears, the first to fall | |
| From off the wavering spire-like tree, | |
| Junkets, and cream and fresh honey. | 35 |
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