Swart smeked smithes, smatered with smoke,
Drive me to deth with din of here dintes.
Swich nois on nightes ne herd men never,
What knavene cry and clatering of knockes.
The cammede kongons cryen after "Cole, cole!"
Blowen here bellewes that al here brain brestes.
"Huf, puf," saith that oon, "haf, paf," that other.
They spitten and sprawlen and spellen many spelles
They gnawen and gnasshen, they grones togidere,
The Blacksmiths
Hevy hamres they han that hard been handled,
Stark strokes they striken on a steeled stokke.
"Lus, bus, las, das," routen by rowe
Swich doleful a dreem the devil it to drive
The maister longeth a litel and lassheth a lesse,
May no man for bren-wateres on night han his rest.
Drive me to deth with din of here dintes.
Swich nois on nightes ne herd men never,
What knavene cry and clatering of knockes.
The cammede kongons cryen after "Cole, cole!"
Blowen here bellewes that al here brain brestes.
"Huf, puf," saith that oon, "haf, paf," that other.
They spitten and sprawlen and spellen many spelles
They gnawen and gnasshen, they grones togidere,
The Blacksmiths
Hevy hamres they han that hard been handled,
Stark strokes they striken on a steeled stokke.
"Lus, bus, las, das," routen by rowe
Swich doleful a dreem the devil it to drive
The maister longeth a litel and lassheth a lesse,
May no man for bren-wateres on night han his rest.