Lines 493-529
- John leaves the room in a sorry state.
- He explains the situation to Alisoun, who pretends to believe him and tells him to go ahead quickly in order to save their lives.
- The narrator comments upon how great a thing imagination is: so deep can an impression (or imagining) be that men can die of it.
- John imagines that he can see the flood drowning Alisoun, which makes him weep.
- John gets three tubs and hangs them from the rafters of his house, then places ladders next to each one.
- He places bread, cheese and ale in each tub and sends his servants off to London.
- John, Nicholas, and Alisoun climb into the tubs.
Lines 530-548
- Nicholas tells everyone to be quiet.
- John sits very still in his tub, saying prayers and waiting for the rain.
- John falls asleep and begins to snore.
- Nicholas and Alisoun climb down from their tubs and go to bed together.
- They have sex in John's bed until almost dawn.