¶ And þus bygynneþ þe prologe of þe myllere [[No break in the MS.]]
WHan þat þe knight had þus his tale I-told
In al þe route nas þer ȝong ne old
That he ne seyde it was a noble story
And worþi to be drawen in memory
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And namely þe gentils euerich oon
Oure host þo lowh and swoor so moot I goon
This goþ right wel vnbokeled is þe male /
Let se now who schal telle anoþer tale
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For trewely þis game is wel bygonne /
Now telleþ now sir monk if þat ȝe konne
Som what to quyte wiþ þe knightes tale /
The Myller þat for drunken was al pale
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So þat vnnethe vpon his hors he sat [folio 42a]
he wold auale nowþer hood ne hat
Ne abyde no man for his curtesye
But in Pilates voys he gan to crye
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And swor by armes and by blood and bones
I can a noble tale for þe noones
with which I wol now quyte þe knightes tale
Oure hoost saugh wel how dronke he was of ale
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And seyde Robyn abyde my leue broþer
Som bettre man schal telle vs first anoþer
Abyd and let vs worken þriftyly
By goddes soule quod he þat wol nat I
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For I wol speke or elles go my way
Oure host answed / tel on a deuel way
Thou art a fool þy witt is ouercome /
¶ Now herkneþ quod þis myller al and some
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But first I make a protestacioun
That I am dronke I knowe wel by my soun
And þerfore if þat I mys speke or seye
wyte it þe ale of Southwerk I ȝou preye
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