For I wol telle a legende and a lyf
Bothe of a Carpenter and of his wyf
how þat þe clerk haþ set þe wriȝtes cappe /
The reue answered and seyde stynt þi clappe /
Line 3144
let be þy lewed drunken harlottrye
It is a synne and eek a greet folye
To apeyren eny man or him defame
And eek to brynge wyues in ylle name
Line 3148
Thou mayst ynowȝ of oþer þinges seyn
This dronken Miller spak ful sone a-geyn
And seyde leeue brother Osewold
who hath no wyf he is no Cokewold
Line 3152
But I seye not þerfore þat þou art oon
Ther been ful goode wyues many oon
And euer a þousand goode agayns oon badde
That knowest þou wel þy self but if þou madde
Line 3156
why art þou angry with my tale now /
I haue a wyf par de as wel as thow
Ȝit nolde I for the oxen in my plough [folio 42b]
Take vpon me more þan ynough
Line 3160
Though þat þou deme þiself þat þou be oon
I wol bileeue wel þat I am [[a later n prefixt]] oon
An housbond schal not be inquisityf
Of goddes pryuete ne of his wyf
Line 3164
So þat he fynde goddes foysoun þere
Of þe remenaunt needeþ nought enquere /
what schuld I seye but þat þis proud Millere
he nolde his wordes for no man forbere
Line 3168
But tolde his cherlisch tale in his manere
Me aþinkeþ þat I schal reherce it heere
And þerfor euery gentil wight I preye.
For goddes loue as deme nat þat I seye
Line 3172
Of yuel entent but for I moot reherse
here wordes alle ¶ al be þey better or werse
Or elles falsen som of my mateere
And þerfor who-so list it nat to heere
Line 3176
