¶ The prologe of the Millere
WHan that the knyght / had thus his tale I-told
In al the companye / ne was þere ȝong ne old
That he ne seide / it was a noble storie
And worthy for to drawen / to memorie
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And namely the gentiles / euerychon
¶ . Oure Host lough / and swor as mot I gon
This goth a-right / vnbocled is the male
Lat se now / who shal telle / a-nother tale
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ffor trewely / þis game is wel bygonne
Now telleth ȝe sire Monke / if þat ȝe cone
Som what / to quyte with / þe knyghtes tale
¶ . The Millere / þat for-dronken was / of Ale [al pale]
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So þat vn-ethe vp-on his hors he sat
he nolde a-valen / neither hod ne hat
Ne a-byden no man / for his curteysie
But in pilates vois / he gan to crye
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And swor by armes / and by blod & bones
I can a noble tale / for the nones
With which I wol now / quyte þe knyghtes tale
Oure host saw / that he was dronke of ale
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And seide abyde / Robyn leue brother
Som betir man / shal telle vs first a-nother
A-byde / and late vs werkyn / thriftily
By goddes soule quod he / that wol nat I
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ffor I wol speke / or elles go my wey
Oure host answered / telle on a dewel wey
Thow art a fool / thy wyt is ouercome
¶ . Now herkeneth quod the Millere / alle & some
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But first I make / a protestacion
That I am dronke / I knowe it be my soun
And þerfore / if that I / mysspeke or sey
Wyteth it the Ale / of Southwerk / I prey
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