The Canterbury tales

The Miller's Prologue

Whan that the knyght had thus his tale ytoold, Line 3109 In al the route nas ther yong ne oold Line 3110 That he ne seyde it was a noble storie, Line 3111 And worthy for to drawen to memorie; Line 3112 And namely the gentils everichon. Line 3113 Oure hooste lough and swoor, so moot I gon, Line 3114 This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male. Line 3115 Lat se now who shal telle another tale; Line 3116 For trewely the game is wel bigonne. Line 3117 Now telleth ye, sir monk, if that ye konne Line 3118 Somwhat to quite with the knyghtes tale. Line 3119 The millere, that for dronken was al pale, Line 3120 So that unnethe upon his hors he sat, Line 3121 He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat, Line 3122 Ne abyde no man for his curteisie, Line 3123 But in pilates voys he gan to crie, Line 3124 And swoor, by armes, and by blood and bones, Line 3125 I kan a noble tale for the nones, Line 3126 With which I wol now quite the knyghtes tale. Line 3127 Oure hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale, Line 3128 And seyde, abyd, robyn, my leeve brother; Line 3129 Som bettre man shal telle us first another. Line 3130 Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily. Line 3131 By goddes soule, quod he, that wol nat I; Line 3132 For I wol speke, or elles go my wey. Line 3133 Oure hoost answerde, tel on, a devel wey! Line 3134 Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome. Line 3135 Now herkneth, quod the millere, alle and some! Line 3136 But first I make a protestacioun Line 3137 That I am dronke, I knowe it by my soun; Line 3138 And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye, Line 3139

Line 3139 Wyte it the ale of southwerk, I you preye. Line 3140 For I wol telle a legende and a lyf Line 3141 Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf, Line 3142 How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe. Line 3143 The reve answerde and seyde, stynt thy clappe! Line 3144 Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye. Line 3145 It is a synne and eek a greet folye Line 3146 To apeyren any man, or hym defame, Line 3147 And eek to bryngen wyves in swich fame. Line 3148 Thou mayst ynogh of othere thynges seyn. Line 3149 This dronke millere spak ful soone ageyn Line 3150 And seyde, leve brother osewold, Line 3151 Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold. Line 3152 But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon; Line 3153 Ther been ful goode wyves many oon, Line 3154 And evere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde. Line 3155 That knowestow wel thyself, but if thou madde. Line 3156 Why artow angry with my tale now? Line 3157 I have a wyf, pardee, as wel as thow; Line 3158 Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh, Line 3159 Take upon me moore than ynogh, Line 3160 As demen of myself that I were oon; Line 3161 I wol bileve wel that I am noon. Line 3162 An housbonde shal nat been inquisityf Line 3163 Of goddes pryvetee, nor of his wyf. Line 3164 So he may fynde goddes foyson there, Line 3165 Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere. Line 3166 What sholde I moore seyn, but this millere Line 3167 He nolde his wordes for no man forbere, Line 3168 But tolde his cherles tale in his manere. Line 3169 M' athynketh that I shal reherce it heere. Line 3170 And therfore every gentil wight I preye, Line 3171 For goddes love, demeth nat that I seye Line 3172 Of yvel entente, but for I moot reherce Line 3173 Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse, Line 3174 Or elles falsen som of my mateere. Line 3175 And therfore, whoso list it nat yheere, Line 3176 Turne over the leef and chese another tale; Line 3177 For he shal fynde ynowe, grete and smale, Line 3178 Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse, Line 3179 And eek moralitee and hoolynesse. Line 3180 Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys. Line 3181 The millere is a cherl, ye knowe wel this; Line 3182 So was the reve eek and othere mo, Line 3183 And harlotrie they tolden bothe two. Line 3184 Avyseth yow, and put me out of blame; Line 3185 And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game. Line 3186