| Whan that the Knyght had thus his tale ytoold, |
| 3110 | In al the route nas ther yong ne oold |
| That he ne seyde it was a noble storie |
| And worthy for to drawen to memorie, |
| And namely the gentils everichon. |
| Oure Hooste lough and swoor, "So moot I gon, |
| 3115 | This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male. |
| Lat se now who shal telle another tale; |
| For trewely the game is wel bigonne. |
| Now telleth ye, sir Monk, if that ye konne, |
| Somwhat to quite with the Knyghtes tale." |
| 3120 | The Millere, that for dronken was al pale, |
| So that unnethe upon his hors he sat, |
| He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat, |
| Ne abyde no man for his curteisie, |
| But in Pilates voys he gan to crie, |
| 3125 | And swoor, "By armes, and by blood and bones, |
| I kan a noble tale for the nones, |
| With which I wol now quite the Knyghtes tale." |
| Oure Hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale, |
| And seyde, "Abyd, Robyn, my leeve brother; |
| 3130 | Som bettre man shal telle us first another. |
| Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily." |
| "By Goddes soule," quod he, "that wol nat I; |
| For I wol speke or elles go my wey." |
| Oure Hoost answerde, "Tel on, a devel wey! |
| 3135 | Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome." |
| "Now herkneth," quod the Millere, "alle and some! |
| But first I make a protestacioun |
| That I am dronke; I knowe it by my soun. |
| And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye, |
| 3140 | Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I you preye. |
| For I wol telle a legende and a lyf |
| Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf, |
| How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe." |
| The Reve answerde and seyde, "Stynt thy clappe! |
| 3145 | Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye. |
| It is a synne and eek a greet folye |
| To apeyren any man, or hym defame, |
| And eek to bryngen wyves in swich fame. |
| Thou mayst ynogh of othere thynges seyn." |
| 3150 | This dronke Millere spak ful soone ageyn |
| And seyde, "Leve brother Osewold, |
| Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold. |
| But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon; |
| Ther been ful goode wyves many oon, |
| 3155 | And evere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde. |
| That knowestow wel thyself, but if thou madde. |
| Why artow angry with my tale now? |
| I have a wyf, pardee, as wel as thow; |
| Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh, |
| 3160 | Take upon me moore than ynogh, |
| As demen of myself that I were oon; |
| I wol bileve wel that I am noon. |
| An housbonde shal nat been inquisityf |
| Of Goddes pryvetee, nor of his wyf. |
| 3165 | So he may fynde Goddes foyson there, |
| Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere." |
| What sholde I moore seyn, but this Millere |
| He nolde his wordes for no man forbere, |
| But tolde his cherles tale in his manere. |
| 3170 | M' athynketh that I shal reherce it heere. |
| And therfore every gentil wight I preye, |
| For Goddes love, demeth nat that I seye |
| Of yvel entente, but for I moot reherce |
| Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse, |
| 3175 | Or elles falsen som of my mateere. |
| And therfore, whoso list it nat yheere, |
| Turne over the leef and chese another tale; |
| For he shal fynde ynowe, grete and smale, |
| Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse, |
| 3180 | And eek moralitee and hoolynesse. |
| Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys. |
| The Millere is a cherl; ye knowe wel this. |
| So was the Reve eek and othere mo, |
| And harlotrie they tolden bothe two. |
| 3185 | Avyseth yow, and put me out of blame; |
| And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game. |