| 4325 | The Cook of Londoun, whil the Reve spak, |
| For joye him thoughte he clawed him on the bak. |
| "Ha! ha!" quod he, "For Cristes passion, |
| This millere hadde a sharp conclusion |
| Upon his argument of herbergage! |
| 4330 | Wel seyde Salomon in his langage, |
| `Ne bryng nat every man into thyn hous,' |
| For herberwynge by nyghte is perilous. |
| Wel oghte a man avysed for to be |
| Whom that he broghte into his pryvetee. |
| 4335 | I pray to God, so yeve me sorwe and care |
| If evere, sitthe I highte Hogge of Ware, |
| Herde I a millere bettre yset a-werk. |
| He hadde a jape of malice in the derk. |
| But God forbede that we stynte heere; |
| 4340 | And therfore, if ye vouche-sauf to heere |
| A tale of me, that am a povre man, |
| I wol yow telle, as wel as evere I kan, |
| A litel jape that fil in oure citee." |
| Oure Hoost answerde and seide, "I graunte it thee. |
| 4345 | Now telle on, Roger; looke that it be good, |
| For many a pastee hastow laten blood, |
| And many a Jakke of Dovere hastow soold |
| That hath been twies hoot and twies coold. |
| Of many a pilgrym hastow Cristes curs, |
| 4350 | For of thy percely yet they fare the wors, |
| That they han eten with thy stubbel goos, |
| For in thy shoppe is many a flye loos. |
| Now telle on, gentil Roger by thy name. |
| But yet I pray thee, be nat wroth for game; |
| 4355 | A man may seye ful sooth in game and pley." |
| "Thou seist ful sooth," quod Roger, "by my fey! |
| But `sooth pley, quaad pley,' as the Flemyng seith. |
| And therfore, Herry Bailly, by thy feith, |
| Be thou nat wrooth, er we departen heer, |
| 4360 | Though that my tale be of an hostileer. |
| But nathelees I wol nat telle it yit; |
| But er we parte, ywis, thou shalt be quit." |
| And therwithal he lough and made cheere, |
| And seyde his tale, as ye shul after heere. |