THE MILLER'S TALE

THE PROLOGUE

When that the Knight had thus his tale told In all the rout was neither young nor old,

That he not said it was a noble story,

And worthy to be *drawen to memory*; *recorded*

And *namely the gentles* every one. *especially the gentlefolk*

Our Host then laugh'd and swore, "So may I gon,**prosper

This goes aright; *unbuckled is the mail;* *the budget is opened*

Let see now who shall tell another tale:

For truely this game is well begun.

Now telleth ye, Sir Monk, if that ye conne*, *know

Somewhat, to quiten* with the Knighte's tale." *match

The Miller that fordrunken was all pale,

So that unnethes* upon his horse he sat, *with difficult

He would avalen* neither hood nor hat, *uncover

Nor abide* no man for his courtesy, *give way to

But in Pilate's voice^<1> he gan to cry,

And swore by armes, and by blood, and bones,

"I can a noble tale for the nones* *occasion,

With which I will now quite* the Knighte's tale." *match

Our Host saw well how drunk he was of ale,

And said; "Robin, abide, my leve* brother, *dear

Some better man shall tell us first another

Abide, and let us worke thriftily."

By Godde's soul," quoth he, "that will not I,

For I will speak, or elles go my way!"

Our Host answer'd; "*Tell on a devil way*; *devil take you!*

Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome."

"Now hearken," quoth the Miller, "all and some:

But first I make a protestatioun

That I am drunk, I know it by my soun':

And therefore if that I misspeak or say,

*Wite it* the ale of Southwark, I you pray: *blame it on*^<2>

For I will tell a legend and a life

Both of a carpenter and of his wife,

How that a clerk hath *set the wrighte's cap*." *fooled the carpenter*

The Reeve answer'd and saide, "*Stint thy clap*, *hold your tongue*

Let be thy lewed drunken harlotry.

It is a sin, and eke a great folly

To apeiren* any man, or him defame, *injure

And eke to bringe wives in evil name.

Thou may'st enough of other thinges sayn."

This drunken Miller spake full soon again,

And saide, "Leve brother Osewold,

Who hath no wife, he is no cuckold.

But I say not therefore that thou art one;

There be full goode wives many one.

Why art thou angry with my tale now?

I have a wife, pardie, as well as thou,

Yet *n'old I*, for the oxen in my plough, *I would not*

Taken upon me more than enough,

To deemen* of myself that I am one; *judge

I will believe well that I am none.

An husband should not be inquisitive

Of Godde's privity, nor of his wife.

So he may finde Godde's foison* there, *treasur

Of the remnant needeth not to enquere."

What should I more say, but that this Millere

He would his wordes for no man forbear,

But told his churlish* tale in his mannere; *boorish,rude

Me thinketh, that I shall rehearse it here.

And therefore every gentle wight I pray,

For Godde's love to deem not that I say

Of evil intent, but that I must rehearse

Their tales all, be they better or worse,

Or elles falsen* some of my mattere. *falsify

And therefore whoso list it not to hear,

Turn o'er the leaf, and choose another tale;

For he shall find enough, both great and smale

Of storial* thing that toucheth gentiless, *historical,true

And eke morality and holiness.

Blame not me, if that ye choose amiss.

The Miller is a churl, ye know well this,

So was the Reeve, with many other mo',

And harlotry* they tolde bothe two. *ribald tales

*Avise you* now, and put me out of blame; *be warned*

And eke men should not make earnest of game*. *jest, fun

NOTES:

1. Pilate, an unpopular personage in the mystery-plays of the middle ages, was probably represented as having a gruff, harsh voice.

2. Wite: blame; in Scotland, "to bear the wyte," is to bear the blame.