The Prologue + 

When that the Knight had thus his talë 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 memóry; + 

And namëly the gentles every one. + 

Our Host then laugh’d and swore, “So may I gon, + 

This goes aright; unbuckled is the mail; + 

Let see now who shall tell another tale: + 

For truëly this game is well begun. + 

Now telleth ye, Sir Monk, if that ye conne, + 

Somewhat, to quiten with the Knightë’s tale.” + 

The Miller that fordrunken was all pale, + 

So that unnethes upon his horse he sat, + 

He would avalen neither hood nor hat, + 

Nor abide no man for his courtesy, + 

But in Pilatë’s voice he gan to cry, + 

And swore by armës, and by blood, and bones, + 

“I can a noble talë for the nones, + 

With which I will now quite the Knightë’s tale.” + 

Our Host saw well how drunk he was of ale, + 

And said; “Robin, abide, my levë brother, + 

Some better man shall tell us first another: + 

Abide, and let us workë thriftily.” + 

“By Goddë’s soul,” quoth he, “that will not I, + 

For I will speak, or ellës go my way!” + 

Our Host answer’d; “Tell on a devil way; + 

Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome.” + 

“Now hearken,” quoth the Miller, “all and some: + 

But first I make a protestatioún. + 

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: + 

For I will tell a legend and a life + 

Both of a carpenter and of his wife, + 

How that a clerk hath set the wrightë’s cap.” + 

The Reeve answér’d and saidë, “Stint thy clap, + 

Let be thy lewëd drunken harlotry. + 

It is a sin, and eke a great folly + 

To apeiren any man, or him defame, + 

And eke to bringë wives in evil name. + 

Thou may’st enough of other thingës sayn.” + 

This drunken Miller spake full soon again, + 

And saidë, “Levë brother Osëwold, + 

Who hath no wifë, he is no cuckóld. + 

But I say not therefore that thou art one; + 

There be full goodë wivës many one. + 

Why art thou angry with my talë now? + 

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

Yet n’old I, for the oxen in my plough, + 

Taken upon me morë than enough, + 

To deemen of myself that I am one; + 

I will believë well that I am none. + 

An husband should not be inquisitive + 

Of Goddë’s privity, nor of his wife. + 

So he may findë Goddë’s foison there, + 

Of the remnant needeth not to enquére.” + 

What should I more say, but that this Millére + 

He would his wordës for no man forbear, + 

But told his churlish tale in his mannére; + 

Me thinketh, that I shall rehearse it here. + 

And therefore every gentle wight I pray, + 

For Goddë’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 ellës falsen some of my mattere. + 

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, + 

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 toldë bothë two. + 

Avise you now, and put me out of blame; + 

And eke men should not make earnest of game. + 