The Miller's Prologue
Folio 44v
2 of 3 folios
Som bettre man schal telle vs ferst anoþer
Abyd and lat vs werken þriftily
By goddes soule quod he þat wol nat I
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For I wol speken or elles go my weye
Oure oost answerde telle on a deuelleweye
Thou art a fool þi witte is ouercome
Now herkneþ quoþ þe meller alle and some
But first I make a protestacioū
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That I am dronke I knowe it by my soun
And þerfore if I speke or mys say
Wite ȝe it þe ale of Suthwerk I ȝou pray
For I wol telle a legende and a lyf
Boþe of a Carpenter and of his wijf /
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How pat a clerk haþ sett þe wrightes cappe
The Reeue answerde and seyde stynt þy clappe
Lat be þi lewed dronken harlotrie
It is a synne and eeke gret folye
To apeiren eny man or diffame
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And eek to bringe wyfes in such fame
Thou maist ynough of oþer þinges sain
This dronken meller spak ful soone agayn
And seyde leeue broþer Osewold /
Who has no wyf he is no Cokewold
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But I seye nought þerfore pat þou art oon
Ther been ful goode wyfes many on
Why art þou angry wiþ my tale now
I haue a wif perde as wel as þou
Yet nolde I not for þe Oxen in my plougħ
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Take vpon me more þan ynougħ
As demen on my self pat I were oon
I wil bileeue þat I am noon
An housbonde schal not ben Inquysitif
Of goddes priuetees ne of his wijf
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So he may fynde goddes foysoū þere /
Of þe remenant needeþ nought to enquere
What scholde I more sayn but þis Mellere