The Miller's Prologue
Folio 39r
2 of 3 folios
For trewly þe game is wele be gunne
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Now telleþ ȝe sire monke if ȝe kunne
Somewhat to white wiþ þe knyhtes tale
¶ The Mellere þat for dronken was al pale
So þat vnneþe vpon his hors he sat
He nolde a valen neyþe hode ne hat
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Ne abide noman for his curtasie
Bot in Pilates voice he gan to crie
And swore be armes & be blode & bones
.I. can a noble tale for þe nones
Wiþ whiche .I. wil nowe qvite þe knyhtes tale
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Owre oste sauhe pat he was dronken of ale
And seide abide Robin leue broþere
Som better man schal tel vs firste a noþer
Abide & late vs werken þreftely
Be goddes sowle qd he þat wil nouht .I.
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For .I. wil speken or elles go my weye
Oure Oste ansewerd . teƚƚ on þan a deuelweye
Thowe ert a fole þi witte is ouer come
Nowe herken qd þe Mellere al & some
Bot first .I. make a protestacioū
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Þat .I. am dronken .I. knowe it be my sowne
And þere if .I. speke or mys saie
Wiyte it þe ale of Souþewerk .I. ȝowe praie
For .I. wiƚƚ teƚƚ a legende & a lif
Boþen of a carpenter & his wif
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Howe pat a clerke haþe sette þe wrihtes cappe
The reue ansewerde stinte þi clappe
Latt bne þi lewed dronken harlotrie
It is a sinne & eke grete folye
To appeiren any man or him defame
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And eke to bringe wiues in suche fame
Þou maist ynouhe of oþere þinges saine
This dronken Meller spak ful sone aȝeine
And seid leue broþer oswolde
Who haþe no wif he is no cokewolde
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Bot .I. seie nouȝt pere fore pat þou art oon
Ther bene ful gode wives Manyon
Whi ert þou angri wiþ my tale nowe
.I. haue a wife perde as wele as þowe
Ȝete nolde .I. note for þe oxen in my plouhe
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Tak vpon me more þan .I. nowhe