Here bigynneth the prologe of the Milleres tale From Bo2 Hic incipit prologus molendariiWhan that the knyght hadde thus his tale ytoold In al the compaignie nas ther yong ne oold That he ne seyde it was a noble storie And worthy for to drawen to memorie And namely the gentils euerichon ¶ Oure hoost lough and swoor so moot I gon This gooth aright vnbokeled is the male Lat se now who shal telle another tale For trewely the game is wel bigonne Now telleth ye sire Monk / if that ye konne Som what to quite with the knyghtes tale ¶ The Millere / that for dronken was a pale So that vnnethe / vpon his hors he sat He nolde aualen / neither hood ne hat Ne abiden no man / for his curteisye But in Pilates voys / he gan to crye And swoor by armes / and by blood and bones I kan a noble tale / for the nones With which / I wol now quite the knyghtes tale ¶ Oure hoost saugh / that he was dronke of ale ¶ And seyde / abyde Robyn leeue brother Som bettre man / shal telle vs first another Abyde and lat vs werken thriftily ¶ By goddes soule quod he / that wol nat I