And here begynneth the prologe of the Cookes tale From Ad1 ¶ Prologus The Cook of Londoun whil the Reue spak For ioye hym thoughte he clawed hym on the bak Haha quod he for Cristes passioun This Millere hadde a sharpe conclusioun Vp on his argument of herbergage Wel seyde Salomon in his langage Ne bryng nat euery man in to thyn hous For herberwyng by nyghte is perilous Wel oghte a man auysed for to be Whom that he broghte in to his priuetee I pray to god so yeue me sorwe and care If euer sith I highte hogge of ware Herde I a Millere bettre yset awerk He hadde a iape of malice in the derk But god forbede that we stynten heere And therefor if ye vouche sauf to heere A tale of me that am a poure man I wol yow telle as wel as euere I kan A litel iape that fil in oure Citee ¶ Oure hoost answerde and seyde I graunte it thee Now tel on Roger looke that it be good For many a pastee hastow laten blood