After the Reeve spoke, the Cook of London
Felt like his back’d been scratched, he’d had such fun.
“Ha! Ha!” said he, “Now, by Christ’s own passion,
This Miller reached a painful conclusion
To arguing for giving board and bed! 5
In his own language, Solomon well said,
‘Don’t bring every man into your house thus,’
For sheltering by night is perilous.
A careful man now well advised would be
About who came to share his privacy. 10
I pray God to give me sorrow and care
If ever, as I’m called Roger of Ware,1
I heard a miller made a better mark.
He had a dirty joke there in the dark.
But God forbid that we should stop it here; 15
And therefore, if you will agree to hear
A tale from me, who’s only a poor man,
I will tell you, as well now as I can,
A small joke that happened in our city.”
Our Host answered and said, “Then, I agree. 20
Tell on, Roger. To make it good, now try,
For you’ve let blood from many a meat pie,2
And many stale Jack of Dovers3 you have sold
That twice have been hot and twice have been cold.
On you have many pilgrims wished Christ’s curse, 25
Since from your parsley they have fared the worse,
Which they ate with your tough, stubble-fed goose,
For in your shop, many a fly is loose.
Now, tell on, gentle Roger, by your name.
I pray you; don’t be angry at a game; 30
A man can tell the truth in game and play.”
“By my faith,” said Roger, “you truly say!
But ‘true joke, no joke,’ the Flemish4 have agreed.
And therefore, Harry Bailley,5 by your creed,
Before we separate—don’t be angry— 35
My tale about an innkeeper will be.
But now, that’s not the one I want to tell.
Before we part, you’ll be repaid quite well.”
And with that, he did laugh and made good cheer,
And told his tale, as you will later hear. 40
1 Ware: Town thirty miles from London.
2 let blood from many a meat pie: Taken out some of their fillings to make them skimpier.
3 Jack of Dovers: Pies or pastries.
4 the Flemish: The proverb originated in Flanders.
5 Harry Bailley: The host of the Tabard Inn in Southwark where the pilgrimage started, who is riding with them to Canterbury and serving as judge of the tales. This is the first time he’s named in The Tales. Interestingly, there are records of an historical Harry Bailley who was an innkeeper in Southwark. It is not known whether Chaucer knew him or, if he did, what the point of the reference to him in The Tales would be.