The Pilgrims' Responses to the Miller's Tale (Reeve's Tale Prologue)

    Whan folk hadde laughen at this nyce cas

Of Absolon and hende Nicholas,

Diverse folk diversely they seyde,

But for the moore part they loughe and pleyde.

Ne at this tale I saugh no man hym greve,

But it were oonly Osewold the Reve.

By cause he was of carpenteris craft,

A litel ire is in his herte ylaft;

He gan to grucche and blamed it a lite.

"So theek," quod he, "ful wel koude I thee quite

With bleryng of a proud milleres ye,

If that me liste speke of ribaudye . . . " (I: 3855-66)