souter a shipman, or a leach. Say forth thy tale, and tarry not the time: Lo here is Deptford, and ’tis half past prime: Lo Greenwich, where many a shrew is in. It were high time thy talë to begin.”
“Now, sirs,” quoth then this Osëwold the Reeve, “I pray you all that none of you do grieve, Though I answér, and somewhat set his hove, For lawful is force off with force to shove. This drunken miller hath y-told us here How that beguiled was a carpentére, Paráventure in scorn—for I am one: And, by your leave, I shall him quite anon. Right in his churlish termës will I speak— I pray to God his neckë might to-break. He can well in mine eyë see a stalk, But in his own he cannot see a balk.”