The Cook’s Tale

The Cook of London, while the Reeve thus spake, For joy he laugh’d and clapp’d him on the back: “Aha!” quoth he, “for Christë’s passión, This Miller had a sharp conclusión, Upon this argument of herbergage. 1362 Well saidë Solomon in his languáge, Bring thou not every man into thine house, For harbouring by night is periloús. Well ought a man avised for to be 1363 Whom that he brought into his privity. I pray to God to give me sorrow and care If ever, since I hightë 1364 Hodge of Ware, Heard I a miller better set a-werk; 1365 He had a jape 1366 of malice in the derk. But God forbid that we should stintë 1367 here,