The Reeve (who is himself a carpenter also) protests in vain against such slander of honest folk and their wives. Robin Miller has the bit between his teeth, and plunges now headlong into his tale as he had run in old times against the door--a "churlës tale," but told with consummate dramatic effect, and recorded by Chaucer with a half-ironical apology--
And therefore every gentle wight I pray For Goddës love, deem ye not that I say Of evil intent, but that I must rehearse Their talës allë, be they better or worse, Or ellës falsen some of my matère. And therefore, whoso list it not to hear, Turn over the leaf and choose another tale.
The Miller's story proved an apple of discord in its small way, but poetically effective in the variety which it and its fellows lent to the journey--
Diversë folk diversëly they said, But for the mostë part they laughed and played; Nor at this tale I saw no man him grieve, But it were only Osëwold the Reeve,
who, though chiefly sensible to the slur upon his own profession, lays special stress on the indecorum of the Miller's proceeding. Some men (he says) are like medlars, never ripe till they be rotten, and with all the follies of youth under their grizzling hairs--
When that our host had heard this sermoning, He gan to speak as lordly as a King: He saidë 'What amounteth all this wit? What shall we speak all day of holy writ? [why The devil made a Reevë for to preach, And of a cobbler a shipman or a leech! Say forth thy tale, and tarry not the time, Lo, Depëford, and it is halfway prime. Lo Greenëwich, there many a shrew is in; It were all time thy talë to begin.'
The story records, by way of natural revenge, the domestic misfortunes of a Miller; and, for all the Reeve's moral indignation, it is as essentially "churlish" as its predecessor, and as popular with at least one section of the party--
The Cook of London, while the Reeve spake, For joy, him thought, he clawed him on the back, 'Ha, ha!' quoth he, 'for Christës passioun, This Miller had a sharp conclusion ... But God forbiddë that we stinten here; And therefore, if that ye vouchsafe to hear A tale of me, that am a poorë man, I will you tell as well as ever I can A little jape that fell in our citie.' [jest