A Bailiff and a Miller too were there.
Also a Summoner and a Pardoner, and -
A Manciple and myself, that's the whole band.
The Miller seemed a tough sort for our journey,
He was heavy built, strong sinewed and brawny,
As was well proved by his always throwing down
All rivals at wrestling, to bear off the crown.
He was hunch-shouldered, broad, solid all round;
He could heave any door onto the ground
Or smash clean through by ramming with his head.
His beard like any sow or fox was red
And was so broad that it looked like a spade.
At the top of his nose there stood displayed
A wart, on which there grew a tuft of hairs,
As red as those bristles a sow's ear bears.
His nostrils were enormous, black and wide.
He wore a sword and shield by his side.
His mouth was huge, just like a great boiler.
He was noisy and full of coarse humour,
And tales filled with lasciviousness and crimes.
He stole enough to grind the corn three times,
Yet had a gold thumb, as a good miller should.
He was dressed in a white coat and blue hood.
He blew and played the bagpipes well I'd say,
And with his piping got us underway.
Ther was also a Reve and a Millere,
A Somnour and a Pardoner also,
A Maunciple, and myself - ther were namo.
The Millere was a stout carl for the nones;
Ful byg he was of brawn and eek of bones-
That proved wel, for over al ther he cam
At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre,
Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
Upon the cop right of his nose he hade
A werte, and thereon stood a toft of herys,
Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
Hise nosethirles blake were and wyde.
A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde.
His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
He was a janglere and a goliardeys,
And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
Wel koude he stelen corn, and tollen thries;
And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.