The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones;

The miller was a stout fellow, indeed;

Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones.

He had quite strong muscles and bones.

That proved wel, for over al ther he cam,

that he used well, for everywhere he came,

At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.

At wrestling he always wanted to win the ram.

He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre;

He had a thick neck, was broad, a stout fellow;

Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,

There was no door that he would not lift off its hinges,

Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.

or break by running against it with his head.

His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,

His beard, like any sow or fox, was red,

And therto brood, as though it were a spade.

And broad as well, as if it were a spade.

Upon the cop right of his nose he hade

Right on the tip of his nose he had

A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys,

a wart with a tuft of hair on it,

Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;

red as the bristles of a sow's ears;

His nosethirles blake were and wyde.

His nostrils were black and wide.

A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde.

he had a sword and a buckler by his side.

His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.

his mouth was as big as a large cauldron.

He was a janglere and a goliardeys,

he was a teller of dirty stories and a buffoon,

And that was moost of synne and harlotries.

mostly about sin and obscenities.

Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;

he was good at stealing grain and take payments three times;

And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.

And yet he had a golden thumb, indeed.

A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.

He wore a white coat and a blue cap.

A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,

well could he blow a bagpipe and make it sound,

And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.

and this was how he brought us out of town.

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