The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones;
   The MILLER was a strong fellow, be it known,

Ful byg he was of brawn and eek of bones-
Hardy, big of brawn and big of bone;

That proved wel, for over al ther he cam
Which was well proved, for wherever a festive day

At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
At wrestling, he always took the prize away.

He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre,
He was stoutly built, broad and heavy;

Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
He lifted each door from its hinges, that easy,

Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
Or break it through, by running, with his head.

His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
His beard, as any sow or fox, was red,

And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
And broad it was as if it were a spade.

Upon the cop right of his nose he hade
Upon his nose right on the top he had

A werte, and thereon stood a toft of herys,
A wart, and thereon stood a tuft of hairs,

Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
Red as the bristles in an old sow's ears;

Hise nosethirles blake were and wyde.
His nostrils they were black and wide.

A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde.
A sword and buckler he carried by his side.

His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
His mouth was like a furnace door for size.

He was a janglere and a goliardeys,
He was a jester and knew some poetry,

And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
But mostly all of sin and obscenity.

Wel koude he stelen corn, and tollen thries;
He could steal corn and three times charge his fee;

And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
And yet indeed he had a thumb of gold.

A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
A blue hood he wore and a white coat;

A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
A bagpipe he could blow well, up and down,

And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
And with that same he brought us out of town.


 =Anniina Jokinen