| | I can an nobil tale forthe nonys | |
| | The whiche I wol now quyte the knyght his tale | |
| 20 | Our ost saw that he was dronke of ale | |
| | And sayde abyde Robyn leue brothir | |
| | Sum bettir man shal telle first anothir | |
| | Abyde let vs worke thriftely | |
| | Be cokkis soule quod he that nyl not I | |
| 25 | For I wil speke or ellis go my wey | |
| | Our hoost answerd tel on a deuyl wey | |
| | Thou art a fool thy witte is ouercome | |
| | Now herkeneth quod the myllere alle & some | |
| | But first I make a protestacion | |
| 30 | That I am dronke I knowe be my soun | |
| | And therfore yf I aught mys speke or say | |
| | Wite it the ale of Suthwerk I you pray | |
| | For I wol telle a legende and a lyf | |
| | Bothe of a Carpenter and of his wif | |
| 35 | How that the clerk hath set the wrightis cappe | |
| | The reue answerd and sayde stynt thy clappe | |
| | Let be thy lewd dronkyn harlottrye | |
| | Hit is synne and eke greet folye | |
| | To appeire ony man or hym defame | |
| 40 | And eke brynge wyuys in suche a name | |
| | Thow maist I nowgh of othir thyngis sayn | |
| | This dronkyn Milward spak ful sone agayn | |
| | And sayde leue brothir Oswold | |
| | Who hath no wyf he is no cokeold | |
| 45 | But I say not therfore that thou art on | |
| | Ther bith gode wyuys many on | |
