Simpkin of Trumpington

Apologia*

Every gentle soul, I pray
That for God's love you'll hold not what I say
Evilly meant, but that I must retell
The tale, the better and the worse,
Or else prove false to my design.

Therefore, who likes not this, let him,
Turn over page and choose another post:
For he shall find enough, both great and small,
Of stories touching on gentility,
And holiness, and on morality;
And blame not me if you do choose this amiss.
This man was a scoundrel, you well know this;
So was pence, and many another more,
And ribaldry they told from plenteous store.
Be then advised, and hold me free from blame;
Men should not be too serious at a game.

*For and from Geoffrey Chaucer, The Miller's Tale