This dronke Millere hath ytoold us heer
How that bigyled was a carpenter,
Peraventure in scorn, for I am oon.
And, by youre leve, I shal hym quite anoon;
Right in his cherles termes wol I speke.
I pray to God his nekke mote to-breke;
He kan wel in myn eye seen a stalke,
But inhis owene he kan nat seen a balke.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Reeve’s Prologue. At the end of his prologue, the Reeve wishes death on the Miller for his disparaging story about a cuckolded carpenter, which he feels insulted people of the trade. So he decides to repay him by telling a tale about a thieving, dishonest miller.