He seyde, "I trowe the clerkes were aferd.
Yet kan a millere make a clerkes berd,
For al his art; now lat hem goon hir weye!
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Reeve’s Tale. After stealing John and Alan’s corn, Symkyn congratulates himself on winning this particular battle of wits. He gloats over the fact that a miller can trick a clerk despite all his learning.