The millere sittynge by the fyr he fond,
For it was nyght, and forther myghte they noght;
But for the love of God they hym bisoght
Of herberwe and of ese, as for hir peny.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Reeve’s Tale. John and Alan’s humiliation doesn’t end with them being robbed of their grain. For night has now fallen and they are forced to seek lodgings and food from the miller, thus enriching Symkyn even further.