A drunken miller interrupts a storytelling contest, insisting on sharing his own tale. He recounts the story of a jealous carpenter named John, who is married to a beautiful young woman, Alison. John is overly protective and keeps her confined, fearing infidelity. Meanwhile, a clever scholar named Nicholas, who is also a lodger in John's home, becomes enamored with Alison. Nicholas and Alison engage in a secret affair while John is away. To deceive John, Nicholas concocts a plan to trick him into believing a great flood is coming, similar to Noah's. He instructs John to prepare three tubs for them to escape the flood. John, believing Nicholas's astrological predictions, follows the plan. On the night of the supposed flood, John falls asleep, and Nicholas and Alison take advantage of the situation. They enjoy their time together, but their antics attract the attention of Absolon, a parish clerk who is infatuated with Alison. He attempts to woo her but is rejected. In a moment of desperation, he seeks revenge after being humiliated by Alison. Absolon returns with a hot poker, intending to kiss Alison through the window. However, Nicholas, aware of the plan, tricks Absolon by exposing his backside instead. Absolon, enraged, burns Nicholas, causing a commotion that wakes John. In a panic, John believes the flood has arrived and cuts down the tubs, leading to a chaotic scene where he is ridiculed by the townsfolk. Ultimately, John's jealousy and gullibility lead to his public embarrassment, while Nicholas and Alison's cleverness allows them to escape unscathed. The tale concludes with a humorous reflection on the folly of jealousy and the cleverness of the young lovers.
By Geoffrey Chaucer · First published 1394 · Genre: Comic Fiction, Satire, Romantic Comedy