Geoffrey Chaucer

“ Wherefore, Sir Monk—or whatsoever your name be, Dan Piers—I pray you heartily tell us somewhat else, for verily, if it were not for the clinking of the bells that hang on your bridle all about—by the King of heaven that died for us all!—I should have fallen down ere this for sleep into the slough, however miry it were. Then had your tale been all told in vain, for certainly as these clerks say : 'Where a man hath no audience, it helpeth him naught to speak his mind.' But I wot well I shall know a good tale when I hear one. ”