The same link, http://www.librarius.com/canttran/gptrfs.htm , gives a different translation into modern English, but this other translator also decided to let "hairs" and "ears" work as a rhyme--a bad rhyme--rather than tinker too much with the lines. Some other pairs of lines that have bad rhymes are "heavy" with "easy," "spade" with "had," "poetry" and "obscenity," and "gold" and "coat." I don't really know much about Chaucer. Maybe his rhymes weren't always perfect so the translators thought it would be OK if theirs weren't, either. The MILLER was a strong fellow, be it known, Hardy, big of brawn and big of bone; Which was well proved, for wherever a festive day At wrestling, he always took the prize away. He was stoutly built, broad and heavy; He lifted each door from its hinges, that easy, Or break it through, by running, with his head. His beard, as any sow or fox, was red, And broad it was as if it were a spade. Upon his nose right on the top he had A wart, and thereon stood a tuft of hairs, Red as the bristles in an old sow's ears; His nostrils they were black and wide. A sword and buckler he carried by his side. His mouth was like a furnace door for size. He was a jester and knew some poetry, But mostly all of sin and obscenity. He could steal corn and three times charge his fee; And yet indeed he had a thumb of gold. A blue hood he wore and a white coat; A bagpipe he could blow well, up and down, And with that same he brought us out of town.

Go" and "show" - yes -"Boast" and "post" - yes -"hair" and "ear" - no -"knew" and "due" - yes However, David Crystal, a famous British linguist, says that once English pronunciation was very different from today's.

This is what Chaucer actually wrote. So the question is "does 'herys' rhyme with 'erys?'" :) http://www.librarius.com/canttran/gptrfs.htm The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones; Ful byg he was of brawn and eek of bones- That proved wel, for over al ther he cam At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram. He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre, Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre, Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed. His berd as any sowe or fox was reed, And therto brood, as though it were a spade. Upon the cop right of his nose he hade A werte, and thereon stood a toft of herys, Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys; Hise nosethirles blake were and wyde. A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde. His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys. He was a janglere and a goliardeys, And that was moost of synne and harlotries. Wel koude he stelen corn, and tollen thries; And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee. A whit cote and a blew hood wered he. A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne, And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.

That can't possibly be what Chaucer wrote. Chaucer wrote in "Middle English" which is almost like a different language. You are reading a translation of Chaucer into modern English. I don't know why the translator rhymed "hair" and "ear." Googling: yes, it is a translation by Neville Coghill. Be aware that every poet and every songwriter decides just how precise they want to be in their rhymes. It is especially difficult for a translator. He has to balance capturing the meaning, the meter (rhythmic pattern), sensible English, and rhyme, all at the same time. "Hair" and "ear" don't rhyme, but in a long poem of this kind there will be some clinkers.