The Manciple's Prologue
Folio 210v
3 of 4 folios
Ther was gret showyng both to and fro
To lifte him vp / and muchel care and wo
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So vnweldy was this sori palled goost
And to the Maunciple thanne spak our hoost
¶ By cause drynke hath domynacioun
Vpon this man bi my sauacioun
I trowe he lewdely telle wolde his tale
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For were it wyn or olde moiste ale
That he hath dronke he speketh in his nose
And fneseth fast and eek hath the pose
¶ He hath also to do moore than ynogh
To kepen him and his capil oute of the slogħ
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And yif he falle from his capil eft soone
Thanne shal we alle haue ynow to doone
In liftyng vp his heuy dronken cors
Telle on thi tale of him make I no fors
But yit Maunciple in feith thow art to nyce
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Thus openly repreue him of his vice
Another day he wol perauenture
Reclayme the and brynge the to lure
I meene he speke wol of smale thinges
As for to pynchen at thi rekenynges
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That were nat honeste if it cam to preef
¶ No quod the Maunciple that were a gret meschief
So myght he lightly brynge me in the snare
Yit had I leuer payen for the mare
Which he rit on than he sholde with me stryue
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I wol nat wrath him also mote I thryue
That I spak I seyde it in my bourde
And wit ye what I haue here in a gourde
A draghte of wyn / ye of ripe grape
And right anon / ye shul seen a good iape
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This Cook shal drynke ther of yif I may
Vp peyn of deth he wol nat sey me nay
¶ And certeynly to tellen as it was
Of this vessel the Cook drank fast allas