The Manciple's Prologue
Folio 210r
2 of 4 folios
Hastow had fleen alnyght or artow dronke
Or hastow with some quene alnyght y swonke
So that thow maist nat holden vp thin heed
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¶ This Cook that was ful pale and no thing reed
Seide to our hoost so god my soule blesse
As ther is fallen on me swich heuynesse
Noot I nat whi that me were leuer slepe
Than the best galoun wyne in chepe
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¶ Wel quod this Manciple yif it may doon ese
To the sire Cook and to no wight displese
Which that here rideth in this compaignye
And that our hoost wol of his curtesie
I wole as now excuse the of thi tale
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For in good feith thi visage is ful pale
Thyn eyen daswen eek as that me thenketh
And wel I woot thi breeth ful sour stynketh
That sheweth wel thow art nat wel disposed
Of me certeyn thow shalt nat ben glosed
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Se how he ganeth lo this dronken wight
As thogh he wolde swolwe vs anon right
Hold cloos thi mouth man bi thi fader kyn
The deuel of helle set his foot ther yn
Thi cursed breeth wole infect vs alle
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Fy stynkyng swyne / fy / foule mote the falle
A taketh heed sires of this lusty man
Now swete sire wol ye Iusten atte fan
Therto me thinketh ye ben wel I shape
I trowe that ye dronken han wyn ape .
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And that is whan men pleyn with a strawe
And with his speche the Cook wex wroth and wraw
And on the maunciple he gan nodde faste
For lak of speche and doun the hors him caste
Wher as he lay / til that men vp him took
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This was a faire Chyuache of a Cook
Allas he nad I holde him bi his ladel
And er that he ageyn were in his sadel