The Manciple's Prologue
Folio 256r
4 of 4 folios
here folweþ þe íloge of þe maū- ¶ ciples tale
WOt ȝe not wher þer stant a litel toun
Which þat is cleped Bobbe vp and doū
Vnder þe Blee in Caunt erbery way
Ther gan oure Oste for to Iape and play
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And sayde syres what donne is in þe myre
Is no man for preyer ne for huyre
That wole awake oure felawe be hynde /
A þeef might him ful lightly robbe and bynde
Se how he nappeþ se for goddes bones
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Þat he wol falle fro his hors at ones
Is þat a Cook of londoū wiþ meschaūce
Do him come forth he knoweþ his penaūce
For he schal telle a tale by my fey
Al þough it be nougħt worþ a botel hey
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Awake þou Cook quod he god ȝiue þe sorwe
What eyleþ þe to slepe by þe morwe
Hast þou had fleen al night or art þou drunke
Or hast þou wiþ som quene al night y swunke
So þat þou mayst nought holden vp þin heed
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This Cook þat was ful pale and no þing reed
Seyde oure Ost so god my soule blesse
As þer is falle on me such heuynesse
Not I nouȝt why me were leuer to slepe
Then þe beste galoū of wyn in Chepe
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Wel quod þe maunciple if it þe may don ese
To þe ser Cook and to no wight displese
Which þat heer rydeþ in þis companye
And þat oure host wole of his curtesye