The Manciple's Tale
Folio 398v
8 of 8 folios
Thyng that is seid / is seyd & forth it goth
Thow hȳ repente or be hȳ lef or loth
He is his thral to whō that he hath sayd
A tale of whiche he is now euele apayed
255
Mȳ sone be war & be non autor newe
Of tydȳgis whedyr they been false or trewe
Wheere so thow come a mongis highe or lowe
Keek weel thȳ tunge & think vp on the Crowe
Here is endit the Maūcipeƚƚ tale / And here folwȳ the wordys of chaucer to the host
By that the manciple hadde his tale I endid
The sūne frō the south lyne was descēdid
So lowe that he ne was not to mȳ sight
Degreis nȳne & twēty as in hight
5
Ten of the clok it was tho as I gesse
For eleuene fote or lytil more or lesse
Mȳ schadew was at tilke tyme as theere
Of swiche feet as mȳ lenthe partede weere
In sexe feet equal of proporcyoū
10
Therwit the monys exaltacyoun
I mene libra alwey gan assende
As we were enterynge at a thorpis ende
For which oure host as he was wone to gye
As in this cas this Ioly cūpaynye
15
Seyde in this wise lordȳgis euerichon
Now lakkith vs no talys mo thā on
Fulfillyd is my sentence & mȳ decre
I trowe that we han herd of eche dege
Almost is fulfyld al mȳ ordenaūce
20
I preye to god so ȝeue hȳ righ good chaūce
That tellyth tis tale to vs lustily
¶ Sere prest quod he art tow a vicary
Or art a Persoū sey soth by thȳ fey
Be what thow be ne breke thow nat oure pley