The Manciple's Prologue
Folio 247r
3 of 4 folios
I trowe þat ȝe dronken han wyn ape
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And þat whan men playen with a straw
And with his speche þe cook wax angry & wraw
And on þe maūciple bygan he nodde fast
For lak of speche and doū þe hors him cast
Wher as he lay til þat men him vp took
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This was a fair Chiuache of a cook
Allas þat he nad hold him by his ladil
And er þat he agayn were in his sadil
Ther was gret schowuyng boþe to and fro
To lift him vp and moche care and wo
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So vnwelde was þis sory pallid gost
And to þe maunciple þanne spak oure host
By cause drink hath dominaciou~
Vpon þis man by my sauacioun
I trow he lewedly tel wol his tale
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For were it wyn or old moysty ale
Þat he haþ dronk . he spekiþ in his nose /
And fnesith fast . and eek he haþ þe pose
He also to do more þan ynougħ
To kepe him and his Capil out of þe slougħ
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And if he falle fro his capil eft sone ;
Þan schal we alle haue ynougħ to doone
In liftyng vp his heuy dronken cors
Tel on thy tale of him make I no fors
But ȝit maūciple in faith þou art to nyce
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Thus openly reproeue him of his vice
Anoþer day he wil par aduenture /
Reclayme þe and bringe þe to lure
I mene he speke wol of smale þinges
As for to pynchyn at þy rekenynges
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That were not honest if it cam to pref
Quod þe maūciple þat were a gret meschief
So might he lightly bringe me in þe snare
Ȝit had I leuer payen for þe mare
Which he ryt on . þan he schuld wt me stryue
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I wil not wrath him al so mot I þriue
That at I spak I sayd it in my bourde