The Manciple's Prologue
Folio 225v
2 of 4 folios
15
Awake þou koce qd he qd ȝif þe sorowe
What eyleþ þe to slepe so be þe morwe
Hast þou had flene al nyht or ert þou dronke
Or hast þou wiþ sum qwene al nyht y swonke
So þat þou maist nouht holde vp þine hede
20
This \koc/ þat was ful pale & no þinge rede
Saide oure oste so god my soulele blisse
As þere is fal on me suche an heuynesse
.I. note whi me were leuer slepe
Þat þe best galon wyne in chepe
25
Wele qd þe Manciple if it maie done ese
To þe sir koke ; & to no wight displese
Whiche þat here rideþ in þis compaignye
And þat oure Oste wil of his curtesye
.I. wil as nowe excuse þe of þin tale
30
For in good feiþe þi vesage is ful pale
Þin eyȝen dasoweþe soþely as me þenkeþ
And wele .I. wote þi breþe foule stinkeþ
Þat scheweþ wele þou ert nouht wele disposed
Of me certeyne þou schalt not bene yglosed
35
See howe goþe þis dronken wight
As þouhe he wold vs swelowe a none riht
Halde close þi mouþe man be þi fader kinne
The deuel of hel sett his fote þere inne
This cursede breþe wil enfect vs al
40
Fy stynkinge swyne fy foule motte þe faƚƚ
Takeþ hede sire of þis lusty manne
Now swete sire wil ȝe iust att þe fanne
Ther to me þinkeþ ȝe be wele yschape
I. trowe þat ȝe haue dronken wyne ape
45
And þat is whan men pley wiþ astrawe
And wiþ þis speke þe koce wex al wrawe
And ōn þe Manciple gan he nodde fast
For lak of speche & doune þe hors him cast
Where as he laye til men him vp toke
50
This was þe faire cheuache of a coke
Alas he ne hadd holde him be his ladel
And er þat he aȝeine were in his sadel
Þere was grete schoueinge to & fro
To lift him vp & muche care & woo
55
So vnwelde was þi cely palled gost
And to þe Mancyple þan spak oure Ost