The Manciple's Tale
Folio 227v
3 of 7 folios
And appetite flemeþ discrecione
As þe wolfe haþe also a veleyns kinde
80
Þe lewdest wolf þat sche maie finde
Or lewedest of Reputacione þat wiƚƚ sche take
In time whan hir list to haue a maake
Al þes ensamples speke .I. be þis men
Þat bien vntrewe & no þinge be wēmen
85
For men haue euere a lykerous appetite
On lower þink to parforme her delite
Þan on here wives bien þei neuer so faire
Ne neuere so trewe ne so debonaire
Flesche is so new fangul wiþ meschance
90
That we ne kunne in noþinge haue plesaunce
Þat sownet in to vertew any while
This phebus whiche þat þouht vpon no gile
Deceyved was for al his Iolyte
For vnder him anoþere hadde sche
95
Aman of litel Reputacioūe
Not worþe to phebus in coperacione
Þe more harme is it happeþe oft soo
Of whiche þere cōme\þ/ muche harme & wo
An so be fel whan phebus was absent
100
His wif anone haþ for hir lēman sent
Her lēman sertes þis is a knauysche speche
Forȝeuen it me & þat .I. ȝow beseche
The wise planto seiþe as ȝe maie rede
The worde mot nede accorde wiþ þe dede
105
If men schal tel properly a þinge
The worde mot Cosine be to þe worcheinge
.I. am a bustuse man riht þus seie .I.
There is no difference treuly
Be twex a wife þat is of hihe degre
110
If of hir body dishonest sche be
And a pouerer wenche oþere þan þis
If it so be þei werken boþe amys
Botte þat þe gentil is in astate aboue
She schal be clepid his ladi as in loue
115
And For þat toþer is a puere wōman
Sche schal be cleped his wenche or his lēman
And god it woote myne owen der broþere
Men leyþe þe tone as lowe as lyþe þat oþere
Riht so be twyx a titles tirānt