#  9.1 The Manciple's Prologue and Tale 

 



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## **The Manciple's Prologue**

*Here folweth the Prologe of the Maunciples Tale.*

1  **Woot ye nat where ther stant a litel toun**  
 Know you not where there stands a little town  
2  **Which that ycleped is Bobbe-up-and-doun,**  
 Which is called Bobbe-up-and-down,  
3  **Under the Blee, in Caunterbury Weye?**  
 Under the Blee, in Canterbury Way?  
4  **Ther gan oure Hooste for to jape and pleye,**  
 There began our Host to joke and play,  
5  **And seyde, "Sires, what! Dun is in the myre!**  
 And said, "Sirs, what! Dun is in the mire!  
6  **Is ther no man, for preyere ne for hyre,**  
 Is there no man, for prayer nor for hire,  
7  **That wole awake oure felawe al bihynde?**  
 That will awake our fellow far behind us?  
8  **A theef myghte hym ful lightly robbe and bynde.**  
 A thief might full easily rob and bind him.  
9  **See how he nappeth! See how, for cokkes bones,**  
 See how he naps! See how, for cock's bones,  
10  **That he wol falle fro his hors atones!**  
 That he will soon fall from his horse!  
11  **Is that a cook of Londoun, with meschaunce?**  
 Is that a cook of London, with bad luck (to him)?  
12  **Do hym come forth, he knoweth his penaunce;**  
 Make him come forth, he knows his penance;  
13  **For he shal telle a tale, by my fey,**  
 For he shall tell a tale, by my faith,  
14  **Although it be nat worth a botel hey.**  
 Although it be not worth a bundle of hay.  
15  **Awake, thou Cook," quod he, "God yeve thee sorwe!**  
 Awake, thou Cook," said he, "God give thee sorrow!  
16  **What eyleth thee to slepe by the morwe?**  
 What ails thee to sleep in the morning?  
17  **Hastow had fleen al nyght, or artow dronke?**  
 Hast thou had fleas all night, or art thou drunk?  
18  **Or hastow with som quene al nyght yswonke,**  
 Or hast thou with some prostitute all night labored,  
19  **So that thow mayst nat holden up thyn heed?"**  
 So that thou can not hold up thy head?"  
20  **This Cook, that was ful pale and no thyng reed,**  
 This Cook, who was full pale and not at all red,  
21  **Seyde to oure Hoost, "So God my soule blesse,**  
 Said to our Host, "God bless my soul,  
22  **As ther is falle on me swich hevynesse,**  
 There is fallen on me such heaviness,  
23  **Noot I nat why, that me were levere slepe**  
 Know I not why, that I would rather sleep  
24  **Than the beste galon wyn in Chepe."**  
 Than (have) the best gallon of wine in Cheapside."  
25  **"Wel," quod the Maunciple, "if it may doon ese**  
 "Well," said the Manciple, "if it may give relief  
26  **To thee, sire Cook, and to no wight displese,**  
 To thee, sir Cook, and be displeasing to no person,  
27  **Which that heere rideth in this compaignye,**  
 Who rides here in this company,  
28  **And that oure Hoost wole, of his curteisye,**  
 And (providing) that our Host would (agree), of his courtesy,  
29  **I wol as now excuse thee of thy tale.**  
 I will for now excuse thee of thy tale.  
30  **For, in good feith, thy visage is ful pale,**  
 For, in good faith, thy visage is full pale,  
31  **Thyne eyen daswen eek, as that me thynketh,**  
 Thy eyes are dazed also, as it seems to me,  
32  **And, wel I woot, thy breeth ful soure stynketh:**  
 And, well I know, thy breath full sourly stinks:  
33  **That sheweth wel thou art nat wel disposed.**  
 That shows well thou art not in good health.  
34  **Of me, certeyn, thou shalt nat been yglosed.**  
 By me, certainly, thou shalt not be deceived.  
35  **See how he ganeth, lo, this dronken wight,**  
 See how he yawns, lo, this drunken fellow,  
36  **As though he wolde swolwe us anonright.**  
 As though he would swallow us right away.  
37  **Hoold cloos thy mouth, man, by thy fader kyn!**  
 Keep thy mouth closed, man, by thy father's kin!  
38  **The devel of helle sette his foot therin!**  
 The devil of hell set his foot therein!  
39  **Thy cursed breeth infecte wole us alle.**  
 Thy cursed breath would infect us all.  
40  **Fy, stynkyng swyn! Fy, foule moote thee falle!**  
 Fie, stinking swine! Fie, may foul fortune thee befall!  
41  **A, taketh heede, sires, of this lusty man.**  
 Ah, take heed, sirs, of this lusty man.  
42  **Now, sweete sire, wol ye justen atte fan?**  
 Now, sweet sir, will you joust at the quintain?   
43  **Therto me thynketh ye been wel yshape!**  
 It seems to me you are in good shape for that!  
44  **I trowe that ye dronken han wyn ape,**  
 I believe that you have drunk until you act like an ape,  
45  **And that is whan men pleyen with a straw."**  
 And that is when men play with a straw."  
46  **And with this speche the Cook wax wrooth and wraw,**  
 And with this speech the Cook became angry and enraged,  
47  **And on the Manciple he gan nodde faste**  
 And on the Manciple he began to shake his head fast  
48  **For lakke of speche, and doun the hors hym caste,**  
 For lack of speech, and down the horse him threw,  
49  **Where as he lay, til that men hym up took.**  
 Where he lay, until men lifted him up.  
50  **This was a fair chyvachee of a cook!**  
 This was a fine feat of horsemanship by a cook!  
51  **Allas, he nadde holde hym by his ladel!**  
 Alas, he had not kept himself by his ladle (i.e., stayed home)!  
52  **And er that he agayn were in his sadel,**  
 And before he was again in his saddle,  
53  **Ther was greet showvyng bothe to and fro**  
 There was great shoving both to and fro  
54  **To lifte hym up, and muchel care and wo,**  
 To lift him up, and much care and woe,  
55  **So unweeldy was this sory palled goost.**  
 So unwieldy was this sorry enfeebled soul.  
56  **And to the Manciple thanne spak oure Hoost:**  
 And to the Manciple then spoke our Host:  
57  **"By cause drynke hath dominacioun**  
 "Because drink has domination  
58  **Upon this man, by my savacioun,**  
 Upon this man, by my salvation,  
59  **I trowe he lewedly wolde telle his tale.**  
 I believe he would tell his tale badly.  
60  **For, were it wyn or oold or moysty ale**  
 For, were it wine or old or new ale  
61  **That he hath dronke, he speketh in his nose,**  
 That he has drunk, he speaks in his nose,  
62  **And fneseth faste, and eek he hath the pose.**  
 And sneezes fast, and also he has a head cold.  
63  **"He hath also to do moore than ynough**  
 "He has also more than enough to do   
64  **To kepen hym and his capul out of the slough;**  
 To keep him and his horse out of the mud;  
65  **And if he falle from his capul eftsoone,**  
 And if he fall from his horse again,  
66  **Thanne shal we alle have ynogh to doone**  
 Then shall we all have enough to do  
67  **In liftyng up his hevy dronken cors.**  
 In lifting up his heavy drunken body.  
68  **Telle on thy tale; of hym make I no fors.**  
 Tell on thy tale; of him I take no account.  
69  **"But yet, Manciple, in feith thou art to nyce,**  
 "But yet, Manciple, in faith thou art too foolish,  
70  **Thus openly repreve hym of his vice.**  
 Thus openly to reprove him of his vice.  
71  **Another day he wole, peraventure,**  
 Another day he would, perhaps,  
72  **Reclayme thee and brynge thee to lure;**  
 Recall thee and bring thee to the lure (like a hawk);  
73  **I meene, he speke wole of smale thynges,**  
 I mean, he would speak of small things,  
74  **As for to pynchen at thy rekenynges,**  
 As for to find fault with thy accounts,  
75  **That were nat honest, if it cam to preef."**  
 That may not be honest, if it comes to proof."   
76  **"No," quod the Manciple, "that were a greet mescheef!**  
 "No," said the Manciple, "that would be a great mischief!  
77  **So myghte he lightly brynge me in the snare.**  
 In that way he could easily bring me into the trap.  
78  **Yet hadde I levere payen for the mare**  
 Yet I would rather pay for the mare  
79  **Which he rit on, than he sholde with me stryve.**  
 That he rides on, than he should strive with me.  
80  **I wol nat wratthen hym, also moot I thryve!**  
 I will not anger him, as I may thrive!  
81  **That that I spak, I seyde it in my bourde.**  
 That which I spoke, I said it in my joking.  
82  **And wite ye what? I have heer in a gourde**  
 And do you know what? I have here in a gourd  
83  **A draghte of wyn, ye, of a ripe grape,**  
 A draught of wine, yes, of a ripe grape,  
84  **And right anon ye shul seen a good jape.**  
 And right away you shall see a good joke.  
85  **This Cook shal drynke therof, if I may.**  
 This Cook shall drink thereof, if I may.  
86  **Up peyne of deeth, he wol nat seye me nay."**  
 Upon pain of death, he will not say me nay."  
87  **And certeynly, to tellen as it was,**  
 And certainly, to tell it as it was,  
88  **Of this vessel the Cook drank faste, allas!**  
 Of this vessel the Cook drank fast, alas!  
89  **What neded hym? He drank ynough biforn.**  
 Why did he need that? He drank enough before.  
90  **And whan he hadde pouped in this horn,**  
 And when he had blown in this horn,  
91  **To the Manciple he took the gourde agayn;**  
 To the Manciple he gave the gourd again;  
92  **And of that drynke the Cook was wonder fayn,**  
 And of that drink the Cook was wonderfully pleased,  
93  **And thanked hym in swich wise as he koude.**  
 And thanked him in such a way as he could.  
94  **Thanne gan oure Hoost to laughen wonder loude,**  
 Then began our Host to laugh wonderfully loud,  
95  **And seyde, "I se wel it is necessarie,**  
 And said, "I see well it is necessary,  
96  **Where that we goon, good drynke with us carie;**  
 Wherever we go, to carry good drink with us;  
97  **For that wol turne rancour and disese**  
 For that will turn rancor and strife  
98  **T' acord and love, and many a wrong apese.**  
 To accord and love, and appease many a wrong.  
99  **"O Bacus, yblessed be thy name,**  
 "O Bacchus, blessed be thy name,  
100  **That so kanst turnen ernest into game!**  
 Who so can turn earnest into game!  
101  **Worshipe and thank be to thy deitee!**  
 Worship and thanks be to thy deity!  
102  **Of that mateere ye gete namoore of me.**  
 Of that matter you get no more of me.  
103  **Telle on thy tale, Manciple, I thee preye."**  
 Tell on thy tale, Manciple, I thee pray."  
104  **"Wel, sire," quod he, "now herkneth what I seye."**  
 "Well, sir," said he, "now hearken what I say."

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**The Manciple's Tale**

*Heere bigynneth the Maunciples Tale of the Crowe.*

105  **Whan Phebus dwelled heere in this erthe adoun,**  
 When Phoebus dwelled down here in this earth,  
106  **As olde bookes maken mencioun,**  
 As old books make mention,  
107  **He was the mooste lusty bachiler**  
 He was the most lusty bachelor  
108  **In al this world, and eek the beste archer.**  
 In all this world, and also the best archer.  
109  **He slow Phitoun, the serpent, as he lay**  
 He slew Phitoun, the serpent, as he lay  
110  **Slepynge agayn the sonne upon a day;**  
 Sleeping in the sun upon a day;  
111  **And many another noble worthy dede**  
 And many another noble worthy deed  
112  **He with his bowe wroghte, as men may rede.**  
 He wrought with his bow, as men may read.  
113  **Pleyen he koude on every mynstralcie,**  
 He could play on every minstrelsy,  
114  **And syngen that it was a melodie**  
 And sing so that it was a pleasure  
115  **To heeren of his cleere voys the soun.**  
 To hear of his clear voice the sound.  
116  **Certes the kyng of Thebes, Amphioun,**  
 Certainly the king of Thebes, Amphioun,  
117  **That with his syngyng walled that citee,**  
 Who with his singing walled that city,  
118  **Koude nevere syngen half so wel as hee.**  
 Could never sing half so well as he.   
119  **Therto he was the semelieste man**  
 Thereto he was the best looking man  
120  **That is or was sith that the world bigan.**  
 That is or was since the world began.  
121  **What nedeth it his fetures to discryve?**  
 What needs it his features to describe?  
122  **For in this world was noon so faire on-lyve.**  
 For in this world was no one so handsome alive.  
123  **He was therwith fulfild of gentillesse,**  
 He was therewith filled full of nobility,  
124  **Of honour, and of parfit worthynesse.**  
 Of honor, and of perfect worthiness.  
125  **This Phebus, that was flour of bachilrie,**  
 This Phoebus, which was the flower of knighthood,  
126  **As wel in fredom as in chivalrie,**  
 As well in generosity as in chivalry,  
127  **For his desport, in signe eek of victorie**  
 For his amusement, in sign also of victory  
128  **Of Phitoun, so as telleth us the storie,**  
 Over Phitoun, as tells us the story,  
129  **Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe.**  
 Was accustomed to bear in his hand a bow.  
130  **Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a crowe**  
 Now had this Phoebus in his house a crow  
131  **Which in a cage he fostred many a day,**  
 Which in a cage he fostered many a day,  
132  **And taughte it speken, as men teche a jay.**  
 And taught it to speak, as men teach a jay.  
133  **Whit was this crowe as is a snow-whit swan,**  
 White was this crow as is a snow-white swan,  
134  **And countrefete the speche of every man**  
 And imitate the speech of every man  
135  **He koude, whan he sholde telle a tale.**  
 He could, when he should tell a tale.  
136  **Therwith in al this world no nyghtyngale**  
 Therewith in all this world no nightingale  
137  **Ne koude, by an hondred thousand deel,**  
 Could not, by a hundred thousand times,  
138  **Syngen so wonder myrily and weel.**  
 Sing so wonderfully merrily and well.  
139  **Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a wyf**  
 Now had this Phoebus in his house a woman  
140  **Which that he lovede moore than his lyf,**  
 Whom he loved more than his life,  
141  **And nyght and day dide evere his diligence**  
 And night and day did ever his efforts  
142  **Hir for to plese and doon hire reverence,**  
 To please her and do her reverence,  
143  **Save oonly, if the sothe that I shal sayn,**  
 Save only, if I shall say the truth,  
144  **Jalous he was, and wolde have kept hire fayn.**  
 Jealous he was, and would eagerly have kept her.  
145  **For hym were looth byjaped for to be,**  
 For he was loath to be tricked,  
146  **And so is every wight in swich degree;**  
 And so is every person in such a situation;  
147  **But al in ydel, for it availleth noght.**  
 But all in vain, for it does not help.  
148  **A good wyf, that is clene of werk and thoght,**  
 A good wife, who is clean of deed and thought,  
149  **Sholde nat been kept in noon awayt, certayn;**  
 Should not be constantly watched, certainly;  
150  **And trewely the labour is in vayn**  
 And truly the labor is in vain  
151  **To kepe a shrewe, for it wol nat bee.**  
 To keep a shrew, for it will not be.  
152  **This holde I for a verray nycetee,**  
 This hold I for a real act of folly,  
153  **To spille labour for to kepe wyves:**  
 To waste labor guarding wives:  
154  **Thus writen olde clerkes in hir lyves.**  
 Thus wrote old clerks in their time.  
155  **But now to purpos, as I first bigan:**  
 But now to purpose, as I first began:  
156  **This worthy Phebus dooth al that he kan**  
 This worthy Phoebus does all that he can  
157  **To plesen hire, wenynge for swich plesaunce,**  
 To please her, supposing for such pleasing actions,  
158  **And for his manhede and his governaunce,**  
 And for his manly qualities and his behavior,  
159  **That no man sholde han put hym from hir grace.**  
 That no man should have put him out of her grace.  
160  **But God it woot, ther may no man embrace**  
 But God knows it, there can no man embrace  
161  **As to destreyne a thyng which that nature**  
 And restrain a thing which nature  
162  **Hath natureelly set in a creature.**  
 Has naturally set in a creature.  
163  **Taak any bryd, and put it in a cage,**  
 Take any bird, and put it in a cage,  
164  **And do al thyn entente and thy corage**  
 And give all thy attention and take thy pains  
165  **To fostre it tendrely with mete and drynke**  
 To foster it tenderly with food and drink  
166  **Of alle deyntees that thou kanst bithynke,**  
 Of all dainties that thou can imagine,  
167  **And keep it al so clenly as thou may,**  
 And keep it as cleanly as thou can,  
168  **Although his cage of gold be never so gay,**  
 Although his cage of gold be never so gay,  
169  **Yet hath this brid, by twenty thousand foold,**  
 Yet would this bird, by twenty thousand times,  
170  **Levere in a forest that is rude and coold**  
 Rather in a forest that is rude and cold  
171  **Goon ete wormes and swich wrecchednesse.**  
 Go eat worms and such wretched food.  
172  **For evere this brid wol doon his bisynesse**  
 For ever this bird will work diligently  
173  **To escape out of his cage, yif he may.**  
 To escape out of his cage, if he can.  
174  **His libertee this brid desireth ay.**  
 His liberty this bird desires always.  
175  **Lat take a cat, and fostre hym wel with milk**  
 Let's take a cat, and foster him well with milk  
176  **And tendre flessh, and make his couche of silk,**  
 And tender meat, and make his couch of silk,  
177  **And lat hym seen a mous go by the wal,**  
 And let him see a mouse go by the wall,  
178  **Anon he weyveth milk and flessh and al,**  
 Right then he refuses milk and meat and all,  
179  **And every deyntee that is in that hous,**  
 And every dainty that is in that house,  
180  **Swich appetit hath he to ete a mous.**  
 Such appetite has he to eat a mouse.  
181  **Lo, heere hath lust his dominacioun,**  
 Lo, here has lust his domination,  
182  **And appetit fleemeth discrecioun.**  
 And appetite drives away discretion.  
183  **A she-wolf hath also a vileyns kynde.**  
 A she-wolf has also an evil nature.  
184  **The lewedeste wolf that she may fynde,**  
 The most crude wolf that she can find,  
185  **Or leest of reputacioun, wol she take,**  
 Or least of reputation, will she take,  
186  **In tyme whan hir lust to han a make.**  
 In time when she lusts to have a mate.  
187  **Alle thise ensamples speke I by thise men**  
 All these examples I about speak these men  
188  **That been untrewe, and nothyng by wommen.**  
 That are untrue, and nothing about women.  
189  **For men han evere a likerous appetit**  
 For men have ever a lecherous appetite  
190  **On lower thyng to parfourne hire delit**  
 On lower things to perform their delight  
191  **Than on hire wyves, be they never so faire,**  
 Than on their wives, be they never so fair,  
192  **Ne never so trewe, ne so debonaire.**  
 Nor never so true, nor so gracious.  
193  **Flessh is so newefangel, with meschaunce,**  
 Flesh is so fond of novelty, curses on it,   
194  **That we ne konne in nothyng han plesaunce**  
 That we can not take pleasure in anything   
195  **That sowneth into vertu any while.**  
 That is consonant with virtue for any length of time.  
196  **This Phebus, which that thoghte upon no gile,**  
 This Phoebus, who thought upon no guile,  
197  **Deceyved was, for al his jolitee.**  
 Deceived was, despite all his attractive qualities.  
198  **For under hym another hadde shee,**  
 For under him another had she,  
199  **A man of litel reputacioun,**  
 A man of little reputation,  
200  **Nat worth to Phebus in comparisoun.**  
 Worth nothing in comparison to Phoebus.  
201  **The moore harm is, it happeth ofte so,**  
 The more harm is, it happens often so,  
202  **Of which ther cometh muchel harm and wo.**  
 Of which there comes much harm and woe.  
203  **And so bifel, whan Phebus was absent,**  
 And so befell, when Phoebus was absent,  
204  **His wyf anon hath for hir lemman sent.**  
 His wife immediately has for her sweetheart sent.  
205  **Hir lemman? Certes, this is a knavyssh speche!**  
 Her sweetheart? Certes, this is a knavish speech!  
206  **Foryeveth it me, and that I yow biseche.**  
 Forgive it me, and that I you beseech.  
207  **The wise Plato seith, as ye may rede,**  
 The wise Plato says, as you may read,  
208  **The word moot nede accorde with the dede.**  
 The word must by necessity accord with the deed.  
209  **If men shal telle proprely a thyng,**  
 If men shall tell a thing properly,  
210  **The word moot cosyn be to the werkyng.**  
 The word must be cousin to the deed.  
211  **I am a boystous man, right thus seye I:**  
 I am an unlearned man, right thus say I:  
212  **Ther nys no difference, trewely,**  
 There is no difference, truly,  
213  **Bitwixe a wyf that is of heigh degree,**  
 Between a wife that is of high degree,  
214  **If of hir body dishonest she bee,**  
 If of her body dishonest she bee,  
215  **And a povre wenche, oother than this --**  
 And a poor wench, other than this --  
216  **If it so be they werke bothe amys --**  
 If it so be they work both amiss --  
217  **But that the gentile, in estaat above,**  
 Except that the gentle, higher in rank,  
218  **She shal be cleped his lady, as in love;**  
 She shall be called his lady, as in love;  
219  **And for that oother is a povre womman,**  
 And because that other is a poor woman,  
220  **She shal be cleped his wenche or his lemman.**  
 She shall be called his wench or his sweetie.  
221  **And, God it woot, myn owene deere brother,**  
 And, God it knows, my own dear brother,  
222  **Men leyn that oon as lowe as lith that oother.**  
 Men lay that one as low as lies that other.  
223  **Right so bitwixe a titlelees tiraunt**  
 Right so between an usurping tyrant  
224  **And an outlawe or a theef erraunt,**  
 And an outlaw or an arrant thief,  
225  **The same I seye: ther is no difference.**  
 The same I say: there is no difference.  
226  **To Alisaundre was toold this sentence,**  
 To Alexander was told this sentence,  
227  **That, for the tirant is of gretter myght**  
 That, because the tyrant is of greater might  
228  **By force of meynee for to sleen dounright,**  
 By the size of his army to slay downright,  
229  **And brennen hous and hoom, and make al playn,**  
 And burn house and home, and level everything,  
230  **Lo, therfore is he cleped a capitayn;**  
 Lo, therefore is he called a captain;  
231  **And for the outlawe hath but smal meynee,**  
 And because the outlaw has but a small group of followers,  
232  **And may nat doon so greet an harm as he,**  
 And can not do as much harm as he,  
233  **Ne brynge a contree to so greet mescheef,**  
 Nor bring a country to such great mischief,  
234  **Men clepen hym an outlawe or a theef.**  
 Men call him an outlaw or a thief.  
235  **But for I am a man noght textueel,**  
 But because I am not a learned man,  
236  **I wol noght telle of textes never a deel;**  
 I will tell nothing of texts, never a bit;  
237  **I wol go to my tale, as I bigan.**  
 I will go to my tale, as I began.  
238  **Whan Phebus wyf had sent for hir lemman,**  
 When Phoebus wife had sent for her leman,  
239  **Anon they wroghten al hire lust volage.**  
 Right away they satisfied all their reckless lust.  
240  **The white crowe, that heeng ay in the cage,**  
 The white crow, that hanged always in the cage,  
241  **Biheeld hire werk, and seyde never a word.**  
 Beheld their work, and said never a word.  
242  **And whan that hoom was come Phebus, the lord,**  
 And when home was come Phoebus, the lord,  
243  **This crowe sang "Cokkow! Cokkow! Cokkow!"**  
 This crow sang "Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!"  
244  **"What, bryd?" quod Phebus. "What song syngestow?**  
 "What, bird?" said Phoebus. "What song singest thou?  
245  **Ne were thow wont so myrily to synge**  
 Were thou not accustomed so merrily to sing  
246  **That to myn herte it was a rejoysynge**  
 That to my heart it was a rejoicing  
247  **To heere thy voys? Allas, what song is this?"**  
 To hear thy voice? Alas, what song is this?"  
248  **"By God," quod he, "I synge nat amys.**  
 "By God," said he, "I sing not amiss.  
249  **Phebus," quod he, "for al thy worthynesse,**  
 Phoebus," said he, "for all thy worthiness,  
250  **For al thy beautee and thy gentilesse,**  
 For all thy beauty and thy nobility,  
251  **For al thy song and al thy mynstralcye,**  
 For all thy song and all thy music,  
252  **For al thy waityng, blered is thyn ye**  
 For all thy watching, thou hast been tricked  
253  **With oon of litel reputacioun,**  
 By one of little reputation,  
254  **Noght worth to thee, as in comparisoun,**  
 Not worth, compared to thee,   
255  **The montance of a gnat, so moote I thryve!**  
 The value of a gnat, as I may thrive!  
256  **For on thy bed thy wyf I saugh hym swyve."**  
 For on thy bed I saw him copulate with thy wife."  
257  **What wol ye moore? The crowe anon hym tolde,**  
 What more do you want? The crow immediately him told,  
258  **By sadde tokenes and by wordes bolde,**  
 By clear evidence and by bold words,  
259  **How that his wyf had doon hire lecherye,**  
 How his wife had done her lechery,  
260  **Hym to greet shame and to greet vileynye,**  
 To his great shame and to his great dishonor,  
261  **And tolde hym ofte he saugh it with his yen.**  
 And told him repeatedly he saw it with his eyes.  
262  **This Phebus gan aweyward for to wryen,**  
 This Phoebus began to turn away,  
263  **And thoughte his sorweful herte brast atwo.**  
 And thought his sorrowful heart would break in two.  
264  **His bowe he bente, and sette therinne a flo,**  
 His bow he bent, and set therein an arrow,  
265  **And in his ire his wyf thanne hath he slayn.**  
 And in his ire his wife then has he slain.  
266  **This is th' effect; ther is namoore to sayn;**  
 This is the substance of it; there is no more to say;  
267  **For sorwe of which he brak his mynstralcie,**  
 For sorrow of which he broke his musical instruments,  
268  **Bothe harpe, and lute, and gyterne, and sautrie;**  
 Both harp, and lute, and cither, and psaltery;  
269  **And eek he brak his arwes and his bowe,**  
 And also he broke his arrows and his bow,  
270  **And after that thus spak he to the crowe:**  
 And after that thus spoke he to the crow:  
271  **"Traitour," quod he, "with tonge of scorpioun,**  
 "Traitor," said he, "with tongue of scorpion,  
272  **Thou hast me broght to my confusioun;**  
 Thou hast me brought to my ruin;  
273  **Allas, that I was wroght! Why nere I deed?**  
 Alas, that I was wrought! Why was I not dead?  
274  **O deere wyf! O gemme of lustiheed!**  
 O dear wife! O gem of delight!  
275  **That were to me so sad and eek so trewe,**  
 Who were to me so stable and also so true,  
276  **Now listow deed, with face pale of hewe,**  
 Now liest thou dead, with face pale of hue,  
277  **Ful giltelees, that dorste I swere, ywys!**  
 Full guiltless, that dare I swear, indeed!  
278  **O rakel hand, to doon so foule amys!**  
 O rash hand, to do so foul a crime!  
279  **O trouble wit, O ire recchelees,**  
 O troubled wit, O reckless anger,  
280  **That unavysed smyteth gilteles!**  
 That recklessly smites the guiltless!  
281  **O wantrust, ful of fals suspecion,**  
 O mistrust, full of false suspicion,  
282  **Where was thy wit and thy discrecion?**  
 Where was thy wit and thy discretion?  
283  **O every man, be war of rakelnesse!**  
 O every man, beware of rashness!  
284  **Ne trowe no thyng withouten strong witnesse.**  
 Do not believe any thing without strong evidence.  
285  **Smyt nat to soone, er that ye witen why,**  
 Smite not too soon, before you know why,  
286  **And beeth avysed wel and sobrely**  
 And be advised well and soberly  
287  **Er ye doon any execucion**  
 Before you act in any way   
288  **Upon youre ire for suspecion.**  
 Upon your anger caused by suspicion.  
289  **Allas, a thousand folk hath rakel ire**  
 Alas, a thousand folk has rash anger  
290  **Fully fordoon, and broght hem in the mire.**  
 Completely undone, and brought them in the mire.  
291  **Allas! For sorwe I wol myselven slee!"**  
 Alas! For sorrow I will myself slay!"  
292  **And to the crowe, "O false theef!" seyde he,**  
 And to the crow, "O false thief!" said he,  
293  **"I wol thee quite anon thy false tale.**  
 "I will pay thee back immediately (for) thy false tale.  
294  **Thou songe whilom lyk a nyghtyngale;**  
 Thou once sang like a nightingale;  
295  **Now shaltow, false theef, thy song forgon,**  
 Now shalt thou, false thief, give up thy song,  
296  **And eek thy white fetheres everichon,**  
 And also thy white feathers every one,  
297  **Ne nevere in al thy lif ne shaltou speke.**  
 Nor never in all thy life shalt thou speak.  
298  **Thus shal men on a traytour been awreke;**  
 Thus shall men on a traitor be avenged;  
299  **Thou and thyn ofspryng evere shul be blake,**  
 Thou and thy offspring ever shall be black,  
300  **Ne nevere sweete noyse shul ye make,**  
 Nor never sweet noise shall you make,  
301  **But evere crie agayn tempest and rayn,**  
 But ever cry in anticipation of tempest and rain,  
302  **In tokenynge that thurgh thee my wyf is slayn."**  
 As a sign that through thee my wife is slain."  
303  **And to the crowe he stirte, and that anon,**  
 And to the crow he rushed, and that right away,  
304  **And pulled his white fetheres everychon,**  
 And pulled out his white feathers every one,  
305  **And made hym blak, and refte hym al his song,**  
 And made him black, and took away all his song,  
306  **And eek his speche, and out at dore hym slong**  
 And also his speech, and out the door slung him   
307  **Unto the devel, which I hym bitake;**  
 Unto the devil, to whom I commit him;  
308  **And for this caas been alle crowes blake.**  
 And because of this case all crows are black.  
309  **Lordynges, by this ensample I yow preye,**  
 Gentlemen, by this example I you pray,  
310  **Beth war, and taketh kep what that ye seye:**  
 Beware, and take care what you say:  
311  **Ne telleth nevere no man in youre lyf**  
 And tell never any man in your life  
312  **How that another man hath dight his wyf;**  
 How another man has copulated with his wife;  
313  **He wol yow haten mortally, certeyn.**  
 He will hate you mortally, certainly.  
314  **Daun Salomon, as wise clerkes seyn,**  
 Dan Salomon, as wise clerks say,  
315  **Techeth a man to kepen his tonge weel.**  
 Teaches a man to guard his tongue well.  
316  **But, as I seyde, I am noght textueel.**  
 But, as I said, I am not learned.  
317  **But nathelees, thus taughte me my dame:**  
 But nonetheless, thus taught me my mother:  
318  **"My sone, thenk on the crowe, a Goddes name!**  
 "My son, think on the crow, in God's name!  
319  **My sone, keep wel thy tonge, and keep thy freend.**  
 My son, hold well thy tongue, and keep thy friend.  
320  **A wikked tonge is worse than a feend;**  
 A wicked tongue is worse than a fiend;  
321  **My sone, from a feend men may hem blesse.**  
 My son, from a fiend men can bless themselves.  
322  **My sone, God of his endelees goodnesse**  
 My son, God of his endless goodness  
323  **Walled a tonge with teeth and lippes eke,**  
 Walled a tongue with teeth and lips also,  
324  **For man sholde hym avyse what he speeke.**  
 So that man should think about what he may speak.  
325  **My sone, ful ofte, for to muche speche**  
 My son, very often, for too much speech  
326  **Hath many a man been spilt, as clerkes teche,**  
 Has many a man been ruined, as clerks teach,  
327  **But for litel speche avysely**  
 But for little speech well considered  
328  **Is no man shent, to speke generally.**  
 Is no man harmed, to speak generally.  
329  **My sone, thy tonge sholdestow restreyne**  
 My son, thy tongue thou should restrain  
330  **At alle tymes, but whan thou doost thy peyne**  
 At all times, but when thou make an effort  
331  **To speke of God, in honour and preyere.**  
 To speak of God, in honor and prayer.  
332  **The firste vertu, sone, if thou wolt leere,**  
 The first virtue, son, if thou will learn,  
333  **Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge;**  
 Is to restrain and guard well thy tongue;  
334  **Thus lerne children whan that they been yonge.**  
 Thus learn children when they are young.  
335  **My sone, of muchel spekyng yvele avysed,**  
 My son, of much ill-considered speaking,  
336  **Ther lasse spekyng hadde ynough suffised,**  
 Where less speaking had well enough sufficed,  
337  **Comth muchel harm; thus was me toold and taught.**  
 Comes much harm; thus was me told and taught.  
338  **In muchel speche synne wanteth naught.**  
 In much speech sin is not lacking.  
339  **Wostow wherof a rakel tonge serveth?**  
 Knowest thou what a rash tongue serves for?  
340  **Right as a swerd forkutteth and forkerveth**  
 Right as a sword cuts and carves  
341  **An arm a-two, my deere sone, right so**  
 An arm in two, my dear son, just so  
342  **A tonge kutteth freendshipe al a-two.**  
 A tongue cuts friendship all in two.  
343  **A jangler is to God abhomynable.**  
 A tale-teller is to God abominable.  
344  **Reed Salomon, so wys and honurable;**  
 Read Salomon, so wise and honorable;  
345  **Reed David in his psalmes; reed Senekke.**  
 Read David in his psalms; read Seneca.  
346  **My sone, spek nat, but with thyn heed thou bekke.**  
 My son, speak not, but with thy head thou nod.  
347  **Dissimule as thou were deef, if that thou heere**  
 Act as if thou were deaf, if thou hear  
348  **A janglere speke of perilous mateere.**  
 A tale-teller speak of perilous matter.  
349  **The Flemyng seith, and lerne it if thee leste,**  
 The Fleming says, and learn it if thou please,  
350  **That litel janglyng causeth muchel reste.**  
 That little tale-telling causes much rest.  
351  **My sone, if thou no wikked word hast seyd,**  
 My son, if thou no wicked word hast said,  
352  **Thee thar nat drede for to be biwreyd;**  
 Thou need not dread to be betrayed;  
353  **But he that hath mysseyd, I dar wel sayn,**  
 But he who has spoken evil, I dare well say,  
354  **He may by no wey clepe his word agayn.**  
 He can by no way call his word back.  
355  **Thyng that is seyd is seyd, and forth it gooth,**  
 Thing that is said is said, and forth it goes,  
356  **Though hym repente, or be hym nevere so looth.**  
 Though he repent, or be ever so unwilling (it be known).  
357  **He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd**  
 He is his slave to whom he has said  
358  **A tale of which he is now yvele apayd.**  
 A tale of which he is now very sorry.  
359  **My sone, be war, and be noon auctour newe**  
 My son, beware, and be no author new  
360  **Of tidynges, wheither they been false or trewe.**  
 Of tidings, whether they be false or true.  
361  **Whereso thou come, amonges hye or lowe,**  
 Wherever thou come, amongst high or low,  
362  **Kepe wel thy tonge and thenk upon the crowe."**  
 Hold well thy tongue and think upon the crow."