The Prologue + 

Weet ye not where there stands a little town, + 

Which that y-called is Bob-up-and-down, + 

Under the Blee, in Canterbury way? + 

There gan our Hostë for to jape and play, + 

And saidë, “Sirs, what? Dun is in the mire. + 

Is there no man, for prayer nor for hire, + 

That will awaken our fellów behind? + 

A thief him might full lightly rob and bind. + 

See how he nappeth, see, for cockë’s bones, + 

As he would fallë from his horse at ones. + 

Is that a Cook of London, with mischance? + 

Do him come forth, he knoweth his penánce; + 

For he shall tell a talë, by my fay, + 

Although it be not worth a bottle hay. + 

Awake, thou Cook,” quoth he; “God give thee sorrow! + 

What aileth thee to sleepë by the morrow? + 

Hast thou had fleas all night, or art drunk? + 

Or had thou with some quean all night y-swunk, + 

So that thou mayest not hold up thine head?” + 

The Cook, that was full pale and nothing red, + 

Said to Host, “So God my soulë bless, + 

As there is fall’n on me such heaviness, + 

I know not why, that me were lever sleep, + 

Than the best gallon wine that is in Cheap.” + 

“Well,” quoth the Manciple, “if it may do ease + 

To thee, Sir Cook, and to no wight displease + 

Which that here rideth in this company, + 

And that our Host will of his courtesy, + 

I will as now excuse thee of thy tale; + 

For in good faith thy visage is full pale: + 

Thine eyen dazë, soothly as me thinketh, + 

And well I wot, thy breath full sourë stinketh, + 

That sheweth well thou art not well disposed; + 

Of me certáin thou shalt not be y-glosed. + 

See how he yawneth, lo, this drunken wight, + 

As though he would us swallow anon right. + 

Hold close thy mouth, man, by thy father’s kin; + 

The devil of hellë set his foot therein! + 

Thy cursed breath infectë will us all: + 

Fy! stinking swine, fy! foul may thee befall. + 

Ah! takë heed, Sirs, of this lusty man. + 

Now, sweetë Sir, will ye joust at the fan? + 

Thereto, me thinketh, ye be well y-shape. + 

I trow that ye have drunken wine of ape, + 

And that is when men playë with a straw.” + 

And with this speech the Cook waxed all wraw, + 

And on the Manciple he gan nod fast + 

For lack of speech; and down his horse him cast, + 

Where as he lay, till that men him up took. + 

This was a fair chevachie of a cook: + 

Alas! that he had held him by his ladle! + 

And ere that he again were in the saddle + 

There was great shoving bothë to and fro + 

To lift him up, and muchë care and woe, + 

So unwieldy was this silly paled ghost. + 

And to the Manciple then spake our Host: + 

“Because that drink hath dominatión + 

Upon this man, by my salvatión + 

I trow he lewëdly will tell his tale. + 

For were it wine, or old or moisty ale, + 

That he hath drunk, he speaketh in his nose, + 

And sneezeth fast, and eke he hath the pose. + 

He also hath to do more than enough + 

To keep him on his capel out of the slough; + 

And if he fall from off his capel eftsoon, + 

Then shall we allë have enough to do’n + 

In lifting up his heavy drunken corse. + 

Tell on thy tale, of him make I no force. + 

But yet, Manciple, in faith thou art too nice + 

Thus openly to reprove him of his vice; + 

Another day he will paráventúre + 

Reclaimë thee, and bring thee to the lure; + 

I mean, he speakë will of smallë things, + 

As for to pinchen at thy reckonings, + 

That were not honest, if it came to prefe.” + 

Quoth the Manciple, “That were a great mischíef; + 

So might he lightly bring me in the snare. + 

Yet had I lever payë for the mare + 

Which he rides on, than he should with me strive. + 

I will not wrathë him, so may I thrive) + 

That that I spake, I said it in my bourde. + 

And weet ye what? I have here in my gourd + 

A draught of wine, yea, of a ripë grape, + 

And right anon ye shall see a good jape. + 

This Cook shall drink thereof, if that I may; + 

On pain of my life he will not say nay.” + 

And certainly, to tellen as it was, + 

Of this vessél the cook drank fast (alas! + 

What needed it? he drank enough beforn), + 

And when he haddë pouped in his horn, + 

To the Manciple he took the gourd again. + 

And of that drink the Cook was wondrous fain, + 

And thanked him in such wise as he could. + 

Then gan our Host to laughë wondrous loud, + 

And said, “I see well it is necessary + 

Where that we go good drink with us to carry; + 

For that will turnë rancour and disease + 

T’ accord and love, and many a wrong appease. + 

O Bacchus, Bacchus, blessed be thy name, + 

That so canst turnen earnest into game! + 

Worship and thank be to thy deity. + 

Of that mattére ye get no more of me. + 

Tell on thy tale, Manciple, I thee pray.” + 

“Well, Sir,” quoth he, “now hearken what I say.” + 