A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of
a temple,
Of which achatours myghte take
exemple
For to be wise in bynge of
vitaille;
For, Whether that he payde, or
too by taille,
Algate he wayted so in his
achaat
That he was ay biforn good and
in good staat
Now is nat that of God a ful
fair grace,
The swich a lewed mannes wit
shal pace
The wisdom of an heepe of
learned man ?
Of maistress hadde he mo than
thries ten,
That weren of lawe expert and
curious,
Of whiche ther weren a
duszeyne in that hous,
Worthy to been stywades of
rente and lond
Of any lord that is in
Engelond,
To maken hym lyve by his
propre good,
In honour dettelees, but if he
were wood,
Or lyve as scarsly as hym list
desire;
And able for to helpen al a
shire
In any caas that myghte falle
or happe,
And yet this Manciple sette
hir aller cappe.
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There was a manciple from an inn of court,
To whom all buyers might quite well resort
To learn the art of buying food and drink;
For whether he paid cash or not, I think
That he so knew the markets, when to buy,
He never found himself left high and dry.
Now is it not of God a full fair grace
That such a vulgar man was wit to pace
The wisdom of a crowd of learned men?
Of masters had he more than three times ten.
Who were in law expert curious ;
Whereof there a dozen in that house
Fit to be stewards of both rent and land
Of any lord in England who would stand
Upon his on and live in manner good,
In honour, debtless (save his head were wood).
Or live as frugally as he might desire;
These men were able to have helped a shire
In any case that ever might befall;
And yet this manciple outguessed them all.
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