The_Manciple_Translation_MRankin

The Manciple's Portrait
//567:// A gentil maunciple was ther of a temple, //568:// Of which achatours myghte take exemple //569:// For to be wise in byynge of vitaille; //570:// For wheither that he payde or took by taille, //571:// Algate he wayted so in his achaat //572:// That he was ay biforn and in good staat. //573:// Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace //574:// That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace //575:// The wisdom of an heep of lerned men? //576:// Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten, //577:// That weren of lawe expert and curious, //578:// Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous //579:// Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond //580:// Of any lord that is in engelond, //581:// To make hym lyve by his propre good //582:// In honour dettelees (but if he were wood), //583:// Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire; //584:// And able for to helpen al a shire //585:// In any caas that myghte falle or happe; //586:// And yet this manciple sette hir aller cappe.
 * There was a manciple from a temple,**
 * Of which buyers might take example**
 * For to be wise in buying food;**
 * For whether he paid cash or not,**
 * Always he waited to buy**
 * That he was always ahead and in good stature.**
 * Now it is not of God a full fair grace**
 * That such a vulgar man has wit to pace**
 * The wisdom of a crowd of learned men?**
 * Of masters had he more than three times ten,**
 * That were in law expert and curious,**
 * Of which there were a dozen in that house**
 * Worthy to be stewards of both rent and land**
 * Of any lord in England**
 * To make him live in manner good,**
 * In debtless honor (save his head were wood),**
 * Or live as scarely as he might desire;**
 * And able to help although in the shire**
 * In any case that ever might befall;**
 * And yet this manciple put on his traveling cape.

click here to view the Manciple Chaucer Space

click here to view the Reeve translation**