Incipit prologus Melendenarij
Whan þat þe knyht had þus . his tale y-tolde
In al þe company nas þere ȝonge ne holde
That he ne seide it was noble storye
And worþi for to drawen in memorie
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And nameliche þe gentils euerychone
Owre oste louhe and swore so mot .I. gone
This goþe ariht vnboklede is þe male
Lat see nowe who schal tel anoþer tale
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ffor trewly þe game is wele be-gunne [folio 39a]
Now telleþ ȝe sire monke if ȝe kunne
Somewhat to white wiþ þe knyhtes tale
¶ The Mellere þat for-dronken was al pale
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So þat vnneþ vpon his hors he sat
He nolde a-valen neyþe hode ne hat
Ne abide noman for his curtasie
Bot in Pilates voice he gan to crie
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And swore be armes and be blode and bones
.I. can a noble tale for þe nones
Wiþ whiche .I. wil nowe qvite þe knyhtes tale
Owre oste sauhe þat he was dronken of ale
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And seide abide Robin leue broþere
Som better man schal tel us firste a-noþer
Abide and late vs werken þreftely
Be goddes sowle quod he þat wil nouht .I.
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ffor .I. wil speken or elles go my weye
Oure Oste ansewerd . tell on þan a deuelweye
Thowe ert a fole þi witte is ouer come
Nowe herken quod þe Mellere al and some
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Bot first .I. make a protestacioun
Þat .I. am dronken .I. knowe it be my sowne
And þere if .I. speke or mys saie
Wiyte it þe ale of Souþewerk I. ȝowe praie
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