GROUP I. FRAGMENT X.
§ 1. THE BLANK-PARSON LINK. LANSDOWNE MS. [folio 229b] Incipit prologus Rectoris.
[This is really a link between some unwritten Tale and the Parson's. It has been made into the Manciple-Parson Link (or Yeoman-Parson by the Christ-Church MS) by Chaucer's copiers, though not meant for it.]
BE þat þe manciple hadde his tale endede
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The sonne fro þe souþe side is descendede
So lowe þat he was nouht to my siht
Degrees nyne & twente as of heiht
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Than of þe clokke it was so as .I. gesse
For a .xj. fote a lite more or lesse
My schadowe was at þilke time as þere
Of fusche fete as myn lengeþ partide were
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In sex foote equale of proporocione
þere-wiþe þe mones exaltacione
.I. mene libra alweye gan ascende
As we were entrynge att þe þropes ende
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For wiþ oure oste as he was wonte to guye
As in þis caas oure Ioly compaignye
Seide in þis wise lordeinges euerychone
Now lakkeþ vs no tale more þan one
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Fulfilled is my sentence & my degre
Who wil nowe tel a tale latt see
Almost ffulfilled is myne ordenaunce
.I. praie to god . so ȝif him riht good chaunce
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þat Telliþ þis tale to vs lustely.
Sir prist quod he ert þou a vicarie
Or ert þou a person sei soþe be þi feye
Be what þowe be ne breke þou nouht oure pleye
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