From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Manciple's Tale, lines 87-104

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From The Manciple's Prologue, lines 76-86:
The Manciple says he has no intention to mock the Cook

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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Manciple's Prologue
lines 87-104: The Manciple offers the Cook some more wine and announces his tale

	And certeynly, to tellen as it was,
	Of this vessel the Cook drank faste; allas,
	What neded hym? He drank ynough biforn!
90	And whan he hadde pouped in this horn,
	To the Manciple he took the gourde agayn,
	And of that drynke the Cook was wonder fayn,
	And thanked hym in swich wise as he koude.

	And certainly, to tell it as it was,
	Out of this gourd the cook drank deep, alas!
	What need had he? He'd drunk enough that morn
90	And when he had blown into this said horn,
	He gave the manciple the gourd again;
	And of that drink the cook was wondrous fain,
	And thanked him then in such wise as he could.

	Thanne gan oure Hoost to laughen wonder loude,
95	And seyde, "I se wel it is necessarie
	Where that we goon, that drynke we with us carie.
	For that wol turne rancour and disese
	T'acord and love and many a wrong apese.
	O thou Bacus, yblessed be thy name,
100	That so kanst turnen ernest into game!
	Worshipe and thank be to thy deitee!
	Of that mateere ye gete namoore of me,
	Telle on thy tale, Manciple, I thee preye."
	"Wel, sire," quod he, "now herkneth what I seye."

	Then did our host break into laughter loud,
95	And said: "I see well it is necessary,
	Where'er we go, good drink with us we carry;
	For that will turn rancour and all unease
	To accord and love, and many a wrong appease.
	"O Bacchus, thou, all blessed be thy name
100	Who canst so turn stern earnest into game!
	Honour and thanks be to thy deity!
	Concerning which you'll get no more from me.
	Tell on your tale, good manciple, I pray."
	"Well, sir," said he, "now hear what I will say."

Next:
From The Manciple's Tale, lines 105-129:
About Phoebus and his abilities and achievements