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=Here biginneth the Shipmannes Prolog.=
Our hoste up-on his stiropes stood anon,
And seyde, ‘good men, herkneth everich on;
This was a thrifty tale for the nones! 1165
Sir parish prest,’ quod he, ‘for goddes bones,
Tel us a tale, as was thy forward yore.
I see wel that ye lerned men in lore
Can moche good, by goddes dignitee!’
1163-1190. _From_ Cp., _collated with_ Hl. Pt. Ln. Seld. Royal, _and_
Sloane; E. Hn. Cm. _omit_. 1164. Cp. herkeneth; Hl. herkneth.
The Persone him answerde, ‘_benedicite_! 1170
What eyleth the man, so sinfully to swere?’
Our hoste answerde, ‘O Iankin, be ye there? (10)
I smelle a loller in the wind,’ quod he.
‘How! good men,’ quod our hoste, ‘herkneth me;
Abydeth, for goddes digne passioun, 1175
For we shal han a predicacioun;
This loller heer wil prechen us som-what.’
1174. Cp. herkeneth; Hl. herkneth. 1174. Hl. Now; _rest_ How
(Howe). 1175. Hl. _omits_.
‘Nay, by my fader soule! that shal be nat,’
Seyde the Shipman; ‘heer he shal nat preche,
He shal no gospel glosen heer ne teche. 1180
We leve alle in the grete god,’ quod he,
‘He wolde sowen som difficultee, (20)
Or springen cokkel in our clene corn;
And therfor, hoste, I warne thee biforn,
[166: T. 12925-12930.]
My Ioly body shal a tale telle, 1185
And I shal clinken yow so mery a belle,
That I shal waken al this companye;
But it shal nat ben of philosophye,
Ne _physices_, ne termes queinte of lawe; (27)
Ther is but litel Latin in my mawe.’ 1190
Here endeth the Shipman his Prolog.
1179. Seld. _has_ Shipman; Roy. Slo. Cp. Pt. Ln. squier; Hl.
sompnour. 1181. Seld. Hl. We leuen; Roy. Cp. Pt. Ln. He leueth.
1182. Seld. Hl. quod, _which_ Cp. Pt. Ln. Roy. Slo. _omit_. 1186-90.
Hl. omits. 1189. Tyrwhitt _has_ of physike; _the_ MSS. _have the
unmeaning word_ phislyas (Sloane phillyas; Ln. fisleas); _read_
physices; see note. COLOPHON. _From_ Seld.
[167: T. 12931-12957.]
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