| 50 | This was a feir cheuesaunce of a cook | |
| | Alas that he ne had holde hym be his ladyl | |
| | And er that he ayen were in his sadyl | |
| | Ther was a gret shouyng bothe to and fro | |
| | To lifte hym vp and mykyl care and woo | |
| 55 | So vnweldy was this sely pallyd gost | |
| | And to the mauncipyl than spak our ost | |
| | Be cause that drynke hath dominacion | |
| | Op on this man be my sauacion | |
| | I trow lewdly wil he telle his tale | |
| 60 | For were it wyne or old moisty ale | |
| | That he hath dronkyn he spekith so in his nose | |
| | And fuesith faste and eke he hath the pose | |
| | He hath also to do more than ynough | |
| | To kepe hym on his Capyl out of the slough | |
| 65 | And if he falle from his Capil eft sone | |
| | Than shul we alle haue ynough to done | |
| | In liftyng vp his dronkyn corps | |
| | Tel on thy tale of hym y make I nofors | |
| | But yet mauncipyl in feyth thou art to nyce | |
| 70 | Thus opynly to reproue hym of his vice | |
| | Anothir day he wyl perauenture | |
| | Recleyme the and brynge the to lure | |
| | I mene he speke wol of smale thingis | |
| | And forto pynche at thy rekenyngis | |
| 75 | That were not honest yf it cam to the preef | |
| | No qd the Mauncipil that were a gret myschief | |
| | So mighte he brynge me in to the snare | |
| | Yet hadde y leuer paye for the mare | |
