Summary and Analysis of The Manciple's Tale

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Summary and Analysis of The Manciple's Tale (The Canterbury Tales)

Prologue to the Manciple's Tale:

The Host asks the Cook to tell the next tale, but the Cook is drunk and incoherent. The Manciple agrees to tell a tale in his place and criticizes the Cook for his boorish behavior. The drunken Cook, angry at the Manciple, attempts to get on his horse, but is too unsteady and falls off. He then tries to fight the Manciple, but fails. The Host warns the Manciple that he is foolish to so openly criticize the Cook, for he will eventually get his revenge.

The Manciple's Tale:

When Phoebus lived on earth, he was the lustiest of bachelors, a superior archer and the envy of all for his singing. Phoebus had a white crow that he had taught to speak and a wife whom he kept guarded out of jealousy. Yet guarding a wife so closely is unnecessary ­ if she is faithful, there is no need to do so, but if she is unfaithful no amount of monitoring will keep her faithful. Phoebus treated his wife well, but this was merely a gilded cage for her. Once when Phoebus was gone she sent for her love...

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