et Incipit fabula sua de la Crowe [Egerton 2726, on leaf237, back]
WHan Phebus was dwellyng in erth adoun
As old bokes maken mensyoun
He was þe most/ lusty bachelere
In all this world / and eke þe best Archiere
Line 108
He slough anoon þe serpent Phiton as he lay
Slepyng ayeinst þe son / vp-on a mery day
And many another noble / worthy dede
He with his bowe wrought / as men mow rede
Line 112
Pleyen he coude / on euery mynstralsye
And syngen þat it was a melodye
To heren of his clere voice the soun
Certes the kyng of Thebes Amphyoun
Line 116
That with his syngyng walled þat Citee
Coude neuere syngen half so wele as hee
There-to he was / the semeliest man
Thas is or was / sen þat þe world began
Line 120
What nedeth it / his fetures to discryve
ffor in this world / was noon so faire on lyve
He was there-with fulfilled of gentillesse
Of honour / and of perfite worthynesse
Line 124
This Phebus / that was flour of bachelrye
As wele in fredom / as in Chiualrye
ffor his desport/ in signe of victorie
O Phiton / so as telleth vs þe storie
Line 128
Was wont to bere in his hande a bowe
Now hade þat Phebus in his hous a crowe
Which in a cage / he fustred many a day
And taught it speke / as þat men teche a Iay
Line 132
