¶ Heere bigynneth the Manciples tale / of the Crowe .
WHan Phebus / dwelled heere / in this world adoun [[Painting of the Manciple.]]
As olde bookes / maken mencioun
He was / the mooste lusty Bachiler
In al this world / and eek the beste Archer
He slow Phiton / the serpent as he lay
Slepynge / agayn the sonne vpon a day
And many another / noble worthy dede
He with his bowe wroghte / as men may rede
Line 112
¶ Pleyen he koude / on euery Mynstralcie
And syngen / that it was a melodie
To heeren / of his cleere voys the soun
Certes / the kyng of Thebes Amphioun
Line 116
That with his syngyng walled that Citee
Koude neuere syngen / half so wel as hee
Therto he was / the semelieste man
That is or was / sith þat the world bigan
Line 120
What nedeth it/ hise fetures to discryue
ffor in this world / was noon so fair on lyue
He was ther-with / fulfild of gentillesse [folio 207b]
Of honour / and of parfit worthynesse
Line 124
¶ This Phebus / that was / flour of Bachilrie
As wel / in fredom / as in Chiualrie
ffor his desport. in signe eek of Victorie
Of Phiton / so as telleth vs the storie
Line 128
Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe
¶ Now hadde this Phebus / in his hous a crowe
Which in a Cage / he fostred many a day
And taughte it speke / as men teche a Iay
Line 132
