¶ Here bigynneth the Manciples tale / of the Crowe / [[on leaf 108, back]]
Whan Phebus / dwelled here / in this erthe adoun
As olde bokes / maken mencioun
He was / the mooste lusty bachiler
In al this world / and eek the beste Archer
Line 108
He slow Phiton the serpent as he lay
Slepynge agayn the sonne vp on a day
And many another / noble worthy dede
He with his bowe wroghte / as men may rede
Line 112
Pleyen he koude / on euery Mynstralcye
And syngen / þat it was a melodye
To heren / of his clere 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 he
Ther-to / 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
Of honour / and of parfit worthynesse
Line 124
¶ This Phebus / þat was flour of Bachelrye [folio 109a]
As wel / in fredom as in Chiualrye
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
