THE TALE（第1页）

whenphoebusdwelledhereinearthadown，

asoldebookesmakementioun，

hewastheste露sty*bacheler*pleasant

ofallthisworld，andeke*thebestarcher.*also

heslewpythontheserpent，ashelay

sleepingagainstthesunuponaday;

andmanyanothernobleworthydeed

hewithhisbowwrought，asmenmayeread.

playenhecouldoneveryminstrelsy，

andsinge，thatitwasamelody

tohearenofhisclearevoicethesoun.

certesthekingofthebes，amphioun，

thatwithhissingingwalledthecity，

couldneversingehalfsowellashe.

theretohewastheseemliesteman

thatis，orwassincethattheworldbegan;

whatneedethithisfeaturestodescrive?

forinthisworldisnonesofairalive.

hewastherewithfullfilldofgentleness

ofhonour，andofperfectworthiness.

thisphoebus，thatwasflowerofbachlery

aswellinfreedom*asinchivalry，*generosity

forhisdisport，insignekeofvictory

ofpython，soastellethusthestory，

waswonttobeareninhishandabow.

nowhadthisphoebusinhishouseacrow，

whichinacagehefosterdmanyaday，

andtaughtitspeaken，asmenteachajay.

whitewasthiscrow，asisasnow-whiteswan，

andcounterfeitthespeechofeveryman

hecoulde，whenheshouldetellatale.