The Manciple's Tale
Folio 226v
1 of 7 folios
O . Bachus blissed be þin name
100
Þat so can turne ernest in to game
Worsschipe & þonke be to þi deite
Of þat Matier gete ȝe no more of me
Tel oñ þou Maunciple .I. þe preie
Sires qd he nowe herkeneþ what .I. seye
Incipit fabula Mancipij .
Whan phebz dwelled her in þis erþe adoune
As olde bokes makeþ mencioune
He was þe most lusti bacheller
Of al þis werlde & eke þe best archer
5
He slowe phiton þe serpent as he leye
Slepeinge a ȝeine sōne vpon adaie
And mony anoþere worþe noble dede
He wiþ his bowe brouht as men mowe rede
Pleynge he couþe of euery mynstralcye
10
And singen þat it was a melodye
To heren of his clere voice þe soune
Certes þe kinge of Thebes amphione
Þat wiþ his singeinge walled þat Cite
Couþe neuer singen half so wele as he
15
Therto he was þe semelest mañ
Þat is or was seþþe þe werlde be ganne
Whatt nedeþ it his fetures to discryue
For in þis werld was none so faire on lyue
He was þerwiþ fulfilled of gentillesse
20
Of honor & of parfite worþinesse
Þis Phebus þat was floure ob Bachellarie
As wele in fredam as in Cheualrye
For disport in signe eke of victorie
Of Pheton so as telleþ vs þe storie
25
Was worþi to beren in his honde a bowe
Now hadde þis Phebus in his hous a crowe
Whiche in cage he fostred moni a daie
And tauht it speke as men techeþ a iaie
White was þis crowe as is a snowe white swanne
30
And counterfede þe speche of euery mañe
He couþe whān he schold tel a tale
Þere wiþ in al þis werlde no nyhtinggale
Ne couþe be an hundreþ þousand dele
Singen so wonderli mery & wele
35
Nowe hadde þis Phebus in his hous a wif