袋鼠小说

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。