I ben now of one offyce And the myserable and vnhappy hors was abusshed And for shame loked dounward ansuerd neuer one word for alle his felycite was thenne torned in to aduersyte ¶ And therfore they that ben in felycite oughte not to dysprayse them whiche ben in aduersyte For many one I knewe ryche and myghty whiche are now poure ¶ The iiij fable maketh mencyon of the beestes and of the birdes NOne maye doo no good to two bordes at ones whiche ben coÌ„trary one to that other as sayth to vs this fable that the beestes made grete werre ageynst the byrdes fought euery day to gyder And the backe feryng the wulues And that the beestes shold vaynquysshe and ouercome the byrdes wold haue hold with the beestes and be ageynst the byrdes And whanne the bataylle was ordeyned on bothe sydes the egle beganne to entre in to the batayll of the beestes by suche a strengthe that with the help of the other byrdes he gat the feld and vaynquysshed and ouercame the bestes wherfor the bestes maade pees with the byrdes and were alle of one acord and of one wylle And for the treason that the â—â—acke had made she was condempned to neuer see the day And neuer flee but only by nyght And also she was despoylled of alle her fethers And therfore he that wylle serue two lordes coÌ„ trary one to other may not be good ne trewe And they whiche relynquen and leue theyr owne lordes for to serue another straunger whiche is enemy to theyr lord ben wel worthy to be punysshed For as the Euangely sayth None may serue bothe god and the deuyl ¶ The v fable is of the nyghtyngale and of the sperehawke HE that oppresseth the Innocents shalle haue an euyl ende wherof Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable Of a sperehawk whiche dyd put hym within the nest of a nyghtyngale where he fond the lytyl and yonge byrdes the nyghtyngale came and perceyued hym wherfore she praid the sperehawke sayeng I requyre and praye the as moche as I may that thow haue pyte on my smal byrdes And the sperehawke ansuerd and sayd yf thow wylt that I graunte the thy request thow must synge swetely after my wylle and gree And thenne the nyghtyngale beganne to synge swetely not with the herte but with the threte onely For he was soo fylled of sorowe that otherwyse he myght not doo The sperehawk sayd thenne to the nyghtyngale This songe playseth me not And toke one of the yonge byrdes and deuoured hit And as the sayd sperehawke wold haue deuoured and eten the other came there a hunter whiche dyd caste a grete nette vpon the sperehawke And whanne she wold haue fleen awey he myght not for he was taken And therfore he that doth harme letteth the Innocents is worthy to deye of euylle dethe As Caym dyd whiche slewe his broder Abel ¶ The seuenth fable is of the foxe and of the wulf FOrtune helpeth bothe the good and euylle folke and to alle them whiche she helpeth not she sendeth euylle to them And they that setten alle theyr malyce ageynste fortune ben subuertysed and ouerthrawon by her wherof Esope reherceth suche a fable Of a wulf whiche had assembled to gyter a grete proye or moche mete for to haue lyued more delyaously wherof the foxe had grete enuye and for to haue robbed somme of this good he came vnto the cauerne or hole where as this proye or mete was in and sayd to the wulf My godsep the wulf by cause hit is longe syth I sawe the I am in grete heuynesse and sorowe and also by cause we haue not ben in long tyme gone chaced and gone to gyder ¶ And whan the wulf knewe the malyce of the foxe he sayd to hym thow arte not come hyder for to see me ne how I fare but thou arte come for to robbe and rauysshe my good For the whiche wordes the foxe was moche angry and wente toward a sheepherd to whome he sayd yf thow wylt be auenged of the wulf whiche is enemy of thy heerd or parke on this day I shalle put hym vnder thy handes And the sheepherd ansuerde to the foxe in this manere yf thow doo as thow sayst I shall paye the wel And thenne the foxe shewed to hym the hool wherin the wulf was And the sheepherd Incontynent wente toward the hole and with a spere he kyld the wulf And by this manere the foxe was wel fylled and refresshyd of the good of other but as he retorned homeward he was taken deuoured by somme dogges wherfore he seyd to hym self by cause that ryght euylle I haue done euylle cometh now to me For synne retorneth euer vpon his mayster And he that lyueth but of rauyn and robberye shal at the last be knowen and robbed ¶ The seuenth fable is of the herte and of the hunter MEn preysen somtyme that that shold be blamed vitu pered And ofte men blamen vytuperen that that shold be preysyd as reciteth to vs this fable of a her te To whome it happyd on a tyme that he drank in a fontayn or welle as he dranke he sawe in the water his hede which was horned wherfore he preysed moche his hornes And as he loked on his legges whiche were lene and smal he dispreysed and vytupered them And as he was drynkynge in the fontayne he herd the voys and barkynge of dogges wherfore he wold haue fledde awey in to the forest for to saue hym self but as he sawe the dogges so nyghe hym he wold haue entrid within a busshe but he myght not for his hornes kepte hym withoute And thenne seyng that he myght not escape began to saye within hym self I haue blamed vytupered my legges whiche haue ben to me vtyle and prouffitable and haue preysed my hornes whiche ben now cause of my dethe And therfore men ought to disprayse that thynge whiche is vnprouffitable and preyse that whiche is vtyle and prouffitable And they ought to preyse and loue the chirche and the commaundements of the same the whiche ben moche vtyle prouf fytable And dispreyse and flee al synne and vyce Whiche ben inutyle harmeful and dommageable ¶ The viij fable maketh mencion of Iuno of Menus and of the other wymmen BEfore the goddes and the goddesses men muste euer preyse chastyte for it is a worshipful an honest thyng to a woman to hold hyr contente with a man alone but Menus for her disporte for to dryue aweye the tyme wold Interprete the sayenge of the hennes wherfore she demaunded a henne whiche was in her how 's but at this tyme I shal kepe my tongue and no ferther I shalle speke therof For many wyse men whiche haue sene and redde alle this book vnder standen wel alle the nature of hit And by cause it is lycyte honest And that we alle ben bounden to kepe the ladyes in they re worship and honour also that in
fonde a Fox And the knyght sayd to his archer In good soothe I see a grete Foxe And the Archer beganne to saye to his lord My lord merueylle ye therof I haue ben in a Regyon where as the Foxes ben as grete as an oxe And the knyght ansuerd In good soothe theyr skynnes were good for to make mantels with yf skynners myght haue them And as they were rydynge they felle in many wordes and deuyses And thenne by cause the knyght perceyued wel the lesynge of his Archer he beganne to make prayers and orysons to the goddes for to make his Archer aferd And sayd in this manere O Iupiter god almyghty ¶ I praye the that this daye thow wylt kepe vs fro all lesynges so that we may sauf passe thys flood and this grete Ryuer whiche is here before vs and that we may surely come to oure how 's And whanne the Archer herd the prayer and oryson of his lord he was moche abasshed ¶ And thenne the Archer demannded of hym My lord wher fore prayest thow now soo deuoutely And the knyÈt ansuerd wost thou not wel that hit is wel knowen and manyfested that we soone must passe a ryght grete Ryuer And that he who on al this daye shalle haue made ony lesynge yf he entre in hit he shalle neuer come oute of hit ageyne of the whiche wordes the Archer was moche doubtous and dredeful And as they had ryden a lytyl waye they fond a lytyl Ryuer wherfore the Archer demaunded of his lord Is this the flood whiche we must passe Nay sayd the knyght For hit is wel gretter O my lord I saye by cause that the foxe whiche ye sa we may wel haue swymmed and passed ouer this lytyl wa ter And the lord sayd I care not therfore ¶ And after that they had ryden a lytyl ferther they fond another lytyll Ryuer And the Archer demaunded of hym Is this the flood that ye spake of to me Nay sayd he For hit is gretter more brode And the Archer sayd ageyne to hym My lord I say so by cause that the Foxe of the whiche I spake of to daye was not gretter than a calf ¶ And theÌ„ne the knyght herkyng the dyssymylacion of his archer answerd not And soo they rode forthe so longe that they fond yet another Ryuer And thenne the Archer demaunded of his lord Is this the same hit Nay sayd the knyght but soone we shalle come ther to O my lord I saye so by cause that the Foxe wherof I spak to yow this daye was not gretter than a sheep ¶ And when they had ryden vnto euen tyme they fond a grete Ryuer and of a grete vrede ¶ And whan tharcher sawe hit he began al to shake for fere and demaunded of his lord My lord is this the Ryuer ye sayd the knyght O my lord I ensure you on my feythe that the Foxe of the whiche I spake to daye was not gretter than the Foxe whiche we sawe to day wherfore I knowlege and confesse to yow my synne ¶ And thenne the knyght beganne to smyle and sayd to his Archer in this manere Also this Ryuer is no wore than the other whiche we sa we to fore and haue passed thurgh them And thenne the archer had grete vergoyne and was shameful by cause that he myght no more couere his lesynge And therfore hit is fayre and good for to saye euer the trouthe and to be trewe bothe in speche and in dede For a lyer is euer begyled and his lesynge is knowen and manyfested on hym to his grete shame dommage ¶ Here after folowen somme Fables of Esope after the newe translacion the whiche Fables ben not founden ne wreton in the bookes of the philosopher Romulus ¶ The Fyrst fable is of the Egle and of the rauen ¶ The second Fable is of the egle and of the wesell ¶ The thyrdde fable is of the Foxe and of the gote ¶ The fourthe Fable is of the katte and of the chyken ¶ The v Fable is of the Foxe and of the busshe ¶ The syxthe Fable is of the man of the god of the wodes ¶ The vij Fable is of the fyssher ¶ The eyghte Fable is of the catte and of the rat ¶ The ix Fable is of the labourer and of the large foote ¶ The x fable is of the child that kepte the sheep ¶ The xj fable is of the Ante and of the columbe ¶ The xij fable is of the Bee and of Iupiter ¶ The xiij fable is of a carpenter ¶ The xiiij fable is of a yonge theef and of his moder ¶ The xv fable is of the man and of the flee ¶ The xvj fable is of the husbond and of his two wyues ¶ The xvij fable is of the labourer and of his children ¶ The fyrst fable is of the Egle and of the rauen NOne ought to take on hym self to doo a thynge whiche is peryllous withoute he fele hym self strong ynouÈ to doo hit As reherceth this Fable Of an Egle whiche fleyncte took a lambe wherof the Rauen hadde grete enuye wherfor vpon another tyme as the sayd rauen sawe a grete herd of sheep by his grete enuy pryde by his grete oultrage descended on them and by suche fachon and manere smote a wether that his clowes abode to the flyes of hit In soo moche that he coude not flee awey The sheepherd thenne came and brake and toke his wynges from hym And after bare hym to his children to playe them with And demaunded of hym what byrd he was And the Rauen ausuerd to hym I supposed to haue ben an Egle And by my ouerwenynge I wende to haue take a lambe as the egle dyd but now I kno we wel that I am a Rauen wherfore the feble ought not in no wyse to compare hym self to the stronge For somtyme when he supposeth to doo more than he may he falleth in to grete dishonour as hit appiereth by this present Fable Of a Rauen whiche supposed to haue ben as stronge as the egle ¶ The second Fable is of the egle and of the wesel NOne for what so euer myght that he haue ought not to dispreyse the other As hit appiereth by this present fable of an Egle whiche chaced somtyme after an hare And by cause that the hare myght not resyste ne withstande a geynst the egle he demaunded ayde and helpe of the wesel the whiche tooke hym in her kepynge And by cause that the egle sawe the wesel soo lytyl he dispreysed her and before her toke the hare wherof the wesel was wrothe And therfore the wesell wente and beheld the Egles nest whiche was vpon a hyghe tree And whanne she sawe hit the lytell wesell clymmed vpon a tree and took and cast doune to the ground the yong egles wherfore they deyde And for this cause was the Egle moche wrothe and angry and after wente to the god Iupiter And prayd hym that he wold fynde
therwith sayenge thus to hym what auaylleth to the soo long a taylle hit doth but wagge And that whiche letteth the shalle be prouffitable and good for me The foxe said to hym I wold that hit were yet lenger For rather I wold see hit al to fowled and dagged than hit shold bere to yow suche ho nour as to couere thy fowle buttoks therwith And therfore gyue thou not that thynge of whiche thow hast nede of to the ende that afterward thow myster not of hit ¶ The xviij fable si of the Marchaunt and of the asse MAny one ben trauaylled after theyr dethe wherfor men ought not to desyre the dethe As reherceth Esope by this fable Of a marchant whiche ladde an Asse laden vnto the market And for to be the sooner at the market he bete his asse and sore prycked hym wherfor the poure asse wysshed desyred hisowne deth wenyng to hym that after his dethe he shold be in reste And after that he had be wel bete chaced he deyde And his mayster made hym to be flayne and of his skynne he dyd doo make tambours whiche ben â—â—uer bete And thus for what payne that men may haue durynge his lyf he ought not to desyre and wysshe his â—â—the For many one ben whiche haue grete payne in this world -that shall haue a gret ter in the other world For the man hath no reste for the dethe but for his merytes ¶ The xix fable is of the herte and of the oxe ONely for to flee none is assured to scape the daunger whâ—â—rfore he fleeth As thow shalt mowe see by this fable Of a herte whiche ranne byfore the dogges and to th ende that he shold not be take he fledde in to the fyrst toun that he found entryd in to a stable where as many oxen we re to whom he sayd the cause why he was come there prayeng them swetely that they wold saue hym And the oxen sayd thus to hym Allas poure herte thow arte amonge vs euylle adressyd thow sholdest be more surely in the feldes ¶ For yf thow be perceyued or sene of the oxeherd or els of the mayster Certaynly thow arte but dede Helas for god for pyte I praye yow that ye wylle hyde me within your racke and that ye deceyue me not and at nyght next comynge I shalle goo hens and shalle putte my self in to a sure place ¶ And whanne the seruaunts came for to gyue heye to the oxen they dyd cast heye before the oxen and wente ageyne they re waye and sawe not the hert wherof the herte was gretely reioysshed wenynge to haue scaped the perylle of dethe He thenne rendred thanke and graces to the oxen and one of the oxen sayd to hym It is facyle to scape out of the handes of the blynâ—â— but hit is not facyle to scape fro the handes of hym that seeth wel For yf oure mayster come hyther whiche hath more than an honderd eyen Certaynly thow arte deed yf he perceyue the ¶ And yf he see the not certaynly thow arte saued and shalt goo forthe on thy waye surely The maystâ—â—r withyn a short whyle after entryd in to the seabâ—â— And after he commaunded to vysyte and see the hey whiche was before his oxen And hym self went and tasted yf they had ynough of hit And as he tasted thus the heye he felt the hornes of the herte with his hand and to hym self he sayd what is that that I fele here and beynge dredeful called alle his seruauntes and demaunded of the manere how the herte was come thyder And they sayd to hym My lord I knowe nothynge therof And the lord was full gladde and made the herte to be taken and slayne and maade a grete feest for to ha ue ete hym Therfore it happeth oftyme that he whiche supposeth to flee is taken and hold within the lace or nette For he that fleeth awey is in grete perylle wherfore men ought wel to ke pe them self to doo suche dede that they must nedes flee therfore ¶ The xx fable maketh mencion of the fallace of the lyon And of his conuersacion TO conuerse with folke of euylle lyf is a thyng moche peryllous And only to speke with them letteth moch other As this fable reherceth of a lyon ryght strong and ryght myghty the whiche made hym self kynge for to ha ue grete renommee and glorye And fro thenne forthon he beganne to chaunge his condycions and customme shewyng hym self curtois and swore that he shold hurte no bestes but shold kepe them ageynst euery one And of this promesse he repented hym by cause hit is moche dyffycyle and hard to chaunge his owne kynd And therfore whanne he was angry he lad with hym somme smalle beestes in to a secrete place for to ete and deceyue them And demaunded of them yf his mouthe stanke or not And they that sayd that it stanke or not were al saued And alle they the whiche ansuerd not he kylled deuoured them al It happed that he demaunded of the Ape yf his mouthe stanke or not And thape sayd no but that hit smelleth lyke baine And thenne the lyon had shame to slee the ape but he fond a grete falsheed for to put hym to dethe He fayned to be seke and commaunded that al his leches Cyrurgyens shold anone come vnto hym whan they were come he commaunded them to boke his vryne And whan they had sene hitâ—â— they sayd to hym Syre ye shalle soone be hole but ye must ete lyght metes And by cause that ye be kynge alle is at your commaundement And the lyon ansuerd Allas Ryght fayne I wold ete of an Ape Certaynly sayd the me decyn that same is good mete Thenne was the Ape senâ—â—e for And not withstondyng that he worshipfully spak ansuerd to the kynge the kynge made hym to deye and deuoured hym ¶ Therfore hit is peryllous and harmeful to be in the felauship of a Tyraunt For be hit euylle or good he wylle ete and deuoure euery thynge And wel happy is he that may ecape fro his blody handes And that may eschewe and flee the felauship of the euyll tyraunts ¶ Here fynysshed the thyrdde booke of the subtyle fables of Esope And begynneth the table of the fourthe booke ¶ The fyrst fable is of the foxe and of the raysyn ¶ The second fable is of the wesel and of the rat ¶ The thyrd fable is of the wulf of the shepherd and of the hunâ—â—er ¶ The fourthe is of the pecok of Iuno the goddesse and of the nyghtyngale ¶ The v fable is of the panthere and of the vylayns ¶ The vj fable is of the bochers and of the whethers ¶ The vij fable is of the fawkener and of the byrdes ¶ The eyght fable is of the trewe man of the man lyer and of the apes ¶ The ix fable is of the hors of the hunter and of the herte ¶ The tenthe fable is of the lyon and
ofte at his teeth grete cold and lacke at his nede ¶ The xviij fable is of the pylgrym and of the swerd AN euylle man maye be cause of the perdycion or losse of mauy folke As regercetg to vs this present Fable Of a pylgrym whiche fond in his way a swerd ¶ And he asked of the swerd what is he that hath lost the ¶ And the swerd answerd to the pylgrym A man alone hath lost me but many one I haue lost And therfor an euyl man may wel be lost but er he be lost he may wel lette many one For by cause of an euylle man may come in a Countrey many euyls ¶ The xix fable is of the sheeep and of the Crowe MEn ought not to iniurye nâ—â— disprayse the poure Innocentes ne the symple folke As reherceth this fable Of a Crowe whiche sette her self vpon the back of a 〈◊〉 And whan the sheep had born her a grete whyle she sayd to her thow shalt kepe thy self wel to sette the vpon a dogge ¶ And thenne the crowe sayd to the sheep Thynke thow poure Innocent that I wote wel with whome I playe For I am old and malycious and my kynde is to lette all Innocents and to be frende vnto the euyls ¶ Ad therfore this fable wylle telle and saye how ther be folke of suche kynde that they wyl doo no good werk but only to lette euer the Innocents and symple folke ¶ The xx fable maketh mencion of the tree and of the reed NOne ought to be prowd ageynst his lord but oughte to humble hym self toward hym As this fable reherceth to vs of a grete tre whiche wold neuer bowe hym for none wynd And a reed whiche was at his foote bowed hym self as moche as the wynd wold And the tree sayd to hym why dost thow not abyde stylle as I doo And the reed ansuerd I haue not the myght whiche thow hast And the tree sayd to the reed prowdly than haue I more strengthe than thow And anone after came a grete wynde whiche threwe doune to the ground the sayd grete tree and the reed abode in his owne beynge For the prowde shall be allwey humbled And the meke and huÌ„ble shalle be enhannced For the roote of alle vertue is obedyence and humylyte ¶ Here fynyssheth the fourthe book of the subtyle Fables of Esope And how be it that moo of them ben not found in ony Regystre Neuertheles many other fables composed by hym haue â—â—en founden whiche here after folowen ¶ The fyrste fable maketh mencion of the Mulet of the foxe and of the wulf MEn calle many folke Asses that ben wel subtyle And suche wenen to knowe moche and to be a grete clerke that is but an asse As hit appiereth by thys 〈◊〉 Of a mule whiche ete grasse in a medowe nyghe to a gre te forest to whome came a foxe whiche demaunded of hym what 〈◊〉 thow And the mule ansuerd I am a beest And the foâ—â— sayd to hym I ne demaunde ne aske of the that but I aske who was thy fader ¶ And the Mule ansuerd My grete fader was an hors And the foxe sayd ageyne I ne demaunde to the that but only that thow tellest me who thow arte named And the Mule sayd to the foxe I ne wote by cause I was lytyll whanne my fader deyde Neuertheles to th ende that my name shold not be forgeten my fader made hit to be wreton vnder my lyfte foote behynde wherfore yf thow wylt knowe my name goo thow and loke vnder my foote ¶ And whanne the foxe vnderstood the fallace or falshede he wente ageyne in to the forest And mette with the wulf to whome he sayd Ha myschaunt beest what dost thow here Come with me and in to thy hand I shall put a good proy Loke in to yonder medowe there shalt thow fynde a fatte beest Of the whiche thow mayst be fylled ¶ And thenne the wulf entryd in to the medowe and fonde there the mule Of whom he demaunded who arte thow And the mule ansuerd to the wulf I am a beest And the wulf sayd to hym This is not that that I aske to the but telle how thow arte named And the mule sayd I wote not but neuertheles yf thow wylt kno we my name thow shalt fynde it wreton at my lyfte foote be hynde Thenne sayd the wulf I praye the wuchesauf to shewe it to me And the mule lyft vp his foote ¶ And as the wulf beheld and studyed in the foote of the mule the Mule gaf hym suche a stroke with his foote before his forhede that almost the brayne ranne oute of his hede And the foxe whi che was within a busshe and sawe alle the maner beganne to lawhe and mocque the wulf to whome he sayd Foole beeste thow wost wel that thow canst not rede wherfore yf euylle is therof come to the thy self is cause of hit For none ought not to entremete hym to doo that that Impossyble is to hym ¶ And therfore many ben deceyued that entremeteth them to doo that that they may not doo ¶ The second fable is of the bore and of the wulf SOOthe desyren to be grete lordes and dyspreysen his parents that at the last becomen poure and fallen in to grete dishonour As thow mayst see by this present fable Of a bore whiche was amonge a grete herd of other swynes And for to haue lordship and domynacion ouer alle them he beganne to make grete rumour and shewed his grete teethe for to make the other swynes aferd but by cause they knewe hym they sette nought by hym wherof he displeased moche and wold goo in to a herd of sheep and emonge lambes And whanne he was amonge the lambes he began to make grete rumour and shewed his sharp and long teeth ¶ And whanne the lambes herd hym they were sore aferd and byganne to shake for fere ¶ And thenne sayd the bore within hym self here is the place wherin I must abyde dueke For here I shalle be gretely worshipped For euerychone quaken for fere of me ¶ Thenne came the wulf there for to haue and rauysshe somme proye And the lambes beganne alle to flee but the bore as prowd wold not sterr hym ne go fro the place by cause he supposed to be lord but the wulf toke hym and bare hym in to the wode for to ete hym ¶ And as the wulf bare hym it happed that he passid before the herd of swynes whiche the bore had lefte ¶ And thenne whanne the bore perceyued and knewe them he prayd and cryed to them that for the loue of god they wold helpe hym And that withoute â—â—er help he was dâ—â—d And thenne the swynes alle of one assent and owne wylle wonte and recouered theyr felawe and after slewe the wulf And as the bore was delyuerd and sa we hym amonge the swynes and that alle his doubte and fere was gone he beganne to haue vergoyne
lytyl corne For the Somer next comynge shalle be soâ—â— grete and soo hote that by the dryenes and hete that alle the goodes sowen on the erthe shall perysshe â—â—ut byleue not hym to whome thow hast done ony euylle ¶ And withoute sayenge ony word the labourer wente and thought on the wordes of the Serpent ¶ And wenynge that the Serpent hadde soo sayd for to deceyue hym he sowed as moche corne and other graynes as he myght ¶ And it happed that the Somer next folowynge was suche as aboue is sayd Therfor the man was begyled ¶ For he gadred that same yere nothynge ¶ And the next yere after folowynge the sayd season as the poure labourer wente ageyne for to ere and cultyue his ground the serpent sawe hym come fro ferre ¶ And as he came and passed before his re payre he asked of the labourer in suche maner ¶ My Frend whyther goost thow And the labourer ansuerd I goo cultyue and ere my ground ¶ And thenne the serpent seyd to hym My Frend sowe not to moche ne to lytyl of â—â—ne and of other graynes but sowe bytwene bothe Neuertheles byleue not hym to the whiche thow hast done euyl ¶ And I telle the that this yere shalle be the most temperate and the moost fertyle of allâ—â— maner of corne that euer thow sawest ¶ And whanne the labourer hadde herd these wordes be wente his waye and dyd as the Serpent had sayd And that yere he gadred moche good by cause of the good disposycion of the season and tyme ¶ And on a daye of the same yere the serpent sawe the sayd labourer comynge fro the heruest to whome he came ageynste and sayd Now saye me my good Frend Hast thow not fond now grete plente of goodes as I had told to the byfore And the labourer ansuerd and sayd ye certaynly wherof I thanke the ¶ And thenne the Serpent demaunded of hym Reâ—â—uneracion or reward ¶ And the labourer thenne demaunded what he wold haue of hym And the Serpent sayd I nâ—â— demaunde of the nothynge but only that to morowe on the mornyng thow wylt sende me a dyssh ful of mylk by som of thy children ¶ And thenne the serpent shewed to the labourer the hole of his dwellyng sayd to hym telle thy sone that he brynge the mylke hyther but take good heede to that that other whyle I told to the that thow byleuest not hym to whome thow hast done euylle ¶ And anone after whanne these thynges were sayd the labourer wente homeward And in the mornynge next folowynge he betoke to his sone a dysshe full of mylke whiche he brought to the serpent and sette the dysshe before the hool And anone the serpent came oute and slewe the child thurgh his Wnym And when the labourer cam fro the feld and that he came before the repayre or dwellynge of the serpent he fond his sonne whiche laye doune deed on the erthe Thenne beganne the sayd labourer to crye with a hyghe wys as he that was ful of sorowe and of heuynesse sayenge suche wordes Ha cursyd euylle serpent vermyn and fals traytour thow hast deceyued me Ha wycked and deceytfull beest ful of all contagyous euyll thow hast sorowfully slayne my sone ¶ And thenne the serpente sayd to hym I wylle well that thow knowe that I haue not slayne hym sorowfully ne with oute cause but for to auenge me of that that thow hurtest me on that other daye withoute cause and hast not amended hit Hast thow now memorye how ofte I sayd to the that thow sholdest not byleue hym to whome thow hast done euyll haue now thenne in thy memorye that I am auengyd of the ¶ And thus this fable sheweth how men ought not to byleue ne bere feythe to them to whome men hath done somme harme 〈◊〉 euylle ¶ The ix fable is of the foxe of the wulf and of the Lyon YF hit be soo that ony hath ben adommaged by other he ought not to take vengeauÌ„ce by the tong in gyuyng Iniuryous wordes and the cause why is by cause that suche vengeaunce is dishonest As to vs reherceth this present fable Somtyme was a foxe that ete fysshe in a Ryuer ¶ It happed that the wulf came that waye ¶ And whâ—â—nne he sawe the foxe whiche ete with so grete appetyte He beganne to saye My broder gyue me somme fysshe And the foxe ansuerd to hym Allas my lord It behoueth not that ye 〈◊〉 the releef of my table but for the worship of your persone I shall counceylle yow wel Doo soo moche to gete yow a les 〈◊〉 And I shalle teche yow how men shalle take fysshes to th ende that ye may take somme whan ye shalle be hongry And the wulf wente in to the strete and stalle a basket whi the â—â—e brought with hym the foxe tooke the basket and bound it with a cord at the wulfs taylle ¶ And whanne he was wel bounden the foxe sayd to the wulf goo thow by the Ryuer and I shalle lede and take hede to the basket And the wulf dyde as the foxe bad hym do ¶ And as the wulf was goâ—â—nge within the water the foxe fylled the basket fulle of stones by his malyce ¶ And whan the basket was full the foxe sayd to the wulf Certaynly my lord I maye no more lyfte ne hold the basket so full it is of fysshe ¶ And the wulf wenynge that the foxe had sayd trouthe profeâ—â—rd such wordes sayenge I rendre graces and thankes to god that I maye ones see thyn hyghe and excellente wysedome in the arte and crafte of fysshynge ¶ And thenne the foxe sayd to hym My lord abyde me here And I shalle fetche some to helpe vs for 〈◊〉 haue and take the fysshe oute of the basket And in sayenge these wordes the foxe ranne in to the strete where he fond men to whome he sayd in this manere My lordes what doo ye here why are yow werkles see yonder the wulf which ete youâ—â— sheep your lambes and your beestes and yet now he taketh your fysshes oute of the Ryuer and ete them ¶ And thenne alle the men came to gyder somme with flynges and somme with bowes and other with staues vnto the Ryuer where they fond the wulf whiche they bete outragyously ¶ And whanne the poure wulf sawe hym thus oppressyd vexed with strokes beganne with alle his strengthe myghte to drawe and supposed to haue caryed the fysshe awey but so strongly he drewe that he drewe and pulled his taylle fro his ers And thus he scaped vnnethe with his lyf ¶ In the mene whyle thenne happed that the lyon whiche was kynge ouâ—â—r alle beestes felle in a grete sekenesse for the whiche cause euery beest wente for to see hym as theyr lord ¶ And when the wulf wold haue gone thyder he salewed his lord sayeng thus to hym My kynge I salewe yow please it yow to knowe that I haue gone round aboute the countre
cause me for to drynke to moche for it is to salte And as myn ers songe to me last I shalle ete this same day better and more delycious mete ¶ And thenne he beganne to walke ferther And as he entryd in to a fayr medowe he saâ—â— we a mare and her yong foole with her and sayd to hym self alone I rendre thankes and graces to the goddes of the godes that they send me For wel I wyst and was certayne that this daye I shold fynde somme precious mete And thenne he came nyghe the mare and sayd to her Certaynly my sister I shalle ete thy child And the mare ansuerd to hym My broder doo what someuer hit shalle please the But fyrst I praye the that one playsyre thow wylt do to me I haue herd saye that thow art a good Cyrurgyen wherfore I praye the that thou wylt hele me of my foote I saye to the my good bro der that yesterdaye as I wente within the forest a thorne enteyd in to one of my feet behynd the whiche greueth me sore I praye the that or thow ete my fool thow wylt drawe and haue it oute of my foote And the wulf answerd to the mare that shalle I doo gladly my good suster shewe me thy foote ¶ And as the mare shewed hir foote to the wulf she gaf to the wulf suche a stroke bytwixe bothe his eyen that alle his hede was astonyed and felle doune totheground and by the same occasion was hir foole or colt saued And a longe space was the wulf lyenge vpon the erthe as deed And whanne he was come to hym self ageyne and that he coud speke he sayd I care not for this myshap For wel I wote that yet this day I shalle ete and be fylled of delycious mete And in sayenge these wordes lyft hym self vp and wente aweye ¶ And whanne he had walked and gone a whyle he fond two rammes within a medowe whiche with their hornes lauÌ„ched eche other And the wulf sayd in hym self Blessyd be god that now I shal be well fedde he thenne came nyghe the two rammes said Certaynly I shall ete the one of you two And one of them sayd to hym My lord doo alle that it plese yow but fyrst ye must gyue to vs the sentence of a processe of a plee whiche is bytwixe vs bothe And the wulf ansuerd that with ryght a good wylle he wold doo hit And after sayd to them My lordes telle me your resonâ—â— and â—â—as to thenâ—â— that the better I may gyue the sentence of your different and question And thenne one of them beganne to say My lord this medowe was bylongynge to our fader And by cause that he deyde withoute mastynge ony ordenaunce or testament we be now in debate and stryf for the partynge of hit wherfore we praye the that thow vouchesauf to accorde oure different so that pees be made bytwene vs And thenne the wulf demaunded of the rammes how theyr question myght be accorded Ryght wel seyd one of them by one manere whiche I shal telle to the yf hit please to the to here me we two shalle be at the two endes of this medowe and thow shalt be in the myddes of it And fro th ende of the medowe we bothe at ones shalle renne toward the And he that fyrst shalle come to the shalle be lord of the medowe And the last shalle be thyn wel thenne sayd the wulf thyn aduys is good and wel purposed late set now who fyrst shalle come to me Thenne wente the two rammes to the two endes of the medowe and bothe at ones beganne to renne toward the wulf and with alle theyr myght came and gâ—â—f to hym suche two strokes bothe at ones ageynst bothe his sydes that almost they brake his herte within his bely there fyll doune the poure wulf alle aswowned And the rammes wente theyr way ¶ And whanne he was come ageyn to hym self he took courage and departed sayenge thus to hym self I care not for alle this Iniurye and shame For as myn erâ—â— dyd synge to me yet shalle I this day ete somme good and delycious mete ¶ He had not long walked whanne he fond a sowe and her smal pygges with her And Incontynent as he sawe her he sayd blessyd be god of that I shalle this daye ete and fylle my bely with precious metes and shalle haue good fortune And in that sayenge approched to the sowe sayd to her My suster I must ete somme of thy yonge pygges And the sowe wente and sayd to hym My lord I am content of alle that whiche pleaseth to yow But or ye ete them I praye yow that they maye be baptysed and made clene in pure and fayre water And the wulf sayd to the sowe Shewe me thenne the water And I shalle wasshe and baptyse them wel And thenne the sowe wente and ledde hym at a stange or pond where as was a fayr mylle ¶ And as the wulf was vpon the lytyl brydge of the sayd mylle and that he wold haue take one pygge the sowe threwe the wulf in to the water with her hwde and for the swyftnesse of the water he must nedes passe vnder the whele of the mylle And god wote yf the wynges of the mylle bete hym wel or not And as soone as he myght he ranne away And as he ranne seyd to hym self I care not for soo lytyl a shame ne therfore I shall not be lette but that I shalle yet this daye ete my bely full of metes delycious as myners dyd synge it erly to me ¶ And as he passed thurgh the strete he sawe somme sheep and as the shepe sawe hym they entryd in to a stable ¶ And whan the wulf came there he sayd to them in this manere God kepe yow my susters I must ete one of yow to th ende that I may be fylled and rassasyed of my grete honger And thenne one of them sayd to hym Certaynly my lord ye are welcome to passe For we ben comen hyder for to hold a grete solempnyte wherfore we alle praye yow that ye pontyfycally wylle synge And after the seruyse complete and done doo what ye wyll of the one of vs theÌ„ne the wulf for vayn glory faynyng to be a prelate beganne to synge and to howle before the sheep ¶ And whanne the men of the touâ—â—e herd the Wys of the wulf they came to the stable with grete staues and with grete dogges and wonderly they wounded the wulf and almost brought hym to deth that with grete payne he coude goo Neuertheles he soaped and wente vnder a grete tree vpon the whiche tree was a man whiche hewe of the bowes of the tree The wulf thenne beganne to syghe sore and to make grete sorowe of his euylle fortune and sayd Ha Iupiter how many euyls haue I had and suffred this daye but wel I presume and knowe that hit is by me and by myn
on me the skynne of the dogge And whanne the wulues shalle see me they shalle haue grete fere of me ¶ And whanne the wulues came and sawe the wether clothed with the skynne of the dogge they beganne all to flee and ranne awey ¶ It happed on a day that a wulf whiche was sore hongry came and toke a lambe and after ran awaye therwith ¶ And thenne the sayd wether ranne after hym And the wulf whiche supposed that it had ben the dogge shote thryes by the waye for the grete fere that he had And ranne euer as fast as he coude and the wether also ranne af ter hym withoute cesse tyl that he ranne thurgh a busshe full of sharp thornes the whiche thornes rente and brake alle the dogges skynne whiche was on hym And as the wulf loked and sawe behynde hym beynge moche doubtous of his dethe sawe and perceyued alle the decepcion and falshede of the we ther And forthwith retorned ageynste hym and demaunded of hym what beest arte thow And the wether ansuerd to hym in this maner My lord I am a wether whiche playeth with the And the wulf sayd Ha mayster ought ye to playe with your mayster and with your lord thow hast made me so soâ—â— aferd that by the weye as I ranne before the I dyte shyte thre grete toordes And theÌ„ne the wulf ledde hym vnto the place where as he had shyte sayenge thus to hym Loke hyther callest thow this a playe I take hit not for playe For now I shalle shewe to the how thou oughtest not to playe so with thy lord And thenne the wulf took and kylled hym and denoured and ete hym ¶ And therfore he that is wyse muste take good hede how he playeth with hym whiche is wyser mo re sage and more stronge than hym self is ¶ The xvj fable maketh mencyon of the man of the lyon of his sone HE that reffuseth the good doctryne of his fader yf euyl happe cometh to hym â—â—t is but ryght As to vs reherceth this fable of a labourer whiche somtyme lyued in a deserte of his cultyuynge and laboure In this deserte was a lyon whiche waâ—â—ed and destroyed all the sede whiche eue ry daye the sayd labourer sewed and also this lyon destroyed his trees And by cause that he bare and dyd to hym so grete 〈◊〉 and dommage he made an hedge to the whiche he putte and sorte cordes and nettes for to take the lyon And ones as this lyon came for to ete corne he entryd within a nâ—â—te was taken And thenne the good man came thyder and bete and smote hym so wonderly that vnnethe he myght scape fro deth And by cause that the lyon sawe that he myght not escape the subtylyte of the man he took his lytyl lyon and went to dwelle in another Regyon And within a lytel whyle after that the lyon was wel growen and was fyers stronge he demaunded of his fader My fader be we of this Regyon Nay sayd the fader For we ben fledde awey fro oure land And thenne the lytyl lyon asâ—â—ed wherfore And the fader ansuerd to hym For the subtylyte of the man And the lytyl lyon demaunded of hym what man is that And his fader sayd to hym he is not soo grete ne so stronge as we be but he is more subtyle and more Ingenyous than we he And theÌ„ne sayd the sone to the fader I shall goo auenge me on hym And the grete lyon sayd to hym goo not For yf thow gost thyder thow shalt repente the therfore and shalt doo lyke a fole And the sone ansuerd to his fader Ha by my heed I shalle goo thyder and shalle see what he can doo And as he wente for to fynde the man he mette an oxe within a medowe and an hors whos back was al fleyen and fore to whome he said in this manere who is he that hath ledde yow hyder and that so hath hurted yow And they sayd to hym It is the man ¶ And thenne he sayd ageyne to them Certaynly here is a wonder thynge I praye yow that ye wylle shewe hym to me And they wente and shewed to hym the labourer which ered the erthe And the lyon forthwith and withoute sayenge of ony moo wordes wente toward the man to whome he sayd in this maner Ha man thow hast doue ouer many euyls bothe to me and to my Fader and in lyke wyse to oure beestes wherfore I telle the that to me thow wylt doo Iustyce And the man ansuerd to hym I promytte and warne the that yf thow come nyghe me I shalle slee the with this grete clubbe And after with this stuyf I shalle flee the And the lyon sayd to hym Come thenne before my fader and he as kynge shalle doo to vs good Iustyce And thenne the man sayd to the lyon I am content yf that thow wylt swere to me that thow shalt not touche me tyll that we ben in the presence of thy fader And in lyke wyse I shalle swere to the that I shal go with the vnto the presence of thy fader And thus the lyon and the man swered eche one to other and wente toward the grete lyon and the man beganne to goo by the way where as his cordes and nettes were dressyd And as they wente the lyon lete hym self falle within a corde and by the feet he was take so that he myght not ferther goo And by cause he coude not goo he sayd to the man O man I praye the that thow wilt helpe me For I maye no more goo And the man answerd to hym I am sworne to the that I shalle not touche the vnto the ty me that we ben before thy fader And as the lyon suppâ—â— to haue vnbonnd hym self for to scape he fylle in to another nette And thenne the lyon beganne to crye after the man sayenge to hym in this manere O good man I praye the that thou wilt vnhynde me And the man beganne to smyte hym vpon the hede ¶ And thenne whanne the lyon sawe that he myght not scape he sayd to the man I praye the that thow smyte me no more vpon the heed but vpon myn erys by cause that I wold not here the good counceylle of my fader And thenne the man beganne to smyte hym at the herte and slewe hym The whiche thyng happeth ofte to many children whiche ben hanged or by other maner executed and put to dethe by cause that they wil not byleue the doctryne of theyr faders and moders ne obeye to them by no wyse ¶ The xvj fable is of the knyght and of the seruaunt the whiche fond the Foxe MAny ben that for theyr grete lesynges supposen to put vnder alle the world but euer at the last theyr lesynges ben knowen and manyfested as hit appiereth by this fable of a knyght whiche somtyme wente with an archer of his thurgh the lande And as they rode they
hym a sure place where as he myght leye his egges and his lytyl chykyns And Iupiter graunted it and gaf hym suche a gyfte that whan the tyme of childynge shold come that she shold make her yong Egles within his bosome And thenne whanne the wesel kno we this she gadred and assembled to gyder grete quantite of ordure or fylthe and therof made an hyghe hylle for to lete her self falle fro the top of hit in to the bosome of Iupiter And whanne Iupyter felte the stenche of the fylthe he leganne to shake his bosome and both the wesel and the egges of the egle felle doune to the erthe And thus were alle the egges broken and bost And whanne the Egel knewe hit she made anowe that she shold neuer make none egles tyll of the wesel she we re assured And therfore none how stronge and myghty that he be ought not to dispreyse somme other For there is none soo lytyl but that somtyme he may lette and auenge hym self wherfore doo thow no displaysyr to none that displaysyre come not to the ¶ The thyrdde fable is of the Foxe and of the gote HE whiche is wyse and sage ought fyrst to loke and be hold the ende or he begynneth the werke or dede as hyer appiereth by this fable Of a Foxe of a gote that somtyme defanded and wente doune in to a depe welle for to drynke And whanne they had wel dronke by cause that thei â—â—oude not come vpward ageyne the Foxe sayd to the gote in this maner my frend yf thow wylt helpe me we shall sone ben bothe oute of this welle For yf thow wylt sette thy two feet ageynste the walle I shal wel lepe vpon the vpon thy hornes And thenne I shal lepe oute of this welle ¶ And whanne I shalle be oute of hit thow shalt take me by the handes and I shal plucke and drawe the oute of the welle And at this request the gote acorded and ansuerd I wylle wel And theÌ„ne the gote lyfte vp his feet ageynst the walle and the foxe dyd so moche by his malyce that he gat out of the welle And whan he was oute he began to loke onthectote whiche was within the welle thenne the gote sayd to hym help me now as thow hast promysed And theÌ„ne the foxe beganne to lawhe and to scorne hym and sayd to hym O mayster goote yf thow haddest be wel wyse with thy fayre berde or euer thow haddest entryd in to the welle thow sholdest fyrst haue taken hede how thow sholdest haue comen oute of hit ageyne ¶ And therfore he whiche is wyse yf he wysely wylle gouer ne hym self ought to take euer good hede to the ende of his werke ¶ The fourthe fable is of the catte and of the chyken HE whiche is fals of kynde hath begonne to deceyue some other euer he wyl vse his craft As it appiereth by this present Fable of a kat whiche somtyme toke a chyken the whiche he biganne strongly to blame for to haue fonde somme cause that he myght ete hit and sayd to hym in this manere Come hyther thou chyken thow dost none other good but crye alle the nyght thow letest not the men slepe And thenne the chykyn ansuerd to hym I doo hit for they re grete prouffite And ouer ageyne the catte sayd to hym Yet is there wel wors For thow arte an inceste lechour For thow knowest naturelly both thy moder and thy doughter And thenne the chyken sayd to the cat I doo hit by cause that my mayster maye haue egges for his etynge And that hys mayster for his prouffyte gaf to hym bothe the moder and the doughter for to multyplye the egges And thenne the Catte sayd to hym by my feythe godsep thow hâ—â—t of excusacions ynough but neuertheles thow shalt passe thurgh my throte for I suppose not to faste this day for alle thy wordes ¶ And thus is it of hym whiche is custommed to lyue by rauyn For he can not kepe ne absteyne hym self fro hit For alle thex cusacions that be leyd on hym ¶ The v fable is of the Foxe and of the busshe MEn ouÈt not to demanÌ„de ne aske help of them that ben more customed to lette than to do good or prouffit as it appereth by this fable of a fox which for to scape the peril to be taken wente vpon a thorne busshe whiche hurted hym sore and wepynge sayd to the busshe I am come as to my refuge vnto the and thow hast hurted me vnto the dethe And thenne the busshe sayd to hym thow hast erred and wel thou hast begyled thy self For thow supposest to haue taken me as thow arte custommed to take chekyns and hennes ¶ And ther fore men ought not to helpe them whiche ben acustomed to doo euylle but men ought rather to lette them ¶ The vj fable is of the man and of the god of the wodes OF the euylle man somtyme prouffiteth soÌ„me other he doth hit not by his good wylle but by force As reherceth to vs this fable Of a man whiche had in his how 's an ydolle the whiche oftyme he adoured as his god to whome ofte he prayd that he wold gyue to hym moche good And the more that he prayd hym the more he faylled and became pouere wherfore the man was wel wrothe ageynst his ydolle and took hit by the legges and smote the hede of hit so strongly ageynst the walle so that it brake in to many pyeces Oute of the whiche ydolle yssued a ryght grete tresoure wherof the man was ful gladde and Ioyous And thenne the man sayd to his ydolle Now knowe I wel that thou art wycked euyl and peruers For whanne I haue worshipped the thow hast not holpen me And now whanne I haue bete the thow hast moche done for me ¶ And therfore the euylle man whanne he doth ony good it is not of his good wylle but by force ¶ The vij fable is of a fyssher ALle thynges which ben done made in theyr tyme se ason ben wel made as by this present fable it appereth Of a fyssher whiche somtyme touched his bagpype nyhe the Ryuer for to make the fysshe to daunse ¶ And whan he sawe that for none fonge that he coude pype the fysshes wold not dauÌ„se As wroth dyd cast his nettes in to the Ryuer toke of fysshe grete quantite And whanne he had drawe oute his netâ—â—s oute of the water the fysshe beganne to lepe and to dauÌ„ se and thenne he sayd to them Certaynly hit appiereth now wel that ye be euylle beestes For now whanne ye be taken ye lepe and daunse And whanne I pyped and played of my muse or bagpype ye dayned ne wold not daunse Therfore hit appiereth wel that the thynges whiche ben made in season ben wel made and done by reason ¶ The eyght fable is of the catte and of the rat HE whiche is wyse and that ones
hath ben begyled ought not to truste more hym that hath begyled hym As wherceth this Fable of a catte whiche wente in to a how 's where as many rats were the whiche he dyd ete eche one after other ¶ And whanne the rats perceyued the grete fyersnes and crudelyte of the catte held a counceylle to gyder where as they determyned of one comyn wylle that they shold no more hold them ne come nor goo on the lowe floore â–ª wherfore one of them moost auncyent profered and sayd to al the other suche wordes ¶ My bretheren and my frendes ye knowe wel that we haue a grete enemye Whiche is a grete persecutour ouer vs alle to whome we may not resyste wherfor of nede we must hold our self vppn the hyghe balkes to th ende that he may not take vs Of the whiche proposycion or wordes the other rats were wel content and apayd and byleuyd this counceylle And whanne the kat knewe the counceylle of the rats he hynge hym self by his two feet behynd at a pynne of yron whiche was styked at a balke feynynge hym self to be dede And whanne one of the rats lokynge dounward saw â–ª the katte beganne to lawhe and sayd to the cat O my Frend yf I supposed that thow were dede I shold goo doune but wel I knowe the so fals peruers that thou mayst wel haue hanged thy self faynynge to be dede wherfore I shall not go doune And therfore he that hath ben ones begyled by somme other ought to kepe hym wel fro the same ¶ The ix fable is of the labourer and of the pyelarge HE whiche is taken with the wicked and euyll ouÈte to suffre payne and punycyon as they As it appiereth by this fable Of a labourer whiche somtyme dressyd and sette his gynnes and nettes for to take the ghees and the cranes Whiche ete his corne It happed thenne that ones amonge a grete meyny of ghees and cranes he took a pyelarge whiche prayd the labourer in this maner I praye the lete me go For I am neyther goos ne crane nor I am not come byther for to do to the ony euylle The labourer beganne thenne to lawâ—â— and sayd to the pyelarge yf thow haddest not be in theyr felauship thow haddest not entryd in to my nettes nâ—â— haddest not be taken And by cause that thow arte founde and taken with them thow shalt be punysshed as they shalle be Therfore none ought to hold companye with the euylle withoute he wylle suffre the punycion of them whiche ben punysshed ¶ The tenth fable is of the child whiche kepte the sheep HE whiche is acustommed to make lesynges how be it that he saye trouthe yet men byleue hym not As reherceth this fable Of a child whiche somtyme kepte sheep the whiche cryed ofte withoute cause sayenge Allaâ—â— for goddes loue soâ—â—ure yow me For the wulf wylle ete my sheep And whanne the labourers that cultyued and ered the erthe aboute hym herd his crye they came to helpe hym the whiche came so many tymes and fond nothyng And as they sawe that there were no wulues they retorned to theyr labourage And the child dyd so many tymes for to playe hym ¶ It happed on a day that the wulf came and the child cry ed as he was acustommed to doo And by cause that the labourers supposed thaâ—â— hit had not ben trouthe abode stylle at theyr laboure wherfore the wulf dyd ete the sheep For men bi leue not lyghtly hym whiche is knowen for a lyer ¶ The xj fable is of the ante and of the columbe NOne ought to be slowful of the good whiche he receyueth of other As reherceth this fable of an Ante whiche came to a fontayne for to drynke and as she wold haue dronke she felle within the fontayn vpon the whiche was a columbe or douue whiche seyng that the Ante shold haue ben drowned withoute helpe took a braunche of a tree cast it to her for to saue her self And the Ante wente anone vpon the braunche and saued her ¶ And anone after came a Fawkoner whiche wold haue take the douue And thenne the Ante whiche sawe that the Fawkoner dressyd his nettâ—â—s came to his foote and soo fast pryked hit that she caused hym to smyte the erthe with his foote and therwith made soo grete noyse that the doune herd hit wherfore she flâ—â—whe aweye oâ—â— the gynne and nettes were al sette ¶ And therfore none ought to forgete the benyfyce whiche he hath receyued of some other foâ—â— slowfulnesse is a grete synne ¶ The xij fable is of the Bee and of Iupiter NOw the euyl which men wysshe to other cometh to hym whiche wyssheth hit as hit appiereth by this fable of a Bee whiche offred and gaf to Iupyter a pyece of hony wherof Iupyter was moche Ioyous And thenne Iupyter sayd to the bee demaunde of me what thow wylt and I shalle graunte and gyue hit to the gladly And thenne the Bee prayd hym in this manere God almyghty I pray the that thow wylt gyue to me and grauÌ„te that who so euer shal come for to take awey my hony yf I pryke hym he may sodenly deye And by cause that Iupyter loued the humayn lyg nage he sayd to the Bee Suffyse the that who so euer shalle goo to take thy hony yf thow pryke or stynge hym Incontynent thow shalt deye And thus her prayer was tourned to her grete dommage For men ought not to demaunde of god but suche thynges that ben good and honest ¶ The xiij fable is of a carpenter IN as moche as god is more propyce and bâ—â—nygne to the good and holy moche more he punyssheth the wyc â—â—d and euylle As we may see by this fable Of a carpenter whiche cutte wode vpon a Ryuer for to make a temple to the goddes And as he cutte wode his axe felle in the Ryuer wherfore he beganne to wepe and to calle helpe of the goddes And the god Mercurye for pyte appiered before hym And demaunded of hym wherfore he wepte and shewed to hym an axe of gold and demaunded of hym yf hit was the axe whiche he had lost he sayd nay And after the god shewed to hym another axe of syluer And semblably said nay And by cause that Mercurius sawe that he was good and trewe he drewe his axe oute of the water and took hit to hym with moche good that he gaf to hym And the carpenter told thystorye to his felawes of the whiche one of them came in to the same place for to cutte woode as his felawe dyd before E lete falle his axe within the water and beganne to wepe and to demaund the helpe and ayde of the goddes And thenne Mercury appiered to fore hym and shewed to hym an axe of gold and demaunded of hym in suche manere Is the same hit that thow hast lost And he ansuerd to Mercury ye fayre syre and myghty god the same is it And
Of a tortose whiche said to the byrdes yf ye lyft me vp wel hyghe fro the ground to the ayer I shalle shewe to yow grete plente of precious stones And the Egle toke her and bare her so hyghe that she myghte not see the erthe And the Egle sayd to her shewe me now these precious stones that thow promysest to shewe to me And by cause that the tortose myght not see in the erthe and that the Egle knewe wel that he was deceyued thrested his clowes in to the tortoses bely and kylled hit For he that wylle haue and gete worship and glorye may not haue hit withoute grete laboure Therfore hit is better and more sure to kepe hym lowely than to enhaunce hym self on hyghe and after to deye shamefully and myserably ¶ For men sayn comynly who so mounteth hyher than he shold he falleth lower than he wold ¶ The thyrd fable is of the two Creuysses HE whiche wyll teche and lerne some other ought first to corryge examyne hym self as it appereth by this fable of a creuysse whiche wold hauec hastysed her owne doughter bicause that she wente not wel ryght And sayd to her in this manere My doughter hit pleaseth me not that thow goost thus backward For euylle myght wel therof come to the And thenne the doughter sayd to her moder My moder I shalle go ryght and forward with a good will but ye must goo before for to shewe to me the waye But the moder coude none other wyse goo than after her kynd wherfore her doughter sayd vnto her My moder fyrst lerne your self for to goo ryght and forward and thenne ye shalle teche me And therfore he that wylle teche other ought to shewe good ensample For grete shame is to the doctour whanne his owne coulpe or faulte accuseth hym ¶ The fourthe fable is of the asse and of the skynne of the Lyon NOne ought not to gloryfye hym self of the goodes of other as recyteth this fable of an asse whiche som tyme fo nd the skynne of a lyon the whiche he dyd wered on hym but he coude neuer hyde his ere 's therwith when he was as he supposed wel arayed with the sayd skynne he ranne in to the forest And whanne the wyld 〈◊〉 sawâ—â— hym come they were so ferdfull that they alle beganne to flee For they wend that it had be the lyon And the mayster of the asse serâ—â—d and soughte his asse in euery place al aboute And as he had soughte longe he thougiht that he wold go in to the forest for to see yf his asse were there And as soone as he was entryd in to the forest he mette with his asse arayed as before is sayd but his mayster whiche had soughte hym â—â—onge sawe his erys wherfore he knewe hym wel and anonâ—â— toke hym and sayd in this manere Ha a mayster asse arâ—â— thow câ—â—othed with the skynne of the lyon thow makest the 〈◊〉 stes to be aferd but yf they knewe the as wel as I do then shold haue no fere of the but I ensure the that wel I shall â–ª bete the therfore And thenne he toke fro hym the skynne of the lyon and sayd to hym Lyon shalt thow be no more but an asse shalt thow euer be And his mayster tooke thenne a staf and smote hym soo that euer after he remembryd hym wel of hit And therfore he whiche auaunceth hym self of other mennes goodes is a very foole For as men sayn comynly he is not wel arayed nor wel appoynted whiche is clothed with others gowne ne also it is not honeste to make large â—â—onges of other mennes leder ¶ The v fable is of the frogge and of the Foxe NOne ought to auaunce hym self to doo that whiche he be can not doo As hit appiereth of a frogge whiche somtyme yssued or came oute of a dyche the whiche presumed to haue lepte vpon a hyghe montayne And whanne she was vpon the montayne she sayd to other beestes I am a maystresse in medecyn and canne gyue remedy to al manere of sekenes by myn arte and subtylyte and shalle rendre and brynge yow vp ageyne in good helthe wherof somme byleued her And thenne the Foxe whiche perceyued the folysshe byleue of the beestes beganne to lawhe and sayd to them poure beestes how may this fowle and venemous beest whiche is seke and pale of colour rendre and gyue to yow helthe For the leche whiche wylle he le somme other ought fyrste to hele hym self For many one counterfayteth the leche whiche can not a word of the scyence of medecyne from the whiche god preserue and kepe vs ¶ The vj fable is of the two dogges HE that taketh within hym self vayne glorye of that thynge by the whiche he shold humble hym self is a very fole as hit appereth by this fable of a fader of famylle whiche had two dogges of the whiche the one withoute ony barkyng bote the folke the other dyd barke bote not And whan the fader of famyll perceyued the shrewdnes and malyce of the dogge that barkyd not he henge on his nest a belle to the ende that men shold beware of hym wherfore the dogge was ouer prowd and fyers and beganne to dyspreyse alle the other dogges of the whiche one of the moost aunâ—â—en â–ª sayd to hym in his manere O fole beest now perceyue I 〈◊〉 thy foly and grete wodenesse to suppose that this belle is gyuen to the for thyn owne deserte and meryte but certaynly hit is not soo For hit is taken to the for thy demerytes and by cause of thy shrewdnesse and grete treason for to shewe that thow arte fals and traytour And therfore none oughte to be Ioyeful and gladd of that thynge wherof he oughte to be tryst and sorowful as many foles done whiche make Ioye of theyr vyces and euyll dedes for a moche fole were the theef whiche that men ledde for to be hanged and that he had a cord of gold aboute his neck yf he shold make Ioye therof how be hit that the corde were moche ryche and fayre ¶ The vij Fable is of the camel and of Iupiter EWery creature ought to be content of that that god hath gyuen to hym withoute to take thenherytaunce of other As reherceth this fable Of a camel whiche som tyme complayned hym to Iupiter of that the other beestes mocqued hym by cause that he was not of so grete beaute as they were of wherfore to Iupiter Instantly he prayd in suche maner as foloweth Fayr syre and god I requyre and praye that thou wylt gyue to me hornes to th ende that I maye be nomore mocqued Iupiter thenne beganne to lawhe and in stede of hornes he took fro hym his erys and sayd thow hast more good than hit behoueth to the to haue And by cause that thow demaundest that whiche thow oughtest not to haue I haue take fro the that whiche of ryght and kynd
he may chasty hym self as it appereth by this fable Of a vylayne whiche had a yonge bole the whi che he myght not bynd by cause that euer he smote with his hornes wherfor the vylayne cutte of his hornes ¶ But yet whan he wold haue bound hym the bole casted his feete fro hym in suche wyse that he suffred noman to come nyghe hym And whan the vylayne perceyued the malyce of the bole he sayd to hym I shalle chastyse the wel For I shalle take the in to the bouchers handes And thenne was the bole wel chastysed ¶ And thus ought men to doo of the euylle cursyd rebelles whiche doo no thynge but playe with dees and cardes and to ruffule Suche folke ought men to put in to the handes of the boucher for to lede them to the galhows For better may no man chastyse them For with grete payne may he be chastysed whiche fleeth alle good werkes ond alle good felauship ¶ The xxij fable is of the viator or palmer and of Satyre MEn ought to beware kepe hym self from hym whiche bereth both fyre water as reherceth to vs this Fable Of a pylgrym whiche somtyme walked in the wynter and wente thurgh a grete forest ¶ And by cause that the snowe had couerd al the wayes he wist ne knewe not whyther he wente ageynste the whiche came a wodewose named Satyre by cause he sawe hym a cold whiche approched to the pylgrym and brought hym in to his pytte And whan the pylgrym sawe hym he hadde grete drede by cause that a wodewose is a monstre lyke to the man as hit appiereth by his fygure ¶ And as the wodewose or Satyre ledde the pylgrym in to his pytte the pylgrym dyd blowe within his handes for to chausfe them For he was sore acold And thenne the wodewose gaf to hym hote water to drynke ¶ And whan the pylgrym wold haue dronken hit he beganne to blowe in hit And the wedewose demaunded of hym why he dyd blowe hit And the pylgrym sayd to hym I blowe in hit for to haue it somwhat more cold than hit is The wodewose thenne sayd to hym Thy felauship is not good to me by cause that thow wrest bothe the fyre and the water in thy mouthe therfore go hens fro my pyt and neuer retorne ageyne For the felauship of the man whiche hath two tongues is nought And the man whiche is wyse ought to flee the felauship of flaterers For by flateryng adulacion many haue ben begyled and deceyued ¶ The xxiij fable is of the oxe and of the rat THe lordes ought to loue theyr subgettis For he whiche is hated of his tenaunts and subgets is not lord of his land as hit appereth by this Fable Of an oxe whiche somtyme was within a stable and as the oxe on a tyme wold haue slepte fayne a rat came whiche bote the oxe by the thyes And as the oxe wold haue smyten hym he ran awaye in to his hole And thenne the oxe beganne to menace the rat And the ratte sayd to hym I am not aferd of the For al be hit that I am lytyl I may lette and empeche the And yf thow arte grete thy parentes ben cause therof and not thy self And therfore the stronge ought not to dispreyse the feble vnt ought to loue hym as the chyef or hede ought to loue his lymmes For he that loueth not oughte not to be loued And therfore the lord must loue his subgettys yf of them he wylle be loued ¶ The xxiiij fable is of the goos and of her lord HE that ouer ladeth hym self is euylle strayned As this fable sayth of a man whiche had a goos that leyd euery day an egge of gold The man of auaryce or couetousnes commaunded and bad to her that euery daye she shold leye two egges And she sayd to hym Certaynly my mayster I maye not wherfore the man was wrothe with her and slewe her wherfore he lost that same grete good of the whiche dede he was moche sorowful and wrothe how be it that it was not tyme to shetle the stable whan the horses ben loste none And he is not wyse whiche dothe suche a thynge wherof he shalle repente hym afterward ne healso whiche doth his owne dommage for to auenge hym self on somme other For by cause that he supposeth to wynne al he leseth all that he hath ¶ The xxv fable is of the ape and of his two children HE that somtyme men dispreysen may wel helpe somme other as hit appereth by this Fable of an Ape whiche had two children of the whiche he hated the one loued the other whiche he toke in his armes and with hym fled before the dogges And whanne the other sawe that his moder lefte hym behynde he ranne and lepte on her back And by cause that the lytyl ape whiche the she ape held in her armes empeched her to flee she lete hit falle to the erthe And the other whiche the moder hated held fast and was saued the whiche from thens forthon kyssed and embraced his moder And And she thenne beganne to loue hym wherfore many tymes it happeth that that thynge whiche is dispreysed is better than that thynge whiche is loued and preysed For somtyme the children whiche ben preysed and loued done lasse good than they whiche ben dispreysed and hated ¶ The xxvj Fable is of the wynd and of therthen pot ¶ The second fable is of the commyssion of pecuny 〈…〉 money A Spaynard arryued somtyme in to the lande of egipte And by cause that he doubted to be robbed within the desertys of Arabe he purposed and bethought in hym self that it were wysely done to take his money to somme trewe man for to stepe hit vnto his retorne ageyne And by cau se that he herd somme saye that within the Cyte was a trewe man he anone wente to hym and toke to hym his syluer for to kepe hit And whan he had done his vyage he came ageyne to hym and demaunded of hym his syluer whiche ansuerd to hym in this manere My frend Ine wote who thow arte for I sawe the neuer that I wote of And yf thou sayest or spekest ony more wordes I shalle make the to be wel bete Thenne was the spaynard sorowful and wroth and therof be wold haue made a playnte to his neyghbours as he dyde the neyghbours sayd to hym Certaynly we be wel abasshed of that that ye telle to vs for he is emonge vs alle reputed and holden for a good man and trewe And therfore retorne ageyne to hym and by swete wordes telle hym that he wyl rendre to the thy good ageyne the whiche thynge he dyd and the old man ansuerd to hym more sharply and rygorously than he had done before wherof the spaynard was wonderly wrothe And as he departed oute of the old mans how 's he mette with an old woman the whiche demaunded of hym wherfore
ESOPVS ¶ Here begynneth the book of the subtyl historyes and Fables of Esope whiche were translated out of Frensshe in to Englysshe by wylham Caxton at westmynstre In the yere of oure Lorde M. CCCC lxxxiij FIrst begynneth the lyf of Esope with alle his fortune how he was subtyll wyse and borne in Grece not ferre fro Troye the graunt in a Towue named Amoneo whiche was a nonge other dyfformed and euylle shapen For he had a grete hede large vysage longe Iowes sharp eyen a short necke corbe backed grete bely grete legges and large feet And yet that whiche was werse he was dombe and coude not speke but not withstondyng al this he had a grete wytte was gretely Ingenyous subtyll in cauyllacions And Ioâ—â— wordez ¶ This historye conteyneth How he excused hym of that was Imposed to hym that he shold haue eten the fygges of his lord ANd for as moche as his lord to whome he was bounde supposed that he was not prouffytable he sente hym to laboure in the Feldes and to dyke and delue in the erthe ¶ And on a day as his lord came in one of his Feldes one of his labourers gadred Fygges And presented them to his Lord sayenge My lord take these Fygges as for the firste fruyte of this felde And the lord receyued them Ioyously delyuerd them to his seruaunt named Agatopus chargyng hym to kepe them tyl he that day retourned fro his bayne ¶ And hit happed that Esope comyng from his labour demaunded his dyner lyke as he was acustomed And Agatopus whiche kepte the figges ete of them sayd to one of his felawes yf I doubted not and fered my maystre I wold ete alle these fygges And his felawe sayd yf thou wylt late me ete with the I shalle fynde a subtylyte that we shall haue no blame ne harme therfore And how may that be sayd Agatopus to whom his felawe sayd whan my lord shall come home we shalle saye to hym that Esope hath eten them And by cause he can not speke he shalle not conne excuse hym and so therfore he shal be wel beten herupon they went ete the fygges bitwene them bothe sayeng this vylayne shal be well beten And the lord whiche came out of the bayne commaunded to brynge to hym his fygges Agatopus sayd to hym Syre whan Esope came fro his labour fro the feld he fonde the Celer open and went in without rayson and hath eten al the fygges ¶ And whanne the lord herd this he was moche angry sayd calle to me Esope to whom he sayd thou counterfayt chorle how is this happed that thou hast not be aferd to ete my fygges wherof he was aferd in beholdyng them that had accused hym the lord commaunded to despoylle take of his clothes for to haue beten hym he kneled doune at his lordes feet by signes by cause he coude not speke prayd his lord to gyue hym space to excuse hym And his lord graunted it to hym And anon after he tooke a vessel ful of hote water whi che was on the fyre poured the hote water in to a bacyn and dranke therof anon after he putte his fyngre in his mouth cast out that which was in his stomak which was only water for that day he had tasted nothyng but water he praid that his accusers myght sembably drynke of that water as he had done And soo they dyde And they held theyr hond to fore theyr mouthe By cause they shold haue no vomyte but by cause the water was hote and their stomake resolued by the water they vomyted oute the water and alle the fygges to gydre And the lord seynge that sayde to them why haue ye lyed to me ageynst this Esope that can not speke ¶ And thenne he commaunded to despoylle them and to bete them openly sayenge who someuer dothe or sayth wronge of other shal be punysshed with the same payne that is due therfore ¶ And these thynges sene and experymented Esope retourned to his labour And as he laboured in the felde there cam a preest named ysydys whiche wente toward the Cyte had lost his way And he seynge Esope prayd hym that he wold enseygne hym the ryght way for to go in to the Cyte ¶ And Esope receyued hym ioyously And made hym to sytte vnder a fygge tree And sette to fore hym brede Herbes fygges and dates and prayd hym to ete and drewe water oute of a pyt and gaf hym to drynke And whanne he had well eten he tooke hym by the honde and sette hym in the ryght wey for to go to the Cyte after whiche thynges done the preest lyft vp his handes to heuen makynge his prayers for Esope of whome he had receyued so good a refresshynge ¶ This History maketh mencyon how the goddesse of hospitalite gaf speche of his tonge to esope how he was sold THenne Esope retourned to his labour ¶ And after whanne he had wel laboured for teschewe the grete hete of the sonne after his vsage he went in to the sha dowe for to reste and slepte vnder a tree ¶ And thenne the goddesse of hospitalite appyered to hym and gaf to hym sapyence and abylyte And also she gaf to hym the yefte of spe che for to speke dyuerse fables and Inuencions as to hym which was ryÈt deuout to hospitalite after when esope was awaked he began to say to hym self I haue not only slept ne swetely rested but also I haue had a fair dreme without ony empessament I speke and alle that I see I calle by they re propre names as an hors an asse an oxe a charyot and to al other thynges I can to eueryche gyue his name For I haue receyued sodenly the grace of this knowlege for the grete pyte that I haue had on them that lacke hospytalyte For he that dothe well ought to haue good hope in god and he shall haue good reward therfore And therfore I shall not laboure the losse than I dyd to fore ¶ And thus whanne he beganne to laboure came he that had the charge of the felde and the ouersyght And anone beganne to bete one of the labourers greuously wherof Esope was gretely displeasyd And sayd to hym in this manere what betest thou hym for nought and euery houre thou comest and betest vs withoute cause thow sleest vs and dost nought thy self But certaynly I shalle shewe to my lord alle this matere lyke as thou shall wee knowe ¶ And whan the procurour herd hym callyd by his owne name zenas he merueylled that Esope spake thought in hym self I shalle goo to fore my lord to th ende that thys foule vylayne complayne not on me and that my lord depose me not of my procuracion ¶ And he took his mulet and rode in to the Cyte and came to his lord and sayde ¶ My lord I salewe yow ryght humbly And the Lord
's of Exantus cryenge Now knowâ—â— I well the trouthe And wherfore thou madest this grete paystart to angre me by cause thou woldest take another wyf but I shall kepe the wel ther fro As longe as I shalle lyue shalle neuer woman come here in exantus be thou sure ¶ Thenne was Exantus glad and wel ioyous for to haue ageyne his wyf And coude Esope grete thanke ¶ This Historye conteyneth how Esope arayed tongues ANd a lytel whyle after Exantus bad his scolers to dyne with hym And sayd to Esope goo anone to the market bye for vs the best mete that thou shalt fyn de And Esope wente to the market he thought in hym self Now shall I shewe that I am no fole but wyse And when Esope came to the market he bought the tongues of swyne and oxen And dyghted them with vynegre and sette them on the table And the scolers sayd to Exantus thy dyner is ful of philosophye And this Exantus sayd to Esope bryng vs other mete and Esope brought forth moo tongues arayed in another manere that is to wete with garleck and oynyons And the scolers sayd Maystre these tongues ben wel dressid For that one dyfferensyth fro the other And exantus badde esope to brynge other mete And esope brought yet forth tongues Thenne were the scolyers angry and sayde wylt thow alwey gyue vs tongues And exantus al angry in his courage said to esope what other mete hast thou ordeyned for vs And esope said forsothe none other And exantus said to eso pe Ha grete hede sayd I not to the that thou sholdest bye the best mete that thou coudest fynde So haue I doo sayd Esope And I thanke god that here is a philosopher I wold fayne knowe of the what is better than the tongue For For certaynly al arte al doctryne and philosophye ben notyfyed by the tongue Item for to gyue salewes bye selle and to doo syte men Alle these thynges ben done by the tongue the men ben preysed ther by And the grettest partye of the lyf of mortal men is in the tongue And thus ther is no thyng better than a good tongue ne no thynge more swete ne better of sauonr ne more prouffitable to mortal men ¶ Thenne sayd the Scolyers to Exantus thou hast wronge to angre the thus For Esope hath sayd ryght wel ¶ And after alle these wordes they aryse fro the table ¶ And on the morne after Exantus wold in excusynge hym self of theyr lytel seruyse desyred them to come ageyne at souper And they shold haue other seruyse ¶ And Exantus sayd to Esope in the presence of them that were there goo in to the markette And bye the werst mete that thou canst fynde For al my frendes here shall soupe with me and Esope without troublyng of hym self wente to the bocherye And bought ageyne tongues And dyghted them as he dyd to fore ¶ And whanne they came to souper he serued them with tongues as he dyd the day to fore And the scolers sayd we ben comen ageyn to tongues And by cause the scolers were not pleased Exantus seyd to Esope thou grete hede sayd I not to the that thou sholdest bye the werst mete that thou coudest fynde so haue I done sayd Esope what is werse or more stynkynge than the euylle tongue by the tongue men ben perysshed by the tongue they come in to pouerte by the tongue the Cytees ben destroyed by the tongue cometh moche harme ¶ Thenne sayd one of them that satte at the table Exantus yf thou sette thy purpos to this foole he shalle brynge the out of thy wytte For he sheweth wel by his forme to be shrewysshe For lyke as he is disformed of his body so is he of his courage And Esope sayd to hym thow arte ryght euylle For thou settest and makest stryf bytwene the mayster and the seruaunt And wenest to be more curyous than other And Exantus for to haue cause to bete Esope said â—â—a grete hede by cause thou callest the philosopher curyous go gete me a man that setteth ne retcheth by no thynge that is to saye that is not curyous ESope departed and wente out of the place beholdyng here and there yf he coude fynde ony man that retchid of no thynge he took hede and sawe a man a grete vy layne syttyng vpon a block shakynge and waggyng his leg ges To whome Esope sayd My lord prayeth the to come dyne with hym who anone arose withoute sayenge of ony word and entryd in to the how 's with Esope And not sayeng god kepe you satte hym at the table And Exantus sayd to Esope What man is this And Esope sayd to hym A man that retcheth of no thynge ¶ Thenne Exantus sayd to his wyf secretely to th ende that we maye auenge vs on Esope and bete hym wel Fayre loue doo that I shalle bydde yow ¶ Thenne he sayd a lowde with an hyhe voys Dame put water in a bacyn and wesshe this pylgryms feet For he thoughte the vylayne wold not haue suffred it but haue fled for shame And than shold he haue cause to haue beten Esope ¶ Thenne the lady took water and putte it in a bacyn and beganne to wasshe the vylayns feet ¶ And how wel that he wyst that she was the lady yet he thought this lord wyll doo me worship and suffred her to wasshe his feet without sayeng of ony word And Exantus sayd to his wyf Dame gyue hym drynke And the vylayne sayd to hym self It is well reason that I drynke fyrst And took the pyece and dranke as moche as he myght And Exantus tooke a plater wyth fysshe and sette it to fore hym And the vylayne beganne to ete ¶ And Exantus seyd to the cook this fysshe is not wel arayed ¶ Thenne Exantus commaunded to strype the Cook and bete hym wel And the vylayne sayd to hym self thys fysshe is wel dyght and the Cook is beten withoute cause but I retche not soo I may fylle my bely And I shalle al wey ete and saye nothyng ¶ And Exantus sayd to the baker brynge hyder the tarte Incontynent as the tarte was sette on the table And the vylayne brake it in pyeces and wythoute ony wordes he beganne to ete therof And Exantus beholdyng hym how he ete called the baker and sayd this tarte is euyll baken and hath no sauour And the baker sayd yf I made it it is wel dressyd And yf it be none of myne the blame is not in me but in thy wyf ¶ And Exantus sayd he alwey loked and byheld yf he voyded hit with his fylthe or orduâ—â— whan he had purged his bely ¶ And euer after men loken whan they haue purged they re belyes what they Wyde but thou oughtest not to doubte therof For thou hast nâ—â— wytte to losâ—â— ne scyence For to a folysshe demaunde belongeth a folysshe answere ¶ And on the morne nexte folowynge as Exantus was sette at the table with
the wysedom y t was in Esope but for the lyberte and fredome whiche he demaunded he was woothe and angry And dredyng the tongue of Esope made hym to be put fast in pryson And Esope said to hym This is a fayr promesse of a philosopher thou knowest well how thow promysest to me lyberte And in stede of fredome lyberte I am put in pryson And as Exantus herd hym soo speke he reuoked and â—â—unged his sentence made hym to be delyuerd ¶ And after he sayd to Esope yf thou wylt be putte to thy lyberte hold thy tongue in peas and accuse me nomore And Esope sayd do what pleaseth the For wylt thou or not thou shalt put me to my lyberte ¶ That same tyme be felle a merueyllous dede within the Cyte of Samye For as men playd there the comyn and publyk playes as yet at this tyme is custome to doo in many good Cytees An Egle soden ly flewhe thorugh all the communyte of the peple and toke â—â—ure awey with hym the rynge and the Seal of hym that soueraynly had the myght puyssaunce of al the Cyte And lete it falle in to the pytte of a man whiche was in lyberte For the whiche dede and token alle the peple of Samye was gretely meruaylled And thenne arose a grete rumour thorugh the Cyte among the peple For moche they were doubtuous of som persecucion wyst not what that thyng myght signefye wher fore they were in grete doubte and in grete henynesse And ther for Incontynent they came toward Exantus as to hym whiche they held for the moost sage and wyse man of all the cyte of Samye and demaunded of hym what this meruaylle sygnyfyed and also what thynge myght befalle therof Exantus was ygnoraunt knewe not the signyfycacion of this merueyll wherfore he demaunded of the peple tyme space for to gyue herupon an ansuere Exantus thenne was in grete heuynesse and dolour by cause he wyst not what he shold saye ne ansuere to the peple And Esope whiche sawe hym so heuy and ful of sorowe demaunded of hym and sayd why arte thou soo heuy in thy courage leue sorowe and take with the Ioye and gladnesse gyue to me the charge for to ansuere to the Samyens And to morne thou shalt saye to them suche wordes My lordes of Samye I am no dynyn ne Interpretour of the merueyllous thynges which ben to come Netheles I haue a seruaunt in my how 's whiche as he sayth can telle suche thynges yf it please yow I shalle make hym come befo re yow And theÌ„ne yf by my couÌ„ceyll I satisfye alle the felau ship thou shalt therfore receyue haue worship glorye prouf fyt And yf I can not satisfye them thou shalt be delyuerd of grete Infamye and shame And I shalle be rebuked put to grete shame Thenne Exantus hauynge his trust in the wordes of Esope wente on the morowe in to the grete place of Samye and assembled there the peple of the Cyte and went vp on hyghe where as the Iuge was acustomed to sytte and that whiche he had lerned of his seruaunt Esope he declared there byfore the Samyens the whiche thynges by hym reherced and sayd prayd hym that he wold make his seruaunt to come thyder before them Esope came anone thyder And as he was before all the company alle the peple of the Samyens loked and byheld hym with grete merueyll by cause he was so coâ—â—fayted and crosted of body and sayd loke here â—â—s a fayre persone able to be a sewre dyuyn and wente mocked with hym ¶ And Esope beynge thenne on the hyghest party of asse the place began to make a token or signe wyth his hand vnto the peple of the Samyens to th ende that they shold holde theyr peas and kepe scylence amonge them And sayd do them in this manere My lordes for what cause lawghe yow scorne me of my fygure forme knowe ye not that men must not loke in the face of a maÌ„ to see byhold of what fygure or forme that he is of but only to knowe his wysedom Also men ought not to loke and take hede to the vessel but to suche thyng as is within the vessel For ofte a fowle vessel is full of good wyn And thenne whan the Samyens herd these wordes they sayd to Esope Yf thou canst gyue vs good counceylle for the welthe of alle the comyn peple we al praye the that thou wylt doo it anone And thenne Esope hauynge confydence and trust in his wysedome and scyence sayd thus Nature or kynd of the whiche cometh all good hath this daye set put debute or stryf bitwene the lord the seruaunt for he that shall wynquysshe shal not be paid ne rewarded after his desserte for yf the lord gete the victorye I that am his seruaunt shal haue no lyberte as ryÈt requyreth but I shal be bete and cursed also emprysoned wherfor yf ye wil that I gyue yow good enseygnemeÌ„t of that that ye demauÌ„de aske I requy re you that ye do make me free be put ageyn in to my lyberte to th ende that with trust good coÌ„fydence I may speke to you And I promyt enseure yow that I shal shewe vnto yow the sygnyfycacion and vnderstandynge of this angry or signe thenne they al with an egal wys sayde he axeth thyng resonable Iuste wherfor exaÌ„tus shal make hym to be free as reson is the whiche thyng exantus reffused to doo And the lord of the auctoryte publyke sayd vnto hym Exantus yf thou wylâ—â— not obeye to the peple by the vertue of myn auctoryte I shal take hym out of thy seruytude shal humble thy self in the tem ple of Iunoys ¶ This historye folowyng maketh mencyon hou esope was restitued into his lyberte ANd by cause that exantus was requyred prayd by al his good frendes that he shold restore put esope in to lyberte he said to Esope hou be hit that it is not by my good wyl I gyue the lyberte And anon he thatmade them the cryes and proclamacions wente in to al the places whâ—â— suche cryes were done Exantus the philosopher hath gyuen lyberte to Esope And thus was acoomplysshed that what esope had said wyll ye or wyl you not I shal ones be put in to lyberte And thenne Esope went in to the myddes of alle the folauship and made signe with his hand that euery one shold kepe pees 〈◊〉 scylâ—â—nte And after said to them My lordes of Sa mye the Aygle whiche is kynge aboue al other byrdes As the kynges ben â–ª aboue the peple hath take awey the rynge and scal of your perfect or gouernour This bytokeneth and sygnefyeth that a kynge shalle demaunde axe your lyberte and shal destroye alle your lawes And whan the Samyens herd the wordes they wexed and became al abusshed sore aferd
and sette hym in the syege and recyted redde the Royal lettres how the kynge Crossus remytted and forgaf to them the trybutes After this Esope departed fro Samye and wold goo to disporte hym self thorugh many regyons nacions and Cytâ—â—es gyuynge enseygnementes by histo ryes and fables to the mortall men He came to Babyloyne And by cause he dyd shewe there his sapyence he was well receyued and worshipfully festyed of Sycurre kyng of babyloyne And at that tyme the kynges dyd sende the one to the other playes and proposycions problematyks and suche other playsaunces for theyr disportes And he whiche coude not interprete them sente trybute to hym that sended them ¶ And by cause that Esope coude wel interprete them taught to the kynge of Babyloyne the maner of hit And syn he composed there many fables whiche the kyng of Babyloyn sente to other kynges And by cause they coude not interprete them they fen ce many trybutes to the kynge of Babyloyne wherfore the royalme was eslargysshed and fylled of many grete Rychesses And after that by cause Esope had no children he adopted a noble and yonge child to his sone the whiche he presen ted to the kynge And he receyued hym as he had be his own sone whiche child was named Enus This Enus within a lytel whyle after medled with the chamberere of Esope whiche he held for his wyf and knewe her bodyly And by cause he was in grete doubte that Esope wold auenge hym he accused Esope toward the kynge of cryme of lezemageste or treason and composed fals lettres shewynge by them to the kynge how by the fables whiche he sente here and thyder he hadde bytrayd hym and that he had conspyred his dethe ¶ This Historye maketh mencyon how the kynge commaunded that Esope shold be put in his fyrst dygnyte and offyce And how he pardonned and forgaf to his adopted sone THe kynge Lycurius byleuynge and gyuyng credence to the accusacion maade ageynste Esope was gretely wrothe And commaunded to Herope his Seneschalle that Esope shold be put to deth And Herope seynge that this sentence was not Iuste kepte Esope secretely within a sepulcre And alle his goodes were confysked to his sone whiche had accused hym And within a longe whyle after Nectana bus whiche was kynge of Egypte wenynge that Esope had be putte to dethe as the comyn renomme or talkynge was sent a proposycion problematyke to Lycurre kyng of babyloyne the whiche conteyneth this that foloweth Nectanabus kynge of Egypte to Lycurre kynge of Babyloyne gretynge By cause that I wylle edyffye or byld a towre the whiche shalle not touche heuen ne erthe I praye the. that thow wylt sende me massons for to make vp the sayd Toure And this prayer by the accomplysshed I shalle gyue to the ten trybutes of al my Reame and londes And whan the kynge of Babyloyne herd this demaunde he was gretely troubled and wroth and thought how he myght satisfye and gyue an ansuere to this question And thenne he called to hym al his sages for to haue the solucion of the said question And by cause that none conde make the soluaon the kynge was more angry than to fo re And for the grete sorowe that he took herof he felte doune to the ground and sayd Allas I am wel myserable and my schannt that haue lost the crowne of my Royalme cursed be he by whome I made Esope to be put to dethe ¶ And thenne whan Herope the Seneschall knewe the grete anguysshe and sorowe of the kynge he sayd to hym Ryght dere Syre take nomorâ—â— sorowe ne afflyction in thyn herte but pardone and forgyue me For I made not Esope to be put to dethe as thou commaundest me For wel I wyste that yet thou sholdest haue nede of hym And doubtynge to doo ageynst thy mageste syn that tyme vnto this day I haue kepte hym in a sepulcre ¶ And whanne the kynge herd these wordes he wexed ful of Iope And anone rose fro the ground where as he laye wente and enbraced his Seneschall sayenge yf hit be so that Esope maye be yet on lyue durynge my lyf I shalle be bouÌ„d to the And therfore I praye the yf hit be soo lete hym come to me anone Esope was brought before the kyng whiche fyll doune to the kynges feet And whanne the kynge sawe that Esope was so pale and afflyged he had of hym pyte and com maunded or bidde that he sholde be taken vp and clothed of newe And whanne Esope was vpon his feet he came before the kynge and ful mekely salewed hym And demaunded of hym the cause why he had ben put in pryson And the kyng sayd to hym that his adopted sone Enus hadde accused hym And thenne the kynge commaunded that Enus shold be punysshed of suche payne of the whiche oughte to be punysshed they that make theire faders to deye But Esope prayd the kynge that he wold forgyue hym And thenne the kyng shewed to Esope the question of the kynge of Egypte ¶ And whanne Esope had sene the lettres he sayd to the kynge wryte and sende ageyne this sentence to the kynge of Egypte gyuynge to hym this ansuere that after the wynter shal be passed and gone thou shalt sende vnto hym werkmen for to byld and make vp his toure and for to ausuere to hym in al thynges And thus he sente his Ambussatours to the kynge of Egypte After this the kynge made al the goodes of egipt After this the kynge made alle the goodes of Esope to be restytued vnto hym and to be put in his fyrst dygnyte gyuyng to hym auctoryte and myght to punysshe his sone after his wylle But Esope benygnely receyued ageyne in to his own how 's his adopted sone and swetely chastysed and corryged hym and sayd to hym My sone kepe thou my comaundemeÌ„ts and take and put them in to thy courage For we gyue well counceylle to other but for vs we can not take hit ¶ And by cause that thou arte an humayne man thou must be subgette to fortune And therfore thou shalt fyrst loue god and shalle kepe thy self fro the wrath and angre of thy kynge And by cause that thou arte an humayne man haue thenne cure and sollycitude of humayne thynges For god punyssheth the euyll and wycked folke and also it is not heuenly thynge to doo to ony body ony harme but shewe thy self cruell to thyn enemyes to th ende that of them thou be not condampned And to thy frendes make ioyefull semblaunt and good there to th ende that thou mayst haue euer the soner they re help and good wylle For thou oughtest to desyre and wysshe prosperyte and welfare to alle thy frendes and aduersyte to alle thyn enemyes Thou must speke fayre to thy wyf to th ende that she take none other man For by cause a woman is moche varyable and meuable as men flatere and speke fayre to her she then 〈◊〉 ne is lasse
vnder the saue gard or protection of the euylle thou oughtest to wete knowe that whan he asketh demaunded ayde helpe he geteth none ¶ wherof Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable Of the douues whiche demaunded a sperehawke for to be theyr kynge for to kepe them fro the kyte or mylan And whanne the sperehawke was maade kynge ouer them he beganne to deuoure them the whiche columbes or douues sayd amonge them that better it were to them do suffre of the kyte than to be vnder the subiection of the sperehawke to be martred as we be but therof we be wel worthy For we oure self ben cause of this meschyef And therfore whanne men done ony thyng men ought well to loke and consydere th ende of hit For he dothe prudently and wysely whiche taketh good hede to the ende ¶ The fyfthe fable maketh mencyon of the Montayn whiche shoke RYght so it happeth that he that menaceth hath drede and is ferdfull wherof Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable Of a hylle whiche beganne to tremble and shake by cause of the molle whiche delued hit And whanne the folke sawe that the erthe beganne thus to shake they were sore aferd and dredeful and durst not wel come ne approche the hylle 〈◊〉 after whanne they were come nyghe to the Montayne knewe how the molle caused this hylle shakynge theyr doub te and drede were conuerted vnto Ioye and beganne alle to lawhe And therfore men ought not to doubte al folk whiche ben of grete wordes and menaces For somme menacen that ha ue grete doubte ¶ The vj fable is of the wulf and of the lambe THe byrth causeth not so moche to gete some frendes as doth the goodnes wherof Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable Of a wulf whiche sawe a lambe among a grete herd of gootes the whiche lambe sowked a gote And the wulf wente and sayd to hym this gote is not thy moder goo and seke her at the Montayn for she shalle nourysshe the more swetely and more tendyrly than this gote shalle And the lambe ansuerd to hym This goote nouryssheth me in stede of my moder for she leneth to me her pappes soner than to ony of her own children And yet more hit is better for me to be here with these gootes than to departe fro hens and to falle in to thy throte for to be deuoured And therfore he is a foole whiche leueth fredome or surete for to put hym self in grete perylle and daunger of dethe For better is to lyue surely and rudely in sewrte than swetely in peryll daâ—â— And as they ranne they adressyd them in to a medowe fulle of frogges ¶ And whanne the frogges herd the hares renne they beganne also to flee and to renne fast And thenne a hare whiche perceyued them so ferdfull sayd to alle his felawes Lete vs no more be dredeful ne doubtuous for we be not alone that haue had drede For alle the frogges â—â—n in doubte and haue fere and drede as we haue Therfore we ought not to despayrâ—â— but haue trust and hope to lyue And yf somme aduersyte cometh vpon vs we must bere it pacyently For ones the tyme shalle come that we shalle be oute of payne and oute of all drede Therfore in the vnhappy and Infortunat tyme men ought not be despayred but oughte euer to be in good ho pe to haue ones better in tyme of prosperyte For after gretâ—â— werâ—â— cometh good pâ—â—s And after the rayne cometh the fair wâ—â—r ¶ The ix fable maketh mencyon of the wulf and of the kydde GOod Children ought to obserue and kepe euer the commaundements of theyr good parentes and frendes wherof Esope reciteth to vs suche a fable Of a goto whiche had made her yonge kydde and honger toke her soo that she wold haue gone to the feldes for to ete some grasse Wherfore she sayd to her kyd My child beware wel that yf the wulf come hyder to ete the that thow opene not the dore to hym ¶ And whanne the gote was gone to the feldes came the wulf to the dore And faynynge the gotes voyce sayd to the kydde My child opene to me the dore And thenne the kydde ansuerd to hym goo hens euylle and fals beste For well I see the thurgh that hole but for to haue me thow faynest the wyce of my moder ¶ And therfore I shalle kepe me well fro openynge of ony dore of this how 's And thus the good children ought euer to kepe wel and put in theyr hert memory the doctryne and the techyng of theyr parentes For many one is vndone and lost for faulte of obedyence â–ª ¶ The tenthe fable is of the good man and of the serpente saâ—â—en comynly that of the euylle of other men ought not to lawhe ne scorne But the Iniuryous mocquen and scornen the world and geteth many enemyes For the whiche cause oftyme it happeth that of a fewe wordes euyll sette cometh a grete noyse and daunger ¶ The xiij fable is of the foxe and of the storke THow oughtest not to doo to other that whiche thow woldest not that men shold doo to the wherof Esope re herceth to vs suche a fable Of a foxe whiche conueyed a storke to souper And the foxe put the mete vpon a trauncher the whiche mete the storke myght not ete wherof she tooke had grete displaysaunce wente departed oute of the foxes how 's al hongry and wente ageyne to her lodgys And by cause that the foxe had thus begyled her she bythoughte in her self how she myght begyle the Foxe For as men saye it is meryte to begyle the begylers wherfore the storke prayd the foxe to come and soupe with her and put his mete within a glas And whanne the foxe wold haue eten he myght not come ther by but only he lycked the glas bycause he cowde not reche to the mete with his mouthe And thenne he knewe wel that he was deceyued And thenne the storke sayd to hym Take of suche goodes as thow gauest to me And the poure foxe ryght shameful departed fro thens And with the staf which he had made he was bete And therfore he that begyleth other is oftyme begyled hym self ¶ The xiiij fable is of the wulf and of the dede mans hede gowne For suche weren fayre gownes and fayr gyrdels of gold that haue theyr treth cold at home ¶ The xvj fable is of the mule and of the flye SOmme maken grete menaces whiche haue no myghte ¶ wherof Esope reherceth suche a fable ¶ Of a carter whiche ladde a Charyot or carte whiche a Mule drewe forthe And by cause the Mule wente not fast ynough the flye sayd to the Mule Ha a payllari Mule why goost thow not faster I shalle soo egrely pryke the that I shalle make the to go lyghtely ¶ And the Mule answerd to the flye god kepe and preserue the mone for the
euery place where hit shalle be possyble to vs. we ought to preyse them We shalle now cesse to enquere ferther of this matere and Historye whiche we shall leue iij latyn for the grete clerkes in especial for them that wylle occupye theyr tyme to studye and rede the glose of the sayd Esope ¶ The nynthe fable is of the knyght and of the wydowe THe woman whiche lyueth in this world without reproche or blame is worthely to be gretely preysed wherof Esope reherceth suche a fable of a man and of a woman whiche loued moche eche other It happed thenne by the effors of Atropos or dethe the whiche we al must suffre that the sayd man deyde And as men wold haue borne hym in to his graue whiche was withoute the toune there to be bu ryed his wyf made grete sorowe and wepte pyteously And whanne he was buryed she wold abyde stylle vpon the graue and lete do make a lytyll lodge or how 's therupon and oute of this lodge she wold neuer departe for no prayer ne fayr word neyther for ony yeftes ne for menaces of her parentes Now it befell in the toun that a mysdoer was condampned to be hanged ¶ And to th ende that he shold not be taken fro the galhows hit was thenne commaunded that a knyght shold kepe hym And as the knyght kepte hym grete thurste took hym And as he perceyued the lodge of the sayd woman he wente to her and prayd her to gyue hym somme drynke And she with good herte gaf hym to drynke And the knyght dranke with grete appetyte as he that had grete thurste whan he had dronke he torned ageyne to the galhows ward This knyght came another tyme to the woman for to comforte her And thre tymes he dyd soo And as he was thus goyng and comynge doubtynge hym of no body his hanged man was taken and had fro the galhows And whan ne the knyght was come ageyne to the galhows sawe that he had loste his dede man he was gretely abasshed not withoute cause For hit was charged to hym vpon peyne to be hanged yf he were take awey This knyght thenne seynge his Iugement tourned and went ageyne to the sayd woman cast hym at her feete and laye before her as he had be dede And she demauÌ„ ded of hym My frend what wylt thow that I doo for the Allas sayd he I praye the that thow socoure and counceylle 〈◊〉 now at my grete nede For by cause I haue not kept wel my theef whiche men haue rauysshed fro me the kynge shalle make me to be put to dethe And the woman sayd Haue no drede my frend For well I shalle fynde the manere wherby thow shalt be delyuerd For we shall take my husbond and shalle hange hym in stede of thy theef ¶ Thenne beganne she to delue and tooke oute of the erthe her husbond and at nyÈt she hanged hym at the galhows in stede of the other sayd to the knyght My ryght dere frend I pray the that this be kept wel secrete For we doo hit theefly And thus the dede men haue somme whiche make sorowe for them but that sorowe is sone gone and passyd And they whiche ben on lyue haue some whiche drede them but theyr drede wantith and faylleth whan they ben dede ¶ The tenthe fable maketh mencyon of the yonge man and of the comyn woman OF the comyn and folysshe wymmen Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable Of a woman whiche had to name Tahys the whiche was cause by her feyned loue of the dethe and losse of many yonge men to one of the whiche she had be bete ofte before that tyme she sayd to hym in this wy se My ryght dere loue and good frende I suppose that of ma ny one I am wel byloued and desyred Neuertheles I shall sette my loue on thy self alone wherfore I pray the that thow mayst be myn and I shalle be thyn for alle thy goodes I retche not but only I desyre thy swete body And he that knewe the feyntyse and falsheed of the woman ansuerd to her ryght benyngly and swetely thy wyll and the myn ben both but one alone For thow arte she whiche I moost desyre and the whiche I shalle loue alle the terme of my lyf yf thow deceyue me nomore For by cause that thow hast receyued me in tyme passed I am euer aferd of the but notwithstondynge this thow arte now moche playsaunt and fayr to the syghte of me And thus the one begyled that other For the loue of a comyn woman is not to be trusted For thow oughtest to knowe and thynk within thy self that the comyn and folyssh woman loue the not but she loueth thy syluer ¶ The xj fable is of the fader and of the euylle sone THe good and wyse fader ought to chastyse his children in theyr yong age and not in theyr old age For thenne hit is moche dyffycyle to make them bowe As to vs râ—â—ateth this fable Of a fader of famylle whiche had a sone the whiche dyd no thynge that he oughte to haue done but euer was goynge and playeng in the toune And the faâ—â—r for the cryme and mysâ—â—wle of his sone brawled euer and bete his meyny And sayd to them suche a fable Of a plough man or labourer whiche bond a bole by the hornes to an oxe The booll wold not be bound and smoâ—â— strongly with his feet after the man and launched his hornes at hym ¶ And at the last whan he was bound the labourer sayd to them I haue ioyned and bound yow bothe to gyder to th ende that ye too somme labour But I wyll that the lest of yow two that is to wete the boole be lerned and corryged of the moste whi che is the oxe For I must sayd the labourer to hym self bynde them thus to gyder to th ende that the bole whiche is yong fyers and malyaous and strong smyte ne hurte no body wherof grete dommage myght come to me But by cause that I wote well that the oxe shalle teche and corryge hym wel I haue put and bound them bothe to gyder ¶ Thus this fable sheweth to vs that the fader ought to teche and gyue good ensample to his children and chastyse them whanne they be yong For he that wel loueth wel he chastyseth ¶ The xij fable is of the serpent THe Auctor that is to wete Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable of two euyls sayeng that a serpent entryd som tyme within the forge of a smythe for to serche somme mete for her dyner It happed that she fond a fyle whiche she beganne to gnawe with her trethe Thenne sayd the fyle to her yf thow byte and gnawe me yet shalt thow doo to me no hurte but bytynge and gnawyng on me thow shalt hurte thyn owne self For by my strengthe alle the yron is planed by me And therfore thow arte a foole
to gnawe me For I telle the that none euyll may hurte ne adommage another as euylle as he Ne none wycked may hurte another wycked ne also the hard ageynst the hard shalle not breke eche other ne two enuyous men shal not both ryde vpon an asse wherfor the myghty and stronge must loue hym whiche is as myghty and as stronge as hym self is ¶ The xiij fable is of the wulues and of the sheep WHanne men haue a good hede and a good defeâ—â—sour or a good Capitayne men oughte not to leue hym for he that leueth hym repenteth hym afterward of hit as to ve reherceth this fable Of the sheep whiche had werre and discencion with the wolues And by cause that the wulues made to stronge werre ageynst the sheep the shepe thenne tooke for theyr help the dogges and the whethers also And thenne was the bataylle of the sheep so grete and so stronge fought so vygorously ageynst the wolues that they put them to flyÈt ¶ And whanne the wolues sawe the strengthe of theyr aduersaryeâ—â— they sent an ambassade toward the sheep for to trete the pees with them the whiche Ambassade sayd to the sheep in this maner yf ye wylle gyue vs the dogges we shalle swere vnto yow oure feythe that we shalle neuer kepe ne hold werre ageynst yow And the sheep ansuerd yf ye wylle gyue vs your fayth we shalle be content And thus they made pees to gyder but the wulues kyld the dogges whiche were capytayns and protectours of the sheep And the dogges dyde but lytyll hurte to the wulues wherfore whanne the lytyl and yong wulues were growen in theyr age they came of eche part and countrey and assembled them to gyder and all of one accord and wylle sayd to they re Auncestres and faders we must ete vp alle the sheep And theyr faders ansuerd thus to them we haue maade pees with them Neuertheles the yonge wolues brake the pees and ranne fyersly vpon the sheep and theyr faders wente after them ¶ And thus by cause that the sheep had delyuerd the dogges to the wolues the whiche were theyr capitayns and that they had none that kepte them they were all eten and deuoured of the wulues Therfore hit is good to kepe well his capytayne whiche may at a nede gâ—â—ue socour and helpe For a trewe frend is oftyme better at a nede than a Royalme For yf the sheep had kepte the loue of the dogges the wolues had neuer deuoured them wherfore it is a sure thynge to kepe wel the loue of his protectour and good frende ¶ The xiiij fable is of the man and of the wood HE that gyueth ayde and help to his enemy is cause of his dethe as recyteth this fable of a man whiche made an axe And after that he had made his axe he asked of the trees and sayd ye trees gyue yow to me a handle And the trees were content ¶ And whanne he had maade fast his handle to the axe he began to cutte and throwe doune to the ground alle the trees wherfore the oke and the Asshe sa yd yf we be cutte hit is wel ryght and reason For of oure owne self we ben cut and thrawen doune ¶ And thus hit is not good to put hym self in to the daunger and subiection of his enemye ne to helpe hym for to be adoÌ„maged as thou maist see by this presente fable For men ought not to gyue the staf by whiche they may he beten with ¶ The xv fable is of the wulf and of the dogge LYberte or fredome is a moche sivete thynge as Esope reherceth by this fable of a wulf and of a dogge whi che by aduenture mette to gyder wherfore the wulf demaunded of the dogge wherof arte thow so fatte and so play saunt And the dogge ansuerd to hym I haue wel kepte my lordes how 's haue barked after the theues whiche came in the how 's of my mayster wherfore he and his meyny gyue to me plente of good mete wherof I am fatte and playsaunt and the wulf sayd thenne to hym It is wel sayd my broder Cer taynly syth thow arte so wel atte thyn ease and farest so wel I haue grete desyre to dwelle with the to th ende that thow I make but one dyner wel sayd the dogge come on with me yf thow wylt be as wel at thyn ease as I am and haue thou no doubte of no thynge The wulf wente with the dogge and as they wente by the way the wulf beheld the dogges neck whiche was al bare of here and demaunded of the dogge My broder why is thy neck so shauen And the dogge ansuerd it is by cause of my grete coler of yron to the whiche dayly I am fasted And at nyght I am vnbound for to kepe the how 's the better Thenne sayd the wulf to the dogge This I myster ne nede not For I that am in lyberte wylle not be put in no subiection And theâ—â—for for to fylle my bely I wylle not be subget yf thou be acustommed for to be bound contynue thow in hit and I shalle lyue as I am wonte and acustomed therfore there is no rychesse gretter than lybete For lyberte is better than alle the gold of the world ¶ The xvj fable maketh mencion of the handes of the feet of the mans bely HOw shalle one do ony good to another the which can doo no good to his owne self As thow mayst see by this fable Of the feet and of the handes whâ—â—che somtyme had grede stryf with the bely sayenge Al that we can or may wynne with grete labour thow etest it all and yet thâ—â—u doost no good wherfore thou shalt no more haue nothynge of vs and we shalle lete the deye for honger And thenne when the bely was empty and sore hongry she beganne to crye 〈◊〉 sayd Allas I deye for hongre gyue me somwhat to ete And the feet and handes sayd thou getest no thynge of vs And by cause that the bely myght haue no mete the conduyts thorugh the whiche the metes passeth bâ—â—me smal and narowe And within fewe dayes after the feete and handes for the feblenes whiche they felte wold thenne haue gyuen mete to the bely but it was to late for the conduits were ioyned to gyder And therfore the lymmes myght doo no good to other that is to wete the bely And he that gouerneth not wel his bely with grete payne he may hold the other lymmes in theyr strengthe and vertue wherfore a seruaunt ought to serue wel his mayster to th ende that his mayster hold and kepe hym honestly and to receyue and haue good reward of hym when his mayster shalle see his feythfulnesse ¶ The xvij fable is of the Ape and of the foxe OF the poure and of the Ryche Esope reherceth suche a fable Of an ape whiche prayd the foxe to gyue hym somme of his grete taylle for to couere his buttoks
of the asse ¶ The xj fable is of the hawke and other byrdes ¶ The xij fable is of the lyon and of the foxes ¶ The xiij fable is of the seke asse and of the wulf ¶ The xiiij fable is of the grete hegotte and of the lytyl gote ¶ The xv fable is of the man and of the lyon ¶ The xvj fable is of the camel and of the flye ¶ The xvij fable is of the Ante and of the sygalle ¶ The xviij fable is of the pylgrym and of the swerd ¶ Tâ—â— xix fable is of the sheep and of the rauen ¶ The xx fable is of the tree and of the Rosyer ¶ The fyrst fable maketh mencyon of the foxe and of the raysyns HE is not wyse that desyreth to haue a thynge whiche he may not haue As reciteth this fable Of a foxe whiche loked and beheld the raysyns that grewe vpon an hyghe vyne the whiche raysyns he moche desyred for to ete them ¶ And whanne be sawe that none he myght gete he torned his sorowe in to Ioye and sayd these raysyns ben sowre and yf I had some I wold not ete them And therfore this fable sheweth that he is wyse whiche fayneth not to desyre that thynge the whiche he may not haue ¶ The second fable is of the auncyent wesel and of the rat WYtte is better than force or strengthe As reherceth to vs this fable of an old wesel the whiche myghte no more take no rats wherfor she was ofte sore hongry and bethought her that she shold hyde her self withynne thâ—â— fâ—â—ure for to take the rats whiche came there for to ete hit And as the rats came to the floure she took and ete them eche oâ—â—e after other And as the oldest rat of all perceyned knewâ—â— hâ—â—r malyce he sayd thus in hym self Certaynly I shalle kâ—â—pe me wel fro the For I knowe alle thy malyce falshede ¶ And therfore he is wyse that scapeth the wytte and malyce of euylle folke by wytte and not by forâ—◠¶ The thirdde fable is of the wulf and of the sheepherd and of the hunter MAny folke shewe them self good by theyr wordes whi che are ful of grete fantasyes As reherceth to vs thys fable of a wulf whiche fledde byfore the hunter And as he fledde he mette with a sheepherd to whome he saiâ—â— My frende I praye the that thow tâ—â—lle not to hym that foloweth me which wey I am gone the shâ—â—epherd said to hym haue no drede ne fere no thynge For I shalle not accuse the For I shalle shewe to hym another way And as the hunter came he demaunded of the sheepherd yf he had sene the wulf passe And the sheepherd both with the heed and of the eyen shewed to the hunter the place where the wulf was with the hand and the tongue shewed alle the contrarye And incontynent the hunter vnderstood hym wel But the wulf whiche perceyued wel all the fayned maners of the sheepherd fled awey ¶ And within a lytyll whyle after the sheepherd encountred and mette with the wulf to whome he sayd paye me of that I haue kepte the secrete ¶ And thenne the wulf ansuerd to hym in this manere I thanke thyn handes and thy tongue and not thyn hede ne thyn eyen For by them I shold haue ben bytrayd yf I had not fledde aweye ¶ And therfore men must not truste in hym that hath two faces and two tongues for suche folke is lyke and semblable to the scor pion the whiche enoynteth with his tongue and prycketh sore with his taylle ¶ The fourth fable is of Iuno the goddesse and of the pecok and of the nyghtyngale â—â—ery one oughte to be content of kynde and of suche good as god hath sente vnto hym wherof he must vse Iusely As wherceth this fable of a pecok whiche 〈◊〉 me to Iuno the goddesse and sayd to her I am heuy and so rowful by cause I can not synge as wel as the nyghtyngale For euery one mocketh and scorneth me by cause I can not synge And Iuno wold comforte hym and sayd thy fayre forme and beauâ—â— is fayrer and more worthy and of gretter preysynge than the songe of the nyghtyngale For thy fethers and thy colour ben resplendysshyng as the precious 〈◊〉 And ther is no byrde lyke to thy fethers ne to thy beaulte ¶ And the pecok sayd thenne to Iuno All this is nought syth I can not synge And thenne Iuno sayd ageyne thus to the pecok for to contente hym This is in the disposycion of the goddes whiche haue gyuen to eyther of yow one propyrte and one vertue suche as it pleasyd them As to the they haue gyuen fayr fygure to the egle haue they gyuen strengthe and to the nyghtyngale fayr playsauÌ„t songe And so to all other byrdes wherfore euery one must be content of that that he hath For the myserable auarycious the more goodes that they haue the more they desyre to haue ¶ The v fable maketh mencion of the panthere and of the vylayns â—â—ery one ought to do wel to the straunger and for gyue to the myserable As reherâ—â—th this fable of a pan there whiche fylle in to a pytte And whan the vylayns or chorles of the countrey sawe her somme of them beganne to smyte on her and the other sayd pardonne and forgyue her for she hath hurted no body and other were that gaf to her breed And another sayd to the vylayns beware ye wel that ye slee her not And by cause that they were al of dyuerse wyll euerychone of them wente and retorned home a geyne wenynge that she shold deye within the sayd pytte but lytyl and lytyl she clymmed vp and wente to her howâ—â— ageyne and made her to be wel medecyned in so moche that soone she was al hole ¶ And within a whyle after she has uynge in her memorye the grete Iniurye that had be done to her came ageyne to the place where she had be hurte and sore bete began to kylle slee al the bestes whiche were there about put al the sheepherds and swyneherds other whiche kepte beestes all to flyght she brente the Corne many other euyl and grete harme she dyd there aboute And whanne the folke of the countrey sawe the grete dommage that she dyd to them they came toward her prayenge that she wold haue pyte on them And to them she ansuerd in this manere I am not come hyther to take vengeaunce on them whiche haue had pyte and myserycorde of me but only on them that wold haue slayne me And for the wycked and euylle folk I recyte this fable to th ende that they hurte no body For yf alle the vylaynes hadde hadde pyte the one as the other of the poure panthere or serâ—â—ent whiche was straunger and myserable as moche as shâ—â— was fallen in to the pytte the forsayd euylle and dommage had not come to them ¶ The vj fable is of
the bochers and of the whethers WHanne a lygnage or kynred is indyfferent or indyuysyon not lyghtly they shalle doo ony thynge to theyr salute as reherceth to vs this fable Of a bocher whiche entryd within a stable full of whethers And after as the whethers sawe hym none of them sayd one word And the bocher toke the fyrst that he fonde ¶ Thenne the whethers spake al to gyder and sayd lete hym doo what he wylle And thus the bocher tooke hem all one after another sauf one onely And as he wold haue taken the last the poure wâ—â—ether sayd to hym Iustly I am worthy to be take by caâ—â— se I haue not holpen my felawes For he that wylle not helpe ne comforte other ought not to demaunde or aske helpe ne com forte For vertue whiche is vnyed is better than vertue separate ¶ The seuenth fable is of the fawkoner and of the byrdes THe wyse ought euer to kepe and obserue the good cost ceyll And in no wyse they ought not to doo the contra rye As reherceth to vs this fable Of the byrdes whi che were Ioyeful and gladde as the prymtemps came by cause that theyr nestes were thenne al couerd with leues And Incontynent they beheld and sawe a fawkoner whiche dressyd and leyd his laces and nettes for to take them ¶ And thenne they sayd al to gyder yonder man hath pyte of vs For whanne he beholdeth vs he wepeth ¶ And thenne the pertryche whiche had experymented and assayed all the â—â—ytes of the sayd Fawkoner sayd to them kepe yow alle wel fro that sayd man and flee hyghe in to the ayer For he seketh nothynge but the manere for to take yow For yf he toke yow he shalle ete and deuoure yow or to the markette he shalle bere yow for to be sold And they that byleuyd his couÌ„ ceylle were saued And they that byleuyd it not were taken and lost ¶ And therfore they whiche byleue good counceylle are delyuerd oute of theyr peryls And they whiche byleue it not ben euer in grete daunger IN tyme passyd men preysyd more the folke full of lesynges and falshede than the man full of trouthe the whiche thynge regneth gretely vnto this daye As we may see â–ª by this present fable Of the man of trouthe and of the man lyar whiche wente bothe to gyder thorugh the coun trey And so longe they wente to gyder by theyr Iourneyes that they came in to the pronynce of the apes And the kynge of thapes made them bothe to be taken and brought before hym And he beynge in his Royal mageste where as he satte lyke an Emperour and alle his Apes aboute hym as the subgets ben aboute theyr lord wold haue demaunded and in dede he demaunded to the lyer who am I And the lesynge maker flaterer sayd to hym thow arte emperour and kynge the fay rest creature that is in erthe ¶ And after the kynge demaunded of hym ageyne who ben these whiche ben al aboute me And the lyar ansuerd Syre they ben your knyghtes your subgettes for to kepe your persone and your Royalme And thenne the kynge sayd thow arte a good man I wylle that thow be my grete styward of my houshold and that euery one bere to the honour and reuerence And whan the man of trouthe herd alle this he sayd in hym self yf this man for to haue made lesynges is soo gretely enhaunced thenne by gretter vayson I shalle be more worshipped and enhaunced yf I saye trouthe ¶ And after the kynge wold aske the trewe man and demaunded of hym who am I and alle that ben aboute me And thenne the man of trouthe ansuerd thus to hym thow arte an ape and a beste ryght abhomynable And alle they whiche ben aboute the are lyke and semblable to the ¶ The kynge thenne commaunded that he shold be broken and â—â—oren with teeth and clawes and put alle in to pyeces And therfore it happeth ofte that the lyers and flaterers ben enhauÌ„ ced and the men of trouthe ben set alowe and put a back For oftyme for to saye trouthe men lese they re lyues the whiche thynge is ageynst Iustyce and equyte ¶ The ix fable is of the hors of the hunter and of the hert NOne ought to put hym self in subiection for to auenge hym on other For better is not to submytte hym self than after to be submytted as reherced to vs this fable Of an hors whiche had enuye ouer an herte by cause the herte was fayrer than he and the hors by enuye went vnto an hunter to whome he sayd in this manere yf thow wylt byleue me we shalle this day take a good proye â—â—epe vpon my â—â—k and take thy swerd and we shalle chace the herte and thow shalt hytte hym with thy swerd and kylle hym and shalt take hym and thenne his flesshe thow mayst â—â—e and his skynne thow mayst selle ¶ And thenne the hunter moued by auaryce demaunded of the hors thynkest thow by thy feythe that we maye take the herte of whome thow spekest to me of ¶ And the hors answerd thus Suffyse the For ther to I shalle put al my dylygence and alle my strengthe lepe vpon me and doo after my counceylle ¶ And thenne the Hunter â—â—epte forthwith vpon the hors backe And the hors beganne to renne after the herte And whanne the herte sawe hym come he fled And by cause that the hert ranne faster than the hors dyd he soaped fro them and saued hym ¶ And thenne when the hors sawe and felte hym moche wery and that he myght no more renne he sayd to the hunter in this maner alyght fro my back For I may bere the no more and haue myst of my proye Thenne said the hunter to the hors Syth thow arte entryd in to my handes yet shalt not thow escape thus fro me thow hast the brydel in thy mouthe wherby thow mayst be kepte stylle and arrested And thow wylt lepe the sadell shalle saue me And yf thow wylt caste thy feet fro the I haue good spores for to constrayne and make the goo whether thow wylt or not where as I wylle haue the and And therfore kepe the wel that thow shewest not thy self rebelle vnto me ¶ Therfore it is not good to put and submytte hym self vnder the hand of other wenynge therby to be auen ged of hym ageynste whome men haue enuye For who submytteth hym self vnder the myght of other he byndeth hym self to hym ¶ The tenthe fable is of the asse and of the lyon THe grete callers by theyr hyghe and lowd crye suppo sen to make folke aferd as recyteth this fable Of an asse whiche somtyme mette with a lyon to the whiche the asse sayd lete vs clymme vpon the montayne and I shall shewe to the how the beestes ben aferd of me and the lyon beganne to smyle and he ansuerd to the asse Goo we my broder And whan they were
owne cause and by my proud thoughte For the daye in the mornynge I fond a sak ful of talowe the whiche I dayned not but only smelle hit â–ª And after I fond a grete pyrce of bakon the whiche I wold neuer ete for drede of grete thurst and for my folysshe thought And therfore yf euylle is syn happed to me it is wel bestowed and employed My fader was neuer medecyn ne leche and also I haue not studyed and lerned in the scyence of medycyn or phisyke therfore if it happeth euylle to me whanne I wold drawe the thorne oute of the mares fotâ—â— it is wel employed ¶ Item my fader was neuer neyther patryarke ne Bisshop And also I was neuer bettred and yet I presumed and toke on me for to sacryfyce and to synge be fore the goddes faynyng my self to be a prelate but after my deserte I was wel rewarded ¶ Item my fader was no legist no neuer knewe the lawes ne also man of Iustyce and to gyue sentence of a plee I wold entremete me and fayned my self grete Iustycer but I knewe neyther a ne b ¶ And yf therfore euylle is come to me it is of me as of ryght it shold be O Iupyter I am Worthy of gretter punycyon whanne I haue offensed in so many maners sende thow now to me from thyn hyghe throne a swerd or other wepen wherwith I maye strongly punysshe and bete me by grete penaunce For wel worthy I am to receyue a gretter disciplyne And the good man whiche was vpon the tree herkened alle these wordes deuyses and sayd no word ¶ And whanne the wulf had fynysshâ—â—d alle his syghes and complayntes the good man to ke his axe wherwith he had kytte awey the dede braunches fro the tree and cast it vpon the wulf and it felle vpon his neck in suche maner that the wulf torned vpsodoun the feet vpward and saye as he had ben dede And whan the wulf myght resâ—â—e and dresse hym self he loked and byheld vpward to the â—â—uen and beganne thus to crye Ha Iupiter I see now wel that thow hast herd and enhaunced my prayer And thenne he perceyued the man whiche was vpon the tree wel wende that he had ben Iupiter And thenne with alle his myght he fledde toward the forest sore wounded and rendred hym self to humylyte and more mâ—â—ke and humble he was afterward than euer before he had ben fyers ne prowde ¶ And by this fable men may knowe and see that moche resteth to be done of that that a foole thynketh And hit sheweth to vs that whan somme good cometh to somme it ought not be reffused For it maye not ben recouerd as men wyll And also it sheweth hou none ought to auaunte hym to doo a thynge whiche he can not doo but therfore euery man ought to gouerne and rewle hym self after his estate and faculte ¶ The xj fable is of the enuyous dogge NOne ought not to haue enuye of the good of other As it appiereth by this fable Of a dogge whiche was ennyous and that somtyme was within a stable of ox en the Whiche was ful of heye This dogge kept the oxen that they shold not entre in to theyr stable and that they shold not ete of the sayd hey And thenne the oxen sayd to hym Thow arte wel peruers and euylle to haue enuye of the good the whiche is to vs nedefull and prouffitable And thow hast of hit nought to doo for thy kynde is not to ete no hey And thus he dyd of a grete bone the whiche he held at his mouthe and wold not leue hit by cause and for enuye of another dogge whiche was therby And therfore kepe the wel fro the company or felauship of an enuyous body For to haue to doo with hym hit is moche peryllous and dyffycyle As to vs is wel shewen by Lucyfer ¶ The xij fable is of the wulf and of the hongry dogge Sâ—â—che supposen somtyme to wynne that lesen As hit appiereth by this Fable For hit is sayd comunly that as moche dispendeth the nygard as the large As hit appiereth by this Fable of a man whiche had a grete herd of sheep And also he had a dogge for to kepe them fro the wulues To this dogge he gaf no mete for the grete auaryce whiche held hym And therfore the wulf on a daye came to the dogge and demaunded of hym the rayson why he was soo lene and sayd to hym I see wel that thow dyest for hon ger by cause that thy mayster gyueth to the no mete by his gre te scarepte but yf thow wylt byleue me I shalle gyue to the good counceylle And the dogge sayd to hym Certaynly I myster gretely of good counceylle ¶ Thenne the wulf sayd to hym This shalt thow doo Lete me take a lambe And whanne I shalle haue hit I shalle renne awey And whanne thow shalt see me renne make thenne semblauÌ„t to renne after me and lete thy self falle faynynge that thow canst not ouertake me for lack and fawte of mete which ma keth the so feble And thus whanne the sheepherd shalle see that thow mayst not haue the lambe fro me by cause of the gre te feblenesse and debylyte of thy lene body he shall telle to thy lord that thow myghtest not socoure the lambe by cause that thow arte so sore ahongryd and by this meane thow shalt ha ue mete thy bely ful ¶ The dogge thenne acorded this with the wulf and eche of 〈◊〉 made and dyde as aboue is sayd ¶ And whanne the sheepherd sawe the dogge falle supposed wel that honger was cause of it Forthe whiche cause whanne one of the shepherdes came home he told hit to his mayster And whan the mayster vnderstood hit he seyd as a man wroth for shame I wylle that fro hence forth on he haue breed ynough ¶ And thenne euery daye the sayd dogge hadde soppes of brede and of drye breed he hadde ynough ¶ Thenne the dogge toke strengthe and vygour ageyne ¶ It happed within a lytyl whyle after that the wulf came ageyne to the dogge and sayd to hym I perceyue wel that I gaf to the good counceylle And the dogge sayd to the wulf My broder thow sayst soothe wherfore I thanke the moche For of hit I hadde grete nede ¶ And thenne the wulf sayd to hym Yf thow wylt I shall gyue to the yet better counceylle And the dogge ansuerd hym with ryght a good wylle I shalle here hit And yf hit be good I shalle doo after hit ¶ Thenne sayd the wulf to hym Lete me take yet another lambe and doo thy dylygence for to haue hit fro me and to byte me and I shalle ouerthrowe the thy feet vpward as he that hath no puyssaunce ne strength withoute hurtynge of thy self byleue me hardyly and wel hit shalle happe to the And whanne thy maysters seruaunts shalle haue sene thy dylygence they shalle shewe hit to thy mayster
not to breke his feythe ageynste his good Frend ne to leue his felauship as hit appiereth by this fable of four oxen whiche to gyder were in a fair medowe ¶ And by cause that euer they were and kept them to gyder none other beest durste not assaylle them and also the lyon dradde them moche the whiche lyon on a daye came to them And by his deceyuable wordes thoughte for to begyle them to rauysshe take them the better maade them to be separed eche one fro other ¶ And whanne they were 〈◊〉 the lyon wente and tooke one of them And whan â—â—he lyon wold haue strangled hym the oxe sayd to hym godseâ—â— He is a foole whiche byleueth fals and deceyuable wordes And leueth the felawship of his good frende For yf we had â—â—en euer to gyder thow haddest not taken me And therfore he whiche is and standeth wel sure ought to kepe hym soo that he fulle not For he whiche is wel meue not hym self ¶ The xv fable is of the busshe and of the aubyer trâ—â—e NOne for his beaute ought not to dispreyse some other For somtyme suche one is fayre that soone wexeth lothely and fowle and to hyghe falleth vnto lowe as it apperyth by this fable Of a fayr tree whiche mocqued and scorned a lytyl busshe and sayd ¶ Seest thow not my fayre fourme and my fayre fygure And that of me men and byldeth fayre edefyces as palays and castellis galeyes other shippes for to saylle on the see And as he auaunced preysed hym self thus came there a labourer with his axe for to hewe and smyte hym to the ground And as the labourer smote vpon the fayr tree the busshe sayd Certaynly my broder yf now thow were as lytel as I am men shold not hewe ne smyte the doune to the erthe And therfore none oughte to reioysshe hym self of his worship For suche is now in grete honour and worship that herafter shalle falle in to grete vytupere shame and dishonour ¶ The xvj fable is of the fyssher and of the lytyl fysshe MEn ought not to leue that thynge whiche is sure cer tayne for hope to haue the vncertayn as to vs reherceth this fable of a fyssher whiche with his lyne toke a lytyll fysshe whiche sayd to hym My frend I pray the doo to me none euylle ne putte me not to dethe For now I am nought for to be eten but whanne I shalle be grete yf thow come ageyne hyther of me shalt thow mowe haue grete auaylle For thenne I shalle goo with the a good whyle And the Fyssher sayd to the fysshe Syn I hold the now thou shalt not scape fro me For grete foly hit were to me for to seke the here another tyme For men ought not to lete goo that of what they be sure of hopynge to haue afterward that that they haue not and whiche is vncertayne ¶ The xvij fable is of Phebus of the Auarycious and of the enuyous NOne oughte to doo harme 〈◊〉 dommage to somme other for to receyue or doo his owne dommage As hit appereth by this fable Of Iupiter whiche sent phebus in to therâ—â—he for to haue al the knowlege of the thouÈt of meâ—◠¶ This phebus thenne mette with two men of whiche the one was moche enuyous And the other ryght couetous Phebus demaunded of them what theyr thought was We thynke said they to demaunde and aske of the grete yeftes To the which Phebus ansuerd Now demaunde what ye wylle For al that that ye shalle demaunde of me I shalle graunte hit And of that that the fyrst of yow shalle aske the second shal haue the dowble parte or as moche more ageyne And thenne the auarycious sayd I wyl that my felawe aske what he wyll fyrst wherof the enuyous was wel content whiche sayd to Pâ—â—ebus Fayre syre I praye the that I maye lese one of myn eyen to th ende that my felawe may lese al bothe his eyen wherfor phebus beganne to lawhe whiche departed and wente ageyne vn to Iupiter and told hym the grete malyce of the enuyous whiche was Ioyeful and glad of the harme and dommage of an other how he was wel content to suffre payne for to haue a dommaged somme other The xviij fable is of the theef and of the child whiche wepte HE is a fole that putteth his good in Ieopardy to lese it for to gete haue som others good as it appereth by this fable of a theef whiche fond a child wepyuge be syde a welle of whom the theef vyde aske why he wepte the child answerd to hym I wepe by cause that I haue lete falle within this welle a boket of gold thenne the theef toke of his clothes sette them on the ground and wente doune in to the welle And as be was doune the child toke his gowne lefte hym within the welle And thus for couetyse to wynne he lost his gowne For suche supposen to wynne somtyme whiche losen And therfore none ought to wysshe that that he hath not to th ende that he leseth not that that he hath For of the thynge wrongfully and euylle goten the thyrd heyre shalle neuer be possessour of hit ¶ The xix fable is of the lyon and of the gote HE is wyse that can kepe hym self from the wyly and fals as hit appereth by this fable Of a lyon whiche ones mette with a gote whiche was vpon a montayne And whanne the lyon sawe her he sayd to her in this manere for to gyue to her occacion to come doune fro the hylle to th ende that he myght ete her My suster why comest thow not hyder on this fayre and grene medowe for to ete of these fayre herbes or grasse And the gote ansuerd to hym How be hit that thow sayst trouthe Neuertheles thow sayst it not neyther for my we le ne for my prouffyte but thow sayst hit by cause that thow woldest fayne ete and deuoure me but I truste not in thy fayre speche For many tymes I haue herd saye of my grauÌ„t moder he that is wel meue not hym self For he whiche is in a place wel sure is wel a fole to go fro hit and to putte hym self in grete daunger and perylle ¶ The xx fable was of the crowe whiche was a thurst BEtter is crafte and subtylyte than force As reherceth to vs this fable Of a crowe whiche vpon a day came for to drynke oute of a boket and by cause that she myght not reche to the water she dyd fyll the boket ful of smal stones in soo moche that the water came vpward wherof she dranke thenne at her wylle and playsyre And therfore hit appiereth wel that wytte or sapyence is a moche fayr vertue For by sapyence or wytte thow shalt mowe resyste to all faultes ¶ The xxj fable is of the vylayne and of the yonge bole HE whiche is of euylle and shrewd kynde with grete payne
with theyr feet wherfore the labourer sayd to them I pray to god that the wulf may ete yow the whiche wordes the wulf herd wherfore he hyd hym self nyghe them vnto the nyght And thenne came for to ete them ¶ And whanne the nyght was come the labourer vnbonde his oxen and lete them goo to his how 's ¶ And thenne whanne the wulf sawe them comynge homeward he sayd O thow labourer many tymes on this day thow dydest gyue to me thyn oxen and ther fore hold thy promesse to me ¶ And the labourer sayd to the wulf I promysed to the nought at al in the presence of whome I am oblyged or bound I swore not neyther to and yong man whiche fournysshed to thappoyntement And ones as they thre made good chere the husbond came ageyne fro the feyre and knocked at the dore of the how 's wherfore they were wel abasshed Thenne sayd the old moder thus to them haue no fere but doo as I shalle telle to yow and ca re yow not And thenne she sayd to the yonge man hold this swerd and goo thow to the yate and beware thy self that thow saye no word to hym but lete me doo And as the husband wold haue entryd his how 's and that he sawe the yong man holdynge a naked swerd in his handes he was gretely aferd And thenne the old woman sayd to hym My sone thow arte ryght welcome be not aferd of this man For thre men ranne ryght now after hym for to haue slayne hym and â—â—y auenture he fond the yate open and this is the cause why he came here for to saue his lyf And thenne the husbond said to them ye haue done wel And I can yow grete thanke And thus the yonge amerous wente his waye surely by the subtylyte of the moder of his wyf to the whiche truste thy self not and thow shalt doo as sage and wyse ¶ The xi fable is of an old harlotte or bawde A Noble man was somtyme whiche had a wyf moche chaste and was wonder fayr This noble man wold haue go on pylgremage to Rome and lefte his wyf at home by cause that he knewe her for a chaste and a good woman ¶ It happed on a daye as she wente in to the toun A fayre yonge man was esprysed of her loue and took on hym hardynes and requyred her of loue and promysed to her many grete yeftes But she whiche was good had leuer deye than to consente her therto wherfore the yonge man deyde al mooste for sorowe to the whiche felawe came an old woman whiche demaunded of hym the cause of his sekenesse And the yonge man manyfested or discouered vnto her alle his courage and herte askynge help and counceylle of her And the old woman wyly and malycious sayd to hym Be thow gladde and Ioyous and take good courage For wel I shalle doo and brynge aboute thy fayâ—â— in soo moche that thow shalt haue thy wyll fulfylled And after thys the old bawde wente to her how 's and maade a lytyl catte which she hadde at home to faste thre dayes one after another And after she took somme breed with a grete dele or quantite of mostard vpon hit and gaf hit to thys yonge Catte for to ete hit ¶ And whanne the Catte smelled hit she beganne to wepe and crye ¶ And the old woman or Bawde wente vnto the how 's of the sayd yonge woman and bare her lytyl Catte with her the whiche yonge and good woman receyued and welcomed her moch honestly by cause that alle the world held her for a holy woman ¶ And as they were tallynge to gyder the yong woman hadde pyte of the catte whiche wepte And demaunded of the old woman what the cat eyled And the old woman sayd to her Ha a my fayr doughter my fayre Frend renewe not my sorowe And sayenge these wordes she beganne to wepe and sayd My frend for no good I wyl telle the cause why my catte wepeth And thenn the yonge woman sayd to her My good Moder I praye yow that ye wyll telle me the cause why wherfor your catte wepeth And thenne the old woman sayd to her My Frend I wyll wel yf thow wilt swere that thou shalt neuer reherce it to no body to the whiche promesse the good trewe yonge woman accorded her self supposyng that hit had ben al good and sayd 〈◊〉 wylle wel And thenne the old woman sayd to her in this manere My frend this same catte whiche thow seest yonder was my doughter the whiche was wonder fayre gracious and chaste whiche a yonge man loued moche and was so moche esprysed of her loue that by cause that she reffused hym he deyde for her loue wherfore the goddes hauyng pyte on hym haue torned my douggter in to this catte And the yonge woman whiche supposed that the old woman had sayd trouthe sayd to her in this manere Allas my fayr moder I ne wote what I shalle doo For suche a â—â—as myght wel happe to me For in this Towne is a yonge man whiche deyeth almoost for the loue of me But for loue of my husband to whome I oughte to kepe chastyte I haue not wylle graunte hym Neuertheles I shall doo that that thow shalt counceylle to me And thenne the old woman sayd to her My Frend haue thow pyte on hym as soone as thow mayst soo that hit 〈◊〉 not to the lyke as it dyd to my doughter ¶ The yonge woman thenne answerd to her and sayd yf he requyre me ony more I shalle accorde me with hym And yf he requyre me no more yet shalle I profere me to hym ¶ And to th ende that I offende not the goddes I shalle doo and accomplysshe hit as soone as I maye ¶ The old woman theÌ„ne took leue of her wente forthwith to the yong man And to hym she reherced and told all these tydynges wherof hys herte was fylled with Ioye the whiche anone wente toward the yonge woman and with her he fulfylled his wylle ¶ And thus ye maye knowe the euyls whiche ben done by bawdes and old harlottes that wold to god that they were al brente ¶ The xij fable is of a blynd man and of his wyf THere was somtyme a blynd man whiche had a fayre wyf of the whiche he was moche Iaâ—â—us He kepte her so that she myght not goo no wher For euer he had her by the hand And after that she was enamoured of a gentil felawe they coude not fynde the maner ne no place for to fulfylle theyr wyll but notwithstandyng the woman whiche was subtyle and Ingenyous counceylled to her frende that he shold come in to her how 's and that he shold entre in to the gardyn and that there he shold clymme vpon a pere tree And he did as she told hym and when they had made theyr enterpryse the woman came ageyne in to the how 's and sayd to her
and that alle the parentes of his wyf were heuy and melancolyous he prayd and besoughte them that they wold telle hym the cause of their heuynes and sorowe but none of them alle ansuerd Neuertheles he prayd and besought them yet ageyne And thenne one of them ful of sorow and more lyberall than alle the other sayd thus to hym Certaynly my fayre sone thy wyf hath told to vs that thow arte not man parfyghte For the whiche wordes the man beganne to lawhe and sayd with an hyghe boys that al they that were there myght Vnderstand what he sayd My lordes and my frendes make good chere For the cause of your sorowe shalle soone be peased And thenne he beynge clothed with a shorte gowne Vntyde his hosen and tooke his membre with his han de whiche was grete and moche suffysaunt vpon the table so that al the folauship myght see hit wherfore the sayd felauship myght see hit wherof the sayd felauship was ful glad and Ioyeful wherof somme of the men desyred to haue as moche And many of the wymmen wysshed to theyr husbande 's suche an Instrument And thenne somme of the frendes parentes of Nerus doughter wente toward her and sayd to 〈◊〉 that she had grete wronge for to complayne her of her husband For he had wel wherwith she myght be contented and blamed her gretely of her folye to whome the yong doughter ansuerd My frendes why blame ye me I complayne me not without cause For our asse whiche is a brute beest hath wel a membre as grete as myn arme and my husband whiche 〈◊〉 a man his membre is Vnnethe half so grete wherfore the symple and yonge damoysell wend that the men shold haue hit as grete and gretter than Asses ¶ Therfore it is sayd ofte that moche lacketh he of that that a fole thynketh or weneth ¶ The fourthe fable is of huntynge and hawkynge ¶ The fourth fable is of the huntynge hawkynge POge Florentyn reherceth to vs how ones he was in a felauship where men spak of the superflue cure of them whiche gouerne the dogges and hawkes wherof a mylannoys named Paulus beganne to lawhe and lawhyng re quyred of Poge that he wold reherce somme fable of the sayd hawkes And for loue of alle the felauship he sayd in thys manere Somtyme was a medecyn whiche was a Mylannoys This medecyn heled al foles of al maner of foly and how in what manere he dyd hele them I shalle telle hit to you This medycyn or leche had within his how 's a grete gardyn And in the myddes of hit was a depe and a brode pytte whi che was ful of stynkynge and Infected water And within the same pytte the sayd medycyn put the foles after the quan tyte of theyr folysshnes somme vnto the knes and the other vnto the bely And there he bonde them fast at a post but none he putte depper than vnto the stomack for doubte of gretter Inconuenient It happed thenne that emonge other was one brought to hym whiche he putte in to the sayd water vnto the thyes And whan he had be by the space of xv dayes within the sayd water he beganne to be peasyble and gate his wytte ageyne And for to haue take somme disporte and consolacion he prayd to hym whiche had the kepynge of hym that he wold take hym oute of the water and promysed to hym that he shold not departe fro the gardyn And thenne the kepar that kepte hym Vnbounde hym fro the stake and had hym oute of the water And whanne he had be many dayes oute of the pytte he wente wel vnto the yate of the gardyn but he durst not go oute lesse that he shold be put ageyne within the sayd pytte And on a tyme he went aboue vpon the yate and as he loked al aboute he sawe a fayr yong man on a horsbuk whiche bare a sperehawk on his fyste and had with hym two fayre spaynels wherof the sayd fole was al abasshed And in dede as by â—â—as of nouelte he callyd the sayd yong man and after he sayd to hym benyngly My frend I praye the that thou wilt 〈◊〉 me what is that wherupon thow arte sette And thenne the yonge sone sayd to hym that it was a hors whiche prouffi ted to hym to the chace and bare hym where he wold And af ter the fole demaunded of hym And what is that whiche thou wrest on thy fyste and wher to is it good and the yongman ansuerd to hym It is a sperehawst whiche is good for to take parâ—â—ryches and quaylles And yet ageyne the fole demaun ded of hym My frend what are thoos that folowe the wher to ben they good And the yonge man ansuerd to hym they be dogges whiche are good for to serche and fynde partryches quaylles And whan they haue reysed them my sperehawke taketh them wherof procedeth to me grete solas and playsyre And the fole demaunded ageyne To your aduys the takyng that ye doo by them in a hole yere how moche is hit shalle hit bere to the grete prouffyte And the yong man ansuerd to hym four or fyue crownes 〈◊〉 ther aboute And no more sayd the fole And to your aduys how moche shalle they dispende in a yere And the yong man ansuerd xl or l crownes ¶ And whanne the fole herd these wordes he sayd to the sayd yonge man O my frend I pray the that soone thow wylt departe fro hens For yf our fysicien come he shalle putte the within the sayd pytte by cause that thow arte a fole I was put in it Vn to the thyes but therin he shold putte the vnto the chynne for thow dost the grettest foly that euer I herd speke of ¶ And therfore the studye of the huntynge and hawkynge is a slouful cure And none ought to doo hit withoute he be moche ryche and man of lyuelode And yet hit ought not to be done ful ofte but somtyme for to take disporte and solas and to dry ue awey melancolye ¶ The V fable is of the recytacion of somme monstres POge of Florence recyteth how in his tyme one named Hugh prynce of the medycyns sawe a catte whiche had two hedes and a calf whiche also had two hedes And his legges bothe before and behynde were double as they had be Ioyned al to gyder as many folke sawe Item about the matches of ytalye withynne a medowe was somtyme a Cowe the whiche Cowe maade and delyuerd her of a Serpent of wonder and Ryght merueyllous grettenesse Ryghte hydous and ferdful ¶ For fyrste he hadde the heede gretter than the hede of a calf ¶ Secondly he had a necke of the lengthe of an Asse And his â—â—dy made after the lykenesse of a dogge and his taylle was wonder grete thycke and longe withoute comparyson to ony other ¶ And whanne the Cowe sawe that she hadde maade suche a byrthe And that within her bely she had
and shame by cause that he was thus departed and gone fro theyr felauship and sayd to them My bretheren and my frendes I am well worthy to haue had this payne by cause I was gone depar ted from yow And therfore he that is wel lete hym beware that he moue not hym self For suche by his pryde desyreth to be a grete lord whiche ofte falleth in grete pouerte ¶ The thyrd fable is of the foxe and of the cocke OFtyme moche talkynge letteth As hit appiereth by this fable Of a foxe whiche came toward a Cocke And sayd to hym I wold fayne wete yf thow canst as wel synge as thy fader dyde And thenne the Cock shette his eyen and beganne to crye and synge ¶ And thenne the Foxe toke and bare hym awey And the peple of the towne cryed the foxe bereth awey the cok ¶ And thenne the Cocke sayd thus to the Foxe My lord vnderstandest thow not what the peple sayth that thow berest awey theyr cock telle to them that it is thyn and not theyrs And as the foxe sayd hit is not yours but it is myn the â—â—k sâ—â—aped fro the foxe mouthe and fâ—â—ough vpon a tree And thenne the Cok sayd to the fox thow lyest For I am theyrs and not thyn And thenne the foxe beganne to hytte the erthe bothe with his mouthe heed sayenge Mouthe thow hast spoken to moche thow sholdest haue eten the Cok had not be thyn ouer many wordes And ther for ouer moche talkyng letteth and to moche crowynge smarâ—â— therfore kepe thy self fro ouer many wordes to th ende that thow repentest the not ¶ The fourthe fable is of the dragon and of the â—â—erle MEn ought not to rendre euylle for good And them that helpen ought not to be letted As reherceth thys fable Of a dragon whiche was within a Ryuer and as this Ryuer was dymynuyssled of water the dragon abode at the Ryuage whiche was al drye And thus for lack of watre he coude not stere hym A labourer or vylayne came theÌ„ne that waye and demaunded of the dragon what dost thow there And the dragon ansuerd to hym I am here lefte withoute water withoute whiche I can not meue but yf thow wilt bynd me and sette me vpon thyn asse and lede me in to my Ryuer I shal gyue to the habondaunce of gold and syluer And the vylayne or chorle for couetyse bound and ledde hym in to his repayre And whanne he had vnbounden hym he demaunded his sallary and payment And the dragon sayd to hym By cause that thow hast bounden me thow wylt be payd And by cause that I am now hongry I shalle ete the And the vylayne ansuerd and sayd For to haue done wel thow wylt ete and deuoure me And as they stryued to gyder the foxe whiche was within the forest herd wel theyr question and different came to them and sayd in this manere Stryue ye no more to gyder For I wyll acord and make pees bytwixt you â—â—ate eche of yow telle to me his reason for to wete whiche of yow hath ryght And whanne eche of them had told his caas the foxe sayd to the vylayne Shewe thow to me how thow boundest the dragon to th ende that I may gyue therof a trewe and lawfull sentence And the vylayne put the dragon vpon his asse and bound hym as he had done before And the fox demaunded of the dragon helde he thenne the so fast bounden as he dothe now And the dragon ansuerd ye my lord and yet more hard And the foxe sayd to the vylayn Bynde hym yet more harder For who that wel byndeth wel can he vnbynd And whanne the dragon was fast and wel bounden the fox sayd to the vylayne bere hym ageyn there as thow fyrst tokest hym And there thow shalt leue hym bounden as he is nâ—â—w And thus he shalle not ete ne deuoure the For he that dothe euylle euylle he must haue For Iustly he shall ben punysshed of god they that done harme and dommage to the poure folke For who so euer rendreth euylle for good he shalle therof iust ly be rewarded ¶ The v fable is of the foxe and of the catte THere is many folke whiche auauncen them and saye that they ben wyse and subtyle whiche ben grete fooles and knowynge no thynge As this fable reherceth Of a foxe whiche somtyme mette with a Catte to whome he sa yd My godsep god yeue yow good daye And the catte answerd My lord god gyue yow good lyf And thenne the foxe demaunded of hym My godsep what canst thow doo And the catte sayd to hym I can lepe a lytyl And the fox sayd to hym Certaynly thow arte not worthy to lyue by cau se that thow canst nought doo And by cause that the cat was angry of the foxes wordes he asked and demaunded of the foxe And thow godsep what canst thow doo A thousand wyles haue I sayd the foxe For I haue a sak ful of scyenâ—â— and wyles And I am so grete a clerke that none maye begyle ne deceyue me And as they were thus spekyng to gyder the cat perceyued a knyght comynge toward them whiche had many dogges with hym and sayd to the foxe My godsep cer taynly I see a knyght comynge hytherward whiche ledeth with hym many dogges the whiche as ye wel knowe ben our enemyes The foxe thenne ansuerd to the cat My godsep thou spekest lyke a coward and as he that is aferd lete them come and care not thow And Incontynently as the dogges perceyued and sawe the foxe and the catte they beganne to renne vpon them And whanne the foxe sawe them come he sayd to the kat Flee we my broder flee we To whome the kat ansuerd Certaynly godsep therof is none nede Neuerthe les the foxe byleued not the cat but fledd and ranne as fast as he myght for to saue hym And the catte lepte vpon a tree and saued hym self sayenge Now shalle we see who shalle playe best for to preserue and saue hym self And whanne the catte was vpon a tree he loked aboute hym and sawe how the dogges held the foxe with theyr trethe to whome he cryed and seyd O godsep and subtyle foxe of thy thowsand wyles that syth late thow coudest doo lete me now see and shewe to me one of them the foxe ansuerd not but was killed of the dogges send the catte was saued ¶ And therfore the wyse ought not to disprayse the symple For suche supposeth to be moche wyse whiche is a kynd and a very foole ¶ The vj fable is of the hegoote and of the wulf THe feble ought not to arme hym ageynst the stronge As recyteth this present fable of a wulf which som tyme raune after a hegoot and the hegoot for to saue hym lept vpon a roche and the wulf besyeged hym ¶ And after whan they had duellid there two or thre dayes the wulf beganne to wexe hongry and the hegoote to haue thurst