noâ—hing is euery way blessed I in very deed would not wish my lot to be changed so that it be tolerable Many hauing gotten a new lot haue wished the old againe That is the nature almost of vs all that we are discontent with our estate 19 Of a theefe and a doggâ— teaching to beware of flatterers A Theefe of a time reaching bread to a dog that hee would holde his peace the dogge answered I know thy treachery Thou giuest mee bread that I should leaue off barking But I hate thy gift because if I shall take thy bread thou wilt carry away all things out of these houses Mor. Beware you lose not a great commodity for a small commodities sake Take heed you trust not euery man For there are men who will not onely speake curteously but also deale kindly onely with purpose to deceiue 20 Of a wolfe and a young sow teaching vs to beware of them who are too officioiu A Young sowe was about to pigge A wolfe promiâ—eth that hee will bee the keeper of her young The sow answered that she had no need of the sâ—ruice of the wolfe If hee would be accounted deuout and if hee desire to doe her a kindenesse that he would get him further off For that the kindeness of the wolfe should consist not in his presence but in his absence Mor. Wee are not to giue credite to all things which euery one saith Many will promise their help not for the loue of you but of themselues seeking their owne coÌ„modity not yours 21 Of the bringing forth of the mountaines teaching to beware of foolish boasting and vaine feares IN time past there was a rumour that the mountains brought forth Men run vnto them stand â—ound about exspecting some monster not without feare At length the mountaines bring forth a mouse creepeth out Then all the beholders did almost die with laughter Mor. Horace toucheth this pretty fable The mountaines are in trauell quoth hee a ridiculous mouse will bee bred But hee noteth boasting For boasters when they profess and make ostentation of great matters scarsly performe small Wherefore those Thrasocs are iustly a matter of â—est scorne This fable doth also forbid vaine feares For the feare of the perill is for the most part greater than the pâ—ll it selfe yea it is oft ridiculous which wee feare 22 Of â— a hound despised of his master snewing the nature of ingratitude and that nothing is loued but that which briâ—eth commodity A Master hastens on his hound which was now waxen olde He calls on him in vaine His feet are slâ—we hee maketh no haste Hee had caught a wilde beast the beast slips away from him being toothlesse His master rates him with strokes and with words The dogge answered that he ought of right to be pardoned that now he was becomne olde but that hee had beene stout when he was young But as I see quoth hee nothing pleaseth without commodity You loued me being young you hate me now becomne olde You loued mee bringing in preies you hate mee now slowe toothlesse But if you were thankful whom you loued rin times past being yong for your commodity sake you would loue now â—eeing olde for the cause of his profitable youth Mor. The dogge said well For 〈◊〉 Ouid saith Nothing iâ— loued but that which bringâ— commodity Beholde take away from a greedy minde the hope of commodity no bodie will be sought for There is no remembrance of a coÌ„modity past and the fauor of a future commodity not great the chiefest thankfulnes is for a present commodity Indeed it iâ— a shame to bee spoken but if wee confesse the truth The common sorte doth approoue friendship by their commodity 23 Of hares and frogs setting forth the folly of timerousnesse and the necessity of courage in perils A Woode roaring on a time with an vnaccustomed whirle-winde the trembling hares beginne to flee away swiftly But as they were fleeing whenas there was a feâ—ne in their way they stood doubtfull inclosed with perills on both sides And which was a prouocation of greater feare they see frogs drowned in the fenne Then one of the hares wiser more eloquent than the rest said why doe we feare without cause wee haue need of a courage wee haue indeed nimblenesse of body but wee want heart This danger of the whirle-winde is not to be fled but to be contemned Mor. There is need of courage in euery matter Vertue without confidence lyeth vnder foote for confidence is the leader and queen of vertue 24 Of a kid and a wolfe teaching children to obey their parents WHenas on a time a goate was to goe to feed shee shut vp her kid at home warning him to open to no body vntill she herselfe returned The wolfe which heard that a farre off after his dam was gone knockes at the doores imitates the goate in voyce commanding the doores to be opened The kid perceiuing the treacheatie I will not open them quoth hee for although the voyce be the goates voyce yet indeed I see a wolfe thorough the chinks Mor. For children to obey their parents is profitable to themselues and it becommeth a young man to harken to an old 25 Of astaâ— and a sheep shewing that extorted promises are not to be kept A Stagge accused a sheep before a wolfe clamoring against her that shee ought him a bushell of wheate But the sheepe was ignorant of the debt Yet neuerthelesse for the presence of the wolfe promiseth that shee would giue it There is a day appointed for payment it comes The stagge puts the sheepe in minde of the debt Shee denyeth it For what she had promised she exculeth it done by feare and for the presence of the wolfe and that an extorted promise was not to be kept Mor. The sentence of the lawe is It is lawfull to repell violence by violence From this little fable a certain new sentence doth arise That it is lawfull to refell deceit by deceit 26 Of a countrie-man and a snake teaching vs to learne wit by that which is past A Certaine countrie-man had bred vppe a snake And being angry of a time smit him with his hatchet He escapeth away not without a wound Afterwards the couÌ„ trie-man comming to pouerty supposed that misfortune
therfore a little with safety is better than abundance with continuall feare and danger IT pleased a city mouse to walke into the countrey A countrie mouse saw him inuiteth him preparation is made they goe to supper The countrie mouse fetcheth forth whatsoeuer hee had laid vp against winter and bringâ—th out all his store that hee might satisfie the dainti nesse of so great a guest Yet notwithstanding the city mouse frowning condemneth the scarsity of the couÌ„trey and then praiseth the plenty of the citie And going back he leadeth the couÌ„trie mouse with him into the city that hee might approoue in deede that which hee had bragged of in words They goe to the banquet which the city mouse had gorgeously prepared As they were at the banquet the noyse of a key is heard in the lock They trembled running fled away The countrey mouse both vnaccustomed and ignorant of the place hardly saued himselfe The seruant departing the citie mouse returneth vnto the table calleth the couÌ„try mouse Hee scarsely at length hauing put away his feare creepeth out And asketh the ciâ—y mouse drinking vnto him whether this perill bee often Hee answered that it was daily that it ought to be contemned Then the countrie mouse daily quoth hee In good sooth your dainties sauour more of gall than of hony I in truth had rather haue my scarsity with security than this abundance with such feare Mor. Riches haue indeed a shew of pleasure but if you looke within them they haue perils and bitternesse There was one Eutrapilus who when hee would hurt his enemies most of all made them rich saying that he would reuenge himselfe of them for that they should receiue with their riches a great packe of cares 10 Of an eagle and a iack-daw warning vs to beware of whom and what counsell we take AN eagle hauing gotten a cockle could not pluck out the fish by force or by art A iackdawe comming vnto her giues her counsell Shee perswadeth her to fly aloft and to hurle downe the cockle from an high vpon the stones For that it would so come to passe that the shell would be broken The iackdawe tarieth vpon the ground that shee may wait for the fall The eagle throweth it downe the shell is broken the fish is snatched away by the iackdawe the eagle being deluded grieueth Mor. Doe not giue credite to euery one and see that you looke into the counsell which you shall receiue of others For many beeing consulted with doe not giue counsell for them who aske counsell of them but for themselues 11 Of a crow and a fox cub aduising vs to take â—eed of beeing ouer greedy of praise A Crowe hauing gotten a prey maketh a noyse in the boughes of a tree A foxe-cubbe seeth him vaunting runneth vnto him The fox quoth she doth very kindly greet the crowe I haue heard very often fame to be a lyer now I finde it in very deed For as bechance I passe by this way spying you in a trâ— I come running vnto you blaming fame For the fame is that you are blacker than pitch and I see you whiter than snow Truâ—ly in my iudgement you surpasse the swans and are faiâ—er than the white iuy If so bee that as you excell in feathers you so excell also in voyce in trueth I will call you the queene of all the birds The crowe beeing allured by this pretty flattery prepares himselfe to sing But the cheese falleth our of his bil as hee was preparing to sing which beeing snatched vp the fox-cub taketh vp a lowd laughter Then at length it shames the miserable crow and â—rketh him of himselfe and the losse of the thing beeing mixed with shame it grieueth him Mor. Some are so greedy of praise that they loue a flatterer with their owne reproach and losse Such silly men are made a prey to parasites If so be that you will auoid boasting you may â—sily escape that pestilent kinde of flatterers If you will bee Thraso you shall neuer want a Gnato 12 Of a lion spent with olde age admonishing vs euer to beware of cruelty or beeing ouer fierce in prosperity A Lion which had made very many his enemies by his fierceness in his youth paid for it in his old age The boar setteth on him with his â—ush the bull with his horne Especially the olde asse desiring to put out vtterly the olde name of sluggishnesse layeth at him stoutly with words and with his heeles Then the lion sighing deeply said these whom I haue hurt in times past hurt mee now againe and worthily But they whoÌ„ I haue sometimes done good vnto doe not now doe mee good again yea they also hurt mee without cause I was a foole that made me many enemies but more foolish that trusted false friends Mor. Be not lift vp in prosperity bee not fierce For if fortune shal change her countenance they whom you haue hurt will auenge themselues And see that you make a difference amongst your friends For there are som that are not your friends but of your table estate Which estate in very deed so soone as euer it shall be changed they also will be changed it shall goe very well with you if they bee not enemies Ouid coÌ„plaineth iustly Lo I sometimes was guarded with no small company of friends Whilst the winde blowed prosperously to my sailes But after that the fierce seas began to swell with the stormy winde I am left in the midst of the waters my ship being all torne 13 Of a dog and an asse shewing the foolishnesse of them who will attempt any thing against nature WHenas of a time a dogge flattered his master and the family both the master and the family cherished the dogge The asse seeing that groaneth very deeply It began to iâ—ke him of his condition hee thinks it vnequally dealt that the dogge should bewelcome to all and bee fed from his masters table and also attaine that by idlenesse and play and contrarily himselfe to carry packs be beaten with a whip r neuer to bee idle and yet to bee odious to all If these things be gotten by flatteries hee determineth to follow that art which is so profitable Therfore at a certaine time his master returning home hee about
his hatchet The woode assenteth vnto him The countrie-man hauing fitted his hatchet beganne to cut downe the trees Then and indeed too late it repented the wood of her facility It grieued her to haue beene the cause of her own destruction Mor. See of whom you deserue well There haue beene many vvho hauing receiued a benefit haue abused it to the destruction of the authour 40 Of the limmes and the belly declaring the necessity of gratifying others THe foote and hand of a time accused the belly for that their gaines were deuoured by it liuing in idlenesse They command that it labour or that it seeke not to bee nourished It beseecheth them once or twice yet notwithstanding the hands deny to relieue it The belly being consumed thorough lacke of foode when all the limmes began to faint then at length the hands would be kinde but that too late For the belly beeing feeble thorough lacke of vse repelled all meate so whilst all the limmes enuy the belly they perish together with the belly Mor. It is euen so in humane society like as in the society of the members One member needs another and a friend needeth a friend Wherefore wee must vse mutuall kindnesses and mutuall workes for neither riches nor the highest dignities can sufficiently defend a man The onely and chiefe stay is the friendship of very many 41 Of an ape and a fox-cub teaching that the rich had rather hurt themselues with too much than to part with ought to the poore AN ape intreates a foxecub that shee would giue her a part of her tayle to couer her buttocks for that that was a burthen to her which would bee of vse and an honour to her selfe The cubbe answereth that she had nothing too much and that shee had rather haue the ground to be swept with her tayle than the buttocks of the ape to bee couered Mor. There are which need there are others who haue too much yet notwithstanding it is not the manner of any of the rich to blesse the needy with their superfluity 42 Of a stag and oxen teaching the difficulty of preseruing our selues in extreame perill A Stagge of a time flying from the hunter betooke himselfe into an oxe-house hee entreates the oxen that he might hide himselfe in the cribbe The oxen tell him that it cannot be safe for that the master and seruants would be present by and by hee saith that he should bee safe so that they betray him not The seruant entereth in seeth him not being hidde in the hay goeth out The stagge began to bee proude and to feare nothing now Then one of the oxen beeing graue both in age and counsell It was an easie thing quoth hee to deceiue him which is a mole but that thou shouldest lie hid from the master who is as quicke sighted as Argus this is the worke and this is the labour By and by after the master entreth in who that hee may correct the negligence of his seruant viewing all things with his eyes and groping in the crib with his hand catcheth holde of the hornes of the stag vnder the hay he cries out vnto his seruants they run vnto him shut in the stag and take him Mor. Hiding places are hard to bee found in aduersity and dangers either for that fortune doth still pursue men in misery as it hath begunne or else because they beeing hindered by feare void of counsel do betray themselues through their lacke of heed 43 Of a lion a foxcub warning vs to beware of faire words and how we trust our enemie to coniecture of wordes by former deeds A Lion was sick the beastâ— visited him the fox-cub alone deferring his dutie The lion sends an embassage vnto her with a letter admonishing her to come Saying that the presence of her onely would be most acceptable to him being sick Neither that there would be any danger wherfore the fox should feare For that first of all the lion was indeed most friendly to the foxe and therfore desired earnestly to haue speech with her Moreouer that he was now sicke and kept his bedde that although hee would doe that which was not intended yet he could not hurt her The fox writeth backe that she wisheth that the lion may recouer his health againe and that she would pray for that of the Godâ— but yet that shee would not come to see him That shee was terrified with the footsteppes which indeed sith they were all towards the den of the lion and none turning back that it was a token that many beasts had entered in but that none had come forth Horace I will returne that which once the wily foxe answered the sick lion because the footsteps terrifie me All of them looking towards thee none back again Mor. Take heed how you trust words vnlesse you take good heed you shall oft haue words only giuen you Wee are to take a coniecture both of words and of deeds and those are to be iudged by these 44 Of a foxe and a weesill teaching vs to be content with a meane estate rather than by prosperity to endanger our selues OF a time a fox beeing slender with long lack of meate crept bechance into a corne chamber through a very straight hole In which when she had bâ—n well fed and afterward trying to goe forth againe her belly beeing ouermuch stretched out hindered her A weesill farre off seeing her struggling at length * aduiseth her that if she desire to goe out that shee returne to the hole being empty at which she entered in when she was empty Mor. You may see very many to be merry and cheerefull in a meane estate void of cares without all troubles of minde But if these shall become rich you shall see them to goe heauily neuer to looke cheerefully but full of care and ouerwhelmed with troubles of minde Horace sets out this fable thus Bechance a gaunt fox had crept thorough a narrowe cranny into a corn chamber and being fedde assayed in vaine to goe forth againe when her belly was full To whom a weesill seeing her a farre off said if thou wilt escape thence Seek to goe againe beeing leane thorough the narrowe cranny which thou wentest in at when thou wast leane 45 Of a horse and a stag teaching vs to take heed that for escaping pouerty we lose