had herd this crye he ranne Incontynent to his wyf sayd to her My wyf that that we haue found must be rendred or yolden ageyne For hit is better to haue a C crownes withoute synne than a thowsand with synne wrongfully And how be hit that the woman wold haue resysted Neuertheles in th ende she was content And thus the poure man restored the thowsand crownes to the Ryche and demaunded of hym his honderd crownes And the ryche full of frawde or falshede sayd to the poure thow rendrest not to me al my gold whiche thow fondest For of hit I lack four honderd pyeces of gold And whanne thow shalt rendre and brynge to me ageyn the sayd four honderd pyeces of gold thow shalt haue of me the C crownes whiche I promysed to the And thenne the poure ansuerd to hym I haue take and brought to the al that I haue found wherfore they fylle in a grete dyfferent or stryf in so moche that the cause came before the kyng to be decyded and pletyd of the whiche the kyng made to be callyd before hym a grete philosopher whiche was procuratour of the poures And whanne the cause was wel dispnted the philosopher moued with pyte called to hym the poure man and to hym seyd in this maner Come hyther my frend by thy feythe hast thow restored alle that good whiche thou fondest in the purse and the poure ansuerd to hym ye syre by my feythe And thenne the philosophre sayd before thassistantes Syth this ryche man is trewe and feythfull and that hit is not to byleue that he shold demaunde more than he ought to doo he oughte to be by leued And as to the other parte men muste byleue that this poure man is of good renomme and knowen for a trewe man wherfore the philosopher sayd to the kynge Syre I gyue by my sentence that thow take these thowsand crownes and that an C thow take of them the whiche honderd thow shalt delyuere to this poure man whiche fond them And after whan he that hath lost them shall come thow shalt restore them to hym And yf it happeth that another persone fynde the thowsand four C crownes they shal be rendryd and taken ageyn to the same good man whiche is here present whiche sayth that he hath lost them the whiche sentence was moche agreable and ple saunt to al the companye And whan the ryche man sawe that he was deceyued he demaunded myseryoorde and grace of the kynge sayenge in this manere Syre this poure man that hath fond my purse trewely he hath restored it to me all that I ouÈt to haue but certaynly I wold haue deceyued hym wherfor I praye the that thou wylt haue pyte and myserycorde on me And thenne the kynge had myseryoorde on hym And the poure man was wel contented and payd and al the malyce of the ryche man was knowen and manyfested ¶ The v fable is of the feythe of thre felawes OFte it happeth that the euyll whiche is procured to other cometh to hym whiche procureth it as hit apperyth by the felawes of the whiche tweyn were burgeys the thyrd a labourer the whiche assembled them to gydre for to go to the holy sepulcre This thre felawes made so grete prouysyon of flour for to make theyr pylgremage in suche wyse that it was al chauffed and consumed excepte only for to make one loef only And whan the Burgeis sawe th ende of they re floure they sayd to gyder yf we fynde not the maner and cautele for to begylâ—â— this vylayn by cause that he is a ryght grete gallaunt we shalle deye for hongre wherfore we must fynde the maner and facyone that we may haue the loof whiche shall be maad of alle oure floor And therfore they concluded to gy der and sayd whanne the loof shalle be putte within the ouen we shalle goo and leye vs for to slepe and he that shalle dreme best the loof shalle be his And by cause that we â—â—he â—â—n subtyle and wyse he shalle not mowe dreme as wel as we shalle wherof the â—â—of shal be ours wherof alle they thre were wel content and al byganne to slepe ¶ But whanne the labourer or vylayne knewe and perceyued alle they re fallace and sawe that his two felawes we re a sleep he wente and drewe the loof oute of the ouen and ete hit ¶ And after he fayned to be a slepe And theÌ„ne one of the burgeys rose vp and sayd to hys felawes I haue dremed a wonder dreme For two Angels haue taken borne me with grete Ioye before the dyuyn mageste And the other burgeys his felawe awoke and sayd Thy dreme is merueyllous and wonderfull but I suppose that the myn is fayrer than thyn is For I haue dremed that two Angelâ—â— drewe me on hard ground for to lede me in to helle And after they dyd awake the vylayne whiche as dredeful sayd who is there and they ansuerd we be thy felawes And he sayd to them how be ye soo soone retourned And they answerd to hym how retorned we departed not yet fro hens And he sayd to them by my feythe I haue dremed that the Angels had led one of yow in to paradys or heuen and the other in to helle Wherfor I supposed that ye shold neuer haue comen ageyne And therfore I aroos me fro sleep and by cause I was hongry I wente and drewe oute of the ouen the leef and ete hit For ofte hit happeth that he whiche supposeth to begyle somme other is hym self begyled ¶ The vj fable is of the labourer and of the nyghtyngale SOmtyme there was a labourer whiche had a gardeyn wel playsaunt and moche delycious in to the whiche he ofte wente for to take his disporte and playsyre And on a day at euen when he was wery and had trauaylled sore for to take his recreacion he entryd in to his gardyn and sette hym self doune vnder a tree where as he herd the songe of a nyghtyngale And for the grete plesyre and Ioye whiche he took therof he sought and at the last fond the meanes for to take the nyghtyngale to th ende that yet gretter Ioye and playsannce he myght haue of hit And whan the nyghtyngale was take he demaunded of the labourer wherfore hast thow take so grete payne for to take me For wel thow knowest that of me thow mayst not haue grete prouffyte And the vylayne ansuerd thus to the nyghtyngale For to here the songe of the I haue taken the And the nyghtyngale ansuerd Certaynly in vayne thou hast payned and laboured For for no good I wylle synge whyle that I am in pryson And thenne the labourer or vylayne ansuerd yf thow syngest not wel I shalle ete the And thenne the nyghtyngale sayd to hym yf thow putte me within a potte for to be soden lytyl mete shalt thou thenne make of my body and yf thow settest me for to be
his how 's And whan he came to fore his how 's he sayd to Esope Abyde here a whyle to fore the gate tyll I goo in for to preyse the to thy lady and maystresse my wyf well sayd Esope And Exantus entryd in to his how 's and sayd to his wyf Dame ye shalle nomore haue cause to be at debute with me For ye haue desyred longe to gete yow a fayre seruaunt wherfore now I haue bought one that is so wyse and so playsaunt that thow neuer sawest none so fayr ¶ And whan two Damoyselles seruauntes herd hym saye so wenynge that it had ben trouth they beganne to stryue to gyder and that one beganne to saye to that other My lord hath sought for me a fayr husbond And that other sayd I haue this nyght dremed that I was maryed And thus as these seruaunts spake his wyf sayde My lord where is the fayr felawe the whiche ye preyse so moche I pray yow that I may see hym And Exantus sa yd he is to fore the yate And his wyf sayde I pray yow brynge hym in And thus as the yong wymmen had debate for hym one of them thought in her self I shalle be the fyrste that shalle see hym And yf I maye he shalle be my husbond And so as she yssued oute of the how 's she sayd where is this fayr yongman that I so moche desyre to see And thenne Esope sayd to her what demaundest thou I am he boo here ¶ And whanne she sawe Esope she was for fere al abasshed and troublod and sayd to hym arte thou the fayr pecok where is thy taylle And Esope sayd to her yf thou haue nede of a taylle thou shalt not faylle of one ¶ And thêne as he wold haue gone in the seruaunt sayd to hym Come not here within For alle they that shalle see the shalle flee away ¶ And after she wente in to her felawes and told what he was And that other whanne she came oute and sawe hym so dysformed sayd beware thou payllard that thou touche me not that the deuylle to 〈◊〉 the And thenne whanne Esope entryd in to the how 's anone he presentyd hym to the lady and whanne the lady sawe hym anone she torned her vysage and sayd to Exantus For a seruaunt thou hast brought me a monstre throwe and caste hym oute ¶ And Exantus sayd to her My wyf thou oughtest now to be glad and Ioyons by cause I haue brought to the so fayr and so Ioyous a seruaunt And she sayd to Exantus I wote wel thou louest me not For thou 〈◊〉 to haue another wyf And vy cause thou durst not telle it me thou hast brought this grete payllart to th ende that I shalle go fro the And I wylle no lenger abyde vy cause thou knowest wel that I may not suffre hym And therfore delyuer to me my dowayr and I shalle anone goo my waye ¶ And thenne Exantus sayd to Esope whan we were on the way thou spackest largely and now thou sayst nought ¶ And Esope sayd to hym by cause thy wyf is so malycious put her in pryson ¶ And Exantus theÌ„ne sayd to hym hold thy pees thou shalt be beten Seest thow not that I loue her more than my self ¶ Thenne sayd Esope I pray the that thow loue her wel And he sayd wherfore not And Esope smote his foote on the pament and cryed with a lowde voys herke ye a grete myracle THis philosopher Exautus is ouercomon of a woman And he torned to his lady and sayd to her Madame I praye the take not myn wordes in euyll thou wol dest haue a seruaunt that were yonge wel fourmed wel arayed stronge and ryche for to serue the at the wyne and bere the to thy bedde that can rubbe and clawe thy feet and noâ—â— suche a foul and so disfourmed a seruaunt as I am For by cause of suche a mygnot thou woldest sette nought by thy hus bond And therfore Erupis that philosopher had his mouthe of gold whiche neuer lyed he sayd that there were many peryls and tormentes in the see and other grete Ryuers And also pouerte is a grete chagre and dyffycyle to be borne And also ther ben other grete daungers and peryls Infynyte but ther is no werse daunger ne perylle than is a fâ—â— woman And therfore Madame I praye the that thou take nomore a fayr seruauÌ„t ne playsaunt for to serue the to th ende that thow dishonoure not thy lord and husbond ¶ And she thenne sayd to Esope Auoyde thou payllart whiche arte not only disformed of â—â—ody but also of thy wordes whanne thou sayst so by me but I shalle wel paye the For I shalle go my waye ¶ Thenne sayd Exantus to Esope ne seest thou not how thou hast angryd my wyf See that thou appease her And Esope said It is not a lyght thyng tappease the yre of a woman but it is a greuous thynge Exanctus sayd to Esope Speke no more For I haue bought the for to make pees and not for to make debate ne warre ¶ This Historye conteyneth how Exantus brought Esope in a gardyn EXantus bad Esope take a panere and folowe hym in to a gardyn exantus said to the gardyner gyue to vs of thyn herbes the gardyner cutte of herbes delyuerd to Esope he took them exantus payd for them whan they wold haue gone the gardyner sayd to Exantus Maystre I pray the that thou tarye here a whyle wel sayd exantus aske what thou wyll And the gardyner demaunded of hym Mayster what is the cause that the herbes that ben not laboured growe faster and sonner than they that ben curyously laboured to this question ansuerd Exantus that that cam by some prouydence by whiche the thynges ben brought forth And whan esope herd this ansuere he began to lawhe And Exantus sayd to hym thou payllard lawhest thou me to skeen mockest me esope ansuerd said I mocke you not but hym that hath lerned the thy philosophye what solucion hast thow made what is that cometh of dyuyne prouydence a child of the kechyn shold haue made as good an answere Exantus sayd thenne Esope make thou thenne a better solucion Esope ansuerd to hym yf thou commaunde I shal glad ly Exantus said to the gardyner it apperteyneth not to hym that hath for to Iuge thynges dyffycyle to Iuge rude thynges 〈◊〉 but I haue a seruaunt here whiche shal enforme gyue the solucion of thy question yf thou wylt praye hym to gyue to the the solucion And the gardyner sayd can this vy layne payllard that is soo gretely dysformed ansuere to thys question henne the gardyner sayd to Esope hast thow know leche of suche thynges And Esope sayd ye more than alle the men of the world For thow demaundest wherfore the herbes that ben not laboured growe sonner than they that ben sowen and laboured And Esope sa d vnderstond wel to myn
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
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
husbond My frend I praye yow that ye wylle go in to our gardyn for to disporte vs a lytel whyle there of the whiche prayer the blynd man was wel content and sayd to his wyf wel my good frend I will wel lete vs go thyder And as they were vnder the pere tree she sayd to her husband My frende I praye the to lete me goo vpon the pere tre And I shalle gader for vs bothe some fayre peres wel my frend sayd the blynd man I wylle wel grauÌ„t therto And when she was vpon the tree the yong man begannn to shalte the 〈◊〉 tree at one syde and the yonge woman atthe other syde And And as the blynd man herd thus hard shake the pere tree and the noyse whiche they made he sayd to them Ha a euylle woman how be it that I see hit not Neuertheles I fele and vnderstande hit well But I praye to the goddes that they vouchesauf to sende me my syght ageyne And as soone as he had made his prayer Iupiter rendâ—â—yd to hym his syght ageyn ¶ And whanne he sawe that pagent vpon the pere tree he sayd to his wyf Ha vnhappy woman I shalle neuer haue no Ioye with the And by cause that the yonge woman was re dy in speche and malycious she ansuerd forthwith to her husbond My frend thow arte wel beholden and bounden to me For by cause and for the â—â—oue the goddes haue restored to the thy syght whâ—â—rof I thanke alle the goddes and goddesses whiche haue enhaunced and herd my prayer For I desyryng moche that thow myght see me cessed neuer day ne nyght to pray them that they wold rendre to the thy syghte wherfore the goddesse Wenus Vysybly shewed her self to me and sayd that yf I wold doo somme plays yr to the sayd yonge man she shold restore to the thy syght And thus I am cause of it And thenne the good man sayd to her My ryght dere wyf good frende I remercye and thanke yow gretely For ryght ye haue and I grete wronge ¶ The xiij fable is of the tayller of a kynge and of his seruaunte MEn ought not to doo some other that whiche he wold not that it were done to hym As it appiereth by thys present fable of a kynge whiche had a tayller whiche was as good a werkman of his craft as ony was at that tyme in alle the world the whiche tayller had with hym many good seruauntes wherof the one was called Medius whi che surmounted alle the other in shapynge or sewynge wherfore the kyng commaunded to his styward that the sayd tayllers shold fare wel and haue of the best metes and of delycious drynke ¶ It happed on a daye that the mayster Styward gaf to them ryght good and delycious mete in the whiche was some hony And by cause that Medius was not atte that feste the styward sayd to the other that they shold kepe for hym somme of their mete And thenne the mayster tayller ansuerd he must none haue For yf he were here he shold not ete of hit For he ete neuer no hony And as they had done Medius came and demaunded of his felawes why kepte you not parte of this mete for me And the styward ansuerd and sayd to hym By cause that thy mayster sayd to me that thow ete neuer no hony no parte of the mete was kepte for the And Medius ansuerd thenne neuer one word but beganne to thynke how he myght paye his mayster And on a day as the styward was allone with Medius he demaunded of Medius yf he knewe no man that coude werke as wel as his mayster And Medius sayd nay and that it was grete dommage of a sekenes that he had And the styward demaunded what sekenes hit was And thenne Medius ansuerd to hym My lord whan he is entryd in to his fransy or wodenes there cometh vpon hym a rage And how shalle I knowe hit sayd the styward Certaynly my lord sayd Medius whan ye shalâ—â— see that he shalle sette at his werke and that he shalle loke here and there and shal smyte vpon his borde with his fyst theÌ„ne may ye knowe that his sekenesse cometh on hym And theÌ„ne withoute ye take and bynde hym and also bete hym wel he shalle doo grete harme and dommage And the styward sayd to hym Care not therof my frend For wel I shalle beware my self of hym And on the mornynge next folowynge the styward came for to see the tayllers And whan Medius whiche knewe wel the cause of his comynge tooke aweye secretely his maysters sheres and hydde them And anone his mayster beganne for to loke after them and sawe and serched al aboute here and there and beganne to smyte his fyste vpon the borde And thenne the mayster styward beganne to loke on his maners and sodenly made hym to be take and holde by his seruaunts And after made hym to be bound and wel 〈◊〉 Thenne was the mayster tayller al abasshed and demauÌ„ded of them My lordes wherfor doo ye bete me soo outrageously what offense haue I done wherfore I must be bound and thus â—â—e bete And thenne the Styward sayd to hym in thys maner by cause that Medius told me that thow art frantyck And yf thow be not wel bete thow sholdest doo grete harme and dommage And theÌ„ne the mayster came to his seruaunt Medius and rygorously sayd to hym Ha a euyl boye fylled whan euylle wordes whan sawest thow me madde And his seruaunt proudâ—â—ly ansuerd to hym My mayster whan dydest thow see that I ete no hony And therfore I threwe to the one â—â—ole for another And the mayster styward and alle his seruaunts beganne thenne to lawhe and sayd al that he hadde wel done ¶ And therfore men ought not to doo to eny other that thynge whiche they wylle not that men dyd to them ¶ Here enden the fables of Alfonce ¶ And folowen other fables of Poge the Florentyn ¶ The fyrst fable is of the subtylyte of the woman for to dâ—â—yue her husbond THe cautele or falshede of the woman is wonder merueyllous as it appiereth by this fable Of a marchauÌ„t whiche was wedded of newe vnto a fayre and yong woman the whiche marchaunt wente ouer the see for to bye selle and for to gete somwhat for to lyue honestly And by cause that he dwellyd to longe his wyf supposed that he was dede And therfore she enamoured her self with another man whiche dyd to her mykle good as for to haue doo make and bylde vp his how 's of newe the whiche had grete nede of reparacion and also he gaf to her all newe Vtensyles to kepe a hous hold And within a long tyme after the departyng of the marchaunt he came ageyne in to his how 's whiche he sawe newe byl ded sawe dysshes pottes pannes and suche other houshold wherfore he demaunded of his wyf how and in what manâ—â— she
ansue re For as a woman that hath ben a wedowe hath had children by her fyrst husbond that is deed And after 〈◊〉 remaryed to another man whiche hath â—â—de children of an other wyf to fore and to the children of her fyrste husbond she is moder And to the other children she is but sâ—â—oder And â—â—s â—â—her is a dyfference bitwene her owne children the chil dren of that other woman For her children she hath nourysshed â—â—sybly and the other steâ—â—children oftymes in angre wrathe Ryght so in this maner â—â—s of the erthe For she is mo der of the herbes that growe withoute to be laboured sowen oâ—â— sâ—â— and is but stepmoder to the herbes that growen by laboure and force And thenne the gardyner sayd to hym thow hast delyuerd me of a grete payne and studye And therfore I praâ—â—e the of the herbes that ben in my gardyne thou take thy playsyr and wyll at al tymes and aâ—â— oft 〈◊〉 thow wylt ¶ This Historye folowynge maketh mencion how Esope bâ—â—re the present ON a tyme whan the scolyers had ben in the audytoyre with Exantus one of the scolers arayed precious metes for the souper And whanne they were at souper they tooke of the most best metes put them in a plater exantus sayd to Esope go bere this to her that loueth me best and Esope thought in hym self now is hit tyme to auenge me of my maystresse whan he cam home in to the halle he said to his maystresse Madame beware that ye ete not of this mete And his lady said I wote wel that thou arte alwey a grete fole And Esope sayd to her Exantus hath not commaunded me to gyue it to the but to her that loueth hym best Thenne esope pre sented the plater to a lytel hound whiche was alwaye in the how 's sayenge to the hound my lord hath sente to the this mete whiche is precious the wyf of Exantus wente in to her chambre began to wepe after Esope returned to exantus he asked how his loue ferd he said ryght wel my lord al the mete that I haue sette to fore her she hath eten it exantus said what said she he said my lord she sayth no thyng but she desyreth sore for to see the After this whan they had wel eten dronken they had many questions to gydre And one asked whan mortal men shal haue most to do And Esope saide that shall be at the day of Iugement whan men shall ryse the sco lers herynge that ansuere beganne to lawhe sayenge this vylayne is ful of ansuers one of the scolers demauÌ„ded maister wherfor is it that whan the sheep goth to his dethe ward he so loweth his mayster saith not a worde whan the swyne is brought to be slayne he ne dothe but crye braye And Esope ansuerd them by cause it is acustomed for to mylke the shep to shere he weneth that he shalle be molken shorn therfor he fereth not to folowe ne come But by cause the swyne is not acustomed to be molken ne to be shorne but to be laten blood lâ—â—se his lyf therfore he is aferd dredeth whan he is taken al the scolors said it was trouthe â—â—o this man is wyse hath sayd wel eche man aroos wente home to his how 's Thus thenne whan Exantus waâ—â— returned in to his how 's he entrid in 〈◊〉 his chambre fonde his wyf sore wenyng And he said to her My swete loue how is it with yow kyssed her she turned the back to hym said late me allone I haue not to do with the I wylle go out of this how 's thou louest better thyn hound than me to whome thou hast sent the precious mete And by cause he knewe nothyng herof he demaunded her what mete hath Esope brought to the she said none at all exantus sayd am I dronke I haue sente to the by Esope a plater ful of precious mete she seyd not to me but to thy hounâ—â— â—â—henne he called Esope demaunded hym to whom he had gyuen the mete that I delyuerd to the he said to her that loueth the most lyke as thou commaundest me And Exantus sayd to his wyf vnderstandest thou not what he sayth I vnderstond hym wel said she but he gaf to me nothyng but gaf it to thyn hound Exantus torned hym to Esope said to hym thow grete hede to whome hast thou borne the mete that I delyuerd to the And Esope ansuerd to her that loueth the best And Exantus demauÌ„ded who is she And Esope callyd the lytel houÌ„d sâ—â—d this is she here for the loue of thy wyf is ryght nought for if she be a lytel angry incoÌ„tynent she reprocheth the sayth vylonye to the that louest her And wylle anone saye I goo fro the and leue thy how 's And yf this hound go fro the calle her ageyne and she cometh to the anone makynge to the chere And therfore thou oughtest to saye to thy wyf and not to her that loueth the best ¶ Thenne ExaÌ„tus sayd to his wyf thou seest that this felawe is a raylar and an Inuentar of wordes And therfore haue pacyence For I shalle fynde cause to auenge the and bete hym And she sayd doo what thow wylt For I shalle neuer more haue to doo with hym and of ter that take thyn hound For I goo my way And without sayenge Fare wel she wente home to her frendes And by 〈◊〉 se Exantus was angry and sorowfull for her departynge Esope sayd to hym Now seest thow wel that thy wyf that is gone loueth the not but this lytel hound abydeth with the And by cause Exantus was al heuy for the departyng of his wyf he dyd do pray her to retourne but the more that she was prayd so moche more was she obstynate For the more a man prayeth a woman the more dothe she the contrarye ¶ This historye maketh mencion how Esope made his lady to come home ageyye ANd by cause Exantus was angry for the departynge of his wyf Esope said to his maister he not angry for without prayenge I shalle anone make her to retoâ—â—ne and come home ageyne And after Esope wente to the market and bought capons and poullayâ—â— And as he bare them passynge by the how 's wherâ—â— his maystresse was It happed that one of the seruauntes of the how 's cam out Esope demaunded hym haue ye sentt no thynge to the weddynge of my lord do what weddyng sayd the seruaunt vnto the weddynge of Exantus sayd Esope For to morne he shalle wedde a newe wyf And anone the seruaunt wente in to the how 's and sâ—â— yd to Exantus wyf Madame ther ben newe tydyuges And what ben they sayd she Exantus shalle haue a newe wyf be maryed And forthwith incontynent she departed came home to the how
ta ke hede to this mete that the dogges or cattes ete it not For I must go in to the kechyn ageyn And she ansuerd to hym go thou where thou wylt for my buttokes haue eyen ¶ And whan Esope had dressyd and made redy al the other metes he brought them in to the halle and found his maystresse whi che slepte stylle vpon her bedde hâ—â—r buttockes toward the table And by cause she had sayd that hâ—r buttokes had eyen Esope wente and took vp her clothes so that men myght see her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And thus he lefte hâ—â—r slepynge ¶ This Historye conteyneth how Exantus found his wyf aâ—â— discouered ANd as Exantus with hym his scolers perceyued sa we his wyf slepynge her buttoks al bare naked by grete vergoyne and shame tourned his face toward Esope and sayd knaue what is this And Esope sayd My lord as I dyd put the mete vpon the table I prayd my lady that she wold kepe it fro the dogges And she ansuerd me that her buttoks had eyen And by cause I founde her slepynge I discouered her so to th ende that her buttoks myght the better see and loke aboute And thenne Exantus said vnto hym Ha shrewed seruaunt ofte thou hast payd me of suche lesynges what thynge werse mayst thou doo to me but to mocke thus my wyf and me also Neuertheles for the loue and sake of these lordes thou shalt not now be bete but the tyme shal come that I shall make the deye of an euylle dethe ¶ And within a whyle after Exantus sayd to Esope kepe and loke well that no fooles ydeots entre in to my how 's but only the oratours and philosophres Esope thenne wente and sette hym besyde the yate And as one of the philesophres came to haue on tryd in to the how 's Esope beganne to groygne and sayd to hym come in thou dogge And the philosopher wenynge that he had mocqued hym al wrothe and angry wente fro thens And thus dyd many other But at the last came there one whiche was subtyle ynough to whome Esope dyd as he hadde done to the other ¶ And he that was wyse ansuerd hym swetely And thenne Esope lete hym goo and entre in to the how 's ¶ And anone he wente ageyne to his lord And sayd to hym No philosopher is come to the yate but this one wherfore Exantus wend that alle the other hadde mocqued with hym and was wrothe and angry ¶ And on the morne as they mette with Exantus they sayd to hym thus Exantus well thou mocquest vs yesterdaye For he that kepte thy yate castyng on vs ashrewed loke dyd calle vs dogges For the whiche thynge Exantus was troubled and more angry and wrothe than to fore he was ¶ And anone he called Esope and sayd to hym goo thow Crokedbacked Counterfaytte and fals Chorle they whome thou sholdest haue receyued with worship and greete honour thou hast vitupered and mocked Esope ansuerd to hym thou hast charged and commaunded me that none I shold lete entre in to thy how 's but wyse and sage philosophres And Exantus sayd to hym Ha fals face and croked ben not these wyse and sage Nay said Esope For whanne I said that they shold entre they entryd not but lyke fooles went ageyne theyr way withoute spekynge of ony word but thys allone ansuerd wysely And therfore I repute and hold hym as sage and they as fooles For a fool is he that lyghtely ta keth ony word in angre And thenne alle the sages and phi losophres that were there approuued the ansuere of Esope trew and good moche they were merueylled of the grete wysedome whiche was in hym ¶ This history maketh mencyon how Esope found a tresour And how Exantus made hym to be put in pryson ANd within a lytel whyle after as exantus was with Esope beholdynge the greete sepulcres or Tombes and the Epytaphes of the auncyent folke ¶ And Esope whiche perceyued an arche whiche was nyghe of a columpne vnto the whiche men wente vp to it by foure steppes he wente thyder and sawe somme lettres withoute consonaunce or vnderstandynge sauf only by poyntes intytuled after the maner and forme of these lettres whiche ben latyn lettres A B D O ct H c H Esope called his mayster and sayd to hym My lord what bytokenen these lettres Exantus loked and be held them wel And a long whyle he thought what they sygnefyed And by cause he coude not vnderstonde the signyficacion of them he sayd to Esope telle me what these lettres signefyen And Esope said to hym My lord yf I shewe the here a fayr tresour what reward shalle I receyue of the Exantus his mayster sayd to hym haue thou a good courage For I shalle gyue to the fredome and lyberte and the half of this tresour And anone Esope wente doune the four steppes and so depe he delued at the foote of the columpne that he found the tresour the whiche anone he gaf to his lord and sayd to hym My lord I praye the that now thou wylt doo to me as thou hast promysed me Exantus sayd to hym or euer thou haue lyberte and fredome thou must lerne and teche me how thow wost and knowest this scyence for more I repute sette by the scyence hold it to gretter merueylle than to haue the tresour Esope said thenne to hym he that fyrst put here this tresour as philosophye denoteth and specyfyeth it by the 〈◊〉 the whiche ben here wreton in latyn Ascende gradus istos qua tuor fodias et inuenies thesaurum auri ¶ And after Exantus told hym Syth thou arte soo subtyl thow shalte not yet haue no lyberte ¶ And Esope sayd to hym Loke wel what thou doost For this Tresoure apperteyneth to the kynge And Exantus asked of hym and sayd How knowest thow hit By the lettres whiche signyfyen to vs that thow gyue and take to the kynge Dyonysyus the Tresour whiche thou hast found ¶ And whanne Exantus herd hym saye that the tresour whiche they had so fouÌ„de was apperteynynge to the kynge Dyonysices he sayde thus to Esope Take the halfe of alle this Tresoure and and lete no man knowe of it ¶ Esope thenne sayd to hym thou gyuest it me nought but he that put and delued it here gyueth it to me And Exantus sayd how knowest thow hit ¶ And Esope ansuerd to hym For the lettâ—â— folowynge shewen and signyfyen hit that is to wete E D Q I T A the whiche lettres signefyen this latyn Euntes dimitte quem inuenistis thesaurum auri And thenne sayd Exantus goo we home and there shalle we departe it ¶ This Historye maketh mency on how Esope was delyuerd oute of pryson And how Exantus promysed to hym that he shold gyue hym fredome and lyberte ANd as Exantus was tourned ageyne in to his howe fro the place where as esope had fouÌ„d the tresour in the tresour before seid he merueiled of
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
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
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
Mercury sâ—â—ynge the malyce of the vylayne gaf to hym ueyther the same ne none other and lefte hym wepynge For god whiche is good and Iust rewarded the good and trewe in this woâ—â— or eche other after his deserte and punyssheth the euylle and Iniuste ¶ The xiiij fable is of a yonge theef and of his moder HE whiche is not chastysed at the begynnynge is â—â—uyll and peruers at the ende As hit appiereth by this fable of a yonge child whiche of his yongthe beganâ—â—e to stele and to be a theef And the theftys whiche he maad he broughte to his moder and the moder toke them gladly in no wyse she chastysed hym And after that he had done ma ny theftys he was taken and condempned to be hanged And as men ledde hym to the Iustyce his moder folowed hym and wepte sore And thenne the child prayd to the Iustyce that he myght saye one word to his moder And as he approuched to her made semblaunt to telle her somme wordes at her ere with his treth he bote of her nose wherof the Iustyce blamed hym And he ansuerd in this manere My lordes ye haue no cause to blame me therfore For my moder is cause of my deth For yf she had wel chastysed me I had not come to this sha me and vergoyne For who loueth wel wel he chastyseth And therfore chastyse wel youre children to th ende that ye falle not in to suche a caas ¶ The xv fable is of the flee and of the man HE that 〈◊〉 the euyl how be hit that the euylle be not gre te men ought not to leue hym vnpunysshed As it ap pyereth by this fable Of a man whiche took a flee whi che bote hym to whome the man sayd in this manere Fle why bytest thow me and letest me not slepe And the flee ansuerd It is my kynd to doo soo wherfore I praye the that thow wyll not put me to dethe And the man beganne to lawhe sayd to the flee how be it that thow mayst not hurte me sore Nâ—â—uertheles to the behoueth not to prycke me wherfore thow shalt deye For men ought not to leue none euyll vnpunysshed how be hit that hit be not grete 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ The xvj fable is of the husbond and of his two wyues NOo thynge is werse to the man than the woman As it appereth by this fable of a man of a meane age whiche tooke two wyues that is to wete an old one yong whiche were both dwellyng in his how 's by cau se that the old desyred to haue his loue she plucked the blak herys fro his hede and his berde by cause he shold the more be lyke to her And the yonge woman at the other syde plucked end drewe oute alle the whyte herys to the ende that he shold seme the yonger more gay and fayrer in her syghte And thus the good man abode withoute ony here on his hede And therfore hit is grete folye to theauncyent to wedde them self ageyne For to them is better to be vnwedded than to be euer in trouble with an euyl wyf for the tyme in whiche they shold reste them they put it to payne and to grete labour ¶ The xvij fable is of the labourer and of his children HE that laboureth and werketh contynuelly maye not faylle to haue plente of goodes as it appiereth by this present fable Of a good man labourer whiche all his lyf had laboured and wrought and was ryche And whan he shold deye he sayd to his children My children I muste now deye And my tresour I haue lefte in my vyne And after that the good man was dede his children whiche supposed that his tresour had ben in the vyne dyd nothyng al day but delued hit it bare more fruyte than dyd before ¶ For who trauaylleth wel he hath euer brede ynough for to ete And he that werketh not dyeth for honger ¶ Here fynysshen the Fables of Esope ¶ And after foloweth the table of the fables of Auyan ¶ The fyrst fable is of the wulf and of the old woman ¶ The second fable is of the Tortose and of the byrdes ¶ The thyrd fable is of the two creuyses ¶ The fourth fable is of the asse of the skynne of the lyon ¶ The v fable is of the frogges and of the Foxe ¶ The vij fable is of the camel and of Iupiter ¶ The eyght fable is of the two felawes ¶ The ix fable is of the two postes ¶ The x fable is of the bole of the lyon and of the gote ¶ The xj fable is of the Ape and of his child ¶ The xij fable is of the crane and of the pecost ¶ The xiij fable is of the hunter and of the tygre ¶ The xiiij fable is of the four oxen ¶ The xv fable is of the busshe and of the tree ¶ The xvj Fable is of the fyssher and of the lytyl fysshe ¶ The xvij fable is of phebus of the Auarycious and of the enuyous ¶ The xviij fable is of the theef of the child whiche wepte ¶ The xix fable is of the lyon and of the gote ¶ The xx fable is of the crowe whiche had thurst ¶ The xxj fable is of a vylayne and of a yonge bole ¶ The xxij fable is of a pylgrym and of the satyre ¶ The xxiij fable is of an oxe and of the ratte ¶ The xxiiij fable is of the ghees and of her lord ¶ The xxv fable maketh mencion of the ape and of his two children ¶ The xxvi fable is of the wynd and of the potte ¶ The xxvij fable is of the wulf and of the cheuerel or lytil goot ¶ The fyrst fable is of the old woman and of the wulf MEn ought not to byleue on al maner spyrytes As reherceth this fable of an old woman which said to her child bicause that it wept certeynly if thou wepst ony more I shal make the to be ete of the wulf the wulf heryng this old woman abode styll to fore the yate supposed to haue eten the old womans child by cause that the wulf had soo longe taryed there that he was hongry he retorned and went ageyne in to the wood And the shewulf demaunded of hym why hast thow not brought to me some mete And the wulf ansuerd by cause that the old woman hath begyled me the whiche had promysed to me to gyue to me her child for to haue ete hym And at the laste I hadde hit not And therfore men ought in no wyse to truste the woman And he is wel a fole that setteth his hope and truste in a woman And therfore truste them not and thow shalt doo as the sage and wyse ¶ The second fable is of the tortose and of the other byrdes HE that enhaunceth hym self more than he oughte to do To hym oughte not to come noo good As hit appiereth by this present fable
he was soo troubled and heuy And after that he had told to her the cause why thold woman sayd to hym make good chere For yf hit be so as thow sayst I shalle counceylle the how thow shalt recouere thy syluer And thenne he demauÌ„ded of her how hit myght be done And she sayd to hym bâ—â—yng hyther to me a man of thy countrey whome thow trustest and doo to be made four fayr chestes and fylle them alle with stones and by thy felawes thow shalt make them to be borne in to his how 's and to hym they shalle say that the marchauÌ„ts of spayne send them to hym for to be kepte surely And whan the chestes shalte be within his how 's thow shalt go and demaÌ„ de of hym thy syluer whiche thynge he dyd And as the sayd chestes were borne within his how 's the spaynard wente with them that bare them the whiche straungers sayd to the old maÌ„ My lord these four chestes ben al ful of gold of syluer and oâ—â— precious stones whiche we brynge to yow as to the trewest man and feythful that we knowe for to stepe them surely by cause that we fere and doubte the theues whiche ben within the desert After the whiche wordes sayd came he whiche the old woman had counceylled and demaunded of hym his syluer And by cause that the old man doubted that the spaynard wold haue dispreysed hym he sayd thus to hym Thow arte welcome I merueylled how thow taryest soo longe for to come And Incontynent he restored to hym his syluer And thus by the counceylle of the woman whiche he gretely thanked he had his good ageyn and retourned ageyne in to his countrey ¶ The thyrd fable speketh of a subtyle Inuencion of a sentence gyuen vpon a derke and obscure cause HIt befelle somtyme that a good man labourer wente fro lyf to deth the whiche labourer lefte nothyng to his sone but only a how 's the whiche sone lyued by the 〈◊〉 of his handes pourely This yong man had a neyghâ—â—ur whiche was moche ryche whiche demauÌ„ded of the sayd yong man yf he wold selle his how 's but he wold not selle it by cau se that it was come to hym by enherytauÌ„ce and by patrymony wherfore the ryche man his neyÈbour connersyd was fuloft with hym for to deceyue hym but the yong man fled his company as moche as he myght whan the ryche man perceyued that the yong man fled from hym he bithouÈt hym self of a gre te deceâ—â—on falshede demauÌ„ded of the poure yong man that he wold hyre to hym a parte of his how 's for to delue make a celer the whiche he shold hold of hym payeng to hym yerely rent the poure yonge man hyred it to hym whan the celer was made the ryche man did do bryng therin x toÌ„nes of oylle of the which the v were ful of oylle the other v were but half ful dyd do make a grete pytte in the erthe dyd do put the fyue tonnes whiche were half ful in hit the other fyue aboâ—â—e them And thenne he shytte the dore of the celer and delyuerd the keye to the poure yonge man and prayd hym frawdelently to kepe wel his oylle but the poure yonge man knewe not the malyce and falshede of his neyghboure wherfore he was contente to kepe the keye And within a why le after as the oylle became dere the ryche man came to the pou re and asked of hym his good and the yong man tooke to hym the keye this Ryche man thenne sold his oylle to the marchauntes and warauntysed eche tonne al ful And when the marchauntes mesured theyr oylle they fond but fyue of the x tonnes full wherof the ryche man demaunded of the pou re yonge man resticucion and for to haue his how 's he maade hym to come before the Iuge ¶ And whanne the poure man was before the Iuge he demaunded terme and space for to answere For hym thought and semed that he had kepte wel his oylle and the Iuge gaf and grauÌ„ted to hym day of aduys theÌ„ne he went to a philosophre whiche was procuratour of the poure peple prayd hym for charyte that he wold gyue to hym good couÌ„ceylle at his grete nede he reherced and told to hym al his cause swore vpon the holy euangely that he to ke none of the ryche mans oylle And thenne the philosopher ansuerd to hym in this manere My sone haue no fere for the trouthe may not faylle And the next morowe after the philo sopher wente with the poure man in to Iugement the whiche Philosopher was constitued by the kynge for to gyue the Iust sentence of hit And after that the cause had be wel deffended and pleted of bothe partyes the philosophre sayd the same ryche man is of good renommee and I suppose not that he demaunded more than he shold haue And also I byleue not that this poure may be maculed ne gylty of the blame which he putteth on hym but notwithstondynge for to knowe the trouthe of hit I ordeyne and gyue sentence that the oylle pu re and clene of the v tonnes whiche are ful to be mesured and also the lye therof And after that the pure and clene oylle of the fyue tonnes whiche ben but half ful to be also mesured with the lye therof and that men loke yf the lye of the fyue Tonnes half ful is egal and lyke to the lye of the fyue Tonnes whiche ben fulle And yf hit be not soo that as momoche lye be fond within the vessels whiche ben but half full as in the other he shalle thenne be suffysauntly ryghtwysly proued that none oyle hath be taken oute of them but yf ther be fond as moche lye in the one as in the other the poure shall be condempned and of this sentence the poure was contente the trouthe was knowen wherfore the poure man went quyte and the ryche was condempned For his grete malyce and falsheed was knowen and manyfested For there is no synne or mysdede done but that ones it shalle be knowen and ma nyfested ¶ The fourthe fable maketh mencion of the sentence gyuen vp the pecuny or money whiche was found A Ryche man somtyme wente by a Cyte And as he wal ked fro one syde to that other fylle fro hym a grete purse wherin were a thowsand crownes the whiche a poure man fond and toke them for to kepe to his wyf wherof she was ful gladde and sayd thanked be god of al the goodes whiche he sendeth to vs yf he sendeth now this grete somme kepe we hit wel And on the next mâ—â—ne after folowyng the Ryche man made to be cryed thurgh the Cyte that who someuer had fond a thowsand Crownes in a purse he shold restitue and brynge them to hym ageyne and that he shold haue for his reward an honderd of them And after that the poure man
Vexe ne lette in no wyse ony other be it neuer soo lytyll a beest For the whiche good tydynges I praye the that thow wylt come doune to th ende that we may goo and synge Te deum laudamus for Ioye And the Cok whiche knewe wel the fallaces or falshede of the foxe ansuerd to hym in this manere Certaynly my broder and my good Frend thow hast brought to me ryght good tydynges wherof more than C tymes I shalle thanke the And sayenge these wordes the Cock lyfte vp his neck and his feet and loked ferre fro hym And the foxe sayd to hym what godsep where aboute lokest thow And the Cok ansuerd to hym Certaynly my broder I see two dogges strongly and lyghtly rennynge hytherward with open mouthes whiche as I suppose come for to brynge to vs the tydynges whiche thou hast told to vs And thenne the Foxe whiche shoke for fere of the two dogges sayd to the Cock god be with yow my frend It is tyme that I departe fro hens or these two dogges come â—â—rer And sayenge these wordes toke his waye ranne as fast as he myght And thenne the cock demaunded and cryed after hym godsep why rennest thow thus yf the sayd pacâ—â— is accorded thow oughtest not to doubte no thynge Ha a godsep sayd the Foxe from ferre I doubte that these two dogges haue not herd the decreâ—â— of the pees And thus whanne a begyler is begyled he receyued the sallary or payement whiche he ought to haue wherfore lete euery man kepe hym self ther fro POgius reherceth that there were two wymmen in Rome whiche he knewe of dyuerse age and forme which came to a Curteyzan by cause to haue and wynne som what wyth theyr bodyes whome he receyued and happed that be knewe the fayrest of bothe twyes and that other one 's and soo departed And afterward whanne they shold departe he gaf to them a pyece of lynen clothe not decernynge how moche eche of them shold haue to her parte and porcion And in the partynge of the sayd clothe fylle bitwene the wymmen a stryf by cause one of them demaunded two partes after thexygence of her werke And that other the half after they re persones eche of them shewynge dyuersly theyr resons that one sayeng that she hadde suffred hym twyes to doo his pleasyr and that other pretended that she was redy and in her was no defawte And soo fro wordes they came to strokes and cratchyng with naylys and drawynge theyr here in so moche that theyr neygh bours came to this batayll for to departe them And also their owne and propre husbondes not knowynge the cause of theyr stryf and debate eche of them defendynge his wyues cause And fro the fyghtynge of the wymmen hit aroos and came to theyr husbondes with buffettis and castynge of stones soo longe that men ranne bytwene them And after the customme of Rome bothe the husbondes were brought to pryson berynge enemyte eche to other knowe no thynge the cause wherfore The sayd cloth is sette in the handes of the wymen secretely yet not departed but is secretely argued amonge the wymmen in what wyse that this mater shal be deuyded And I demaunde of doctours what the lawe is of it ¶ He sayth also that a Marchaunt of Florence bonght an hors of a man and made his couenaunt with the sellar for xxv du cattes for to paye forthwith in hande xv ducattes And as for the rest he shold abyde dettour and owe And the sellar was content and therupon delyuerd the hors and receyued the xv ducattes After this a certayne terme the sellar demaunded of the byar the resydue And he denyed the payment had hym hold his couenaunt For the byer sayd we were accorded that I shold be thy debtour And yf I shold satysfye paye the I shold nomore be thy dettour et 〈◊〉 and soo he abode dettour HE telleth also that ther was a carryk of Iene hyred in to frauÌ„ce for to make warre ayenst englissħmen of the whiche â—â—arrik the patrone bare in his sheld painted an oxe hede whiche a noble man of frauÌ„ce beheld sawe sayd he wold auenge hym on hym that bare tho armes wherupon aroos an altercacion so moche that the frensshman prouoked the Iaâ—â—eye to bataylle and fyght therfore The Ianuey acceptyd the prouocacion came at the day assigned in to the felde withoute ony araye or habyllements of warre And that other frensshe man came in moche noble apparayll in to the feld that was ordeyned theÌ„ne the patrone of the carrik said wher fore iâ—â— it that we two shold this day fyght make bataill fore I saye said that other that thyn armes ben myn bylonged to me to fore that thow haddest them Thenne the Ianuey said It is no nede to make ony bataylle therfore For the armes that I bere is not the hede of an oxe but it is the hede of a cowe whiche thynge so spoken the noble Frensshe man was abasshed and so departed half mocqued ALso he saith that ther was a phisycyen dwellyng in a Cyte whiche was a grete a connyng man in that sey enâ—â— he had a seruauÌ„t a yong man whiche made pyl les after a certayne forme that he shewed to hym whan this yong man had dwellid long with hym coude parfÈtly make the pyllys he departed fro his mayster and went in to strauÌ„ ge countre where as he was knowen and lete men there to Vn derstonde that he was a connynge phisycyen and coude gyue medycynes for al maner maladyes ond sekenesses and mynystred alwey his pylles to euery man that came to hym for ony remedy And hit was soo that a poure man of that place where he was came to hym and complayned how he had loste his asse and prayd hym to gyue to hym a medycyne for to fynde his asse ageyne And he gaf to hym the sayd pyllys â—â—dde hym to receyue and take them And he shold fynde ħis asse And this poure man dyd soo and after wente in to the feldes and pastures to seke and loke after his asse and soo doynge the pyllys wronght soo in his bely that he must nedes go purge hym and went amonge the reed and there easyd hym And anone there he fonde his asse wherof he beyng moche Ioyeful ranne in to the toune and told and proclamed that by the medecyn that he had receyued of the phisycyen he had found his asse whiche thynge knowen alle the symple peple reputed hym for a moche connynge man whiche coude no thynge doo but make pyllys And thus many fooles are ofte taken for wyse and connynge Foâ—â— he was reputed to hele all maner sekenesses and also to fynde asses THere was in a certayne towne a wydower wowed a wydowe for to haue and wedde her to his wyf and at the last they were agreed and sured to gyder ¶ And whan a yonge woman beynge seruaunt with the wydowe herd therof she came to her maystresse and sayd to her Allas maystresse what haue ye doo why sayd she I haue herd say sayd the mayde that ye be assured and shalle wedde suche a man And what thenne sayd the wydowe Allas sayd the mayde I am sory foryow by cause I haue herd saye that he is a peryllous man For he laye so ofte and knewe so moch his other wyf that she deyde therof And I am sory therof that yf ye shold falle in lyke caas to whome the wydowe answerd and sayd Forsothe I wold be dede For ther is but sorowe and care in this world This was a curteys excuse of a wydowe NOw thenne I wylle fynysshe alle these fables wyth this tale that foloweth whiche a worsħipful preest and a parsone told me late he sayd that there were duellynge in Oxenford two prestes bothe maystres of arte of who me that one was quyck and coude putte hym self forth And that other was a good symple preest And soo it happed that the mayster that was perte and quyck was anone promoted to a benefyce or tweyne and after to prebendys and for to be a Dene of a grete prynces chappel supposynge and wenynge that his felaw the symple preest shold neuer haue be promoted but be alwey an Annuel or at the most a parysshe preest So after longe tyme that this worshipful man this dene came rydynge in to a good paryssh with a x or xij horses lyke a prelate and came in to the chirche of the sayd parysshe and fond there this good symple man somtyme his felawe whiche caâ—â— and welcomed hym lowely And that other badde hym good morowe mayster Iohan and toke hym sleyghtly by the hand and axyd hym where he dwellyd And the good man sayd in this paryssh how sayd he are ye here a sowle preest or a paryssh preste nay syr said he for lack of a better though I be not able ne worthy I am parson and curate of this parysshe and thenne that other aualed his bonet and said mayster parson I praye yow to be not displeasyd I had supposed ye had not â—â—e bene fyeed But mayster sayd he I pray yow what is this benefyce worth to yow a yere Forsothe sayd the good symple man I wote neuer for I make neuer accomptes therof how wel I haue had hit four or fyue yere And knowe ye not sa id he what it is worth it shold seme a good benefyce No forsothe sayd he but I wote wel what it shalle be worth to me why sayd he what shalle hit be worth Forsothe sayd he yf I doo my trewe dylygeÌ„ce in the cure of my paryssheÌ„s in prechyng and techynge and doo my parte longynge to my cure I shalle haue heuen therfore And yf they re sowles ben lost or ony of them by my defawte I shall be punysshed therfore And herof am I sure And with that word the ryche dene was abussded And thought he shold be the better and take more hede to his â—â—res and benefyces than he had done This was a good answere of a good preest and an honest And here with I fynysshe this book translated emprynted by me William Caxton at wesemynstre in thabbey And fynysshed the xxvj daye of Marche the yere of oure lord M CCCC lxxxiiij And the fyrst yere of the regne of kyng Rychard the thyrdde