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
fonde a Fox And the knyght sayd to his archer In good soothe I see a grete Foxe And the Archer beganne to saye to his lord My lord merueylle ye therof I haue ben in a Regyon where as the Foxes ben as grete as an oxe And the knyght ansuerd In good soothe theyr skynnes were good for to make mantels with yf skynners myght haue them And as they were rydynge they felle in many wordes and deuyses And thenne by cause the knyght perceyued wel the lesynge of his Archer he beganne to make prayers and orysons to the goddes for to make his Archer aferd And sayd in this manere O Iupiter god almyghty ¶ I praye the that this daye thow wylt kepe vs fro all lesynges so that we may sauf passe thys flood and this grete Ryuer whiche is here before vs and that we may surely come to oure how 's And whanne the Archer herd the prayer and oryson of his lord he was moche abasshed ¶ And thenne the Archer demannded of hym My lord wher fore prayest thow now soo deuoutely And the knyÈt ansuerd wost thou not wel that hit is wel knowen and manyfested that we soone must passe a ryght grete Ryuer And that he who on al this daye shalle haue made ony lesynge yf he entre in hit he shalle neuer come oute of hit ageyne of the whiche wordes the Archer was moche doubtous and dredeful And as they had ryden a lytyl waye they fond a lytyl Ryuer wherfore the Archer demaunded of his lord Is this the flood whiche we must passe Nay sayd the knyght For hit is wel gretter O my lord I saye by cause that the foxe whiche ye sa we may wel haue swymmed and passed ouer this lytyl wa ter And the lord sayd I care not therfore ¶ And after that they had ryden a lytyl ferther they fond another lytyll Ryuer And the Archer demaunded of hym Is this the flood that ye spake of to me Nay sayd he For hit is gretter more brode And the Archer sayd ageyne to hym My lord I say so by cause that the Foxe of the whiche I spake of to daye was not gretter than a calf ¶ And theÌ„ne the knyght herkyng the dyssymylacion of his archer answerd not And soo they rode forthe so longe that they fond yet another Ryuer And thenne the Archer demaunded of his lord Is this the same hit Nay sayd the knyght but soone we shalle come ther to O my lord I saye so by cause that the Foxe wherof I spak to yow this daye was not gretter than a sheep ¶ And when they had ryden vnto euen tyme they fond a grete Ryuer and of a grete vrede ¶ And whan tharcher sawe hit he began al to shake for fere and demaunded of his lord My lord is this the Ryuer ye sayd the knyght O my lord I ensure you on my feythe that the Foxe of the whiche I spake to daye was not gretter than the Foxe whiche we sawe to day wherfore I knowlege and confesse to yow my synne ¶ And thenne the knyght beganne to smyle and sayd to his Archer in this manere Also this Ryuer is no wore than the other whiche we sa we to fore and haue passed thurgh them And thenne the archer had grete vergoyne and was shameful by cause that he myght no more couere his lesynge And therfore hit is fayre and good for to saye euer the trouthe and to be trewe bothe in speche and in dede For a lyer is euer begyled and his lesynge is knowen and manyfested on hym to his grete shame dommage ¶ Here after folowen somme Fables of Esope after the newe translacion the whiche Fables ben not founden ne wreton in the bookes of the philosopher Romulus ¶ The Fyrst fable is of the Egle and of the rauen ¶ The second Fable is of the egle and of the wesell ¶ The thyrdde fable is of the Foxe and of the gote ¶ The fourthe Fable is of the katte and of the chyken ¶ The v Fable is of the Foxe and of the busshe ¶ The syxthe Fable is of the man of the god of the wodes ¶ The vij Fable is of the fyssher ¶ The eyghte Fable is of the catte and of the rat ¶ The ix Fable is of the labourer and of the large foote ¶ The x fable is of the child that kepte the sheep ¶ The xj fable is of the Ante and of the columbe ¶ The xij fable is of the Bee and of Iupiter ¶ The xiij fable is of a carpenter ¶ The xiiij fable is of a yonge theef and of his moder ¶ The xv fable is of the man and of the flee ¶ The xvj fable is of the husbond and of his two wyues ¶ The xvij fable is of the labourer and of his children ¶ The fyrst fable is of the Egle and of the rauen NOne ought to take on hym self to doo a thynge whiche is peryllous withoute he fele hym self strong ynouÈ to doo hit As reherceth this Fable Of an Egle whiche fleyncte took a lambe wherof the Rauen hadde grete enuye wherfor vpon another tyme as the sayd rauen sawe a grete herd of sheep by his grete enuy pryde by his grete oultrage descended on them and by suche fachon and manere smote a wether that his clowes abode to the flyes of hit In soo moche that he coude not flee awey The sheepherd thenne came and brake and toke his wynges from hym And after bare hym to his children to playe them with And demaunded of hym what byrd he was And the Rauen ausuerd to hym I supposed to haue ben an Egle And by my ouerwenynge I wende to haue take a lambe as the egle dyd but now I kno we wel that I am a Rauen wherfore the feble ought not in no wyse to compare hym self to the stronge For somtyme when he supposeth to doo more than he may he falleth in to grete dishonour as hit appiereth by this present Fable Of a Rauen whiche supposed to haue ben as stronge as the egle ¶ The second Fable is of the egle and of the wesel NOne for what so euer myght that he haue ought not to dispreyse the other As hit appiereth by this present fable of an Egle whiche chaced somtyme after an hare And by cause that the hare myght not resyste ne withstande a geynst the egle he demaunded ayde and helpe of the wesel the whiche tooke hym in her kepynge And by cause that the egle sawe the wesel soo lytyl he dispreysed her and before her toke the hare wherof the wesel was wrothe And therfore the wesell wente and beheld the Egles nest whiche was vpon a hyghe tree And whanne she sawe hit the lytell wesell clymmed vpon a tree and took and cast doune to the ground the yong egles wherfore they deyde And for this cause was the Egle moche wrothe and angry and after wente to the god Iupiter And prayd hym that he wold fynde
not to breke his feythe ageynste his good Frend ne to leue his felauship as hit appiereth by this fable of four oxen whiche to gyder were in a fair medowe ¶ And by cause that euer they were and kept them to gyder none other beest durste not assaylle them and also the lyon dradde them moche the whiche lyon on a daye came to them And by his deceyuable wordes thoughte for to begyle them to rauysshe take them the better maade them to be separed eche one fro other ¶ And whanne they were 〈◊〉 the lyon wente and tooke one of them And whan â—â—he lyon wold haue strangled hym the oxe sayd to hym godseâ—â— He is a foole whiche byleueth fals and deceyuable wordes And leueth the felawship of his good frende For yf we had â—â—en euer to gyder thow haddest not taken me And therfore he whiche is and standeth wel sure ought to kepe hym soo that he fulle not For he whiche is wel meue not hym self ¶ The xv fable is of the busshe and of the aubyer trâ—â—e NOne for his beaute ought not to dispreyse some other For somtyme suche one is fayre that soone wexeth lothely and fowle and to hyghe falleth vnto lowe as it apperyth by this fable Of a fayr tree whiche mocqued and scorned a lytyl busshe and sayd ¶ Seest thow not my fayre fourme and my fayre fygure And that of me men and byldeth fayre edefyces as palays and castellis galeyes other shippes for to saylle on the see And as he auaunced preysed hym self thus came there a labourer with his axe for to hewe and smyte hym to the ground And as the labourer smote vpon the fayr tree the busshe sayd Certaynly my broder yf now thow were as lytel as I am men shold not hewe ne smyte the doune to the erthe And therfore none oughte to reioysshe hym self of his worship For suche is now in grete honour and worship that herafter shalle falle in to grete vytupere shame and dishonour ¶ The xvj fable is of the fyssher and of the lytyl fysshe MEn ought not to leue that thynge whiche is sure cer tayne for hope to haue the vncertayn as to vs reherceth this fable of a fyssher whiche with his lyne toke a lytyll fysshe whiche sayd to hym My frend I pray the doo to me none euylle ne putte me not to dethe For now I am nought for to be eten but whanne I shalle be grete yf thow come ageyne hyther of me shalt thow mowe haue grete auaylle For thenne I shalle goo with the a good whyle And the Fyssher sayd to the fysshe Syn I hold the now thou shalt not scape fro me For grete foly hit were to me for to seke the here another tyme For men ought not to lete goo that of what they be sure of hopynge to haue afterward that that they haue not and whiche is vncertayne ¶ The xvij fable is of Phebus of the Auarycious and of the enuyous NOne oughte to doo harme 〈◊〉 dommage to somme other for to receyue or doo his owne dommage As hit appereth by this fable Of Iupiter whiche sent phebus in to therâ—â—he for to haue al the knowlege of the thouÈt of meâ—◠¶ This phebus thenne mette with two men of whiche the one was moche enuyous And the other ryght couetous Phebus demaunded of them what theyr thought was We thynke said they to demaunde and aske of the grete yeftes To the which Phebus ansuerd Now demaunde what ye wylle For al that that ye shalle demaunde of me I shalle graunte hit And of that that the fyrst of yow shalle aske the second shal haue the dowble parte or as moche more ageyne And thenne the auarycious sayd I wyl that my felawe aske what he wyll fyrst wherof the enuyous was wel content whiche sayd to Pâ—â—ebus Fayre syre I praye the that I maye lese one of myn eyen to th ende that my felawe may lese al bothe his eyen wherfor phebus beganne to lawhe whiche departed and wente ageyne vn to Iupiter and told hym the grete malyce of the enuyous whiche was Ioyeful and glad of the harme and dommage of an other how he was wel content to suffre payne for to haue a dommaged somme other The xviij fable is of the theef and of the child whiche wepte HE is a fole that putteth his good in Ieopardy to lese it for to gete haue som others good as it appereth by this fable of a theef whiche fond a child wepyuge be syde a welle of whom the theef vyde aske why he wepte the child answerd to hym I wepe by cause that I haue lete falle within this welle a boket of gold thenne the theef toke of his clothes sette them on the ground and wente doune in to the welle And as be was doune the child toke his gowne lefte hym within the welle And thus for couetyse to wynne he lost his gowne For suche supposen to wynne somtyme whiche losen And therfore none ought to wysshe that that he hath not to th ende that he leseth not that that he hath For of the thynge wrongfully and euylle goten the thyrd heyre shalle neuer be possessour of hit ¶ The xix fable is of the lyon and of the gote HE is wyse that can kepe hym self from the wyly and fals as hit appereth by this fable Of a lyon whiche ones mette with a gote whiche was vpon a montayne And whanne the lyon sawe her he sayd to her in this manere for to gyue to her occacion to come doune fro the hylle to th ende that he myght ete her My suster why comest thow not hyder on this fayre and grene medowe for to ete of these fayre herbes or grasse And the gote ansuerd to hym How be hit that thow sayst trouthe Neuertheles thow sayst it not neyther for my we le ne for my prouffyte but thow sayst hit by cause that thow woldest fayne ete and deuoure me but I truste not in thy fayre speche For many tymes I haue herd saye of my grauÌ„t moder he that is wel meue not hym self For he whiche is in a place wel sure is wel a fole to go fro hit and to putte hym self in grete daunger and perylle ¶ The xx fable was of the crowe whiche was a thurst BEtter is crafte and subtylyte than force As reherceth to vs this fable Of a crowe whiche vpon a day came for to drynke oute of a boket and by cause that she myght not reche to the water she dyd fyll the boket ful of smal stones in soo moche that the water came vpward wherof she dranke thenne at her wylle and playsyre And therfore hit appiereth wel that wytte or sapyence is a moche fayr vertue For by sapyence or wytte thow shalt mowe resyste to all faultes ¶ The xxj fable is of the vylayne and of the yonge bole HE whiche is of euylle and shrewd kynde with grete payne
I ben now of one offyce And the myserable and vnhappy hors was abusshed And for shame loked dounward ansuerd neuer one word for alle his felycite was thenne torned in to aduersyte ¶ And therfore they that ben in felycite oughte not to dysprayse them whiche ben in aduersyte For many one I knewe ryche and myghty whiche are now poure ¶ The iiij fable maketh mencyon of the beestes and of the birdes NOne maye doo no good to two bordes at ones whiche ben coÌ„trary one to that other as sayth to vs this fable that the beestes made grete werre ageynst the byrdes fought euery day to gyder And the backe feryng the wulues And that the beestes shold vaynquysshe and ouercome the byrdes wold haue hold with the beestes and be ageynst the byrdes And whanne the bataylle was ordeyned on bothe sydes the egle beganne to entre in to the batayll of the beestes by suche a strengthe that with the help of the other byrdes he gat the feld and vaynquysshed and ouercame the bestes wherfor the bestes maade pees with the byrdes and were alle of one acord and of one wylle And for the treason that the â—â—acke had made she was condempned to neuer see the day And neuer flee but only by nyght And also she was despoylled of alle her fethers And therfore he that wylle serue two lordes coÌ„ trary one to other may not be good ne trewe And they whiche relynquen and leue theyr owne lordes for to serue another straunger whiche is enemy to theyr lord ben wel worthy to be punysshed For as the Euangely sayth None may serue bothe god and the deuyl ¶ The v fable is of the nyghtyngale and of the sperehawke HE that oppresseth the Innocents shalle haue an euyl ende wherof Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable Of a sperehawk whiche dyd put hym within the nest of a nyghtyngale where he fond the lytyl and yonge byrdes the nyghtyngale came and perceyued hym wherfore she praid the sperehawke sayeng I requyre and praye the as moche as I may that thow haue pyte on my smal byrdes And the sperehawke ansuerd and sayd yf thow wylt that I graunte the thy request thow must synge swetely after my wylle and gree And thenne the nyghtyngale beganne to synge swetely not with the herte but with the threte onely For he was soo fylled of sorowe that otherwyse he myght not doo The sperehawk sayd thenne to the nyghtyngale This songe playseth me not And toke one of the yonge byrdes and deuoured hit And as the sayd sperehawke wold haue deuoured and eten the other came there a hunter whiche dyd caste a grete nette vpon the sperehawke And whanne she wold haue fleen awey he myght not for he was taken And therfore he that doth harme letteth the Innocents is worthy to deye of euylle dethe As Caym dyd whiche slewe his broder Abel ¶ The seuenth fable is of the foxe and of the wulf FOrtune helpeth bothe the good and euylle folke and to alle them whiche she helpeth not she sendeth euylle to them And they that setten alle theyr malyce ageynste fortune ben subuertysed and ouerthrawon by her wherof Esope reherceth suche a fable Of a wulf whiche had assembled to gyter a grete proye or moche mete for to haue lyued more delyaously wherof the foxe had grete enuye and for to haue robbed somme of this good he came vnto the cauerne or hole where as this proye or mete was in and sayd to the wulf My godsep the wulf by cause hit is longe syth I sawe the I am in grete heuynesse and sorowe and also by cause we haue not ben in long tyme gone chaced and gone to gyder ¶ And whan the wulf knewe the malyce of the foxe he sayd to hym thow arte not come hyder for to see me ne how I fare but thou arte come for to robbe and rauysshe my good For the whiche wordes the foxe was moche angry and wente toward a sheepherd to whome he sayd yf thow wylt be auenged of the wulf whiche is enemy of thy heerd or parke on this day I shalle put hym vnder thy handes And the sheepherd ansuerde to the foxe in this manere yf thow doo as thow sayst I shall paye the wel And thenne the foxe shewed to hym the hool wherin the wulf was And the sheepherd Incontynent wente toward the hole and with a spere he kyld the wulf And by this manere the foxe was wel fylled and refresshyd of the good of other but as he retorned homeward he was taken deuoured by somme dogges wherfore he seyd to hym self by cause that ryght euylle I haue done euylle cometh now to me For synne retorneth euer vpon his mayster And he that lyueth but of rauyn and robberye shal at the last be knowen and robbed ¶ The seuenth fable is of the herte and of the hunter MEn preysen somtyme that that shold be blamed vitu pered And ofte men blamen vytuperen that that shold be preysyd as reciteth to vs this fable of a her te To whome it happyd on a tyme that he drank in a fontayn or welle as he dranke he sawe in the water his hede which was horned wherfore he preysed moche his hornes And as he loked on his legges whiche were lene and smal he dispreysed and vytupered them And as he was drynkynge in the fontayne he herd the voys and barkynge of dogges wherfore he wold haue fledde awey in to the forest for to saue hym self but as he sawe the dogges so nyghe hym he wold haue entrid within a busshe but he myght not for his hornes kepte hym withoute And thenne seyng that he myght not escape began to saye within hym self I haue blamed vytupered my legges whiche haue ben to me vtyle and prouffitable and haue preysed my hornes whiche ben now cause of my dethe And therfore men ought to disprayse that thynge whiche is vnprouffitable and preyse that whiche is vtyle and prouffitable And they ought to preyse and loue the chirche and the commaundements of the same the whiche ben moche vtyle prouf fytable And dispreyse and flee al synne and vyce Whiche ben inutyle harmeful and dommageable ¶ The viij fable maketh mencion of Iuno of Menus and of the other wymmen BEfore the goddes and the goddesses men muste euer preyse chastyte for it is a worshipful an honest thyng to a woman to hold hyr contente with a man alone but Menus for her disporte for to dryue aweye the tyme wold Interprete the sayenge of the hennes wherfore she demaunded a henne whiche was in her how 's but at this tyme I shal kepe my tongue and no ferther I shalle speke therof For many wyse men whiche haue sene and redde alle this book vnder standen wel alle the nature of hit And by cause it is lycyte honest And that we alle ben bounden to kepe the ladyes in they re worship and honour also that in
owne cause and by my proud thoughte For the daye in the mornynge I fond a sak ful of talowe the whiche I dayned not but only smelle hit â–ª And after I fond a grete pyrce of bakon the whiche I wold neuer ete for drede of grete thurst and for my folysshe thought And therfore yf euylle is syn happed to me it is wel bestowed and employed My fader was neuer medecyn ne leche and also I haue not studyed and lerned in the scyence of medycyn or phisyke therfore if it happeth euylle to me whanne I wold drawe the thorne oute of the mares fotâ—â— it is wel employed ¶ Item my fader was neuer neyther patryarke ne Bisshop And also I was neuer bettred and yet I presumed and toke on me for to sacryfyce and to synge be fore the goddes faynyng my self to be a prelate but after my deserte I was wel rewarded ¶ Item my fader was no legist no neuer knewe the lawes ne also man of Iustyce and to gyue sentence of a plee I wold entremete me and fayned my self grete Iustycer but I knewe neyther a ne b ¶ And yf therfore euylle is come to me it is of me as of ryght it shold be O Iupyter I am Worthy of gretter punycyon whanne I haue offensed in so many maners sende thow now to me from thyn hyghe throne a swerd or other wepen wherwith I maye strongly punysshe and bete me by grete penaunce For wel worthy I am to receyue a gretter disciplyne And the good man whiche was vpon the tree herkened alle these wordes deuyses and sayd no word ¶ And whanne the wulf had fynysshâ—â—d alle his syghes and complayntes the good man to ke his axe wherwith he had kytte awey the dede braunches fro the tree and cast it vpon the wulf and it felle vpon his neck in suche maner that the wulf torned vpsodoun the feet vpward and saye as he had ben dede And whan the wulf myght resâ—â—e and dresse hym self he loked and byheld vpward to the â—â—uen and beganne thus to crye Ha Iupiter I see now wel that thow hast herd and enhaunced my prayer And thenne he perceyued the man whiche was vpon the tree wel wende that he had ben Iupiter And thenne with alle his myght he fledde toward the forest sore wounded and rendred hym self to humylyte and more mâ—â—ke and humble he was afterward than euer before he had ben fyers ne prowde ¶ And by this fable men may knowe and see that moche resteth to be done of that that a foole thynketh And hit sheweth to vs that whan somme good cometh to somme it ought not be reffused For it maye not ben recouerd as men wyll And also it sheweth hou none ought to auaunte hym to doo a thynge whiche he can not doo but therfore euery man ought to gouerne and rewle hym self after his estate and faculte ¶ The xj fable is of the enuyous dogge NOne ought not to haue enuye of the good of other As it appiereth by this fable Of a dogge whiche was ennyous and that somtyme was within a stable of ox en the Whiche was ful of heye This dogge kept the oxen that they shold not entre in to theyr stable and that they shold not ete of the sayd hey And thenne the oxen sayd to hym Thow arte wel peruers and euylle to haue enuye of the good the whiche is to vs nedefull and prouffitable And thow hast of hit nought to doo for thy kynde is not to ete no hey And thus he dyd of a grete bone the whiche he held at his mouthe and wold not leue hit by cause and for enuye of another dogge whiche was therby And therfore kepe the wel fro the company or felauship of an enuyous body For to haue to doo with hym hit is moche peryllous and dyffycyle As to vs is wel shewen by Lucyfer ¶ The xij fable is of the wulf and of the hongry dogge Sâ—â—che supposen somtyme to wynne that lesen As hit appiereth by this Fable For hit is sayd comunly that as moche dispendeth the nygard as the large As hit appiereth by this Fable of a man whiche had a grete herd of sheep And also he had a dogge for to kepe them fro the wulues To this dogge he gaf no mete for the grete auaryce whiche held hym And therfore the wulf on a daye came to the dogge and demaunded of hym the rayson why he was soo lene and sayd to hym I see wel that thow dyest for hon ger by cause that thy mayster gyueth to the no mete by his gre te scarepte but yf thow wylt byleue me I shalle gyue to the good counceylle And the dogge sayd to hym Certaynly I myster gretely of good counceylle ¶ Thenne the wulf sayd to hym This shalt thow doo Lete me take a lambe And whanne I shalle haue hit I shalle renne awey And whanne thow shalt see me renne make thenne semblauÌ„t to renne after me and lete thy self falle faynynge that thow canst not ouertake me for lack and fawte of mete which ma keth the so feble And thus whanne the sheepherd shalle see that thow mayst not haue the lambe fro me by cause of the gre te feblenesse and debylyte of thy lene body he shall telle to thy lord that thow myghtest not socoure the lambe by cause that thow arte so sore ahongryd and by this meane thow shalt ha ue mete thy bely ful ¶ The dogge thenne acorded this with the wulf and eche of 〈◊〉 made and dyde as aboue is sayd ¶ And whanne the sheepherd sawe the dogge falle supposed wel that honger was cause of it Forthe whiche cause whanne one of the shepherdes came home he told hit to his mayster And whan the mayster vnderstood hit he seyd as a man wroth for shame I wylle that fro hence forth on he haue breed ynough ¶ And thenne euery daye the sayd dogge hadde soppes of brede and of drye breed he hadde ynough ¶ Thenne the dogge toke strengthe and vygour ageyne ¶ It happed within a lytyl whyle after that the wulf came ageyne to the dogge and sayd to hym I perceyue wel that I gaf to the good counceylle And the dogge sayd to the wulf My broder thow sayst soothe wherfore I thanke the moche For of hit I hadde grete nede ¶ And thenne the wulf sayd to hym Yf thow wylt I shall gyue to the yet better counceylle And the dogge ansuerd hym with ryght a good wylle I shalle here hit And yf hit be good I shalle doo after hit ¶ Thenne sayd the wulf to hym Lete me take yet another lambe and doo thy dylygence for to haue hit fro me and to byte me and I shalle ouerthrowe the thy feet vpward as he that hath no puyssaunce ne strength withoute hurtynge of thy self byleue me hardyly and wel hit shalle happe to the And whanne thy maysters seruaunts shalle haue sene thy dylygence they shalle shewe hit to thy mayster
hath ben begyled ought not to truste more hym that hath begyled hym As wherceth this Fable of a catte whiche wente in to a how 's where as many rats were the whiche he dyd ete eche one after other ¶ And whanne the rats perceyued the grete fyersnes and crudelyte of the catte held a counceylle to gyder where as they determyned of one comyn wylle that they shold no more hold them ne come nor goo on the lowe floore â–ª wherfore one of them moost auncyent profered and sayd to al the other suche wordes ¶ My bretheren and my frendes ye knowe wel that we haue a grete enemye Whiche is a grete persecutour ouer vs alle to whome we may not resyste wherfor of nede we must hold our self vppn the hyghe balkes to th ende that he may not take vs Of the whiche proposycion or wordes the other rats were wel content and apayd and byleuyd this counceylle And whanne the kat knewe the counceylle of the rats he hynge hym self by his two feet behynd at a pynne of yron whiche was styked at a balke feynynge hym self to be dede And whanne one of the rats lokynge dounward saw â–ª the katte beganne to lawhe and sayd to the cat O my Frend yf I supposed that thow were dede I shold goo doune but wel I knowe the so fals peruers that thou mayst wel haue hanged thy self faynynge to be dede wherfore I shall not go doune And therfore he that hath ben ones begyled by somme other ought to kepe hym wel fro the same ¶ The ix fable is of the labourer and of the pyelarge HE whiche is taken with the wicked and euyll ouÈte to suffre payne and punycyon as they As it appiereth by this fable Of a labourer whiche somtyme dressyd and sette his gynnes and nettes for to take the ghees and the cranes Whiche ete his corne It happed thenne that ones amonge a grete meyny of ghees and cranes he took a pyelarge whiche prayd the labourer in this maner I praye the lete me go For I am neyther goos ne crane nor I am not come byther for to do to the ony euylle The labourer beganne thenne to lawâ—â— and sayd to the pyelarge yf thow haddest not be in theyr felauship thow haddest not entryd in to my nettes nâ—â— haddest not be taken And by cause that thow arte founde and taken with them thow shalt be punysshed as they shalle be Therfore none ought to hold companye with the euylle withoute he wylle suffre the punycion of them whiche ben punysshed ¶ The tenth fable is of the child whiche kepte the sheep HE whiche is acustommed to make lesynges how be it that he saye trouthe yet men byleue hym not As reherceth this fable Of a child whiche somtyme kepte sheep the whiche cryed ofte withoute cause sayenge Allaâ—â— for goddes loue soâ—â—ure yow me For the wulf wylle ete my sheep And whanne the labourers that cultyued and ered the erthe aboute hym herd his crye they came to helpe hym the whiche came so many tymes and fond nothyng And as they sawe that there were no wulues they retorned to theyr labourage And the child dyd so many tymes for to playe hym ¶ It happed on a day that the wulf came and the child cry ed as he was acustommed to doo And by cause that the labourers supposed thaâ—â— hit had not ben trouthe abode stylle at theyr laboure wherfore the wulf dyd ete the sheep For men bi leue not lyghtly hym whiche is knowen for a lyer ¶ The xj fable is of the ante and of the columbe NOne ought to be slowful of the good whiche he receyueth of other As reherceth this fable of an Ante whiche came to a fontayne for to drynke and as she wold haue dronke she felle within the fontayn vpon the whiche was a columbe or douue whiche seyng that the Ante shold haue ben drowned withoute helpe took a braunche of a tree cast it to her for to saue her self And the Ante wente anone vpon the braunche and saued her ¶ And anone after came a Fawkoner whiche wold haue take the douue And thenne the Ante whiche sawe that the Fawkoner dressyd his nettâ—â—s came to his foote and soo fast pryked hit that she caused hym to smyte the erthe with his foote and therwith made soo grete noyse that the doune herd hit wherfore she flâ—â—whe aweye oâ—â— the gynne and nettes were al sette ¶ And therfore none ought to forgete the benyfyce whiche he hath receyued of some other foâ—â— slowfulnesse is a grete synne ¶ The xij fable is of the Bee and of Iupiter NOw the euyl which men wysshe to other cometh to hym whiche wyssheth hit as hit appiereth by this fable of a Bee whiche offred and gaf to Iupyter a pyece of hony wherof Iupyter was moche Ioyous And thenne Iupyter sayd to the bee demaunde of me what thow wylt and I shalle graunte and gyue hit to the gladly And thenne the Bee prayd hym in this manere God almyghty I pray the that thow wylt gyue to me and grauÌ„te that who so euer shal come for to take awey my hony yf I pryke hym he may sodenly deye And by cause that Iupyter loued the humayn lyg nage he sayd to the Bee Suffyse the that who so euer shalle goo to take thy hony yf thow pryke or stynge hym Incontynent thow shalt deye And thus her prayer was tourned to her grete dommage For men ought not to demaunde of god but suche thynges that ben good and honest ¶ The xiij fable is of a carpenter IN as moche as god is more propyce and bâ—â—nygne to the good and holy moche more he punyssheth the wyc â—â—d and euylle As we may see by this fable Of a carpenter whiche cutte wode vpon a Ryuer for to make a temple to the goddes And as he cutte wode his axe felle in the Ryuer wherfore he beganne to wepe and to calle helpe of the goddes And the god Mercurye for pyte appiered before hym And demaunded of hym wherfore he wepte and shewed to hym an axe of gold and demaunded of hym yf hit was the axe whiche he had lost he sayd nay And after the god shewed to hym another axe of syluer And semblably said nay And by cause that Mercurius sawe that he was good and trewe he drewe his axe oute of the water and took hit to hym with moche good that he gaf to hym And the carpenter told thystorye to his felawes of the whiche one of them came in to the same place for to cutte woode as his felawe dyd before E lete falle his axe within the water and beganne to wepe and to demaund the helpe and ayde of the goddes And thenne Mercury appiered to fore hym and shewed to hym an axe of gold and demaunded of hym in suche manere Is the same hit that thow hast lost And he ansuerd to Mercury ye fayre syre and myghty god the same is it And
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
ESOPVS ¶ Here begynneth the book of the subtyl historyes and Fables of Esope whiche were translated out of Frensshe in to Englysshe by wylham Caxton at westmynstre In the yere of oure Lorde M. CCCC lxxxiij FIrst begynneth the lyf of Esope with alle his fortune how he was subtyll wyse and borne in Grece not ferre fro Troye the graunt in a Towue named Amoneo whiche was a nonge other dyfformed and euylle shapen For he had a grete hede large vysage longe Iowes sharp eyen a short necke corbe backed grete bely grete legges and large feet And yet that whiche was werse he was dombe and coude not speke but not withstondyng al this he had a grete wytte was gretely Ingenyous subtyll in cauyllacions And Ioâ—â— wordez ¶ This historye conteyneth How he excused hym of that was Imposed to hym that he shold haue eten the fygges of his lord ANd for as moche as his lord to whome he was bounde supposed that he was not prouffytable he sente hym to laboure in the Feldes and to dyke and delue in the erthe ¶ And on a day as his lord came in one of his Feldes one of his labourers gadred Fygges And presented them to his Lord sayenge My lord take these Fygges as for the firste fruyte of this felde And the lord receyued them Ioyously delyuerd them to his seruaunt named Agatopus chargyng hym to kepe them tyl he that day retourned fro his bayne ¶ And hit happed that Esope comyng from his labour demaunded his dyner lyke as he was acustomed And Agatopus whiche kepte the figges ete of them sayd to one of his felawes yf I doubted not and fered my maystre I wold ete alle these fygges And his felawe sayd yf thou wylt late me ete with the I shalle fynde a subtylyte that we shall haue no blame ne harme therfore And how may that be sayd Agatopus to whom his felawe sayd whan my lord shall come home we shalle saye to hym that Esope hath eten them And by cause he can not speke he shalle not conne excuse hym and so therfore he shal be wel beten herupon they went ete the fygges bitwene them bothe sayeng this vylayne shal be well beten And the lord whiche came out of the bayne commaunded to brynge to hym his fygges Agatopus sayd to hym Syre whan Esope came fro his labour fro the feld he fonde the Celer open and went in without rayson and hath eten al the fygges ¶ And whanne the lord herd this he was moche angry sayd calle to me Esope to whom he sayd thou counterfayt chorle how is this happed that thou hast not be aferd to ete my fygges wherof he was aferd in beholdyng them that had accused hym the lord commaunded to despoylle take of his clothes for to haue beten hym he kneled doune at his lordes feet by signes by cause he coude not speke prayd his lord to gyue hym space to excuse hym And his lord graunted it to hym And anon after he tooke a vessel ful of hote water whi che was on the fyre poured the hote water in to a bacyn and dranke therof anon after he putte his fyngre in his mouth cast out that which was in his stomak which was only water for that day he had tasted nothyng but water he praid that his accusers myght sembably drynke of that water as he had done And soo they dyde And they held theyr hond to fore theyr mouthe By cause they shold haue no vomyte but by cause the water was hote and their stomake resolued by the water they vomyted oute the water and alle the fygges to gydre And the lord seynge that sayde to them why haue ye lyed to me ageynst this Esope that can not speke ¶ And thenne he commaunded to despoylle them and to bete them openly sayenge who someuer dothe or sayth wronge of other shal be punysshed with the same payne that is due therfore ¶ And these thynges sene and experymented Esope retourned to his labour And as he laboured in the felde there cam a preest named ysydys whiche wente toward the Cyte had lost his way And he seynge Esope prayd hym that he wold enseygne hym the ryght way for to go in to the Cyte ¶ And Esope receyued hym ioyously And made hym to sytte vnder a fygge tree And sette to fore hym brede Herbes fygges and dates and prayd hym to ete and drewe water oute of a pyt and gaf hym to drynke And whanne he had well eten he tooke hym by the honde and sette hym in the ryght wey for to go to the Cyte after whiche thynges done the preest lyft vp his handes to heuen makynge his prayers for Esope of whome he had receyued so good a refresshynge ¶ This History maketh mencyon how the goddesse of hospitalite gaf speche of his tonge to esope how he was sold THenne Esope retourned to his labour ¶ And after whanne he had wel laboured for teschewe the grete hete of the sonne after his vsage he went in to the sha dowe for to reste and slepte vnder a tree ¶ And thenne the goddesse of hospitalite appyered to hym and gaf to hym sapyence and abylyte And also she gaf to hym the yefte of spe che for to speke dyuerse fables and Inuencions as to hym which was ryÈt deuout to hospitalite after when esope was awaked he began to say to hym self I haue not only slept ne swetely rested but also I haue had a fair dreme without ony empessament I speke and alle that I see I calle by they re propre names as an hors an asse an oxe a charyot and to al other thynges I can to eueryche gyue his name For I haue receyued sodenly the grace of this knowlege for the grete pyte that I haue had on them that lacke hospytalyte For he that dothe well ought to haue good hope in god and he shall haue good reward therfore And therfore I shall not laboure the losse than I dyd to fore ¶ And thus whanne he beganne to laboure came he that had the charge of the felde and the ouersyght And anone beganne to bete one of the labourers greuously wherof Esope was gretely displeasyd And sayd to hym in this manere what betest thou hym for nought and euery houre thou comest and betest vs withoute cause thow sleest vs and dost nought thy self But certaynly I shalle shewe to my lord alle this matere lyke as thou shall wee knowe ¶ And whan the procurour herd hym callyd by his owne name zenas he merueylled that Esope spake thought in hym self I shalle goo to fore my lord to th ende that thys foule vylayne complayne not on me and that my lord depose me not of my procuracion ¶ And he took his mulet and rode in to the Cyte and came to his lord and sayde ¶ My lord I salewe yow ryght humbly And the Lord
's of Exantus cryenge Now knowâ—â— I well the trouthe And wherfore thou madest this grete paystart to angre me by cause thou woldest take another wyf but I shall kepe the wel ther fro As longe as I shalle lyue shalle neuer woman come here in exantus be thou sure ¶ Thenne was Exantus glad and wel ioyous for to haue ageyne his wyf And coude Esope grete thanke ¶ This Historye conteyneth how Esope arayed tongues ANd a lytel whyle after Exantus bad his scolers to dyne with hym And sayd to Esope goo anone to the market bye for vs the best mete that thou shalt fyn de And Esope wente to the market he thought in hym self Now shall I shewe that I am no fole but wyse And when Esope came to the market he bought the tongues of swyne and oxen And dyghted them with vynegre and sette them on the table And the scolers sayd to Exantus thy dyner is ful of philosophye And this Exantus sayd to Esope bryng vs other mete and Esope brought forth moo tongues arayed in another manere that is to wete with garleck and oynyons And the scolers sayd Maystre these tongues ben wel dressid For that one dyfferensyth fro the other And exantus badde esope to brynge other mete And esope brought yet forth tongues Thenne were the scolyers angry and sayde wylt thow alwey gyue vs tongues And exantus al angry in his courage said to esope what other mete hast thou ordeyned for vs And esope said forsothe none other And exantus said to eso pe Ha grete hede sayd I not to the that thou sholdest bye the best mete that thou coudest fynde So haue I doo sayd Esope And I thanke god that here is a philosopher I wold fayne knowe of the what is better than the tongue For For certaynly al arte al doctryne and philosophye ben notyfyed by the tongue Item for to gyue salewes bye selle and to doo syte men Alle these thynges ben done by the tongue the men ben preysed ther by And the grettest partye of the lyf of mortal men is in the tongue And thus ther is no thyng better than a good tongue ne no thynge more swete ne better of sauonr ne more prouffitable to mortal men ¶ Thenne sayd the Scolyers to Exantus thou hast wronge to angre the thus For Esope hath sayd ryght wel ¶ And after alle these wordes they aryse fro the table ¶ And on the morne after Exantus wold in excusynge hym self of theyr lytel seruyse desyred them to come ageyne at souper And they shold haue other seruyse ¶ And Exantus sayd to Esope in the presence of them that were there goo in to the markette And bye the werst mete that thou canst fynde For al my frendes here shall soupe with me and Esope without troublyng of hym self wente to the bocherye And bought ageyne tongues And dyghted them as he dyd to fore ¶ And whanne they came to souper he serued them with tongues as he dyd the day to fore And the scolers sayd we ben comen ageyn to tongues And by cause the scolers were not pleased Exantus seyd to Esope thou grete hede sayd I not to the that thou sholdest bye the werst mete that thou coudest fynde so haue I done sayd Esope what is werse or more stynkynge than the euylle tongue by the tongue men ben perysshed by the tongue they come in to pouerte by the tongue the Cytees ben destroyed by the tongue cometh moche harme ¶ Thenne sayd one of them that satte at the table Exantus yf thou sette thy purpos to this foole he shalle brynge the out of thy wytte For he sheweth wel by his forme to be shrewysshe For lyke as he is disformed of his body so is he of his courage And Esope sayd to hym thow arte ryght euylle For thou settest and makest stryf bytwene the mayster and the seruaunt And wenest to be more curyous than other And Exantus for to haue cause to bete Esope said â—â—a grete hede by cause thou callest the philosopher curyous go gete me a man that setteth ne retcheth by no thynge that is to saye that is not curyous ESope departed and wente out of the place beholdyng here and there yf he coude fynde ony man that retchid of no thynge he took hede and sawe a man a grete vy layne syttyng vpon a block shakynge and waggyng his leg ges To whome Esope sayd My lord prayeth the to come dyne with hym who anone arose withoute sayenge of ony word and entryd in to the how 's with Esope And not sayeng god kepe you satte hym at the table And Exantus sayd to Esope What man is this And Esope sayd to hym A man that retcheth of no thynge ¶ Thenne Exantus sayd to his wyf secretely to th ende that we maye auenge vs on Esope and bete hym wel Fayre loue doo that I shalle bydde yow ¶ Thenne he sayd a lowde with an hyhe voys Dame put water in a bacyn and wesshe this pylgryms feet For he thoughte the vylayne wold not haue suffred it but haue fled for shame And than shold he haue cause to haue beten Esope ¶ Thenne the lady took water and putte it in a bacyn and beganne to wasshe the vylayns feet ¶ And how wel that he wyst that she was the lady yet he thought this lord wyll doo me worship and suffred her to wasshe his feet without sayeng of ony word And Exantus sayd to his wyf Dame gyue hym drynke And the vylayne sayd to hym self It is well reason that I drynke fyrst And took the pyece and dranke as moche as he myght And Exantus tooke a plater wyth fysshe and sette it to fore hym And the vylayne beganne to ete ¶ And Exantus seyd to the cook this fysshe is not wel arayed ¶ Thenne Exantus commaunded to strype the Cook and bete hym wel And the vylayne sayd to hym self thys fysshe is wel dyght and the Cook is beten withoute cause but I retche not soo I may fylle my bely And I shalle al wey ete and saye nothyng ¶ And Exantus sayd to the baker brynge hyder the tarte Incontynent as the tarte was sette on the table And the vylayne brake it in pyeces and wythoute ony wordes he beganne to ete therof And Exantus beholdyng hym how he ete called the baker and sayd this tarte is euyll baken and hath no sauour And the baker sayd yf I made it it is wel dressyd And yf it be none of myne the blame is not in me but in thy wyf ¶ And Exantus sayd he alwey loked and byheld yf he voyded hit with his fylthe or orduâ—â— whan he had purged his bely ¶ And euer after men loken whan they haue purged they re belyes what they Wyde but thou oughtest not to doubte therof For thou hast nâ—â— wytte to losâ—â— ne scyence For to a folysshe demaunde belongeth a folysshe answere ¶ And on the morne nexte folowynge as Exantus was sette at the table with
And anon after came a pursyuaunt or messager whiche brought with hym Royal lettres the whiche demaunded after the 〈◊〉 of the Samyens this messager was brought before the counâ—â—ylle of the towne to whome he presented toke his lâ—â—eÌ„s in the whiche was conteyned that whiche folowed ¶ Cressus kynge of lyndyeâ—â—s To the Senate comyn peple of Samye antynge I commaunde yow that ye doo to me obeyssounce that ye paye to me my trâ—â—butes the whiche thynge yf ye reffuse it to fulfyll do I shall put yow â—â—l to dethe brâ—â—ne your toune the whiche lettres sene redde the samyens were al aâ—â—ssded for drede were enclyned wyllyng to obeye vnto him Neuertheles they wold knowe haue the counâ—â—ylle of esope prâ—â—id hym to saye therof his sentence the which wente sette hym in the syege said to them My lordes of Samye how be 〈◊〉 that I wylle that ye be enclyned to oleye the kyng of lyndye Neuertheles to th ende that I may counceylle yow that whi che is nedeful couenable for the publyke welthe prouffyt I do yow to know that fortune in this mortal lyf sheweth ii thynges two maners of wayes The one is lyberte wherof the begynnynge is bard and dyffyâ—â—yle but th ende of hit is good swete and facyle The other waye is seruytude wherof the begynnynge is facyle but th ende therof is sharp ful bytter and hard And whan the samyens herd these wordes knowynge what it behoueth to the publyk comyn welthe behâ—â—ld took aduys of the sentence of Esope And sayd al to gydre Bycause that we be in lyberte we wylle not be seruaunts to no man And with this ansuere sente ageyne the Messager to Cressus And whan the kyng herd this ansuere he was wroth sorowful gadred al his men of werre and also all the nobles gentyls of his reame made a grete armee for to haue destroyed the Samyens the whiche thyng he myght wel haue brought about had not be his messager whiche sayd to hym Ryght dere Syre my souerayne lord thou mayst not be aueÌ„gyd of the Samyens as longe as they haue Esope with them whiche in al their affayres nede helpeth counceylleth them wherfore hit is necessary that thou sende an ambassade vnto the Samyens that they wyll sende to the Esope that thou shalt pardonne forgyue to them theyr offence For yf thou mayst haue Esope they of Samye ben in thyn hand And the kyng sodenly sent an ambassade to them of Samye the whiche Ambassatours applyqued sette they re wyttes to shewe vnto the Senate of Samye the wylle of their lerd Cressus said that they shold sende Esope to the lord Cressus ¶ And whan Esope vnderstode what the kynge demaunded he said to the Samyens My lordes It pleaseth me wel to go toward the kyng But er I go thyder I wyl telle you a fable ¶ This historye maketh mencion how the wolues sente ambassaâ—â—ours vnto the Sheep IN a tyme whan the bestes coude speke the wolues ma de werre ageynst the shepe And by cause that the shepe myght not kepe them ne hold ageynst the wolues they demaunded helpe of the dogges the whiche fyghtyng for the sheep made the wolues to torne them backward ¶ And by cause the wolues coude ne myght not gete ne haue ony pro ye ne wynne nothynge vpon the sheep for the loue of the dogges that kepte the sheep the wolues sent an Ambassade vnto the sheep for to haue perpetuel pees with them And for to ha ue pees the wolues went and demaunded that for to esche we al suspecion the dogges shold be taken to the wolues or els destroyed for euer And the sheep as fooles and for to haue good pees consented to this demaunde And whan the dogges were slayne the wolues tooke vengeaunce on the sheep as ap pyereth whanne Esope hadde reherced this fable the Samyens determyned in them self that Esope shold not go toward the kyng ¶ This historye couteyneth how Esope obeyed not to the samyens but went toward the kyng ESope obeyed not to the wylle of the Samyens but went with the Ambassade toward the kynge And whan he was come in to the kynges Courte the kyng seynge that Esope was soo gretely disformed and couÌ„terfaite of body he was wrothe and angry with hym self And sayd as by grete merueylle is the same he for the trust of whome they of Samye wylle not obeye to me ¶ Esope thenne sayd Haryght dere syre and kynge magnysyke certaynly I am not come before thy mageste by force but of my good wylle I am comen to the trustynge soo moche of thy benygnyte that thou shalt here what I shaâ—â—e say to the The kynge gafe hym audyence and leue to saye what he wold and thus he sayd that other daye was a man whiche chaced the flyes the whiche man took a nyghtyngale the whiche seyng that he wol de haue kylled her prayd to the fawkoner sayenge I praye the that withoute cause thou wylt not slee me For to no body I doo no harme ne domage For I ete not the corne ne wyth my hornes I hurte no body but gyue solas and Ioye to all them that gone by the way of my songe and boys and in me shalt thou fynde but only the boyce And whan the Faukoner herd these wordes he lete goo her wherfore ryght dere Syre I praye the that withoute cause I whiche am nought and as nothynge thou wylt not slee me For to no body I doo no harme ne also wold I doo And for the debylyte and feblenesse of my body I may nought doo but I can speke and say thynges whiche ben prouffitable to them that ben in the mortal lyf of this present world The kynge was thenne merueylled and moued of pyte and of myserycorde sayd to Esope I gy ue not to the thy lyf but fortune gyueth it to the And yf thou wylt haue ony thynge of me aske hit and hit shall be grauÌ„ ted gyuen to the And Esope sayd Ryght dere Syre only one thynge I demaunde of the that is to wete that thou gyue me the trybutes of the Samyens wel sayd the kynge I am content Thenne kneled Esope and sayd to the kynge Syre I thanke and regracye yow moche And after that he com posed the fables whiche ben wrâ—â—ton in this booke and to the kynge he gaf them And demaunded of hym the lettres of the gyfte for the remyssion of the trybutes of the Samyens the whiche he delyuerd to hym by the kynges commaundement with his good wyl with many other grete yeftes And Eso pe thenne took leue of the kynge and to Samye he retorned ¶ whanne Esope was arryued in to Samye the Samyens receyued hym worshipfully and made grete Ioye of his comynge And Esope commaunded to the peple to be assembled to gyder at a certayne houre in to the comyn place ¶ Thenne wente Esope
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
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
cause me for to drynke to moche for it is to salte And as myn ers songe to me last I shalle ete this same day better and more delycious mete ¶ And thenne he beganne to walke ferther And as he entryd in to a fayr medowe he saâ—â— we a mare and her yong foole with her and sayd to hym self alone I rendre thankes and graces to the goddes of the godes that they send me For wel I wyst and was certayne that this daye I shold fynde somme precious mete And thenne he came nyghe the mare and sayd to her Certaynly my sister I shalle ete thy child And the mare ansuerd to hym My broder doo what someuer hit shalle please the But fyrst I praye the that one playsyre thow wylt do to me I haue herd saye that thow art a good Cyrurgyen wherfore I praye the that thou wylt hele me of my foote I saye to the my good bro der that yesterdaye as I wente within the forest a thorne enteyd in to one of my feet behynd the whiche greueth me sore I praye the that or thow ete my fool thow wylt drawe and haue it oute of my foote And the wulf answerd to the mare that shalle I doo gladly my good suster shewe me thy foote ¶ And as the mare shewed hir foote to the wulf she gaf to the wulf suche a stroke bytwixe bothe his eyen that alle his hede was astonyed and felle doune totheground and by the same occasion was hir foole or colt saued And a longe space was the wulf lyenge vpon the erthe as deed And whanne he was come to hym self ageyne and that he coud speke he sayd I care not for this myshap For wel I wote that yet this day I shalle ete and be fylled of delycious mete And in sayenge these wordes lyft hym self vp and wente aweye ¶ And whanne he had walked and gone a whyle he fond two rammes within a medowe whiche with their hornes lauÌ„ched eche other And the wulf sayd in hym self Blessyd be god that now I shal be well fedde he thenne came nyghe the two rammes said Certaynly I shall ete the one of you two And one of them sayd to hym My lord doo alle that it plese yow but fyrst ye must gyue to vs the sentence of a processe of a plee whiche is bytwixe vs bothe And the wulf ansuerd that with ryght a good wylle he wold doo hit And after sayd to them My lordes telle me your resonâ—â— and â—â—as to thenâ—â— that the better I may gyue the sentence of your different and question And thenne one of them beganne to say My lord this medowe was bylongynge to our fader And by cause that he deyde withoute mastynge ony ordenaunce or testament we be now in debate and stryf for the partynge of hit wherfore we praye the that thow vouchesauf to accorde oure different so that pees be made bytwene vs And thenne the wulf demaunded of the rammes how theyr question myght be accorded Ryght wel seyd one of them by one manere whiche I shal telle to the yf hit please to the to here me we two shalle be at the two endes of this medowe and thow shalt be in the myddes of it And fro th ende of the medowe we bothe at ones shalle renne toward the And he that fyrst shalle come to the shalle be lord of the medowe And the last shalle be thyn wel thenne sayd the wulf thyn aduys is good and wel purposed late set now who fyrst shalle come to me Thenne wente the two rammes to the two endes of the medowe and bothe at ones beganne to renne toward the wulf and with alle theyr myght came and gâ—â—f to hym suche two strokes bothe at ones ageynst bothe his sydes that almost they brake his herte within his bely there fyll doune the poure wulf alle aswowned And the rammes wente theyr way ¶ And whanne he was come ageyn to hym self he took courage and departed sayenge thus to hym self I care not for alle this Iniurye and shame For as myn erâ—â— dyd synge to me yet shalle I this day ete somme good and delycious mete ¶ He had not long walked whanne he fond a sowe and her smal pygges with her And Incontynent as he sawe her he sayd blessyd be god of that I shalle this daye ete and fylle my bely with precious metes and shalle haue good fortune And in that sayenge approched to the sowe sayd to her My suster I must ete somme of thy yonge pygges And the sowe wente and sayd to hym My lord I am content of alle that whiche pleaseth to yow But or ye ete them I praye yow that they maye be baptysed and made clene in pure and fayre water And the wulf sayd to the sowe Shewe me thenne the water And I shalle wasshe and baptyse them wel And thenne the sowe wente and ledde hym at a stange or pond where as was a fayr mylle ¶ And as the wulf was vpon the lytyl brydge of the sayd mylle and that he wold haue take one pygge the sowe threwe the wulf in to the water with her hwde and for the swyftnesse of the water he must nedes passe vnder the whele of the mylle And god wote yf the wynges of the mylle bete hym wel or not And as soone as he myght he ranne away And as he ranne seyd to hym self I care not for soo lytyl a shame ne therfore I shall not be lette but that I shalle yet this daye ete my bely full of metes delycious as myners dyd synge it erly to me ¶ And as he passed thurgh the strete he sawe somme sheep and as the shepe sawe hym they entryd in to a stable ¶ And whan the wulf came there he sayd to them in this manere God kepe yow my susters I must ete one of yow to th ende that I may be fylled and rassasyed of my grete honger And thenne one of them sayd to hym Certaynly my lord ye are welcome to passe For we ben comen hyder for to hold a grete solempnyte wherfore we alle praye yow that ye pontyfycally wylle synge And after the seruyse complete and done doo what ye wyll of the one of vs theÌ„ne the wulf for vayn glory faynyng to be a prelate beganne to synge and to howle before the sheep ¶ And whanne the men of the touâ—â—e herd the Wys of the wulf they came to the stable with grete staues and with grete dogges and wonderly they wounded the wulf and almost brought hym to deth that with grete payne he coude goo Neuertheles he soaped and wente vnder a grete tree vpon the whiche tree was a man whiche hewe of the bowes of the tree The wulf thenne beganne to syghe sore and to make grete sorowe of his euylle fortune and sayd Ha Iupiter how many euyls haue I had and suffred this daye but wel I presume and knowe that hit is by me and by myn
on me the skynne of the dogge And whanne the wulues shalle see me they shalle haue grete fere of me ¶ And whanne the wulues came and sawe the wether clothed with the skynne of the dogge they beganne all to flee and ranne awey ¶ It happed on a day that a wulf whiche was sore hongry came and toke a lambe and after ran awaye therwith ¶ And thenne the sayd wether ranne after hym And the wulf whiche supposed that it had ben the dogge shote thryes by the waye for the grete fere that he had And ranne euer as fast as he coude and the wether also ranne af ter hym withoute cesse tyl that he ranne thurgh a busshe full of sharp thornes the whiche thornes rente and brake alle the dogges skynne whiche was on hym And as the wulf loked and sawe behynde hym beynge moche doubtous of his dethe sawe and perceyued alle the decepcion and falshede of the we ther And forthwith retorned ageynste hym and demaunded of hym what beest arte thow And the wether ansuerd to hym in this maner My lord I am a wether whiche playeth with the And the wulf sayd Ha mayster ought ye to playe with your mayster and with your lord thow hast made me so soâ—â— aferd that by the weye as I ranne before the I dyte shyte thre grete toordes And theÌ„ne the wulf ledde hym vnto the place where as he had shyte sayenge thus to hym Loke hyther callest thow this a playe I take hit not for playe For now I shalle shewe to the how thou oughtest not to playe so with thy lord And thenne the wulf took and kylled hym and denoured and ete hym ¶ And therfore he that is wyse muste take good hede how he playeth with hym whiche is wyser mo re sage and more stronge than hym self is ¶ The xvj fable maketh mencyon of the man of the lyon of his sone HE that reffuseth the good doctryne of his fader yf euyl happe cometh to hym â—â—t is but ryght As to vs reherceth this fable of a labourer whiche somtyme lyued in a deserte of his cultyuynge and laboure In this deserte was a lyon whiche waâ—â—ed and destroyed all the sede whiche eue ry daye the sayd labourer sewed and also this lyon destroyed his trees And by cause that he bare and dyd to hym so grete 〈◊〉 and dommage he made an hedge to the whiche he putte and sorte cordes and nettes for to take the lyon And ones as this lyon came for to ete corne he entryd within a nâ—â—te was taken And thenne the good man came thyder and bete and smote hym so wonderly that vnnethe he myght scape fro deth And by cause that the lyon sawe that he myght not escape the subtylyte of the man he took his lytyl lyon and went to dwelle in another Regyon And within a lytel whyle after that the lyon was wel growen and was fyers stronge he demaunded of his fader My fader be we of this Regyon Nay sayd the fader For we ben fledde awey fro oure land And thenne the lytyl lyon asâ—â—ed wherfore And the fader ansuerd to hym For the subtylyte of the man And the lytyl lyon demaunded of hym what man is that And his fader sayd to hym he is not soo grete ne so stronge as we be but he is more subtyle and more Ingenyous than we he And theÌ„ne sayd the sone to the fader I shall goo auenge me on hym And the grete lyon sayd to hym goo not For yf thow gost thyder thow shalt repente the therfore and shalt doo lyke a fole And the sone ansuerd to his fader Ha by my heed I shalle goo thyder and shalle see what he can doo And as he wente for to fynde the man he mette an oxe within a medowe and an hors whos back was al fleyen and fore to whome he said in this manere who is he that hath ledde yow hyder and that so hath hurted yow And they sayd to hym It is the man ¶ And thenne he sayd ageyne to them Certaynly here is a wonder thynge I praye yow that ye wylle shewe hym to me And they wente and shewed to hym the labourer which ered the erthe And the lyon forthwith and withoute sayenge of ony moo wordes wente toward the man to whome he sayd in this maner Ha man thow hast doue ouer many euyls bothe to me and to my Fader and in lyke wyse to oure beestes wherfore I telle the that to me thow wylt doo Iustyce And the man ansuerd to hym I promytte and warne the that yf thow come nyghe me I shalle slee the with this grete clubbe And after with this stuyf I shalle flee the And the lyon sayd to hym Come thenne before my fader and he as kynge shalle doo to vs good Iustyce And thenne the man sayd to the lyon I am content yf that thow wylt swere to me that thow shalt not touche me tyll that we ben in the presence of thy fader And in lyke wyse I shalle swere to the that I shal go with the vnto the presence of thy fader And thus the lyon and the man swered eche one to other and wente toward the grete lyon and the man beganne to goo by the way where as his cordes and nettes were dressyd And as they wente the lyon lete hym self falle within a corde and by the feet he was take so that he myght not ferther goo And by cause he coude not goo he sayd to the man O man I praye the that thow wilt helpe me For I maye no more goo And the man answerd to hym I am sworne to the that I shalle not touche the vnto the ty me that we ben before thy fader And as the lyon suppâ—â— to haue vnbonnd hym self for to scape he fylle in to another nette And thenne the lyon beganne to crye after the man sayenge to hym in this manere O good man I praye the that thou wilt vnhynde me And the man beganne to smyte hym vpon the hede ¶ And thenne whanne the lyon sawe that he myght not scape he sayd to the man I praye the that thow smyte me no more vpon the heed but vpon myn erys by cause that I wold not here the good counceylle of my fader And thenne the man beganne to smyte hym at the herte and slewe hym The whiche thyng happeth ofte to many children whiche ben hanged or by other maner executed and put to dethe by cause that they wil not byleue the doctryne of theyr faders and moders ne obeye to them by no wyse ¶ The xvj fable is of the knyght and of the seruaunt the whiche fond the Foxe MAny ben that for theyr grete lesynges supposen to put vnder alle the world but euer at the last theyr lesynges ben knowen and manyfested as hit appiereth by this fable of a knyght whiche somtyme wente with an archer of his thurgh the lande And as they rode they
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
hym a sure place where as he myght leye his egges and his lytyl chykyns And Iupiter graunted it and gaf hym suche a gyfte that whan the tyme of childynge shold come that she shold make her yong Egles within his bosome And thenne whanne the wesel kno we this she gadred and assembled to gyder grete quantite of ordure or fylthe and therof made an hyghe hylle for to lete her self falle fro the top of hit in to the bosome of Iupiter And whanne Iupyter felte the stenche of the fylthe he leganne to shake his bosome and both the wesel and the egges of the egle felle doune to the erthe And thus were alle the egges broken and bost And whanne the Egel knewe hit she made anowe that she shold neuer make none egles tyll of the wesel she we re assured And therfore none how stronge and myghty that he be ought not to dispreyse somme other For there is none soo lytyl but that somtyme he may lette and auenge hym self wherfore doo thow no displaysyr to none that displaysyre come not to the ¶ The thyrdde fable is of the Foxe and of the gote HE whiche is wyse and sage ought fyrst to loke and be hold the ende or he begynneth the werke or dede as hyer appiereth by this fable Of a Foxe of a gote that somtyme defanded and wente doune in to a depe welle for to drynke And whanne they had wel dronke by cause that thei â—â—oude not come vpward ageyne the Foxe sayd to the gote in this maner my frend yf thow wylt helpe me we shall sone ben bothe oute of this welle For yf thow wylt sette thy two feet ageynste the walle I shal wel lepe vpon the vpon thy hornes And thenne I shal lepe oute of this welle ¶ And whanne I shalle be oute of hit thow shalt take me by the handes and I shal plucke and drawe the oute of the welle And at this request the gote acorded and ansuerd I wylle wel And theÌ„ne the gote lyfte vp his feet ageynst the walle and the foxe dyd so moche by his malyce that he gat out of the welle And whan he was oute he began to loke onthectote whiche was within the welle thenne the gote sayd to hym help me now as thow hast promysed And theÌ„ne the foxe beganne to lawhe and to scorne hym and sayd to hym O mayster goote yf thow haddest be wel wyse with thy fayre berde or euer thow haddest entryd in to the welle thow sholdest fyrst haue taken hede how thow sholdest haue comen oute of hit ageyne ¶ And therfore he whiche is wyse yf he wysely wylle gouer ne hym self ought to take euer good hede to the ende of his werke ¶ The fourthe fable is of the catte and of the chyken HE whiche is fals of kynde hath begonne to deceyue some other euer he wyl vse his craft As it appiereth by this present Fable of a kat whiche somtyme toke a chyken the whiche he biganne strongly to blame for to haue fonde somme cause that he myght ete hit and sayd to hym in this manere Come hyther thou chyken thow dost none other good but crye alle the nyght thow letest not the men slepe And thenne the chykyn ansuerd to hym I doo hit for they re grete prouffite And ouer ageyne the catte sayd to hym Yet is there wel wors For thow arte an inceste lechour For thow knowest naturelly both thy moder and thy doughter And thenne the chyken sayd to the cat I doo hit by cause that my mayster maye haue egges for his etynge And that hys mayster for his prouffyte gaf to hym bothe the moder and the doughter for to multyplye the egges And thenne the Catte sayd to hym by my feythe godsep thow hâ—â—t of excusacions ynough but neuertheles thow shalt passe thurgh my throte for I suppose not to faste this day for alle thy wordes ¶ And thus is it of hym whiche is custommed to lyue by rauyn For he can not kepe ne absteyne hym self fro hit For alle thex cusacions that be leyd on hym ¶ The v fable is of the Foxe and of the busshe MEn ouÈt not to demanÌ„de ne aske help of them that ben more customed to lette than to do good or prouffit as it appereth by this fable of a fox which for to scape the peril to be taken wente vpon a thorne busshe whiche hurted hym sore and wepynge sayd to the busshe I am come as to my refuge vnto the and thow hast hurted me vnto the dethe And thenne the busshe sayd to hym thow hast erred and wel thou hast begyled thy self For thow supposest to haue taken me as thow arte custommed to take chekyns and hennes ¶ And ther fore men ought not to helpe them whiche ben acustomed to doo euylle but men ought rather to lette them ¶ The vj fable is of the man and of the god of the wodes OF the euylle man somtyme prouffiteth soÌ„me other he doth hit not by his good wylle but by force As reherceth to vs this fable Of a man whiche had in his how 's an ydolle the whiche oftyme he adoured as his god to whome ofte he prayd that he wold gyue to hym moche good And the more that he prayd hym the more he faylled and became pouere wherfore the man was wel wrothe ageynst his ydolle and took hit by the legges and smote the hede of hit so strongly ageynst the walle so that it brake in to many pyeces Oute of the whiche ydolle yssued a ryght grete tresoure wherof the man was ful gladde and Ioyous And thenne the man sayd to his ydolle Now knowe I wel that thou art wycked euyl and peruers For whanne I haue worshipped the thow hast not holpen me And now whanne I haue bete the thow hast moche done for me ¶ And therfore the euylle man whanne he doth ony good it is not of his good wylle but by force ¶ The vij fable is of a fyssher ALle thynges which ben done made in theyr tyme se ason ben wel made as by this present fable it appereth Of a fyssher whiche somtyme touched his bagpype nyhe the Ryuer for to make the fysshe to daunse ¶ And whan he sawe that for none fonge that he coude pype the fysshes wold not dauÌ„se As wroth dyd cast his nettes in to the Ryuer toke of fysshe grete quantite And whanne he had drawe oute his netâ—â—s oute of the water the fysshe beganne to lepe and to dauÌ„ se and thenne he sayd to them Certaynly hit appiereth now wel that ye be euylle beestes For now whanne ye be taken ye lepe and daunse And whanne I pyped and played of my muse or bagpype ye dayned ne wold not daunse Therfore hit appiereth wel that the thynges whiche ben made in season ben wel made and done by reason ¶ The eyght fable is of the catte and of the rat HE whiche is wyse and that ones