his cause may fight By whose assistance he does hope To put the Wolf to flight At length he met the Ass whom he Had very often seen Great Burdens bear and thought he strong And valiant had been His voice was likewise great and loud And like a Trumpet shrill Therefore intreats that ' gainst the Wolf He now assist him will The Ass proud that he was thought stout Replies most willingly Dear Dog I will your cause espouse And in your quarrel dye The Dog now thought himself cock-sure Of Victory and Success And boldly challenges the Wolf His injuries to redress The Wolf comes grinning toward them Which struck the Ass with dread So that with might and main away He from the combate fled And basely leaves the Dog alone His cruel Foe to fight Who finding an unequal match Makes his escape by flight And then reflecting thereupon He cries I find if we Of valour judge by strength or voice We may mistaken be For both of these this dull Ass had But yet a Coward he Was bred and born which is intail'd To all his progeny MORAL Huffing Red Coats and Feathers may Make men look big and brave Yet upon Tryal we oft find They little courage have FAB XX. The Old Woman and the Mens Skulls AN Old Wan travelling far from her own house happened to come to a certain place where several years before a terrible battle had been fought between two mighty Armies and a multitude of men slain and observed a great number of skulls to lye scattered about the Fields The Woman being very devout and superstitious imagined it to be a work of humanity and charity to have them decently buried she therefore fills her Apron with many of them and with much pains and labour carries them a long way to find a convenient place for their interment which before she could discover she had occasion to go down a very steep hill where missing her footing all the Skulls ran out of her lap down the Hill some one way and some another at a great distance from each other After she had recovered her self from her fall instead of vexing at her misfortune she burst out into a loud laughter and calling after them nay nay quoth she I do not at all wonder that every one of you runs a different way so far from one another no question it is but just as you did when you were alive for I believe that you could never agree then or else you had never knockt one another on the head according to the Old Proverb so many men so many minds After the Old Woman had pleased her self for some time with these moral considerations she very contentedly gathered the Skulls up again and digging a hole in the earth she there buried them together saying you were best agree now for if you should quarrel I shall not come to part you Moral It is very foolish ridiculous and unreasonable for one man to impose his sentiments and opinions upon another in discourse much more to ruin and destroy men for not thinking as they do which is yet altogether out of their own power according to the Proverb aforementioned Quot homines tot sententiae As many men as many minds FAB XX. The Old Woman and the Mens Skulls A Woman did a Journey take But had not travel'd far Ere to a spacious Field she came Where in the time of War A bloudy battel had been fought And in the mortal strife Many a stout and valiant man Had been bereav'd of life While the Old Woman view'd this place Around at length she found A number of mens Skulls which lay Scatter'd upon the ground And being much concern'd that they Unburied there should lye Resolv'd to take them up and so Inter them decently And gathering many in a heap Puts them into her lap But going down a steep descent She met with a mishap For down she fell and then the Skulls Out of her Apron fell And all about in different ways Ran swiftly down the hill The Woman never vext her self But laughing said nay nay I do not wonder that you all Do take a several way For I suppose that when you liv'd You seldom could agree But of as many minds as men Commonly us'd to be Else you had ne're come to this place To be knockt on the head And in the open Field to lye So long unburied When she had this reflection made She takes them up again And digs a hole where they at length Quietly did remain MORAL T is foolish and ridiculous That we should angry be With others ' cause they with our own Opinions disagree And worse to ruin men if they With our eyes cannot see Which ne're will Converts make but does Increase Hypocrisie FAB XXI The Lion the Ass and the Fox A Lion marching furiously through the Forrest as if he would destroy all the Beasts therein happened to fall into a Pit from whence he had little hope of freeing himself and thereupon roars so terribly for help that his voice made all the Wood tremble The Ass being nigh comes to the Pit to see what had befaln His Soveraign who earnestly intreated his assistance by letting him take hold of his Tayl thereby to save himself and in requital he solemnly promised upon his Royal word not only to spare his life tho' he was never so hungry but likewise to free him for the future from the slavery he had formerly endured and that he and his should hereafter enjoy all the Liberties and Priviledges of free-born Subjects The simple Ass who had a great reverence for names and Royal promises seemed very inclinable to believe and aid him but the Fox coming by at that instant and being inform'd of the matter Sure quoth he to the Ass you are not so great a Blockhead to credit the Lions engagements in his extremity can you imagine he will ever change his brutish nature or will regard any obligations made in his necessity Is it not the great happiness of us all that we may now feed securely in the Forrest without being indangered either in our Persons or young Ones by the cruel and arbitrary dealings of this barbarous Tyrant The Ass tho' of a dull and unthinking temper yet seemed to open his eyes at the discreet reasoning of the Fox and so they went both away together leaving the Lion to shift for himself and get out as well as he could Moral When a People have been delivered from the Arbitrary Government of a Tyrannical Prince either by their own valour or his withdrawing from the exercise of it it is certainly the greatest stupidity and folly to recal him again though upon never so specious promises and pretences since he will surely Reign more tyrannically than before FAB XXI The Lyon the Ass and the Fox A Lion marching furiously Along the Forrest fell Into a Pit and how to get From thence he could not tell He therefore roars aloud for help Whose voice did
did acquaint That divers Creatures of their form And shape made much complaint Who thereupon did Summon them Before him to appear That their defects and grievances They might to him declare The Ape was near to whom Jove said Look on these Beasts I pray Then tell me what defect you have And I 'll take it away Sir quoth the Ape I am well pleas'd Both with my Shape and Wit But here 's my Brother Bear whom I To be reform'd think fit The Bear grows angry and replies He did no mending want But thought more Tail would well become The bulky Elephant The Elephant cries Say no more I like my Shape and Tail But for his monstrous bigness I Do pity much the Whale The Whale inrag'd cries Of my size I 'll no abatement make But yet methinks the little Ant Far too much pains doth take The Ant says she no pity wants But was extreamly pleas'd And of her care and trouble she Desires not to be eas'd And for the smalness of her Shape She no concernment has Since if compared to a Mite She like a Giant was Jove heard and gently them reprov'd That they so soon could spy Defects in other Creatures but None in themselves descry MORAL In censuring other people none Are more severe than we But in observing our own faults As blind as Moles we be FAB XIV The Wolf turned Shepherd A Wolf that was grown old and feeble and so unable to pursue and take his prey as in his former youthful days was long contriving how to maintain himself in his decrepit Age at last he found out a subtil invention whereby he did not in the least doubt but to live as plentifully and happily as ever To which purpose he seeks out a convenient place near the side of a Forrest where large flocks of Sheep and other Cattel usually fed In the next place he gets a Coat and Breeches fitted to his body and in all points exactly like a Shepherd with a Cap on his head and then walking upon his hind-feet he carried a Shepherds Crook upon on his shoulder and to make himself absolutely compleat he ties a pair of Bagpipes to his girdle Being thus throughly accommodated he goes confidently toward the flocks and when he approached them finds the true Shepherd and his Dogs with most of the Cattel sleeping but yet durst not attempt to seize any of the Sheep for fear of waking the Shepherd and Dogs and therefore thought upon another stratagem which was to draw one or two of them toward the side of the Wood where he might without danger kill and eat them And to that end he resolves to counterfeit the Shepherds voice and call but this utterly ruined the whole project for instead of whistling he set up such a loud howling that the adjoyning Hills ecchoed again with the noise which likewise soon roused and alarm'd the sleepy Shepherd and his Dogs who instantly pursue him with full cry and he being much incommoded and hindred in his flight by his new Accoutrements they soon run him down and so he became an easie prey to his Adversaries who uncasing him of his deceitful Clothing make a quick dispatch of this Sham Shepherd MORAL A Wolf will always be a Wolf neither is falshood and treachery usually concealed long but will in time be discovered to the confusion of the Actors FAB XIV The Wolf turned Shepherd A Wolf with age grown weak so that He could no longer take His Prey as usual and to live Many hard shifts did make Set his invention at work To gain by policy A livelihood and by his Wit His craving wants supply He then takes up his residence Nigh to a Forrest side Where Flocks of Sheep and Cattle did Most commonly abide Next he puts on a Shepherds Hat And Coat that thereby he Might under that disguise be thought The true Shepherd to be And walking on his hinder Legs A Shepherds Crook doth bear And ties a Bagpipe to his side His calling to declare And then demurely walks along Toward the Flocks of Sheep Finding the Shepherd and his Dogs And Cattle all asleep Yet fears to wake them but contrives How he by some device Might from the Flock a single Sheep To the Woods side intice At length resolves to imitate The Shepherds voice and call And then a hideous howl sets up VVhich Shepherd Dogs and all Doth soon alarum who pursue This Cheater with full cry VVhose Coat and Breeches hinder him So that he cannot fly But by the Dogs is quickly seiz'd VVho him in pieces tear ' Cause he a Shepherd would be thought But did a VVolf appear MORAL A Wolf will be a Wolf though he Another Shape put on And treachery though ne're so close Cann't be concealed long FAB XV. The Impertinent Trifler A Poor Man lived at the side of a Forrest whither he usually went to fetch Wood But on a time going upon the same account he found such plenty that he grew very curious and one stick did not please him nor another but he cry'd Well I will go further and there I shall find better choice wandring along upon this foolish account it happened that a crew of Wolves came howling through the Woods with the sight of whom he was so dreadfully affrighted that he ran with all imaginable speed toward a River where finding neither a Bridge nor a Boat to help him over he threw himself into the stream to avoid his pursuers but having little skill in swimming before he was half way cross the force of the water carried him away with such force that he sunk to the bottom and had certainly been drowned but that some Fishermen near hand observing it threw their Nets into the place and took him up in one of them and carrying him ashore as soon as they had dreined the water out of his Body they set him under an old VVall seeming rather dead than alive at length by the warmth of the Sun he began to recover his senses but then instead of going home to refresh himself he lay there impertinently relating at large to all that passed by the strange Misfortunes and terrible dangers which had befallen him that day together with all the circumstances thereof and how narrowly he had escaped with his life Thus he continued his trifling discourse a great while till at length the Wall being crazy fell down and knockt him on the head in the ruins whereof he was buried MORAL He that neglects his affairs for Trifles and spends his time in idle and impertinent discourse makes himself ridiculous to wise men and is oft unfortunate to himself FAB XV. The Impertinent Trifler A poor man to the Forrest went To gather Wood and found Such plenty of all sorts which lay Scatter'd upon the ground That he stood trifling and none Could see which pleas'd his mind But forward went crying he hop'd Yet better choice to find Wandring along a crew of Wolves Came howling in his way Threatning
Letters while I was reading them she hi◠me so strongly on the face that I am afraid my skull i◠broken Alas Cousin quoth the Fox I find the Proverb true in you That the greatest Scholars are not the wisest me◠Moral Those that pretend to most Learning and are much conceited of their own Knowledge do many times fall into great misfortunes and are made a scorn of by those that bring them 〈◊〉 mischief FAB XXIII The Wolf and Mare THE Fox and Wolf together walkt Along the Forrest where They saw a fat brisk wanton Colt Which suckt a lusty Mare The Wolf was almost starv'd and so He Reynard does intreat To ask the price of him that he Might something have to eat The Fox goes to the Mare and asks If she her Foal will sell And if she willing be to trade The lowest price to tell The Mare cryes I will sell him if I can a Chapman find And for the price 't is plainly writ Upon my foot behind He knowing the Mares subtilty Pretends he could not read And so desires to be excus'd Declaring that indeed It was not for himself that he Did come the Colt to buy But at his uncle Wolfs request Who was but just hard by Then let him come himself quoth she That he the price may see And if he my proposals like We quickly shall agree The Fox goes to the Wolf and cries Uncle if you can read The Colt will soon be yours and you On him may sweetly feed Read quoth the Wolf Cuz doubt not that I all my time have spent In learning and in all known Tongues I am most excellent He then goes to the Mare who had Been newly shod to read The Nails which he thought words but whilst He holdeth close his head The treacherous Mare upon the Skull Gives him so smart a blow As the poor Wolf had almost kill'd And backward did him throw The Fox then cries Uncle I find The ancient Proverb true Great Schollars are not always wise As now 't is seen by you MORAL Those that pretend to understand More than they truly know Are oft abus'd and mockt by them That seek their overthrow FAB XXIV The Nightingale and Wolf A Wolf being almost famisht with hunger travelled many Miles and could find no' booty at length as he passed through a Wood he heard a Nightingale sing very loudly and harmoniously The Wolf was mighty glad of the adventure concluding with himself that this must needs be some large Fowl and that he ought to spare for no pains nor labour to obtain her since he did not question but the purchase of such a delicate Banquet would sufficiently recompense all the care and trouble he could be at in getting her Pursuant to this resolution he follows the pretty Bird by her voice since by the thickness of the leaves he he could not see her Thus with unwearied diligence he continued many days hearkening to the melodious strains of poor innocent Philomel as she flew from tree to tree and from bush to bush little suspecting the treachery that was designed against her At length by his constant and continual watchfulness the Wolf takes an opportunity to surprize and seize the unfortunate Nightingale e're she was aware But when he had got her he was more surprized than she Sure quoth he my eyes are not my own certainly it is impossible that so small an Animal as thou art shouldst make so great a noise who art nothing but tail and feather I did expect that thou hadst been as big as a wild Goose or a wild Duck at least and reckoned upon it to have made a hearty meal of thee but alas how strangely am I disappointed and what a slender requital shall I have for the watching and fasting which I have patiently endured so many days in pursuit of thee when instead of a belly-full I find thou wilt only be a mouth-full and therefore utterly uncapable to satisfie my hungry appetite Moral Great men do many times make large promises and pretend to effect mighty mutters for others but their performances too often vanish into words and air only to the loss and disappointment of those that put confidence in them FAB XXIV The Nightingale and the Wolf AN hungry Wolf walking his rounds He happened to hear A Nightingale within a Bush Which sung both loud and clear And by the shrilness of her voice He doubted not but she A stately Fowl was and to him A gallant prize would be He follows her from bush to bush And then from tree to tree Being directed by her voice Though her he could not see Thus diligently he pursues The poor Bird many days Who of her danger ignorant Sings her delightful lays At length when with unwearied pains He her destruction sought By lying close in ambuscade Poor Philomel he caught But when he was possest of her And well observ'd his prize His mind was so disturb'd that he Could scarce believe his eyes Art thou quoth he that Animal Which so much noise did make And have I been at so great toil And trouble for thy sake I hardly can believe that thou Canst possibly be she Who with so strong and clear a sound Sung thus melodiously But if it real be I find Thou nothing art but voice And that I little cause have at My bargain to rejoice Because I doubted not to make A Belly full of thee But to my grief I now find thou Wil't scarce a mouthful be MORAL Great men do often others feed With hopes and with fair words Yet their performance is so small It nought but air affords FAB XXV The Deer and Hound A Deer inhabiting in a large Forrest had one time the fortune to see a couple of Hounds coursing a Hare over a great field but being eager in their pursuit one of the Dogs leaping very eagerly over a hedge broke his Leg whereby poor Wat made his escape because the other without his fellows assistance was not able to seize her The Stag having observed all from her shelter where she was safe ventured out seeming much concerned that the Hound who had shewed so much briskness in the Chase should perish for want of help and therefore much pitying his condition she offered to carry him to the next Village and accordingly took him upon her back in order to convey him to the Town adjoyning In the way the Deer was discoursing how happy he and his fellows should be if the Hounds would not maliciously follow them by the scent to destroy them and how unreasonable it was for them to make war upon those who ne're offered them the least injury nor gave them any occasion for that severe treatment which they received from them while this communication lasted they were overtaken by a Fox who having over-heard what they had been talking of came up to the Stag and said Sir by your discourse you seem to be a sensible Creature and have rightly argued against the injustice
the rest To them doth represent The danger and stupidity Of this their ill intent That the Vulture his Faith hath broke Quoth he to all is plain And why should you believe that he Won't do the same again Since by the Dragon he is taught That he should never care To perform any thing which he Shall either say or swear These Arguments most of the Birds Did fully satisfie Only some Buzards Storks and Pies Did to the Vulture fly The Eagle soon their treachery And folly too doth see And traytors to the common wealth Of Birds declares they be MORAL He that his Faith and Honour both Hath forfeited before By none but Fools and Madmen will Be ever trusted more FAB XXXI The Mock Astrologer A Pretended Astrologer that wanted neither ignorance nor impudence and boasted to read the fate and fortune of all Princes States and Persons in the Book of the Stars yet gained so little reputation for his Skill in that sublime Science that had he not published his Mountebank Bills and fixt them upon every Post he would never have been heard of nor found out But his Lying Libels of resolving all manner of Questions past present and to come drew in some silly creatures of both Sexes whereby he sometimes cheated them of a shilling by promising to tell them by his Art whether one absent be dead or alive whether they shall be Rich or Poor whether a person shall live long or not if one shall have Children if they should marry rich if a Damsel be a Maid if a Woman be chast if it be good to take Physick if the sick party shall die if it be a good time to marry if a Ship shall come home safe whether a Marriage promise shall be performed if the Thief shall be taken and twenty other idle and impertinent stories At length when the money came in by this canting knavery the fellow began to have a good conceit of himself and there happening a great Eclipse of the Moon one night he invited a number of people into the Fields pretending he would discover to them the Destinies of all the Potentates in the World proceeding from the Effects of this notable Eclipse but while he was very earnestly observing the Moon and Stars through his Telescopes and other Instruments he happened to fall into a deep Pit full of water where not being relieved in time he miserably perisht whereat the people could not forbear laughing to think that he who boasted to have the knowledge of the good or ill fortune of others should yet be ignorant of his own wretched fate like his old Friend Will. Lilly who could foretell what would befal others and yet did not know who perfum'd his own Door Moral Some persons pretend much knowledge and skill in other peoples affairs and yet are utterly strangers to that which concerns themselves FAB XXXI The Mock Astrologer A Mountebank Astrologer Who did pretend that he The Fate of Princes and of States I' th' Stars could plainly see Yet so obscurely liv'd he scarce Was to his Neighbours known But by the lying bills which he Still scatter'd up and down And fixt on every pissing post Boasting at large he will Resolve the hardest Questions by His learning and his skill One cries pray Sir will my dear Friend Continue true to me And when you do believe that he And I shall married be Another says I now could soon A second Husband have Pray sir is he that run away Alive or in his Grave A third complains I lately have Been rob'd by a vile Thief Pray sir inform me how I may In this case find relief And thus poor silly wretches were Abused by this Cheat Who of their money and their hopes At once doth them defeat At length the Fool grows confident And doth abroad declare That by the Moons Eclipse he will Make wonders to appear The people met to hear what this Pretender had to say But as the Moon and Stars he did Intentively survey Into a Pit of water he Happen'd at length to fall And there was miserably drown'd E're he for help could call The people laught to think that he Should know their destiny And yet was ignorant of his own Although so very nigh MORAL There 's nothing new in this but what We oft have heard before That old Will. Lilly could not tell Who 't was perfum'd his door FAB XXXII The Captain and Puppies A Countrey Captain who had more money than wit and more honour than courage having divers Sons it happened that a Bitch in the house brought forth several Puppies and the Captain equally distributing to every one a Whelp it seems the Eldest Son would have his call'd Captain the Boys being ambitious of their Fathers Title began to quarrel each alledging that his Puppy should be the Captain This Controversie at length grew so high that the Lads were ready to fight with one another so that the Father was forc't to come and quiet them and understanding the occasion of the disturbance You are a company of idle Boys quoth he to vex one another about so ridiculous a matter as this is Well I 'le soon end this business and for preventing any difference for the future I am resolved that henceforth every one of the Puppies shall be a Captain so that you shall never have occasion to teize one another hereafter The Boys were very well satisfied with this discreet determination of the Father since hereby every Lad had a Captain and a Puppy of his own both at once Moral How many idle and ridiculous quarrels are there in the World about Titles and Preheminence of Place or Office and how many weak men appear extreamly ambitious of Honour and Dignity and are mightily pleased when they attain thereto although as uncapable and as little deserving it as the Boys Puppy-Dogs merited to be made Captains Whereas a generous and gallant spirited person is sensible of the vanity of empty Names and Titles without suitable Qualifications and is so far from pursuing Honours and Preferments that he is often courted and entreated to accept of them by those who do really understand what value is to be put upon the conduct and prudence of men of true worth and courage FAB XXXII The Captain and Puppies A Countrey Captain who to be Thought great did much desire And for his Wealth and Office did Greatly himself admire Had several Sons and happening One time some Whelps to have He did distribute them and to Each Son a Puppy gave The Eldest being his Fathers Heir His Whelp would Captain call Which did disturbance cause and madâ— Them quarrel fight and brawl One Boy cries Captain is my Dog No quoth the other he Shall not be called by that name My Whelp shall Captain be A third says mine the prettiest is And Captain is his name This makes the Father angry who Cries he 'l decide the same What idle Boys are you quoth he To make a noise for
to be a workman as I at first sight did imagine Moral Some persons have so great an opinion of their own ingenuity as to imagine they can soon attain to the most curious inveâ—â—â—â—s but upon tryal there appears more difficulty and danger than they could possibly foresee FAB XXXVIII The Ape turn'd Carpenter A wanton Ape who o're against A Carpenter did sit Observed how he wrought and was Extreamly pleas'd with it And did resolve to try if he Could not perform the same Quoth he sure this dull fellow is Not wiser than I am For I believe it is for want Of use else Apes would be As apt and knowing as men are In every mystery For a great Indian King who some Baboons had Prisoners made Believ'd them men and did resolve They should be taught some Trade Alledging he was sure that they Could speak as well as he But ' cause they would not work were dumb Out of meer policy Well I intend to try but hope I better luck shall have Than one of our fraternity Who like an idle Knave Resolv'd to learn the Coblers trade But did his Leather spoil Which to revenge the man poor Pug Did fatally beguile Who striving him to imitate In handling of his Knife Cut his own Throat and thereby was Trepan'd out of his life The Ape then leaps into the shop And strives to use the Tools As he had seen the Carpenter And imitate his rules But as in splitting of a board He with much labour wrought For want of skill to manage it His foot therein was caught The man thus takes him and with scoffâ— And blows doth him dismiss And Pug finds that a Carpenter To be not easie is MORAL Those that are curious oftentimes Much damage reap thereby And many things may easie seem Untill we come to try FAB XXXIX The Panther and Peasants CErtain rude Countrey Peasants happening to find a Panther in a Pit into which he had accidently fallen they with much malice and fury fell upon the poor distressed Creature whom they knew to have long frequented the neighbouring Fields and yet had never offered them the least wrong nor injury however they with Clubs Staves and Stones endeavoured to destroy him in the bottom of the Pit then left him expecting to find him dead the next morning but several charitable Shepherds happening to come by soon after they took pity upon him and finding him yet alive though very dangerously wounded and bruis'd they gave him meat and used all means possible for his recovery by this relief his Spirits began a little to revive and making a brisk attempt he happily leapt out of the Pit and with a great deal of rejoicing made hast to his own dwelling In process of time he regained the use of his Limbs and his former vigour and then marching with much fury into the Forrest made horrible slaughter among the Cattle of those surly Boors who had so villanously abused him in revenge of their cruelty and ingratitude so that the people trembled for fear of him yea those that had been compassionate to him much doubted the loss of their Flocks nay were afraid they should hardly escape with their Lives which the Panther perceiving fear nothing my friends quoth he I will not do you the least damage who only design to make those wretches that used me so barbarously sensible of their baseness toward me in distress who lived peaceably among them and always treated them as Friends for I can easily distinguish between those who gave me bread and others that gave me blows Moral It is very inhumane to be severe toward those that are in distress neither doth charity toward the miserable seldom miss of a suitable reward FAB XXXIX The Panther and Peasants A Panther while he wandered For food the Feilds around Happen'd to fall into a Pit Where he was quickly found By some rude Countrey Boors whom he Intreats to help him out But like ill natur'd Clowns they all Compass the Pit about And then with Clubs they him assault And massy Stones do throw Resolving that from thence with life He ne'er again shall go Thus is he cruelly abus'd Till they were wearied And then retire concluding they Next day should find him dead But some good natur'd Shepherds who Came thither the next day Finding life yet remain in him They carefully convey The poor Beast thence who with all speed Retires into his Den Where he lay long before he could Regain his health again At length he did recover and Then furiously doth run About the Fields which made the Clowns Cry out they were undone For he their Cows their Sheep and Lambs Doth miserably rend Without controul since none of them Durst with him to contend Yea those that did relieve him were Struck with a pannick fear But unto them the Panther cries My freinds I yours will spare And only will revenge my self On those base villains who I never wrong'd and yet to me Such cruelty did show For I 'le near so ingrateful be Not to distinguish those Who helpt me in my great distress From them that gave me blows MORAL We ought not to insult o're those That are in misery But aid them and so reap that gain Which follows charity FAB XL. The Bear and Wolf THE Wolf and the Bear travelling through the Forrest the Wolf asked the Bear why he always held down his head toward the ground I cannot well tell the reason of it says he but I suppose it proceeds from the stiffness of my neck why then do not you get Horns to your Head quoth the Wolf as Bulls and Stags and Rams and other Creatures are armed with whereby you may defend your self against your Enemies and they will likewise be a great ornament to your forehead I would have Horns with all my heart says the Bear but since nature has not been so kind to bestow any upon me I am afraid it will be very hard to procure them why says the Wolf I believe it may be done if you will but apply your self to a Man for they are so ingenious that nothing almost is too hard for them to contrive The silly Bear did as he counselled him and at length he met with a Man who undertook the business but first he demanded what he would expect for a reward I can see nothing quoth the Workman that is of any value about you except your cropt ears take them freely cries the Bear for a gallant pair of Horns will become me much better than they and so suffered his Ears to be cut off with much torture now says the Operator I must boar two holes in your Head that they may be strongly fastened into your thick Skull What do you think I am mad quoth the Bear to have holes made in my Head sure you intend to murder me it is impossible to be done otherwise says the Surgeon well then quoth the Bear in a rage though I have been such