a riche man 183 269 The Nightingale and the Hauke codem 270 A madde man 184 271 A priest his boy co 272 Of a Foxe 185 273 Of an Asse 186 274 A yong man codem 275 Of Iupiter 187 276 The Foxe the Weasyll codem 277 Of an Apple tree 188 278 The Fly Ante. 189. 279 A Husbandeman and his Dog 190 280 The Lampurne the Crocodile codem 281 A LioÌ„ a Mouse 191 282 The Woolfe and the Lambe 193 283 Of the Hares and the Frogs 194 284 Of a Swanne codem 285 Of a Moore 195 286 A horsman and a husbandman codem 287 A maÌ„ his dog 196 288 Of a Foxe codem 289 Of Foure footed Beastes 197 290 A Souldiour and his Horse codem 291 The Kydde and the Wolfe 198 292 A Chicken caught by a Kyght odem 293 A Philosopher 199 294 The Foxe and the Egle codem 295 Of an Oliue tree 200 296 The Mouse and the Catte 201 297 The Kyghte and the Hauke codem 298 Of Cockes and a Partriche 202 299 Of the Sowe and the Dogge 203 300 A Lamb a wolf co 301 Of a Flye codem 302 A wolf a Lion 204 303 The Ape and his two sonnes codem 304 An olde man that caryed an Asse 205 305 A sumptuous feaste of the Lyon 207 306 The Plantine and the Ape codem 307 The Firre tree and the Bushe 208 308 Of the Sowe and the Bitche 209 309 The Doggs and the Asse codem 310 Of a Camell and Iupiter 210 311 Of an Oxe 211 312 The Weasill and the Myse codem 313 The Crowe and the Pitcher 212 314 The Lyon Fox cod 315 Of the Wolfe beeing hungrie 213 316 Of the Horse and the Harte codem 317 Of Geese 214 318 The Ape and his yong ones 215 319 Of Maryners codem 320 Of the Owle 216 321 A Foxe a Dog codeÌ„ 322 The Wolfe and Porkupine 217 323 Of an olde man lothe to dye codem 324 Of a Dog brought vp to Hunting 218 325 Of a man which plucked vp a Hedge 219 326 The Asse and the Lyon 220 327 Of Cocks 221 328 Of the Horse and the Asse codem 329 Of a Crane 222 330 Iupiter and the Rauen 223 331 The Flea a Lion co 332 The Peacocke and the Chough 224 333 A man his Dog cod 333 A Heardman 225 334 The Lyon and the Foxe 226 335 A man created Cardinall 227 336 The Fox Gote 228 337 The Field Mise 229 338 Of a Flea codem 339 The Sheepe and the Shepherd 230 340 Of Frogs codem 341 A Fisher 231 342 The Ape Fox cod 343 Of a Doue 232 344 The Currier and the Hunter eodem 345 The Beauer 234 346 The Houpe eodem 347 The Beame eodem 349 Of the Lyon the Bore and the Rauens 235 350 A Wolfe eodem 351 Of a Beare 236 352 A simple Countrey-man eodem 353 The Eagle and the Dorre 237 354 The Storke and the Swallow 238 355 The town Mouse and the CouÌ„try Mouse 239 356 Of the Mule and the Horse 241 357 Of a Deuill 242 358 The Birds 243 360 Of an Oxe and a Bullocke eodem 361 Of Birdes 244 362 A wicked Man eod 363 A Boye that woulde not learne 245 364 The Doue and the Crowe 246 365 Of the Asse and the Calfe eodem 366 The Bat and the Weasyll 247 367 The Fox and Cat. eod 368 The Marchaunt and the Ievve 248 369 A Carter 249 370 An olde Women eod 371 The Nightingale and the Rauen 250 372 Of the Doue and the Pye 251 373 Asse and Frogs eod 374 The Pellican 252 375 Of the Smyth and his Dogge eodem 376 Of the Bull and the Mouse 253 377 A Weasyll eod 378 Of Hares 254 379 The Ram Bull. eod 380 The Quayle and the Larke 255 381 The Nut tree the Asse and the Woman eodem 382 Beare and the Bee 256 383 Sow and the Dog eod 384 The Boy and his Mother 257 385 Of Mercurius and Tyresias 258 386 Theuish Partrich 259 387 Of the Hauke and the Cuckoe 260 388 A Grammarian teaching an Asse eodem 389 A man that would try his friends 261 390 Of a yong man and an olde 262 391 A Lyon and a Bul. 263 392 A Larke eodem 393 A Foxe taken 265 394 Of an Asse 266 395 One that played the part of Christ 267 396 The Harte eod 397 The Countryman and Hercules 368 398 The byting Dog eod 399 Of the Hogge and the Horsse 269 400 Of the Swan and the Crowe 270 401 The Thrushe eodem 402 Of the Lyon and the Mouse eodem 403 Of a Ryuer 271 404 The Serpent 272 405 A man that brake an Image eodem 406 An Asse RaueÌ„ 273 407 Of a Dog eod 408 The Nourse and the Wolfe 274 409 Of a woman that did weepe eodem 410 Of a woman beaten folio 275 411 The Wydowe and the greene Asse eod 412 The Hare Fox 276 FINIS ¶ Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman dwelling in Knight-ryder stréete at the signe of the Marmayde Anno Domini 1569. CVM PRIVILEGIO OMNIA TEMPVS HABENT Abuse of the simple AbuÌ„dancâ— sometymeâ— perillous Abiectes AbstineÌ„ce Affliction Agrement perforce Ayde Accusing an other Ambition Ambodexter All things as god will All things not decent Anger Armed alwayes Attempt not aboue thy capacitie Attendance Bablers Benefactors Benefits yll bestowed Benefites il rewarded Benefites Benefites for aduauÌ„tage Betraying Beware of memyes Beautie Boasters Boastiag Boldnesse Bragging Brauling Women Brute beastes kinder than men Busie bodies Causers of euill Chastitie A charm for Scolds Choose the least euill Churle Certentie Common people Company Concord Consenting perforce Content in thy state Contention with superiours Couetousnesse Couetous Prelats Counsell Counsell for priuate gayne Crafty meÌ„ Craftie men Craft of women Crueltie requited Courage Cursing Daunger Dealyng Death Debate Dettes Deceyte Deceytfull persons Deserts rewarded Desire of new things Desire that is fit Dyet Dignitie Discord Despite Despise nothing Despraysers of Phisicke Dissemblers Dissimulation Disobediâ—nce Double tonged Do as ye woulde be done vnto Doubt the worst Dreadfulnesse Dread without need Dronkennesse Dulspirited â—ducation 〈◊〉 youth â—nimie Enuie Escaping of dangers hard Euill meâ— â—â—ill for â—â—od From euiâ— to Worse â—xercise ExperieÌ„câ— â—â—lshod in â—â—lowship â—alse witâ—â—sse â—aults Faultes punished Familiaritie â—eare Flatterie Fellowship of women Flying of daunger Fellowship Fighting Follie. Fooles Fortune Fortune frowneth on the poore Friendes Friendship fayned Gayne Gluttonie Glorieng God knoweth all Goods euil gotten Good turne Good Will Great talkers Griefe for sodaine chaunce Hastinesse Hasty 〈◊〉 Hast maeth wast Harlots Hatred Helpe in neede Heritage Hipocrisie Home is homely Hunger Honor. Humilitie Heart Hurtfull gaine Hurtful things â—esting IgnoraÌ„ce Immodeatenesse Impossible promises InconstaÌ„cy â—nnoceÌ„cie Inough hath none Vayne ioye Iudging outwardly Labor Learning Learne by others Leudenesse of women Liberalitie Libertie 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Liue in â—hy vocation Loue of money Lucre. Madnesse Madseruaunts Magistrates Mariage Meane life Maisters Meading with straÌ„gers Mercy in Princes Might Miserie of others easeth some Musick Nature Necessity Negligence of seruaunts Neighbor No ayde no fellows Newe things best Obedience Offences vnpunished Oppression of poore Ouer haâ—â—inesse Outward iudgemeÌ„t Pacience Pacience for gayne Pacience perforce â—arentes Please euery body Pleasure PerfectioÌ„ Perseueraunce in his vocation Petitions Poore and riche Pouertie praysed Praise not thy selfe Prayer Prayse of our owne Prayse another for aduauÌ„tage Preparation PreparatioÌ„ to die Presente gayne remembred Preseruers Presumption Pryde Proude of an others purse Falles of pride Princes Horace PromotioÌ„ ProuideÌ„ce PunishmeÌ„â— of vices Rayling Rashnesse Regard of health Regard of gaye clothes Reioysing Religious men RepeÌ„tance to late Reward for well doing Reuengement Riches Rich enimies Riottousnesse â—ulers â—ecretes â—nowen to â—od â—eruaunts Shiftes Sick folks Sinners Singing Simplicitie Slouthfulnesse Sluggards Strength Stryfe Societie Stripes Suffering wrong Tauntes Theft Time Trying of friends Trye all wayes Trouble Trust in thy selfe Trusting mortall things Truthe hateth iesting Vayne desires Vainglory Valiaunt death Vndefiled lyfe Vndoing him selfe Vnequall mariage Vnthankfulnesse A wise Ape Wicked men Wisdome
those whiche naturally are bent to hurte 8 Of a Wagtayle and a Phesant THe Wagtayle wente to the Phesant and sayd Ah wretche why doest thou not wype thyne eyes but lettest them coÌ„tinually stande with water the stenche of thyne eyes make thée lothesome The Phesant herewith being wrothe aunswered How darest thou check me which art so vyle an outcaste Thy tayle hath the palsy and art thou busie to note my fault Go mende thy owne first and then mayst thou better heale me The Wagtayle hearing this departed ashamed Mor. Hée that will condemne an other must first be cleare him selfe 9 Of the Mise and the Frogs THe Mise on a tyme contended with the Frogs for the kingdome of the Marshes wherevppon they proclamed open warre The battaill being ioyned at the first onset they behaued themselues so valiauntly that the victorie was doutful The wyly Mouse lurking in the grasse priuilie as it were oute of an Ambushement assauted the Frogge But the frog being of strength more puissaunt incourage and leaping more valiaunt with open warre prouoked hys enimie Their speares were bulrushes It happened as they were fighting that a kight espied them a farre of who incontinently made spéede vnto them but these noble warriours being earnest in fighting nothing regarding themselues were snatched vp and torne in pieces by the Kight Mor. The lyke happeneth to seditious Citizens whiche being inflamed with the greedie lustes of bearing rule whiles they stryue eyther with other who shal be hed officer do hazard their goods and commonly their liues 10 Of the beastes and the birds THere was sometyme a battaille betwene the beastes and the birds the victorie was vncertain for both hoped wel yet much feare and daunger was on eyther party The Batte thinking the birds to be the weaker side left their companie and tooke parte with their enimies The birds by the conducting and gouernement of the Egle wonne the fielde The Batte was condemned for a runawaye and banished the companie of all birds and that from thenceforth he shoulde neuer flye by day lighte and this was the onely cause that the Battes flie but by night Mor. He that will not take parte of the sowre shall not taste of that which is sweete 11 Of the Pecocke and the Nightingale THe Pecocke complayned to Iuno Sister and wyfe to Iupiter bycause the Nightingale song so swéete and she hirselfe for hir horsenesse was a bywoorde to all men To whome Iuno sayde Euery one hath his propre gifte of GOD The Nightingale in singing but thou in colours of feathers passest all other birdes euery man muste be contente with hys estate Mor. What God sendeth receyue it thankfully neyther seeke thou further for God doth nothing vnaduisedly 12 Of a yong man that song at the buriall of hys mother A Certen man wepte and lamented for his wyfe being caried to burying but hys sonne did sing whom his Father rebuked as he had ben madde that he would sing when hys mother went to buriall whereas he oughte with him to be heauy and lamente Why Father quod he if thou haue hyred these Priestes to sing why arte thou angry with mée that sing for nothing That is no parte of thy office sayd his Father but belongeth to the Priest Mor. All things are not séemely for all men 13 Of Heauen and Earth ON a tyme Heauen poured on Earthe many stormes lightning and thundring wherewith he oppressed it But she being angry called the Aire to hir and sayd Brother I praye thée meddle not betwixt Heauen and me for I meane to ouerthrowe him bycause he hath wrought me such iniurie that I would fayne by all meanes be reuenged Ah sister quod the Aire do not so but pacifie thy wrath for though that HeaueÌ„ haue vexed thée now you shal an other time be mery togyther Yet Earth being impatient woulde not yelde but armed him selfe and began too warre with heauen The aire beholding that sent such a darke miste y t the earthe coulde not discerne where heauen was This darknesse continued so long betwene heauen and earth till the earthes fury was past after which time the aire sent oute his windes whiche draue away the mist Mor. All men ought to quenche fire and not to kindle it 14 Of a Lyon in loue with a Countreymans daughter A Lyon enamoured with a Countrey-mans daughter desired hir greatly whervpon he requested hir father to giue hir to him in mariage What quod the man should I mary my daughter to a beaste Then the Lyon frowned grinded his téeth at him wherewith the countreyman being afraid went from his former talke sayd I would gladly match grée that as I occupie the daye so thou maist runne thy race in the night Let vs obey oure Creator and be not lofty ouer me but suffer mée to gyue light in the daye and to preserue the good creatures of the Lorde The Moone herewith beyng more vexed departed in a chafe and called to hir the starres of whiche she gathered a great armie and beganne battaile with the Sunne against whom she shot hir arrowes and endeuored with hir dartes to stryke him But the Sunne beâ—â—â— aboue hir and at the vauntage came downe and with a swoorde deuided the Moone in two threw down the starres saying In lyke maner I will vse thée as often as thou arte rounde whereof as reporte goeth it came to passe that the Moone continueth not alwayes full and that the starres do vse to fall The Moone therfore hauing the ouerthrowe was ashamed and sayde Better it is when I am full to be deuided than altogyther to be abolished Mor. Lykewyse many proude persons would be Rulers alone and can not abyde to haue any their better or lyke to them 17 Of the Spyder and the Swallowe A Spider offended with the Swallow bycause she deuoured the flies which were his meate hanged vp hys webbes afore the hole from whence the Swallowe should flie to take hir The Swallow flew forth and caried away y e webbe with the weauer Then the Spider hanging in the aire and perceyuing his death to be at hande sayde Iustly haue I thys deserued which did thinke to catch great birds when without great labor I could scarse get the smallest thing that flieth Mor. Attempt nothing aboue thy capacitie 18 Of a Dogge and a Wolfe AS a Dogge slept in a court before the house of hys maister a Wolfe came sodenly and caught hym whome as he would haue killed the Dogge besought saying Good maister spare me nowe bycause I am leane thinne as thou séest but if thou wilt tary there shall be within these fewe dayes a great mariage kept at my Lordes where I will so fill me and make me so fat that then I shall doe thée more good The Wolfe crediting his wordes let him goo Shortly after the Wolfe came and founde the dog sléeping vpon the house toppe to whom he called as he
mutuall fighting Mor. The hatred whiche we beare to straungers are woont to set at one the debate betweene neighbours 217 Of the Countryman and the Horse A Countryman draue by the way a spare Horse and an Asse sore laden wyth packs the Asse being weary with trauayling prayed the Horse if he would saue his lyfe to ease him somewhat of his burthen the Horse thoughte skorne and denyed his helpe It hapned as they trauayled on in their iorney y t the Asse being ouerladen fel vnder his burthen dyed then his master layde al y e asses burthen eke the skin vpon the horse wherwithall his backe began to crack Ah wretch y t I am sayd the Horse I am thus iustly serued bycause lately I refused to help the poore laboring Asse Mor. We must help oure frends that are in miserie for part of our rising our country claimeth and part our friends 218 Of a Fox that fell into a Well A Foxe being falne in to a Well and at the poynt to be drowned besought the Wolfe which was on the welles brink to cast downe a rope and helpe him vp The Wolfe sayd How fellest thou in here Ah quod the Foxe this is no time to tell thée but when thou hast drawne me out I wil shew thée all things in order Mor. Men in danger had néed of present help not spend the tyme in ydle talke 219 Of a Pig and his fathers will A Pig wept muche for the death of his parents but when he had red his will and founde that a greate heape of Acornes and many bushels of meale were left him he held his peace and being asked why hée wept no more answered The meale and the Acornes haue stopped vp my mouth Mor. A greate heritage causeth the heyres quickely to leaue theyr mourning 220 Of the Cockatrice and Seawolf THe Cockatrice on a time went to the sea side in the clothing of a Monke and called to him the Wolf saying O brother since thou wast marked with the signe of the crosse thou art become a perfecte Christian I pray thee therefore come vnto mee and instruct me in the faith of Christe that I may be baptized and therby escape euerlasting iudgement and haue fruition of eternall ioye The Wolf fishe marking him well and knowing what he was sayde O thou Hipocrite a coule maketh not a Frier thy wordes are full of wickednesse and craft neyther entendest thou to be baptized of me but rather thou wouldst begyle and poyson mée therfore I wil not heare thée and forth with he swam away and left him all ashamed Mor. Beware of those which come in shéeps clothing outwardly but in wardly are rauening wolues 221 Of the Wolf and the Dog A Wolf met a dog by chaunce very early going through a Wood whō he curteously saluted being very glad of his cōming at length he asked him by what meanes he was in so good lyking he aunswered that his maister loued him dearly for whē he fawned on him he stroked him and fed him with meate frō his table and that he neuer slept by daylight moreouer time would not serue to tell how muche I am made off by all the seruauntes Mary sayd the Wolfe thou arte happie in déede which hast so good and so louing a maister if I might dwell with him I would think my selfe the happiest of all liuing beastes The Dog perceyuing the Wolf very desirous to chaunge his accustomed trade of liuing promised his help to bring it to passe that he might be retayned to his maister so that he were content to become tamer to liue in bondage The Wolfe was content and it pleased him well to walke towarde the Towne By the way they had very pleasaunt talke but when it waxed light day the Wolfe perceyued the Dogs necke worne bare wherevppon he asked him what ment this barenesse of his neck he aunswered the cause is that when I was fierce I barked at my friends as well as my fees and sometime did byte them wherewithall my Maister not well pleased did beate me often forbidding me to assaulte any saue a théefe or a Wolfe and by this meanes I am tamer and cary the mark in remembraunce of my fiercenesse the Wolfe hearing him say so told him he would not bye his Lords loue so deare saying farewel therfore for I esteeme my libertie far better than this bondage Mor. Better is a drie morsell in a lowe house where a man is ruler than in the kings pallace to fare delicatly and to be in seruitude for libertie in the courte hath no place 222 Of a Lynnet A Certē Linnet was kept vp daintily by a rich man who much delighted in his singing It happened in time of dearth that many poore birds came to y e Linnet asked his almes but nothing would he giue thē saue of the fragments broken meate that was lefte whiche he cared not for but the birds reioysing therof eate it vp swéetely Mor. It is an yll dish which a man wil refuse when he is hungry 223 Of a Mule A Mule being fat and pricked with prouender cryed aloude and sayde My Father is a swift running horse and I am altogither like him but once when he shold néedes runne and in running stayed he straight way remembred that he was an Asses foale Mor. Though time bring a man to promotion yet ought he not to forget his estate for this life is vnstable 224 Of a King and Apes A Certein King of Egipt appointed Apes to be taught to daunce whiche as no beast is of liker fauoure to a man so none counterfaiteth better or willinglier a man in his dooings They hauing learned very quickly the arte of dauncing on a daye appointed they beganne to daunce and were clad with the richest purple Their dauncing delighted the companie a long time vntill a merie conceyted fellow cast down amongst them nuts whiche he priuily had caried in his bosome the Apes had no sooner seene the nuts but forgetting y e daūce became as they were afore time of dauncers Apes byting and tearing their clothes in pieces fighting togither for the nuts not without great laughter of y e beholders Mor. The giftes of Fortune chaunge not a mans disposition 225 Of Oxen. A Heardman entred the stable and saw the Oxen skipping for ioy he therefore axed them the cause of their ioy they answered Our hope is to spende this daye in the goodly leasues Why quod hée What thing hath brought you to this hope We dreamed sayd they it should be so Ah quod hée giue no credit to such dreames whiche ye are like to finde vntrue for I dreamed that ye should ploughe to daye and mens dreames are wont to be truer thā beastes Mor. Nothing is so soone begyled as the hope of men 226 Of a Hogge A Hog was blamed of a shéep that he yelded no profit to his Maister of whome he was so diligently fed séeing they gaue
and escaped frée Mor. Pollicie is farre better than strength 315 Or a Wolfe being hungry A Wolfe in hys olde age not able any more to hunte was sore a hungred neither could he finde any kinsman or friende which would helpe him with meate As he therefore wandred throughe a great Woode heauyly he chaunced vpon a dead carcase of an Oxe whiche he had scarse begonne to teare but a companie of other wolues rauens and crowes came thither prayed him to receyue them as hys friends to partake of his praie Then the Wolfe sayd to him selfe behold me whome lately my brethrē and sonnes regarded not now straunge beastes reuerence and desire my friendship but they doe not this honour to mée but to the Oxe Mor. A poore man is hated of all men but the rich are honoured 316 Of the Horsse and the Harte THe Horsse kept warre with the Harte and being often driuen from his meate and put to the worste he lamentably desired the ayde of men with whome he came into the fielde then he that afore hadde the ouerthrow became cōqueror but his enimie being ouer come and subdued he him selfe became bond too man fayne too carye him on his back and a bit in his mouth Of this fable writeth Horace A Hart in fight excelling much the horsse from meate him draue The strife was long but horse was fayn the help of man to craue The byt he tooke with merry cheere straight vanquisht was his foe His Ryder yet he durst not cast nor yet his byt forgoe So he that dreadeth pouertie and can not vse a meane Shall leade his life in seruitude and loose his freedom cleane 317 Of Geese THe Géese and the Cranes destroyed a péece of grounde whereof the country men hearing came sodainly vppon them the Cranes espied them and flewe away but the géese bycause of the myght of their body not able to escape were taken Mor. When a towne is woonne the poore escape easily but the rich are taken captiue for riches in warfare are rather a burthen than a commoditie 318 Of the Ape and his yong ones IVpiter sent out a precept commaunding all liuyng things to appeare before him that he mighte giue iudgement whose ofspring were the best fauored y e beasts came running the birds flying and the Fishes swymming thither Laste of all came the Ape and with him his yong one at whose ylfauoured buttockes euery one laughed Tush quod the Ape whom pleaseth God Iupiter shall haue the victorie yet in my iudgement this my chyld is faire and therfore of right before al other to be preferred whereat Iupiter also smyled Mor. We ours seeme good in our own eies but of vs our doings let other iudge 319 Of Mariners IT hapned as many Maryners were sayling on the sea that there arose a greate tempest sodeinly then euery one prayed to his God for helpe but one amongst the rest sayde Ye know not what ye pray for before these gods can goe to the Lorde for oure succoure wée shall perishe thorough this storme therefore I do thinke it beste to pray vnto that God which withoute the helpe of any other can deliuer vs from this present daunger Then they cried to almighty God for helpe and straight way the storme ceased Mor. We must not séeke for helpe at the foote when we may go to the head 320 Of the Owle IN the assemblie of birds the Eagle sayde that he would choose the yong ones of other birds to serue in his court and when euery one stroue to preferre his owne the Owle sayd I pray thee O Quéene receiue myne which in beautie passe all the reste why quod the Egle what beauty are thy sonnes of The Owle aunswered Of the same that I my selfe am Then all the birds laughed excéedingly Mor No child is so deformed which to his parents seemeth not faire 321 Of a Foxe and a Dog A Fox being coursed by a Dog and euen at y e point to be caught hauing no way to shift him sayd why woldest thou destroy mee thou dog seeing my flesh thou canst not eate Goe catch rather that hare for there was one thē hard by whose flesh mē iudge to be y e sweetest the dog harkned to y e counsell of the Fox let him goe free pursuing the hare whom bycause of hys wonderfull swiftnesse he could not ouertake Not long after the Hare mette with the Foxe blaming him for setting the Dog at him The Fox answered him I maruell what thou meanest to accuse me whiche praysed thée so greatly what wouldest thou haue sayd if I had dispraysed thée Mor. Many vnder the colour of praysing deuise vtter vndoing to some men 322 Of the Wolfe and Porkupine ON a time the Wolf being hungry had a good fansy to deuoure a Porkupine whom bicause of his sharpe pricks he durst not assayle but inuented a craftie wyle to trap him in coūselling hym not to trouble his backe with so many weapons in tyme of peace séeing that other Archers carried none with them but when they go to warfare Nay quod the Porkupine we must suppose that there is no tyme voide of war ageinst a Wolfe Mor. A wise man ought always to be armed ageinst y e assaults of his enimies 323 Of an Old man loth to dye A Certeine olde man desired death which came to take his lyfe from him to spare him till he might make his will and prouide all other necessaries fit for suche a iorney whom Death aunswered Why hast not thou prepared thy self being so oft warned by me Mary quod he I neuer sawe thée afore Why quod Death when I dayly tooke not onely those whiche were of lyke yeares to thyne of which number very fewe remayne but also yong men children and babes was it not sufficient warning that thou art mortal when thy eyes wared dimmo thy hearing thick other senses dayly decaying thy body being woorse and woorse did I not tell thée that I was néere at hand and yet thou sayest thou hast no warnyng wherefore I will no longer prolong the tyme. Mor. We must direct our life as though death were alwayes before our eyes 324 Of a Dog brought vp to hunting A Certeine man brought vp his Dog in hunting whome bycause hée was olde he pricked forward but in vayne it was for his pace was slacked he could make no great hast It chaūced that he caught a wild beast which bycause he was toothlesse slipped from him whom his maister rebuked muche for that fault and bet him also the Dog aunswered that of ryght he ought to pardon him bycause he was now olde but when he was yong he did his endeuor couragiously but I perceiue sayd he that with out profite nothing pleaseth you when I was yong and lustie thou madest much of me but now that I am old thou castest me off for Hauks meate when I got any pray I was welcome but now that
went quickly to his maister told him that the Foxe was fast in the snare whome the Foxe espying to come with a club to kill him sayd Ah vnhappy wretch foole that I am which beléeued the Cocke would keepe my counsell of whose wiues I haue killed so many Mor Neuer trust those whome we haue greatly hurt 394 Of an Asse A Certen poore man whiche had nothing but a barell of wine and an Asse hadde maried his only daughter to a certein yong man promising him somewhat in franke mariage which he thought to gather of his wine and the Asse for he had determined to sell them but the next night after that the bridall was kept the Asse died who as he was dying brake y e vessell with his héeles and spilt the wine Mor. We must put no trust in transitorie things 395 Of one that played the part of Christ A Certen Countryman playing the part of Christ in a playe was beaten and euill entreated of the Iewes wherfore he flong away the crosse and sayd The Deuil be your God for I wil not Then a Baker tooke his part whome the Iewes likewise did handle opprobriously whiche thing the pacient suffered but another sayde to him Meale stealer then the Baker aunswered hold thy tong or else I wil ouerthrow thée with my crosse Mor. Truthe can abyde no gesting neyther men that are giltie will willingly heare of any iesting of their dooings 396 Of the Harte A Harte beholding him selfe in a cleare water allowed muche his faire forehead and broade hornes but the smalnesse of his legs he condemned As he was thus viewing and iudging there came a Hūter vpō him the Hart fled away very swiftly the Dogs pursued him but being entred into a thick wood his horns were wrapped faste in the boughes then he praysed his legs and dispraysed his hornes which caused him to be taken Mor. Things whiche do hurte we doe hunte after but good things we despise we wishe for blyssednesse before wée know where it is Riches and promotion we séeke for wherin we think that felicitie doth consiste but in thē is much trauell and pensiuenesse 397 Of a Countryman and Hercules A Countrymans Carte stucke faste in a déepe mire straight way he besought helpe of Hercules To him an answer was giuen Thou dolt whip on thy horsse lift thou forward thy whéeles and then call on Hercules and he will be ready at hand Mor. Vayne requestes doo not auayle which God wil not heare helpe thy self and then God will helpe forward 398 Of a byting Dog A Certein man had a Dog whiche often times had byt many whervpon he tyed a clog on his necke that men might take héede of him The Dog supposing that to be giuen him for a commendation of his courage despised his companions then one of them tolde him of his blindnesse that he wore that clog with shame and not with honour Mor. A vaynglorious foole sometyme counteth that to be his prayse which is vtterly to his shame 399 Of the Hog and the Horsse A Hog espied a barded Horse which was set out to warfare well appointed to whom he sayd Whether makest thou such hast thou foole perhaps thou shalt be slayn in battaile The horsse aunswered him though thou doe nothing worthy of prayse but being fat liest wallowing in the myre yet a little knyfe thy lyfe shall dispatche where as great renoume after my deathe I haue Mor. It is better to die valiauntly than to prolong thy life led wickedly 400 Of the Swan and the Crowe THe Rauen enuied the Swanne for his whitenesse whome with all pollicie he endeuoured to defile and make black and bicause he could not work his will whiles the Swan waked he practised it when she slept Wherefore he came in a night the Swanne sléeping on hir nest and with his blacknesse polluted hir made hir blacke When day was vp and the Swanne awaked she sawe hir selfe thus painted she washed hir selfe continually till she became faire Mor. Who so will be blissed lette him kéepe him selfe vndefiled 401 Of a Thrush A Thrush being caught with birdlyme of a Fouler did torment hir selfe saying The pangs of death greeue me not so much as that my owne things are my destruction for men saye that birdlime is made of Thrushes doung Mor. Then are men most gréeued whē their own doings do slay them 402 Of the Lion and the Mouse A Lion sometime caught in a snare was so entangled that he could not winde out him selfe wherevpon he desired the Mouse to gnawe a sunder the ginne promising a recompence for his good turne Which thing when the Mouse had quickly done he required the Lion to giue him his daughter in mariage the Lion to requite his benefactor graunted hir vnto him When the new maried wife was come to hir Husbande by chaunce not séeing him trode on him and burst him all to pieces Mor. All mariages and matches vnequally made are not to be allowed 403 Of a Ryuer A Certeyne Ryuer checked hys head-spring as being a standing water neyther hauing any fishes but him self he highly commended bycause he bred goodly Fishes and pleasauntly ranne throughe the valleys The head spring fretting at the vnthankfulnesse of the Ryuer ceased his wonted course whereby the Riuer wanting bothe hys Fishes and hys pleasaunt noyse dried vp Mor. Some claime as their owne whatsoeuer they doe robbing GOD of his honour from whom al goodnesse doth procéede 404 Of a Serpent A Serpent beyng ouerwhelmed with a great stone desired a man that trauailled that way to roll off the burden from hym promising to gyue hym a great treasure if he would doo it Whiche when the gentle fellow hadde done the Serpent did not only breake his promisse but also sayd the man was worthy to die As they thus stroue it happened that the Ape passed that way who being chosen iudge betwéene them sayde I can not ende so great stryfe betwene you excepte I sée firste howe the Serpent stood vnder the stone When the man had layd the stone vpon the Serpent he sayd I thinke that vnthankfull beaste ought to remayne vnder the stone Mor. Vnthankfull men are worthy of no good turne 405 Of a man that brake an Image A Certeyne man had a woodden Image whom he prayed to bestow some benefite on him but the more he prayed the more he liued in pouertie Where with he being angry caught his Image by y e legs and floong him agaynst a wall where with his heade being broken greate abundance of golde came out whiche as he gathered he sayd thou art froward as I think for whiles I did reuerence thée thou didst mée no good but when thou wast well beaten thou hast yelded much riches Mor. A naughty man will doe muche more good by beating than by honoring him 406 Of an Asse and a Rauen. AN Asse hauing a galled back fedde in a medow on