things are woont to draw me vnto them forsooth quod vertue I had rather that my scholers lyued in pouertie than they should defile theÌ„ selues with these vices for both of them haue a short ende the good leauing euerlasting glorie vpon earth flie vp to the kingdome of heauen but the euill with slaunder ynough leauing their riches shall goe downe to the bottome of Hell. MOR. Gather riches after no yll way for it will not onely bring in this lyfe an euill report but also after death perpetuall torment 159 Of a Gote and a Vine THe Vine saide to the Gote thou hurtest me by shering my leaues thou knowest I am no grasse but though thou do me this harme I wil prouide great plentie of Wyne to sacrifice thée to the Gods. MOR. Commonly a man helpeth him to whome he would do some mischiefe Good turnes 160 Of the Ant. AN Ant being thirstie cam to a wel to drink wherin by mischaunce he fel which a Doue a far off espying caste downe a bough from an high trée and holpe him the Ant clymed vp theron and escaped Immediatly after a Fouler set vp his nets to catche the Doue then the Ant for to recompence his benefactoure came softely stealing on the Fouler bit his foote whereby the Doue flew away MOR. We must requite a good turn with the like Great talkers 161 Of Mise that Would hang a bell about a Caâ—s neck THe Mise assembled together tooke counsel by what policy or cuÌ„ning they might escape the cats wiles theÌ„ one which in age experience passed the rest saide I haue founde a waye whiche shall saue vs harmelesse from so great dangers if yée will be ruled by mée let vs hang a Bell about hir necke by the sounde whereof wée shall know and perceyue the comming of the Catte then all with one voyce commended his counsell as good and sayde they must so doe Then an other elder than the rest start vp commaunding silence and sayde I also allowe thys opynion but who will be so hardie that dare hang the Bell about the Catts necke but when euery one refused to doe it their talke was in vayne MOR. Many coÌ„mend those things that ought to be don but few are found to execute the same Griefe for sodaine chaunce 162 Of Fishers ON a tyme Fishers drewe their nets out of the sea which they perceiuing to be heauie reioyced gretly supposing they had a great multitude of Fishes but wheÌ„ they drew the net to land and found a great stone but few Fishes they waxed heauie not for the smal number but bicause it fel otherwise out than they iudged theÌ„ one of the company being an auÌ„cient man said let vs not be grieued for sorowe waiteth vppon pleasure therfore we ought to be sory in some thing bicause we reioyced so much before MOR. We ought not to be greued being defeated of our purpose Hastinesse 163 Of the Wolfe and the Sow AS a Sow was ready to farrow the Wolf came vnto hir promysing to be safegard to hir yong Pigs she answered of thy seruice I haue no néede but if thou wilt be accounted religious or shew mée any pleasure I pray thée depart further from mée for with thyne absence thy seruice shall stande mée in better stéede than with thy presence MOR. All men deserue no credit in al things for many promise their endeuor not for thy sake but for their owne commoditie 164 Of a Cat. A Certein man had a great Chéese in a coffer which a Mouse hadde tasted therefore by the counsel of a friend of his he shut in the Cat ther which after she had killed the Mouse deuoured the whole Chéese MOR. Those ought to be no kepers whiche can no lesse hurt vs than our enimies Hastie credit 165 Of a Man that would try his Wyues mynde A Certein crafty man desirous to vnderstande his wiues mynd bicause she had often sayde that so derely she loued him that if shée myght wish shée wold redéeme his life with hir death he willingly let fal vpoÌ„ both their féete a burning stick Then the woman béeing in payne and forgetting the loue she bare to hir husbande did shake off the burning stick from hir féete onely MOR. Credite not women when they saye they loue their husbands better than themselues 166 Of the Cock and the Capon A Cock a Capon dwelled together in a poultry house but the cock was lord of the Hens and the Capon fed amongst them It happened that a Foxe caught this Cock and deuoured him and his comb he touched not but kept it safe brought it to the Capon saying O brother capon thy fellow is dead wherfore I haue brought thée his combe euen for pure loue which I beare to thée now if it please thée to come down I wil crown thée that thou mayst take the regiment of the hens as the cock did the Capon being ambitious and gréedie of promotion flew downe from hys roost and came to the Fox who reioycing therof caught the Capon incontinent and killed him MOR. Take hede howe thou credit al men 167 Of the Fouler and the Larke A Fowler set his nettes for birdes whome the Larke a far off espying asked him what hée did he aunswered that he built a Citie then he went a good way back and hid himself the larke crediting his words came to the net was takeÌ„ to it the Fouler ran to whom the Larke sayde Friend if thou build such a Citie thou shalt find fewe dwellers therin MOR. Houses and Cities then chiefly become desolate when the Rulers are busy bodies Hast maketh wast 168 Of Goose THere was a Goose which day by day laide a golden Egge hir maister desirous in al the hast to be rich killed the Goose hoping that ther was some hidden treasure within hir and then finding hir emptie the wretch was amazed and after mourned and sighed that he had loste both his hope and substance MOR. We must measure our affections and that we be not to hastie for hast maketh wast he that al would haue somtime looseth all Harlots 169 Of a vvoman and hir Louer A Lewd woman wepte bitterly for hir louer ready to departe from hir whome she had nere polled of al that he had whervpon hir neyghbour demaunded the cause why she wepte so comfortlesse forsooth quod shée his departing doth not greue me but the cloke which I lefte him to put on MOR. Harlots loue not their louers but their Money Hatred 170 Of a Serpent and a Husbandman A Serpent lurking in the entry of a husbandmans house slue his boy for whome his parents mourned much but his father for sorow tooke an axe went out and would haue killed the Serpent the husbandman séeing him looke vp made hast to strike him but he missed him for he stroke the mouth of his hole wheÌ„ the serpent was gon in and the husbandman thynking that he had forgot the wrong he came and sette bread and
braying MOR. Some vnlearned men which outwardly beare countenance through their babling are reproued 16 Of the Egle and the Pie. THe Pie sometime desired the Egle to make him one of his frends of his houshold bicause the beautie of his body deserued it and also the redinesse of his speache to doe messages I would so doe said the Egle but I feare least that which I speake within doores thou wouldest preache it abroade on the house tops MOR. Kepe no bablers nor teltales in thy house 17 Of a Countreyman that would passe ouer a Ryuer A Countrey man ready to passe a streame which by chaunce was sodenly rysen wyth late rayne that fell sought the shallowe When he had assayed that part of the Riuer which was calmest he founde it déeper than he supposed agayne where it was roughest there he found it shallowest then he bethought him whyther he might commit his life to the calmest place of the water or to the roughest MOR. Dreade those lesse whiche are full of woordes and threatnings than those that say nothing Benefactors 18 Of a Hart and a Vine A Harte escaping the Hunters lay hid vnder a Vyne When they were a little past hir she supposing she lay safe began to féede on she vine leaues which béeing stirred the Hunters returned and iudging as it was in déede some beast to lurke vnder the leaues they wyth their arrowes slew the harte who as she lay a dying sayde thus Rightly am I serued for I ought not to haue hurt that which saued me MOR. They which doo any wrong to their benefactors are punished of God. Benefites ill rewarded 19 Of an Asse that serued an vnkind Master AN Asse serued a certayne man many yeres in whiche tyme he neuer offended hym It happened afterwarde béeing heauy laden that he stumbled in a rough way and fell vnder his burthen Then his cruell maister bet hym sore and in spite of his harte forced hym to rise calling him a slouthful sluggish beast but this poore wretch thought thus with him selfe Miserable is my estate which haue hapned to so vnkind a maister for though I haue serued him a long time without displeasing him yet dothe he not forgiue me this one fault in recompence of the good seruice I haue done him MOR. This Fable is agaynst those whiche forget the benefites that they haue receiued and gréeuously punish the least offence of their benefactors toward them done Benefites 20 Of a Husbandman pricked by a Bee. A Husbandman being stong by a Bée maruelled that out of the selfe same mouth so swéete iuyce proceded and so gréeuous a sting The Bee aunswered the more beneficiall I am the more I hate them that doo me wrong MOR. The more good men doo the lesse iniurie they endure 21 Of the tree Abrotanum and the Hare THe propertie of Abrotanum is to drawe out any thing that sticketh fast with the helpe of Auxangia Wherefore on a time came a Hare halting to him for a thorne which stucke in his foote and sayde O Physitian both of body and soule take pitie on me and helpe me and forthwith shewed his right foote This trée being moued with compassion putte himselfe vppon the wounde brought out the thorne and healed it Wherfore the Hare remembring this benefite caried daily a flaggon of water on his shoulders and watered the roote of the trée wherby he caused it to continue fresh and gréene MOR. Let vs alwayes gladly serue our benefactors Benefites for aduauntage 22 Of the Crow and the Dogge AS the Crow was offering sacrifice to Mâ—nerua she bad the Dog to hir â–ª good cheare but he aunswered hir Why doest thou bestowe sacrifice to no purpose For the Goddesse so hateth thée that she suffereth thée to haue no credite in any diuination To whom the Crowe sayd for that cause the more doo I sacrifice vnto hir that I might get hir fauour agayne MOR. Many for aduauntage feare not to beâ—efite their enimies Betraying 23 Of a Hunter and a Partriche A Hunter had caught a Partriche which as he would haue killed she besought him pardon for hir life and to set hir at libertie promising to bring to his net many Partriches The Fouler answered hir readily agayne saying I thinke that now thou art more worthy of death bicause thou hast giuen thy worde to betray thy friende MOR. He which goeth about by deceite to vndoo his friend runneth headlong into miserie Beware of enemies 24 Of the Dolphin and the Eele A Certayne Dolphin finding an Eele in the sea pursued after hir whome when he had often caught but could not holde bicause of hir slipperinesse he was wonderfull sory But the Eele béeing disposed to mocke him and thereby to escape spake craftily to the Dolphin I am sorie for thée that thou arte too muche wéeried and gréeued with swimming after me but thy labour is loste for in the deepe waters thou shalt neuer take me but goe with me into the mudde and thou shalte haue me at thy pleasure The foolishe Dolphin béeing in a chafe and also gréedie of hys pray began to swim after hir intending vtterly to destroy hir when the Ele had led the Dolphin into shallow places she wound hir selfe into the mud and sayd Come vp to me for I shal be staied by the rootes of herbs thou shalt haue thy desire of me The Dolphin gaue a skip to catche the Eele but shée skipte into the mud and shée stacke faste on dry grounde In the meane time came a Fisher and strake hym through wherof he dyed MOR. He that goeth with his Foe it is no maruell if he fall 25 Of a Lyonesse and the Foxe THe Fox oftentimes vpbrayded the Lyonesse that she had but one whelpe at a time truth it is quod she but then that is a Lyon. MOR. Beautie consisteth not in plentie but in vertue Boasters 26 Of an Astronomer and a Traueler A Certayne Astronomer diligently vewing the starres vnwittingly fel into a wel but a Trauailer by chaunce comming by séeing him sighing sayde Doest not thou sée the earth which gauest thy minde vpwarde MOR. Many boast that they know of things to come not knowing what presently happeneth 27 Of Scholers A Certayne Whéele wright had bene often deluded by Schollers which wer vagabunds which came to him for almes saying they had great skill in Magike and that they coulde doo many things of which number there came one a begging to his doore in the name of a Maister of the seuen lyberall Artes to whom he sayde My friende were not you héere the laste yere No quod the Scholer depart therfore quod he and come no more héere for I will giue thée nothing The Scholer was offended and asked why he spake in the singuler number to him béeing a Maister of the seuen liberal Artes and a Magitian He aunswered I know much more than thou doest for with one handie craft labour I fynde me my wyfe and children but thou with thy seuen
countrey of Sicilie and Italie When he was come thither and had wel delighted the eares and contented the mynds of moste men in those partes he gayned greatly and liued in pleasure and loue of all men Afterwarde hauing gathered much substance he minded to returne to Corinth whervpon he hyred a Corinthian ship and mariners of that coast bycause he hoped to finde frendship at their hands The Corinthians receyued him and launched into the déepe who béeing gréedy of thys great pray of money tooke counsell to kill Arion He vnderstanding of his destruction gaue them all the money that he had praying them only to saue his life But being past hope and sore afrayde he requested that before his deathe he might put on his apparel and take his Harpe and sing a mourning song to comfort his hart withall The Mariners though they were hard harted and cruel desiring to heare him graunted his petition He being clad as he was accustomed standing in the hinder part of the shippe song with a loud voyce the song called Orithium In the end of his song as he stoode with his Harpe and in his clothes he cast himselfe into the Sea. The shipmen nothing douting but that he was drouned kept on their voiage But a straunge and wonderful thing happened for a Dolphin sodainly swam by and receyued him caryed him on his backe aboue the water and brought him safe and sound to Tenarus in the lande of Laconia from whence Arion went straight to Corinthe and shewed him selfe to King Periander and how he was caryed of the Dolphin declaring all that happened The King little beléeued this but commaunded him safely to be kept till the truthe were tried The Mariners were sought for and Arion sent out of the way who being brought before the King he demaunded of them making no semblante that he hadde knowledge of Arion whither they hearde any thing of hym in the parties whence they came They aunswered that when they set foorth he was in Italie and liued well there and was highly estéemed in the Cities and also was excéeding riche Whiles they thus spake in came Arion with his Harpe hauing on the same apparel wherewith he lept into the Sea whereby the shipmen being amazed and pricked in conscience could not denie it MOR. In brute beasts we shall somtime finde more friendship than in couetous menne which care for nothing but riches neither haue any sparke of humanitie but the only Phisnomie Busie bodies 41 Of a Kid and a Wolfe A Kidde straying from the flocke and béeing pursued by a Wolfe turned backe to hym and sayde O Wolfe bicause I am persuaded that thou shalt eate me play first on thy pipe that I may daunce least I die in sorowe As the Wolfe was playing and the Kid dauncing the dogges heard it and chased the Wolfe who sayd to the Kid I haue well deserued this for I ought not being a Cooke to counterfet a Minstrel MOR. They which regard not that wherunto they are naturally inclined but assay that which to others belongeth fall into aduersitie 42 Of the Crab and the Foxe A Crab fishe came foorth of the sea and fed the Foxe béeing hungry and séeing him caught him who béeing ready to be deuoured sayde I am well serued which béeing a fishe of the sea would liue on lande MOR. Those men are iustly miserable that forsaking their proper science doo meddle with that which becommeth them not 43 Of the Apple tree and the pomgranate tree THe Pomgranate and the Apple trée contended aboute their beautie When they had continued long in strife togither a bush which was their neighbour often hearing them at length sayd It is time frends to be at one MOR. The vylest persons sometyme wyll meddle in their betters matters Causers of euill 44 Of a Dog and his Maister A Certayne man had a Dog whom he always fed with his owne handes bicause he should loue him the more and when he was bound he loosed him But yet he coÌ„manded his seruant to tye him vp beat him to the end the dog might perceiue he loued him that his seruant did not The dogge taking it gréeuously to be dayly tyed and beaten ranne away Whom when his maister rebuked as a churle and forgetfull of al his benefites that he would runne away from hym which loued him so and fed him whom he neuer bound nor â—ette Ah sir sayde the Dogge that your seruant dothe at your commaundement I count it done by you MOR. Those are euill doers which are causers of euill Chastitie 45 Of the Turtle A Certayne Turtle béeing a widdow liued in great heauynesse for the death of hir mate but she remayned chaste whom other birds pitying desired hir to abide with them whervnto at length she consented They made hir the best chéere they coulde but she séeing their abhomination and whordome forsooke them and led the rest of hir life in chast widowhed MOR. Who protesteth chastitie must set his minde on no worldly affayres A charme for Scoldes 46 Of a scolding Woman A Certayne man had a scold to his wife which alwayes brauled with him what soeuer he dyd which the more he bette hir the more fierce she was When he saw that stripes would not preuayle he attempted an other way for as often as she chidde he played on a payre of Bagâ— pypes whereof he had no skill When he had sâ— done she was more fierce but at length he continuing his playing shee daunced for anger and in the ende shée stroke the Bagpipe out of his hand But he toke it againe and played wherwith shee being chafed ranne out of the doores saying that shée would not endure his wickednesse and dronkennesse The next day shée began hir scolding a freshe but hir husband played as he was wonte Then the woman declared that shée was ouercome and lefte of hir curssing promising hir husband to become most gentle vnto him so that he would lay away his Bagpipe MOR. Malaperte women by diuers wayes must be charmed Churle 47 Of the Wolfe and the Crane THe Wolfe sometime had killed a Shéepe which as he greedely deuoured by chaunce the bones stuck fast in his throte he trauaiâ—ed farre and neare séeking for helpe but founde â—one for all men iudged him well serued for his â—réedinesse At length by faire flattering wordes â—nd greater promisses he allured the Crane to â—hruste his long necke into his throate and to â—lucke out the bone that stucke faste When the â—rane had so done he required a rewarde But â—he wolfe laughed him to scorne saying Be pacâ—ing thou patche canst thou not be contente with thy life thou art bound to thanke me therfore for had I list I might haue bitten off thy necke MOR. All is lost that is put in a riuen dishe Certentie 48 Of the Fisher and the litle Fishe A Fisher cast his hookes into the water baited with fleshe wherwith he caught a litle fish the prisoner besought him to
intemperate therefore I say to him if he presume from hencefoorth to blowe vpon me I will choke him to whome the Creator saide Aire thou sayest ill though the winde make thée colde and tosse thée yet he maketh thée holesome and temperate If the winde blewe not on thée thou shouldest be corrupt lothsome infected and hated of all men wherfore thou oughtest to loue him which preserueth thy health wherewith the Aire was at one with the Winde MOR We ought to loue and paciently suffer them which correct vs. Couetousnesse 67 Of a Trauailer A Waifaring man hauing trauailed farre vowed if he founde any thing to offer the halfe thereof to Mercurius He found a bag full of Almondes and Dates which he tooke and ease but the Date stones and shelles of the Almonds he layde vppon an Altare saying Thou haste O Mercurie my vowe for with thée I partake both the outside and the inside of that I founde MOR. The Fable is againste couetous men which for couetousnesse deceiued the Gods. 68 Of a Woman and a Hen. A Certen Widowe had a Henne which day by day laide an egge shée supposing if shée gaue hir more Barley that shee wold lay twise a day did so but the Henne being fatte coulde not lay once a day MOR. Sometime they loose the present commoditie which through couetousnesse séeke after more 69 Of a couetous man. A Couetous man hauing solde all his goodes made a wedge of golde which in a certaine place he buryed togither with his soule minde to which he daily went to sée it One of the work men watching him on a time perceiuing what was done digged vp the wedge and caryed it away afterwarde he came who séeing the place emptie began to lament and plucke him selfe by the haire When one saw him thus wéeping and vnderstoode the cause therof he sayde Friend be not sory for hauing golde thou hadste it not take therfore a stone and hide it for thy gold and suppose that it is golde and it shall be all one to thée for as I perceiue when it was golde thou didste not occupie it MOR. It auaileth nothing to be endued with possessions except we haue the vse thereof 70 Of the Dog and the shadowe AS a Dog by chaunce swam ouer the riuer he caryed in his iawes a péece of flesh The Sun then shining as commonly it happeneth the shadowe therof appeared in the water which when he had séene supposing it to be another piece of flesh snatched gréedely therat and so lost that he had in his iawes The Dog being stroken at the hart both with the losse of his fleshe and also of his foolishe hope barked thus in his language Ah wretche which lackedst a measure in thy grée edie desire Thou hadst inough and too muche hadste thou not doted nowe through thy follie thou hast nothing left thée MOR We are warned of modestie and wisedome in desiring and eschuing of things and to vse a meane in our desires 71 Of a couetous Ambassadoure A Certen couetous man being sent ambassador for his countrey to another Citie there were straight at hande trumpetters to welcome him and to delight◠his eares with musicke hoping thereby to fill their purses with money He sente them woord it was nowe no time to play bicause his hart was heauie for the death of his mother the Trumpetters deceiued of their purpose departed sorowing Then a frend of his hearing of his sorowe came to sée and comfort him and asked him how long it was since his mother died Fortie yeares quod he then his friend vnderstanding the wilie deceite of the Ambassadoure laughed excéedingly MOR. This Fable belongeth to couetous men which studie all the wayes to the woode to saue their money 72 Of a Couetous man dying AS a couetous man lay a dying and vnderstood that at lengthe he should cary nothing with him he turned him to his friendes and neighbors whome he sawe present and sayd Learne of me which al my life time haue endeuoured to gather goods that yée trauaile not too muche to heape vp riches for of so many Acres of lande of so muche precious apparell which with so great sweating I haue gotte I shall haue but a hole of fiue foote and one shéete wherewith being dead I shall be couered MOR. It is a foolishe and miserable thing to bestowe so muche laboure in gathering of goods which whether we will or not we must quickly leaue 92 Of a couetous man that eate withered Apples A Couetous man hadde gathered many Apples and faire suche as the Poets reporte to haue bin in the Gardins of Alcinous and the Hesperians which he did so spare that he durst eat none except they began to perishe His sonne being very liberall broughte his fellowes very often into the Apple loftes saying Take of these what yée wil but touche not them that are perished for my father wil haue them serued always after meat which thing they willingly obeyed MOR. Nothing is more miserable than a couetous man which kéepeth for others that which God hath lent him to vse Couetous Prelates 73 Of a lester and a Bishop A Certen Iester came in the Calendes of Ianuarie to a Bishop who was very rich but couetous Of whome he begged a piece of golde for a Newe yeares gift This Prelate said that he was madde in that he supposed to haue so much mony giuen him for a new yeres gift Thē the fellowe begged a piece of siluer but he saide that was too much Again he required of him the least coine of Brasse but when he could not obtaine that he sayd I pray thée yet reuerende father at the leaste bestowe thy blissing on me instead of a present Then said the Bishop Knéele downe sonne that I may blisse thée Nay then quod hée I care not for your blissing if it be so good cheape for if it had bene worthe a farthing you would not haue graunted it to me MOR This is against Bishops and Priestes which sette more by riches than all holy misteries of the Church 74 Of a Priest which buryed his Dog. A Countrey Prieste dwelling in Tuscia who was very rich had a little Dogge whome he bearely loued which when it dyed he buryed in the Churchyarde Whereof the Byshoppe of that Diocesse being aduertysed and being couetous supposyng thereby to gette some great summe of money there vppon hée summoned the Prieste to appeare before hym He knowinge well the pretence of the Byshoppe tooke wyth hym fiftye pieces of Golde and came to the Bishop who laid sore to his charge the burying of his Dogge for which he commaunded him to prisone The Priest as he was riche so being wittie withall humbly answered him saying Reuerend Father if your holynesse vnderstoode the singuler wisedome of my Dogge yee woulde nothing maruell that he was buried amongste men For his wit passed mannes reason as well in his life time as at the hour of his death What is this quod
the Bishop that thou sayst Forsoth quod the Priest he made a Will at his latter end and knowing your necessitie he bequeathed you fiftie pieces of golde which I haue broughte with me The Bishop when he had receiued the money being well pleased sent away the Priest vnpunished Counsell 75 Of the Owle SOmetime the most part of birds went to the Owle and desired hir no longer to abyde in holes of houses but rather in the boughes of trées where is swéeter singing And incontinently they shewed hir a yong Oke newe sprong vp smal and tender where shée might sit very softly and build hir nest shée would not agrée thereto but gaue them counsell not to credite the yong plant for it would beare in time to come birdelime which would be their destruction They being a light kinde of birds and often flitting despised the good counsell of the Owle but when the Oke was growen it was brode full of boughs then the Birdes togither did flie amongste the boughes there they tooke their pleasure hopped vp and downe played and song togither In the meane time the Oke broughte forthe Birdlime Then the small birdes all too late repented that they refused that holsome counsell and this is the cause men say why al birds assone as they sée the Owle come clustering about hir folow hir sitte about hir and flie with hir for they remembring that counsell accounte hir wise and come aboute hir by flockes that they might learne wisedome and knowledge of hir MOR Despise not the counsell of him that giueth it a right Counsell for priuate gaine 76 Of a Foxe A Foxe being caught in a snare when shée had escaped with hir taile cutte off was ashamed of hir life wherevppon shée pretended to persuade other Foxes thereto so as by a common mischéefe shée might couer hir owne shame When shée had assembled them all togither shée counselled them to cutte off their tailes alleaging that they were not onely vncomely but also a superfluous burthen One of the Foxes aunswered hir Truely sister if this thing were not onely for thy profite thou wouldest not counsell vs thereto MOR Wicked menne giue counsell to theyr neighboures for no good will but for theyr owne aduantage Craftie men 77 Of the Lyon and the Gote A Lion by chaunce espied a Gote vpon an high rocke whome he counselled rather to come downe and féede in the gréene medow so would I sayd the gote if thou were thence for thou géeuest me counsel not for my pleasure but to slake thy hunger MOR. Credit not euery mannes talke for some counsel not to profit thée but themselues Craftie men 78 Of a Fox taken by a Countryman A Foxe being taken by a countryman of whose Hennes he had killed many with flattering woords besought him to set him at libertie swearing deuoutly that thencefoorthe he would neuer doe him harme The Countryman answered I would willingly forgiue thée and let thée go safe and sounde but that I knowe thée to be craftie and a promisse breaker and I certenly knowe that thou canst not hinder me being deade but I mistrust thée being aliue MOR. We muste giue no credite to false and craftie men Crafâ—e of women 79 Of a Woman that would die for hir Husband A Certaine chast Matrone that loued hir husbande wel was grieued at the heart for the sickenesse of him wéeping and mourning muche and bicause hir heartie good will mighte appeare the more shée besought deathe if néedes he would haue hir Husbande rather too take hir and to excuse him whiles shée thus spake shée espied death with his lothsome lookes approching wherewith shee being agaste and already repenting said I am not that body which thou séekest he lieth in the bed whome thou cammest to slea MOR. No man loueth his friend so well but he loueth him selfe better Neare is my coate but nearer is my skin Crueltie requited 80 Of a Lyon being olde THer was a Lion which in his youth through his fiercenesse had purchased the displeasure of many whereof in his olde age he receyued iust punishment Euery beast in recompence of theyr hurte requited his quarell The Bore wyth hys Tuske the Bull strake him wyth hys bornes and especially the Asse béeing inflamed to caste off the name of a cowarde wyth chiding and kicking couragiously did beate him The Lion then wayling lamentably said Those whome sometime I haue hurte paye me againe with the same measure and not without a cause Againe those to whome sometime I haue done good requite not nowe my goodnesse but rather vniustly are my foes great was my follie when I made so many my enemies but greater in that I trusted false friendes MOR. When thou art in prosperous estate be not loftie nor fierce if fortune once frowne or looke awry they whom thou hast hurte shall reuenge their quarell if thou haue fréends put a difference betwéene them some are fréends not to thée but to thy table and to thy fortune which as the wynd â–ª turneth will turne and happie shalt thou be if they be not thy foes As Ouid complayneth not without cause VVhen prosprous vvindes did driue my sailes of Frendes I had good store But all vvere gone vvhen raging Seas by blustring vvindes did rore Courage 81 Of the Hares and the Frogs IT hapned that Hares hearing a straunge roaring in the woode all trembling began swiftly to runne away In running they stayed at a marishe being in dout what to doe séeing danger on euery side and to encrease their feare they espied Frogs there drowned Then one wiser than the rest sayd Wherfore are we so fondly afraid Lette vs take a good harte for swiftnesse in running we lacke not but onely a couragious stomacke as for this hurly burly we néed not feare but set it lighte MOR. In all things take a good hart strength without courage is but dead for the chéefe heade of strength is hardinesse Cursing 82 Of the Bee and Iupiter THe Bée which as men thinke was the first maker of Waxe came sometime to sacrifice to the Gods whose oblation to Iupiter was a house of Honey wherewith Iupiter reioysing commaunded hir petition whatsoeuer it were to be graunted Then the Bée asked thus moste puissant God of all Gods I beséeche thée graunt to thy handmaide that who so euer commeth to the hiue to steale away hir Honey may forthewith die as I haue pricked him Iupiter being abashed at hir request bicause he loued mankinde farre aboue all other at lengthe sayde to hir Be thou contente if thou sting him that steateth thy hony that thou maiste leese thy sting and forthewith die and that in thy sting thy life may lie MOR. We curse our enemies but it commonly lighteth on our owne heades Daunger 83 Of a Hart and a Lyon. A Harte escaping Hunters entred a caue where he chaunced on a Lyon by whome he was taken As he was dying he sayde Woe is me that fléeing from men haue hapned on the cruellest
of all beastes MOR. Many men auoiding smal dangers run into great 84 Of the Towne Dogs A Great route of Towne dogges coursed sore a Countrey dogge which ran away and durste not resist at the last he turned again and shewed his téethe to them then they all stoode still and durst not come néere him where as the Captaine generall of the hoste was present who turned to his souldiers and sayd Felowes this sight warneth vs not to flée seeing we sée more daunger to them that run away than to those that resist Dealing 85 Of two Pots TWo Pottes stoode togither on a banke the one was of earth the other of Brasse which bothe were sodeinly caughte by the force of the streames the earthen Pot fearing to be broken went swiftliest whom the Brasen pot comforted willing him to feare nothing for he could take héede inough that they should not knocke togither Nay sayd the other I know wel inough whether the Riuer beate thée againste me or me againste thée I shall be in hazarde on euery side Therfore haue I determined to kéepe no companie with thée MOR. Better it is to deale with thy fellowe than with thy better for the mightier man can sooner hurt thée than thou him Death 86 Of the Swanne singing at the poynt of death A Swanne being néere at the poynt of death was asked of the Storke why he soong sweter being nigh his deathe which all other beastes doe so much hate than in all his life time before séeing at that time he ought to be sorie the Swanne aunswered Bycause from hencefoorthe I shal not be troubled with séeking for meat nether shall I néede to feare the Foulers ginne MOR. We are warned héereby not to feare death being by that berefte from all miseries 87 Of an Olde man which set trees A Man of very olde age was mocked of a yong man bicause he plāted trées wherof he shuld neuer sée fruite The olde man aunswered Neyther thou perhappes shalte gather fruite of those which thou goest about to sette Shortly after the yong man fell oute of a trée which he climbed to gather heries and brake his necke MOR. Death spareth no age Deceite 88 Of the Dog and the Cocke THe Dogge and the Cocke entred friendship and iorneyd togither whē night drue néere the Cocke flew vp into a trée and rested but the dogge slept at the roote of the hollowe trée It hapned that the Cocke as he was wonte crowed in the night season whome the Fox hearing ran towarde him and as he stoode on the grounde he prayed the Cocke to come downe bycause he greatly desired to embrace so trimme a singing bird the Cocke bad him that he should first wake the porter which slept at the roote of the trée and that when he had opened he would come downe as the Foxe soughte meanes too call him vp the Dog starte vp and tore him in pieces MOR. Wise men wil by pollicie send their enimies to mightier than themselues Deceitfull persons 89 Of a Frier a Layman and the Wolfe A Certaine religions man of the order of S. Anthonie begged of a Husbandman a portion of corne for which he promised to warrant all that he had especially that his shéepe that yere shoulde be safe The countreyman giuing credite to his promises lette his shéepe stray abrode where they list wherof the greatest number a Wolfe destroyed the Farmer therewith chafing when the next yere the gatherer came for corne did not onely deny him his almes but also blamed him for his foolish promises Why what is the matter quod he The other aunswered his shéepe were destroyed by the wolfe What the Wolfe sayde he surely that is a naughty beast trust him not but beware of him for he would not onely deceiue S. Anthony but also Chryst him selfe if he could It is therefore follie to credit those whose mark that they shoote at is onely to deceiue Deserts rewarded 90 Of a Parate A Parate béeing brought out of the East parts into the West where no suche Birdes are wont to bréede maruelled that he was more estéemed there than in his natiue countrey for he was kept in a Cage of yuorie wrought with Siluer wyre fed with most swéete meat which thing happened not to other birdes of the West partes which in beautie and speaking as farre excelled Then the Turtle béeing shut vp in the same cage sayde this is not maruell worthy for no man in his owne countrey is rewarded as he deserueth Desire of new things 91 Of an Asse SOmtime an Asse serued a Gardener of whose crueltie he complayned to Iupiter beséechyng hym to haue a new maister Iupiter graunted hys request and put hym to a Tyler whom bycause he laded him with much heauier burdens he mislyked He therefore prayed Iupiter yet once agayne to shift hys seruice from hym to a gentler Maister The God smyled at hys folly yet the Asse continued so long an earnest suter that he forced hym thereto Then he serued a Curryer whose trade when the Asse had well perceiued he repented saying Ah wretch that I am which can be contented with no maister for now I haue got suche a one which as I suppose will also curry my skinne MOR. Things present we neuer allow but séeke for new Dyet 92 Of a Pacient and a Physitian A Physitian tooke vpon him to cure a Pacient who at length dyed then sayde he to the Pacients kinsfolke this man cast him selfe away for lacke of good dyet MOR. He that vseth quaffing and liueth inordinately shall neuer be olde or else shall haue a very shorte lyfe Dignitie 93 Of an Asse carying an Image AN Asse caryed an Image of siluer on hys shoulders which euery one that met it dyd worship wherwith beeing insolent he would no longer be an Asse then was it tolde him that he was no God but caryed an Idoll MOR. They that are placed in dignitie ought to know that they are men 94 Of the Frog and the Crab. A Frogge séeing a Crabbe swimming by the water side sayd What is he so ill fauoured and foule that dare trouble my water séeing I am mightie and strong I will put him to flight When he had so sayd he lepte vppon the Crab saying why wast not thou ashamed O wretch to enter into my resting place Dyddest not thou blush béeing so foule and so blacke to defile the cleare water The Crab as his maner is began to go backe and sayde I pray thée sister say not so for I would be at one with thée therfore come not thus vppon me The Frog séeing him go back supposed that he did it for feare of him wherby he waxed more fierce agaynst him saying Drawe not backe thou filthe for thou mayest not escape this day will I giue thy flesh to the fish incontinent he skipped vpon him to kill him The Crab séeing the present daunger turned about and with his clawes byt the Frog and tore him in péeces MOR. Euery man
if he list will throw thée downe Euill for good 125 Of the Countryman and the Serpent AS a Countrimā walked about his grounds he found a Serpent in the snowe nigh deade with colde which he pitying much brought home and laid him by the fires side The serpent by reason of the fire come againe to his strength and venime could no longer endure the heat but filled all the cottage with his hissing The Countryman gotte vp a stake and ran at him wherewith he stroke him and then tooke him vp for that displeasure saying Wilt thou thus recompence my curtesie Goest thou about to destroy him that saued thy life MOR. It chanceth often if a man saue a théefe from the gallowes he wil soonest séeke his death and on whome men bestowe moste labor of him they shall reape least good From euill to worse 126 Of a Seruant which cast his Masters Asse from a Rocke A Certaine husbandmannes Seruant threw downe his maisters Asse headlong from an high Rocke that he might not daily be forced to driue him too and fro but he tolde his maister that he fell downe himselfe wherefore his maister dyd cause him to beare all things on his shoulders whiche the Asse was woonte before to carrie The which thing the euill seruant marking saide I was not well aduised when I slue my innocent fellow which eased mee of so great trauaile I am thus worthily serued MOR. Whyles fooles would auoyde any euil they fall into woorse Exercise 127 Of the Bat the Bramble and the Cormorant THe Bat the Bramble and the Cormoraunte entred fréendship togither and determined to liue lyke marchants whervppon the Bat borowed money and shipped it the Bramble toke garmentes the Cormorant Brasse and sailed together It chaunced a greate storme to aryse that the ship was drowned al their goodes lost and they escaped to lande since which time the Cormorante sitteth on the sea shore to sée if the sea will cast vp the Brasse any where The Bat fearing his creditours sheweth not his head by day lighte but goeth to féede by nyghte And the Bramble dothe catche holde of the garments of suche as are passers by séeking if hée can fynde his owne MOR. Whereunto wée do apply our selues in tyme to come we followe the same Experience 128 Of the Worme THe Worme that lurketh in the durt went abrode vpon lande and sayde to al beastes that she was as learned a phisitiā for medicines as euer was Poeen phisitian to the Gods Why quoth the Foxe canst thou cure others and canst not heale thy selfe of thy lamenesse MOR. All talke is in vaine except experience haue ben had before 129 Of Cockels A Countreymans son rosted Cockles whome as he hearde hissing he sayde O euil beastes which when your housen be burnte do sing MOR. Al things done out of due order are to be discommended Falshod in fellowship 130 Of the Asse and the Fox THe Asse and the Foxe béeing entred fréendship went forthe a hunting whome a Lion meeting the Foxe séeing the present daunger wente to the Lion promised to deliuer the Asse into his hands so that she might scape scotfrée the Lyon agréed then she led the Asse and caused him to be trapped in a net but the Lyon séeing him so fast that he might not escape firste layde holde on the Foxe and after he serued the Asse likewise MOR. They which betray their fellowes vndoo them selues vnawares False witnesse 131 Of the Dogge and the Asse A Bandog which is able to vanquish not only Wolues but also Beares did iourneye a long way with an Asse which caryed a sacke full of bread As they went on their way a tempest arose then the Asse hapned on a medow where with good grasse he filled his belly full but the Dog desired the Asse to giue him a little péece of bread least he sterued he not only denyed him that but also scottingly counselled him to féed on grasse with him In the meane time the Asse espying the Wolfe comming besoughte the dogge to aide him Nay quod he thou didst counsell me to féed on grasse to slake my hunger so I will thée to defende thy selfe with thy iron heeles against the Wolfe MOR. They which aide not them which néede helpe are wont to be destitute of the succoure of others in the time of néede Faultes punished 132 Of a wicked man and the Diuel A Wicked man hauing committed many heynous offences for which he was often apprehended and committed to prison where he was kept very straightly besought the helpe of a Diuel which often had aided and deliuered him out of trouble At lengthe he was taken againe who as he wonted required succoure of the Diuell who came to him carying a gret bundel of shoos on his shoulders and saide friende I can helpe thée no longer for I haue trotted to so manye places for thy deliueraunce that I haue worne out all these shooes and I haue no money left me to bye any more wherefore thou muste néedes peryshe MOR. Let vs not beléeue alwayes to scape scotfrée with our faultes Familiaritie 133 Of a Camell WHat time the Camel was first séene he was much dreaded and bycause of hys hugenesse men fled from him But in processe of time his tamenesse being knowen they tooke a good hart came to him afterward vnderstanding the beastes courage they so farre forthe despised hym that they put a bytte in hys mouth and deliuered him to be driuen by boyes MOR. Custome and dayly companie make terrible things to be little set by 134 Of the Foxe and the Lyon. THere was a Foxe which had not ben vsed to the sight of the Lion whome when he sawe by chaunce once or twise he quaked for feare fled away As he met him the third time he stood nothing in doubt but approched saluted him MOR. Familiar conuersation maketh men bolde euen with those whom they were afrayde afore to looke on Feare 135 Of the Egle THe Egle for his beautie preferred him self before all other birdes which thing all dyd affirme that it was true but the pecock said to him self the feathers make thée not beautiful but thy bill and thy talandes bicause none of vs dare contende with thée aboute their beautie for feare of them MOR. Myghtier mens affaires are praysed of many more for feare than truth 136 Of a Dog fearing the Rayne A Certein Dog as ofte as it rayned durste not come foorth of the house and béeing demaunded of an other Dog why he did so aunswered bicause somtime I was scalded wyth hot water MOR. They which haue tasted of great euils are afrayde of the smallest 137 Of a Cock. A Cock béeing taken by a Foxe escaped from him very hardely Not long after he sawe a Foxes skin wherewith being sore afraide ran away whom other birdes mocked that he was afraid of nothing Ah quod he if ye had ben in the Foxes gripes as I haue ben ye would be afrayd of
Mariners IT hapned as many Maryners were sayling on the sea that there arose a great tēpest sodeinly hen euery one prayed to his God for helpe but one amongst the rest sayde Ye know not what yée pray for before these gods can goe to the Lord for oure succoure wée shall perishe throughe this storme therefore I doe thinke it best 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 help at the foote when we may goe to the head Praise of our owne 237 Of the Owle IN the assembly of birdes 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 thée O Quéene receiue mine which in beautie passe all the rest why quod the Egle what beautie are thy sonnes of The Owle answered Of the same that I my selfe am Then all the Birdes laughed excéedingly MOR. No childe is so deformed which to his parentes seemeth not faire Praise another for aduauntage 238 Of a Foxe and a Dog. A Fox being coursed by a Dog and euen at the pointe to be caught hauing no way to shifte him said why woldest thou destroy me thou dog séeing my flesh thou canst not eat Go catch rather that Hare for there was one then harde by whose flesh men iudge to be the swéetest the dog harkened to the counsel of the Foxe and let him goe free pursuing the Hare whom bycause of his wonderfull swiftnesse he could not ouertake Not long after the Hare mette with the Foxe blaming him for setting the Dog at him The Foxe aunswered him I maruell what thou meanest to accuse me which praysed thée so greatly what wouldest thou haue sayde if I had dispraysed thée MOR. Many vnder the colour of praysing deuise vtter vndooing to some men Preparation 239 Of the Wolfe and the Porkupine ON a tyme the Wolfe béeing hungry had a fancy to deuoure a Porkupine whome bycause of his sharpe prickes he durst not assayle but inuented a craftie wile to trap him in counselling him not to trouble his backe with so many weapons in tyme of peace séeing that other Archers carried none with them but when they goo to warfare Nay quod the Porkupine wée must suppose that there is no tyme voyd of war agaynst a Wolfe MOR. A wise man ought always to be armed agaynst the assaults of his enimies Preparation to dye 240 Of an olde man loth to dye A Certayne olde man desired deathe whiche came to take his life from him to spare him till he might make his will and prouide all other necessaries fit for suche a iorney whome Death aunswered Why haste not thou prepared thy selfe béeing so ofte warned by me Mary quod he I neuer sawe thée afore Why quod Deathe when I dayly tooke not onely those which were of like yeres to thine of which number very fewe remayne but also yong men children and babes was it not sufficient warning that thou arte mortall When thy eyes waxed dimme thy hearing thick other senses dayly decaying and thy body béeing worse and worse did I not tell thée that I was néere at hande and yet thou sayest thou hast no warning wherefore I will no longer prolong the time MOR. We muste directe our lyfe as though death were alwayes before our eyes Presumption 241 Of the Asse and the Lyon. THe Cocke sometyme fed with an Asse to whom as the Lion was comming the Cock crowed out aloude and the Lyon straightway fled for men say he is afearde at the crowing of the Cocke The Asse supposing that he ranne away bicause of him wēt straight after the lyon whom when he had so far pursued that they were without the hearing of the Cocks crowing the lion returned deuoured him who as he was dying cryed out Ah wretch madde body that I am for I am borne of none that were warriors and wherefore haue I rushed into the hoste MOR. Many men assayle their enimies which vpon set purpose doo humble them selues by the which meanes they are slayne Pride 242 Of the Horse and the Asse SOmetyme a Horse decked with fayre trappers and a saddle greatly neyghing ranne through a highe way whose running an Asse laden by chaunce dyd let he all raging and chewing his bit for anger sayd Ah lither lurdeyn why withstandest thou the Horse Giue place or I will tread thée downe the Asse durst not once bray but quietly auoyded It happened as the Horse ranne his race his hoofe brake who then béeyng paste running or makyng any shewe was spoyled of his ornaments and after solde to a Tanner The Asse seeing him comming wyth a Tanner sayde vnto hym What good sir howe happeneth thys kynde of wéede where is thy gilt sadle thy studded trappers and glittering brydle Thus it is fitte my friende to happen to euery one that is proude MOR. Many men in their prosperitie are so puft vp with pride that they cleane forget them selues and all modestie but for their presumption they soone suffer aduersitie Proude of an others purse 243 Of Iupiter and the Rauen. ON a tyme Iupiter mynding to create a king of the Foules appoynted a day of assembly to the ende that he which was comlyest shoulde be appoynted king The Rauen hearing therof and knowing his owne deformitie gathered togither diuers feathers and decked himselfe that he was goodlyest of all When the day appoynted was come the Foules assembled togither then Iupiter would haue made the Rauen king bycause of his gaynesse whereat the other dysdayning plucked euery one his feathers from him whereof he beeing spoyled was a Rauen as before time MOR. He that hangeth on another mans sléeue if he chance to fall from him al the world shall know what he is Falles of pride 244 Of a Flea and a Lyon. THe Flea came to the Lyon and sayde Neither feare I thée neither arte thou stronger than I but I pray thée what is thy strength thou scratchest with thy nayles and with thy téeth thou bytest so doth a woman fyghting with hir husbande but in strength I far excéede thée and if thou wilt let vs go fight The Trumpet béeing blowen the Flea stucke faste about hys nosethrils byting but the Lyon with his owne nayles tore him selfe till he was chafed The Flea hauing ouercome the Lyon sounded the Trumpet and reioyced but as he flewe away he was entangled in a Cobwebbe and béeing ready to be deuoured he lamented that he stroue with the greatest Beastes and nowe to be kilde by a vile Spider MOR. This Fable is agaynst those whiche vanquishe greate men and are vanquished by meane persons Princes 245 Of the Pecock and the Chough WHen the Birds would make them a king the Pecocke prayed them to choose him for his beautie when they so mynded the Chough began
Then they all with one accorde payd his damages supposing that it was not fit that any should receiue hinderance which had trauelled for their common wealth 256 Of the Mule and the Horsse A Mule espied a horsse gorgeously decked with a gilt byt a faire sadle purple trappers at whose Fortune he enuied much supposing him to be happy bicause he alwayes fared well and went gayly contrarywise his owne estate in comparison of hys to be miserable For quod he I am ouerladen with the packsaddle and I am a dayly drudge to cary burdens But shortly after he espyed the Horsse returning from battaile sore wounded then he accounted his owne estate better than the Horses saying I had rather get my liuing hardly with my daily labour and to bée clad in vile aray than after such faire and trim apparell to be in daunger of my life MOR. We must not enuie Kings and Princes bicause of their wealth and substance séeing they are subiecte to many moe peryls than poore men are 257 Of a Diuell A Diuill wandring through the worlde as his maner is marked a certaine yong man reioysing at the deth of his parēts wherat he was very glad but going a little further he wept séeing an other very heauie at his Fathers buriall who being demaunded the cause of so diuers affections aunswered The laughing of the sonne for the deathe of his parents declareth that those being riche are dead of which number very few escape our handes but the wéeping is a token of the fathers pouertie and the kingdome of Heauen for the most part is wont to belong to those whiche are poore MOR. Too much riches do cary a man downe to Hell. Riche enimies 258 Of the Birdes THe Birdes were greatly afrayde least the Dorres shoulde kill them with shooting of Balles bicause they hearde that they hadde rolled togither a great heape of bals Feare not sayd the Sparrow for how shall they shoote bals at vs that flie in the aire when they can not carry them on earth but with much toyle MOR. Wée néede not feare the riches of our foes when wée sée they lacke wit. Riottousnesse 259 Of an Oxe and a Bullock AN Oxe béeing well striken in age dayly went to plow. It hapned that a yong Heyfer whiche neuer had laboured fetched hys friskes in the pastures not farre off and scorned the toyling of the elder boasting muche of hys owne libertie that he had tasted neyther yoke nor chayn but the others necke was worn bare with laboure The Oxe presently aunswered nothing not long after he espyed this royster ledde to be sacrificed then he saide thus to him What end hath now thy easy life Thy carelesse liuing at harts ease hath brought thée to the axe I think now thou wilt rather counsel me to labor than to tolenesse which is the cause of thy death MOR. To leade an honest life there néedeth trauell the Sluggard and he that is bent to riottous liuing shall come to that which he would be lothe 260 Of a Boy that would not learne A Boye whiche hated learning béeing broughte by his Father into a Schoole coulde not be enticed by any faire meanes of his Maister to speake the fiest letter of the Alphabete Then sayd his Maister open thy mouth for that thys Letter requireth but he gaped and spake not The Maister seeing his labor lost had hym sitte amongst his fellowes warning them to persuade him to speake onely this Letter then his schoolefellows exhorted him in the best maner that they coulde saying Is it suche a payne to saye A Nay quod the Boye but if I speake that he would make me learn B and so the rest But neither my master nor my father shal haue the power to make me learne MOR. They which are vnwilling to learne can neuer be forced to it Seruaunts 261 Of the Doue and the Crowe A Doue being fed in a doue house was excceeding proude of hir fertilitie The Crow hearing therof sayd to hir Friend brag no more thereof for the more thou breedest the more care thou heapest MOR. Amongest seruants those are most miserable which in time of their bondage get many children 262 Of the Asse and the Calfe AN Asse and a Calfe fed togither in one pasture by chaunce they heard the founde of a bell which they supposed to be a signe that their enimies were at hand to whom the Calfe sayde Let vs be packing hence fellowe least our enimies take vs prisoners Nay flee thou hence rather quod the Asse whom they vse to kill eate for I care not I know this where soeuer I become my life shall be to cary burdens MOR Let not seruants feare much to chaunge their maisters least the last bée woorser than the firste Shifies 263 Of a Marchaunt and a Iewe. A Certein prodigall fellowe hauing wasted al his Fathers goods applied his minde to practise deceyt It happened on a time that he wrapped a piece of ordure in a cloute and brought it into the market saying that he had a precious thing which was of such force that if any mā tasted the least crum therof he should haue fulfilled whatsoeuer he thought of But a Iew whose maner is priuily to mark al things thought if he did buy it that he would haue o◠his minde many townes and lordships when he tasted of it bycause he would be exceding riche he came therfore secretly vnto him and asked the price whervnto this prodigall fellow sayde Auaunt thou shalt not buy it for thy clothes declare that thou art not able The Iewe sayde to him how knowest thou tel mée the price he answered .700 crownes the Iewe payd him the money vpon condition that if he had fayde true he should enioy it but when he had tasted it he spit it out and sayd it was ordure Then the seller hauing performed his promise pleaded the cause before the Maior and enioyed the money Sicke folke 264 Of a Carter A Certein Carter asked his wagon why that whéele which was worst made so much creaking séeing none of the rest did so The waggon aunswered Sicke folkes are wayward and alwayes complayning MOR. Diseases cause men to complayne Sinners 265 Of an olde Woman MEn commonly will if through their follie any mischaunce happen to them laye the blame to Fortune or the Deuill to excuse them selues they doo so muche followe their appetites wherewith the Deuill not contented when by chaunce he espyed an olde woman clymbing a trée whence he perceyued she was lyke to fal and then the faulte would be layd on his necke he called for witnesses to whome he sayde Beholde that same olde woman hath climbed that trée without my consente where I see shee wyll fall beare witnesse therfore with mée that I counselled hir not to goe vp Immediatly she fel then being demaunded why she climbed that trée answered the Deuil forced me then he brought foorth his witnesses and proued that she did that without his aduise MOR.
Dog supposing that to be geuen 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 sometime counteth that to be hys prayse which is vtterly to his shame Valiant death 287 Of the Hog and the Horsse A Hog espied a barded Horse whyche was set out to warfare well appointed to whom he sayde Whether makest thou suche hast thou foole perhaps thou shalte be slayne in battayle The Horse aunswered him though thou doo nothing worthy of prayse but being fat liest wallowing in the myre yet a little knyfe thy life shall dispatch whereas great renoume after my death I haue MOR. It is better to die valiauntly thaÌ„ to prolong thy life led wickedly Vndefiled life 288 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 bycause he coulde not worke 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 wyth hys blacknesse polluted hir and made hir black When day was vp and the Swanne awaked who saw hir self thus painted she washed hir selfe continually till she became faire MOR. Who so will be blissed lette him kéepe him selfe vndefiled Vndoing him selfe 289 Of a Thrush A Thrush being caught with birdlime of a fouler did torment hir selfe saying The pangs of death gréeue me not so muche as that my owne things are my destruction for men say that birdlime is made of Thrushes doung MOR. Then are men most gréeued when their owne doings do slay them Vnequall mariage 209 Of the Lion and the Mouse A Lion sometime caught in a snare was so entangled that he could not wind out himself wherevpon he desired the Mouse to gnawe asunder the ginne promising a recompenâ—e 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 hys benefactor graunted hir vnto him When the newe maried wife was come vnto hir Husbande by chaunce not séeing him trode on him and burst him all to pieces MOR. Al mariages and matches vnequally made are not to be allowed Vnthankefulnesse 291 Of Ryuer A Certaine Ryuer checked hys headspring as being a standing water neyther hauing any fyshes but him selfe he highly commended bycause he bred goodly fishes and pleasantly ran through the valleys The headspring fretting at the vnthankfulnesse of the Ryuer ceased his wonted course whereby the Riuer wanting bothe his fishes and his pleasaunt noyse dryed vp MOR. Some claime as their own whatsoeuer they doe robbing God of his honour from whom all goodnesse doth procéede A wise Ape 292 Of a Serpent A Serpent beyng ouerwhelmed with a greate stone desired a man that traueled that way to roll off the burdeÌ„ froÌ„ him promising to gyue him a great treasure if he would do it Whiche when the gentle fellow had 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 betwene them sayde I can not ende so great stryfe betwene you excepte I see first howe the serpent stood vnder the stone WheÌ„ the man had layd the stâ—ne vppon the Serpent he sayd I thinke that vnthankfull beast ought to remayne vnder the stone MOR. Vnthankful men are worthy of no good turne 293 Of a man that brake an Image A Certein man had a woodden Image whome he prayed to bestowe some benefite on him but the more hée prayed the more he liued in pouertie Wherewyth he béeing angrye caught his Image by the leggs and sloong hym against a wall wherewith hys heade being broken great 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 me no good but when thou wast well beaten thou hasâ— yelded much riches MOR. A naughty man wil do much more good by beating than by honoring him 294 Of an Asse and a Rauen. AN Asse hauing a galled back fedde in a medow on whom a Rauen did sit and picked at his sore wherat the Asse brayed and skipped â–ª The horskéeper staÌ„ding a far off laughed therat â–ª whome as a Wolfe passing by espied he sayde â–ª Alas if we poore wretches should doe so muche we should be pursued but at him they laugh MOR Wicked men only peeping abroad arâ— forthwith knowne 295 Of a Dog. A Certen rich man much giueÌ„ to hunting did kéepe many dogs wherof one bit his sonne that he dyed Their maister béeing wroth commaunded to slay not only the man killer but also all the reste then sayd one of them one hath offended but all are punished MOR. The wickednesse of one often hurteth many 296 Of the Nurse and the Wolfe A Woman sometime had a chylde to nursse whom she thretned to cast to the wolfe excepâ— â—e left his crying It happened that the Wolfe â—assing that way hearde what she sayde whereâ—ppon béeing in good hope he wayted still at the â—oore The childe at length béeing stilled fell a â—léepe the wolfe returned fasting into the couerte with a Flea in his eare The shée Wolfe asked â—or his pray Mary quod he sighing I was deceyâ—ed a Nurse promised to cast me a boy that cryed â—ut she did not MOR. No credit is to be had in a woman 297 Of a Woman that wept for hir husbande THere was a yong Woman whose husbande lay at the point of death whome with these â—ords hir father comforted saying Daughter â—exe not so muche thy selfe for I haue prouided â—hée a husbande muche fayrer than he is whyche â—hall soone driue away thy longing for this but â—his woman would not harkeÌ„ to hir fathers talke â—ut blamed him for making mention so hastily yet when hir husband was dead she asked hir father wéeping if the yong man were néere which he sayd should be hir husband MOR. The loue whiche women haue to theyr husbands soone weareth away after they bée dead 298 Of a Woman beaten A Certeyne Woman sore beaten of hir husbande fayned hir selfe deade to make hym afrayde for she hild hir breath and lay with hir face vpward not once stirring Thys wise man knowing well the fetches of women sayd The deade beast must bée flayde and he caught vp a knife and began to flay the skin from hir féete she perceiuing the ende of hir dissimulation plucked backe hir féete and straight way arose MOR. Womens wyles are practised in vayne against wise men 299 Of the Widow and the grene Asse A Certeyne Widow being weary of leading a single lyfe desired to mary but she durst not bycause shée feared the mocking of the people which reported euill of those that were twice maried but hir godmother shewed her by this pollicie how