be re yong horses ¶ And thenne after these wordes sayd by Esope the kynge preysed gretely the sapyence of Esope ¶ And the kynge made more of hym and more worshipped hym than he dyd to fore ¶ And on the next moâ—â—we the kyng of Egypt made al the best and grettest philosophres and wyse men of alle his Countrey to be called before hym the whiche he infourmed of the grete subtylyte 〈◊〉 wytte of Esope And commaunded them to come to souper in to his Courte wyth Esope ¶ And as they were syttynge at the table the one of them sayd thus to Esope Thou must pardonne me For here I am seâ—â—te to speke with the ¶ And Esope ansuerd to hym Saye what hit pleaseth to the It is not God is wylle that no man shold make ony lesynge wherfor youre wordes shewen that lytylle ye drede and loue youre god For ye talke and saye but fables and lesynges ¶ And after another sayd to hym there is a grete Temple in the whiche is a Columpne ryght grete the whiche Columpne bereth and susteyneth xij Cytees And euery Cyte is couerd with thyrtty grete saylles vpon the whiche two wymmen ben euer rennynge And Esope ansuerd to hym in this manere The smal and ly tyll children of Babyloyne knowe the solucion of this questyon For thie Temple wherof thou spekest is the heuen and the columpne is the erthe And the twelue Cytees ben the twelue monethes of the yere and the thyrtty sayllys ben the dayes of the monethes And by the two wymmen whiche euer withoute cesse renne ouer the thyrtty saylles is to vnder stonde the day and nyght ¶ Thenne sayd the kynge of egipt to the lordes of his Courte Hit is now ryght and reason that I send trybutes and yeftes vnto the kyng of Babyloyne ¶ And one of them sayd to the kynge Syre we must yet make to hym another question the whiche is this what is hit that we neuer herd ne neuer we sawe And the kynge thenne beganne to saye to Esope I pray the to gyue solucion of this question And Esope retourned in to his lodges and fayned to make an oblygacion In the whiche Esope made to be wreton thys whiche foloweth I Nectanabus kynge of Egypte knowe before alle men to haue borowed of the kynge Lycurre a thousaÌ„d marke of gold the whiche I Nectanabus kynge of Egypte promytte to rendre hit and paye to the sayd kynge Lycurre within a certeyn terme whiche as thenne was passed the whi che Cyrographe or wrytynge Esope presented on the morne so lowynge to the kynge of Egypte Gretely was the kynge esmerneylled of this Cyrographe And sayd to the noble men of his Courte whiche were there presente Haue yow euer sene ne herd saye that the kynge Lycurre had lente to me ony mo ney ne other thynge And the knyghtes sayden Nay ¶ Esope thenne sayd to them yf hit be as ye saye to me your question is assoylled For now ye haue herd and sene that whiche ye herd ne sawe neuer ¶ And thenne the kynge of Egypte sayd that the kynge Lycurre was well happy and eurous to ha ue in his myght and subiection suche a subget and seruaunt as Esope was And sente ageyne Esope in to Babyloyne with grete yeftes and trybutes for the kynge of Babyloyne ¶ This Historye maketh mencyon how Esope retorned in to Babyloyn ¶ And how for to make hym to be worshipped he dyd do make a statue or ymage of gold THan Esope was come before the kynge of Babyloyn he told and reherced to hym al that he had done in Egypte wherfore the kynge commaunded that in the worship of Esope a statue or ymage of gold shold be sette in the publyke or comyn place ¶ And within a whyle after eso pe had desyre wylle for to goo in to grece and asked leue of the kynge for to goo thyder wherof the kynge was soroufull And Esope promysed to hym that he shold retâ—â—rne in to Babyloyne And that there he wold lyue and deye with hym And thus the kynge graunted hym leue And as Esope was goyng walkyng thurgh al the cytees THe whiche thynge Esope denyed and agaynsayd And thenne the Delphyns vnbynded the male in the whiche they found the Coup of gold And thenne wente and shewed it before the people And consyderynge and seynge the waye of their malyce and wykkednes also knowynge that he myght not escape beganne to wepe to make sorowe on his fortune And one of his frendes named demas as he sawe Esope thus wepynge comforted hym sayeng Haue good courage and reioyse thy self And anone the delphyns wente and concluded to gyder that they as a sacrylege worthy to receyue vylaynous dethe shold take Esope and make hym to be ledde vpon a hyghe Montayne for to be there throwen doune fro the top of the hylle vnto the fote of hit Whanne Esope knewe they re sentence he sayd to them and reherced this fable for to withdrawe them oute of they re malyce and sayd that pees was amonge alle beestes the ratte and the frogge loued moche eche other And the Ratte called the frogge for to come and soupe with hym The ratte sayd to the frogge ete of that whiche pleaseth to the And as they hadde ynough the frogge sayd to the Ratte come with me and thou shalt be wel festyed atte souper And to th ende that thou maist the better passe the Ryuer thou shalt bynd thy self to my fote The ratte was bound to the frogges feet And anone the frogge lepte in to the water and drewe the Rat after her And as the Ratte was nyghe drowned he sayd to the frogge wrongly thou makest me suffre dethe but they that shall abyde on lyue shalle auenge this mysdede on the And as they were thus drawynge the one forward and the other backward A kyte seynge this stryf and delate took them bothe to gyder ete them And semblably ye make me to deye wrongfully But Babyloyne and grece shalle auenge me vpon yow But yet for al this the Delphyns lete not goo Esope but in stede of dethe they drewe and polled hym shrewdly and the best wyse that he coude he deffended and reuenged hym self ageynst them ¶ This Historyâ—â— maketh mencyon how Esope ended and 〈◊〉 ANd as Esope was thus fyghtynge ageynst them he scaped oute of theyr handes and fledde in to the Tem ple of Appollo but al that prouffited hym nothynge For by force and strengthe they had drewe hym oute of the Temple And thenne they ledde hym where as they wold haue hym for to be put to dethe And Esope seynge hym so Vytu pered sayd to them in this manere ¶ My lordes drede yow not your god Appollo shalle auenge me vpon yow but not withstondynge alle that he coude saye he was broughte to the place where he shold deye And seynge that he coude not scape fro them he beganne to reherce to them this fable A woman
Vexe ne lette in no wyse ony other be it neuer soo lytyll a beest For the whiche good tydynges I praye the that thow wylt come doune to th ende that we may goo and synge Te deum laudamus for Ioye And the Cok whiche knewe wel the fallaces or falshede of the foxe ansuerd to hym in this manere Certaynly my broder and my good Frend thow hast brought to me ryght good tydynges wherof more than C tymes I shalle thanke the And sayenge these wordes the Cock lyfte vp his neck and his feet and loked ferre fro hym And the foxe sayd to hym what godsep where aboute lokest thow And the Cok ansuerd to hym Certaynly my broder I see two dogges strongly and lyghtly rennynge hytherward with open mouthes whiche as I suppose come for to brynge to vs the tydynges whiche thou hast told to vs And thenne the Foxe whiche shoke for fere of the two dogges sayd to the Cock god be with yow my frend It is tyme that I departe fro hens or these two dogges come â—â—rer And sayenge these wordes toke his waye ranne as fast as he myght And thenne the cock demaunded and cryed after hym godsep why rennest thow thus yf the sayd pacâ—â— is accorded thow oughtest not to doubte no thynge Ha a godsep sayd the Foxe from ferre I doubte that these two dogges haue not herd the decreâ—â— of the pees And thus whanne a begyler is begyled he receyued the sallary or payement whiche he ought to haue wherfore lete euery man kepe hym self ther fro POgius reherceth that there were two wymmen in Rome whiche he knewe of dyuerse age and forme which came to a Curteyzan by cause to haue and wynne som what wyth theyr bodyes whome he receyued and happed that be knewe the fayrest of bothe twyes and that other one 's and soo departed And afterward whanne they shold departe he gaf to them a pyece of lynen clothe not decernynge how moche eche of them shold haue to her parte and porcion And in the partynge of the sayd clothe fylle bitwene the wymmen a stryf by cause one of them demaunded two partes after thexygence of her werke And that other the half after they re persones eche of them shewynge dyuersly theyr resons that one sayeng that she hadde suffred hym twyes to doo his pleasyr and that other pretended that she was redy and in her was no defawte And soo fro wordes they came to strokes and cratchyng with naylys and drawynge theyr here in so moche that theyr neygh bours came to this batayll for to departe them And also their owne and propre husbondes not knowynge the cause of theyr stryf and debate eche of them defendynge his wyues cause And fro the fyghtynge of the wymmen hit aroos and came to theyr husbondes with buffettis and castynge of stones soo longe that men ranne bytwene them And after the customme of Rome bothe the husbondes were brought to pryson berynge enemyte eche to other knowe no thynge the cause wherfore The sayd cloth is sette in the handes of the wymen secretely yet not departed but is secretely argued amonge the wymmen in what wyse that this mater shal be deuyded And I demaunde of doctours what the lawe is of it ¶ He sayth also that a Marchaunt of Florence bonght an hors of a man and made his couenaunt with the sellar for xxv du cattes for to paye forthwith in hande xv ducattes And as for the rest he shold abyde dettour and owe And the sellar was content and therupon delyuerd the hors and receyued the xv ducattes After this a certayne terme the sellar demaunded of the byar the resydue And he denyed the payment had hym hold his couenaunt For the byer sayd we were accorded that I shold be thy debtour And yf I shold satysfye paye the I shold nomore be thy dettour et 〈◊〉 and soo he abode dettour HE telleth also that ther was a carryk of Iene hyred in to frauÌ„ce for to make warre ayenst englissħmen of the whiche â—â—arrik the patrone bare in his sheld painted an oxe hede whiche a noble man of frauÌ„ce beheld sawe sayd he wold auenge hym on hym that bare tho armes wherupon aroos an altercacion so moche that the frensshman prouoked the Iaâ—â—eye to bataylle and fyght therfore The Ianuey acceptyd the prouocacion came at the day assigned in to the felde withoute ony araye or habyllements of warre And that other frensshe man came in moche noble apparayll in to the feld that was ordeyned theÌ„ne the patrone of the carrik said wher fore iâ—â— it that we two shold this day fyght make bataill fore I saye said that other that thyn armes ben myn bylonged to me to fore that thow haddest them Thenne the Ianuey said It is no nede to make ony bataylle therfore For the armes that I bere is not the hede of an oxe but it is the hede of a cowe whiche thynge so spoken the noble Frensshe man was abasshed and so departed half mocqued ALso he saith that ther was a phisycyen dwellyng in a Cyte whiche was a grete a connyng man in that sey enâ—â— he had a seruauÌ„t a yong man whiche made pyl les after a certayne forme that he shewed to hym whan this yong man had dwellid long with hym coude parfÈtly make the pyllys he departed fro his mayster and went in to strauÌ„ ge countre where as he was knowen and lete men there to Vn derstonde that he was a connynge phisycyen and coude gyue medycynes for al maner maladyes ond sekenesses and mynystred alwey his pylles to euery man that came to hym for ony remedy And hit was soo that a poure man of that place where he was came to hym and complayned how he had loste his asse and prayd hym to gyue to hym a medycyne for to fynde his asse ageyne And he gaf to hym the sayd pyllys â—â—dde hym to receyue and take them And he shold fynde ħis asse And this poure man dyd soo and after wente in to the feldes and pastures to seke and loke after his asse and soo doynge the pyllys wronght soo in his bely that he must nedes go purge hym and went amonge the reed and there easyd hym And anone there he fonde his asse wherof he beyng moche Ioyeful ranne in to the toune and told and proclamed that by the medecyn that he had receyued of the phisycyen he had found his asse whiche thynge knowen alle the symple peple reputed hym for a moche connynge man whiche coude no thynge doo but make pyllys And thus many fooles are ofte taken for wyse and connynge Foâ—â— he was reputed to hele all maner sekenesses and also to fynde asses THere was in a certayne towne a wydower wowed a wydowe for to haue and wedde her to his wyf and at the last they were agreed and sured to gyder ¶ And whan a yonge woman beynge seruaunt with the wydowe herd therof she came to her maystresse and sayd to her Allas maystresse what haue ye doo why sayd she I haue herd say sayd the mayde that ye be assured and shalle wedde suche a man And what thenne sayd the wydowe Allas sayd the mayde I am sory foryow by cause I haue herd saye that he is a peryllous man For he laye so ofte and knewe so moch his other wyf that she deyde therof And I am sory therof that yf ye shold falle in lyke caas to whome the wydowe answerd and sayd Forsothe I wold be dede For ther is but sorowe and care in this world This was a curteys excuse of a wydowe NOw thenne I wylle fynysshe alle these fables wyth this tale that foloweth whiche a worsħipful preest and a parsone told me late he sayd that there were duellynge in Oxenford two prestes bothe maystres of arte of who me that one was quyck and coude putte hym self forth And that other was a good symple preest And soo it happed that the mayster that was perte and quyck was anone promoted to a benefyce or tweyne and after to prebendys and for to be a Dene of a grete prynces chappel supposynge and wenynge that his felaw the symple preest shold neuer haue be promoted but be alwey an Annuel or at the most a parysshe preest So after longe tyme that this worshipful man this dene came rydynge in to a good paryssh with a x or xij horses lyke a prelate and came in to the chirche of the sayd parysshe and fond there this good symple man somtyme his felawe whiche caâ—â— and welcomed hym lowely And that other badde hym good morowe mayster Iohan and toke hym sleyghtly by the hand and axyd hym where he dwellyd And the good man sayd in this paryssh how sayd he are ye here a sowle preest or a paryssh preste nay syr said he for lack of a better though I be not able ne worthy I am parson and curate of this parysshe and thenne that other aualed his bonet and said mayster parson I praye yow to be not displeasyd I had supposed ye had not â—â—e bene fyeed But mayster sayd he I pray yow what is this benefyce worth to yow a yere Forsothe sayd the good symple man I wote neuer for I make neuer accomptes therof how wel I haue had hit four or fyue yere And knowe ye not sa id he what it is worth it shold seme a good benefyce No forsothe sayd he but I wote wel what it shalle be worth to me why sayd he what shalle hit be worth Forsothe sayd he yf I doo my trewe dylygeÌ„ce in the cure of my paryssheÌ„s in prechyng and techynge and doo my parte longynge to my cure I shalle haue heuen therfore And yf they re sowles ben lost or ony of them by my defawte I shall be punysshed therfore And herof am I sure And with that word the ryche dene was abussded And thought he shold be the better and take more hede to his â—â—res and benefyces than he had done This was a good answere of a good preest and an honest And here with I fynysshe this book translated emprynted by me William Caxton at wesemynstre in thabbey And fynysshed the xxvj daye of Marche the yere of oure lord M CCCC lxxxiiij And the fyrst yere of the regne of kyng Rychard the thyrdde
ESOPVS ¶ Here begynneth the book of the subtyl historyes and Fables of Esope whiche were translated out of Frensshe in to Englysshe by wylham Caxton at westmynstre In the yere of oure Lorde M. CCCC lxxxiij FIrst begynneth the lyf of Esope with alle his fortune how he was subtyll wyse and borne in Grece not ferre fro Troye the graunt in a Towue named Amoneo whiche was a nonge other dyfformed and euylle shapen For he had a grete hede large vysage longe Iowes sharp eyen a short necke corbe backed grete bely grete legges and large feet And yet that whiche was werse he was dombe and coude not speke but not withstondyng al this he had a grete wytte was gretely Ingenyous subtyll in cauyllacions And Ioâ—â— wordez ¶ This historye conteyneth How he excused hym of that was Imposed to hym that he shold haue eten the fygges of his lord ANd for as moche as his lord to whome he was bounde supposed that he was not prouffytable he sente hym to laboure in the Feldes and to dyke and delue in the erthe ¶ And on a day as his lord came in one of his Feldes one of his labourers gadred Fygges And presented them to his Lord sayenge My lord take these Fygges as for the firste fruyte of this felde And the lord receyued them Ioyously delyuerd them to his seruaunt named Agatopus chargyng hym to kepe them tyl he that day retourned fro his bayne ¶ And hit happed that Esope comyng from his labour demaunded his dyner lyke as he was acustomed And Agatopus whiche kepte the figges ete of them sayd to one of his felawes yf I doubted not and fered my maystre I wold ete alle these fygges And his felawe sayd yf thou wylt late me ete with the I shalle fynde a subtylyte that we shall haue no blame ne harme therfore And how may that be sayd Agatopus to whom his felawe sayd whan my lord shall come home we shalle saye to hym that Esope hath eten them And by cause he can not speke he shalle not conne excuse hym and so therfore he shal be wel beten herupon they went ete the fygges bitwene them bothe sayeng this vylayne shal be well beten And the lord whiche came out of the bayne commaunded to brynge to hym his fygges Agatopus sayd to hym Syre whan Esope came fro his labour fro the feld he fonde the Celer open and went in without rayson and hath eten al the fygges ¶ And whanne the lord herd this he was moche angry sayd calle to me Esope to whom he sayd thou counterfayt chorle how is this happed that thou hast not be aferd to ete my fygges wherof he was aferd in beholdyng them that had accused hym the lord commaunded to despoylle take of his clothes for to haue beten hym he kneled doune at his lordes feet by signes by cause he coude not speke prayd his lord to gyue hym space to excuse hym And his lord graunted it to hym And anon after he tooke a vessel ful of hote water whi che was on the fyre poured the hote water in to a bacyn and dranke therof anon after he putte his fyngre in his mouth cast out that which was in his stomak which was only water for that day he had tasted nothyng but water he praid that his accusers myght sembably drynke of that water as he had done And soo they dyde And they held theyr hond to fore theyr mouthe By cause they shold haue no vomyte but by cause the water was hote and their stomake resolued by the water they vomyted oute the water and alle the fygges to gydre And the lord seynge that sayde to them why haue ye lyed to me ageynst this Esope that can not speke ¶ And thenne he commaunded to despoylle them and to bete them openly sayenge who someuer dothe or sayth wronge of other shal be punysshed with the same payne that is due therfore ¶ And these thynges sene and experymented Esope retourned to his labour And as he laboured in the felde there cam a preest named ysydys whiche wente toward the Cyte had lost his way And he seynge Esope prayd hym that he wold enseygne hym the ryght way for to go in to the Cyte ¶ And Esope receyued hym ioyously And made hym to sytte vnder a fygge tree And sette to fore hym brede Herbes fygges and dates and prayd hym to ete and drewe water oute of a pyt and gaf hym to drynke And whanne he had well eten he tooke hym by the honde and sette hym in the ryght wey for to go to the Cyte after whiche thynges done the preest lyft vp his handes to heuen makynge his prayers for Esope of whome he had receyued so good a refresshynge ¶ This History maketh mencyon how the goddesse of hospitalite gaf speche of his tonge to esope how he was sold THenne Esope retourned to his labour ¶ And after whanne he had wel laboured for teschewe the grete hete of the sonne after his vsage he went in to the sha dowe for to reste and slepte vnder a tree ¶ And thenne the goddesse of hospitalite appyered to hym and gaf to hym sapyence and abylyte And also she gaf to hym the yefte of spe che for to speke dyuerse fables and Inuencions as to hym which was ryÈt deuout to hospitalite after when esope was awaked he began to say to hym self I haue not only slept ne swetely rested but also I haue had a fair dreme without ony empessament I speke and alle that I see I calle by they re propre names as an hors an asse an oxe a charyot and to al other thynges I can to eueryche gyue his name For I haue receyued sodenly the grace of this knowlege for the grete pyte that I haue had on them that lacke hospytalyte For he that dothe well ought to haue good hope in god and he shall haue good reward therfore And therfore I shall not laboure the losse than I dyd to fore ¶ And thus whanne he beganne to laboure came he that had the charge of the felde and the ouersyght And anone beganne to bete one of the labourers greuously wherof Esope was gretely displeasyd And sayd to hym in this manere what betest thou hym for nought and euery houre thou comest and betest vs withoute cause thow sleest vs and dost nought thy self But certaynly I shalle shewe to my lord alle this matere lyke as thou shall wee knowe ¶ And whan the procurour herd hym callyd by his owne name zenas he merueylled that Esope spake thought in hym self I shalle goo to fore my lord to th ende that thys foule vylayne complayne not on me and that my lord depose me not of my procuracion ¶ And he took his mulet and rode in to the Cyte and came to his lord and sayde ¶ My lord I salewe yow ryght humbly And the Lord
loked on hym and sayd to hym why comest thou so effrayed and troubled And zenas sayd to hym that now in the felde is happed a thynge monstruous And what is that sayd the lord haue the trees brought forth theyr fruyte to fore they re tyme or haue the bestes brought forth theyr fruyte ageynst na ture And zenas answerd hym Nay my lord but this croked chorle this counterfayted Esope thy seruaunt begynneth to spe ke clerely And wel sayd the lord that me semeth is a thyng monstruous ye forsothe sayd zenae ¶ And thenne sayd the lord We see al daye many men whanne they ben angry conne not speke but whanne they be in pees conne wel speke and profferrâ—â— thynges ¶ And thenne zenas sayd My lord he canne speke aboue al other men And hath sayd to me thynges contumelyouse blasphemyes and vylonyes of the and of alle the goddes ¶ And thenne his lord was angry and wrothe toward hym And sayd zenas goo thou to the feld And what thou wylt do with hym hyhe or lowe doo hit or selle hym or gyue hym or lose hym For I gyue hym to the And thenne zenas took this yefte by wrytynge and came in to the felde and sayd to Esope Now thow arte myn and in my puyssaunce For my lord hath gyuen the to me And by cause thow arte a grete langager and an euyllr chorle I shalle selle the vtterly And thenne of fortune hit happed that a Marchaunt that had bought seruauntes came in to that feld for to bye beestes for to bere oueralle his marchaundyse to Ephese the whiche mette with zenas And he sale Wed hym and demaunded of hym yf he had ony bestes to selle And zenas ansuerd that for nothynge he shold fynde no bestes to selle but I haue a seruaunt whiche is not fayr but he is of good age And demaunded of hym yf he wold bye hym And the Marchaunt sayd I wold fyrste sene hym ¶ And thenne zenas called Esope and shewed hym to the Marchaunt ¶ And whanne the Marchaunt sawe hym so dyfformed and soo foule sayd in this manere Fro whens is this Tupyn comen and this trompette of Tragetenus This is a fayre marchaundyse For yf he had not a wys I wold wene that hit were a botell full of wynd ye be well occupyed to brynge me hydre to shewe me this fayre personage I had supposed thou woldest haue sold to me somme fayre seruaunt honeste and playsaunt And thenne the marchaunt retourned on his way And Esope folowed hym and sayd to the Marchaunt Abyde a lytell here And the MarchauÌ„t sayd lette me not vylayn For thou mayst haue no prouffyte of me For yf I bought the I shold be callyd the Marchaunt of folyes and of wyne thynges And thenne Esope sayd to hym Wherfor thenne arte thou come hyder And the Marchaunt ansuerd for to bye some thynge that is fayre but thow arte foule ouer lothely and countrefayted I haue not for to do with suche Marchaundyse And thenne Esope sayd yf thow wylt bye me thou shalt lose nothynge And the Marchaunt demaunded wherof mayst thou doo to me ony prouffyte And Esope sayd ben ther not in thy how 's lytel children ne in thy towne that crye and ren ne bye me and thow shalt do wysely and shalt be theyr mai ster for they shalle drede and fere me lyke a fals vysage And thenne the Marchaunt smyled for the wordes of Esope And retorned to Zenas and axed of hym how he wold selle this fayre MarchauÌ„dyse And thenne zenas sayd to hym gyue me thyrtty pound or thre half pens For I wote well no man wylle bye hym And thenne the Marchaunt payd for hym to zenas as moche as he was wel content ¶ And thenne Esope wente with his newe mayster vnto his toune ¶ And as he entryd in to his how 's he hadde two chyldren lyenge in the lappe of theyr moder ¶ Thenne Esope sayd to the MarchauÌ„t Now shalt thow haue experyence of that I haue promysed For syth these two lytel children haue sene me they haue ben all seylle and aferd ¶ And theÌ„ne the Marchaunt lawhyng bidde hym to entre and seeynge the felawes fayr playsaunt salewed them sayenge I salewe yow my fayr felawes And whanne they sawe Esope they sayden all we shalle anone haue a fayr personage what wyll oure Mayster doo for to bye suche a man so foule and difformed And theyr lord ansuerd to them by cause I haue fouÌ„den no bestes for to helpe yow ther fore I haue bought thys galauÌ„d for to helpe yow to bere my caryage And therfore departe emonge yow the fardels for to bere And thenne Esope sayd to them O good felawes ye see wel that I am leest feblest I pray yow to gyue to me the lyghtest burthen And his felawes sayd to hym by cause thou mayst not doo bere nothynge To whome Esope sayd by cause ye do alle the laboure It is not syttynge that I only shold be ydle and vnprouffitable to my lord ¶ This historye maketh mencion how Esope demaunded the lyghtest burthen but to theyr semyng he took the heuyest whiche was atte last the lyghtest and so begyled his felawes THenne his felaws said to hym chese whiche thow wyl bere And Esope beholdyng all the burthene the fardels sacks and panyers And took a panyer full of brede For whiche two of the berers were redy for to haue borne and sayd now take me this panyer here And thenne they sayd he was the most foole of them by cause he asked the lyghtest and chese the heuyest And soo he tooke the panyer of brede and wente forthe to fore alle his felawes whiche whanne his felawes beheld and sawe they all saâ—â—den that theyr mayster had not lost his money For he was strong and myght bere yet an heuyer burthen And thus they mocqued hym ¶ And alwey Esope was at the lodgynge to fore his felawes And whan they were aryued at their lodgynge theyr mayster made them to reste And commaunded Esope to brynge forth brede for to ete so he took brede out of his panyer that his panyer was half empty And thenne whanne they had eten â—â—he of them took his burthen And Esope bare lasse than he dyd And cam to his lodgynge to fore his felawes And at souper he gaf to them so moche brede that his panyer was al wyde and empty And on the morne in this wyse he took his panyer and went to fore his felaws so ferre that they knewe hym not a ryght so that one demaunded who is he that goth so ferre to fore ve And another sayd It is the couâ—â—d and counterfayted â—â—se whiche by his subtylyte hath deceyued ve that â—â—re the burthens not consumed by the waye but he hath wyded hys burthen And is more wyly than we be And thenne after they came to Ephese And the marchaunt ladde his marchauÌ„dyse to the market and also his seruauntes for to
the wysedom y t was in Esope but for the lyberte and fredome whiche he demaunded he was woothe and angry And dredyng the tongue of Esope made hym to be put fast in pryson And Esope said to hym This is a fayr promesse of a philosopher thou knowest well how thow promysest to me lyberte And in stede of fredome lyberte I am put in pryson And as Exantus herd hym soo speke he reuoked and â—â—unged his sentence made hym to be delyuerd ¶ And after he sayd to Esope yf thou wylt be putte to thy lyberte hold thy tongue in peas and accuse me nomore And Esope sayd do what pleaseth the For wylt thou or not thou shalt put me to my lyberte ¶ That same tyme be felle a merueyllous dede within the Cyte of Samye For as men playd there the comyn and publyk playes as yet at this tyme is custome to doo in many good Cytees An Egle soden ly flewhe thorugh all the communyte of the peple and toke â—â—ure awey with hym the rynge and the Seal of hym that soueraynly had the myght puyssaunce of al the Cyte And lete it falle in to the pytte of a man whiche was in lyberte For the whiche dede and token alle the peple of Samye was gretely meruaylled And thenne arose a grete rumour thorugh the Cyte among the peple For moche they were doubtuous of som persecucion wyst not what that thyng myght signefye wher fore they were in grete doubte and in grete henynesse And ther for Incontynent they came toward Exantus as to hym whiche they held for the moost sage and wyse man of all the cyte of Samye and demaunded of hym what this meruaylle sygnyfyed and also what thynge myght befalle therof Exantus was ygnoraunt knewe not the signyfycacion of this merueyll wherfore he demaunded of the peple tyme space for to gyue herupon an ansuere Exantus thenne was in grete heuynesse and dolour by cause he wyst not what he shold saye ne ansuere to the peple And Esope whiche sawe hym so heuy and ful of sorowe demaunded of hym and sayd why arte thou soo heuy in thy courage leue sorowe and take with the Ioye and gladnesse gyue to me the charge for to ansuere to the Samyens And to morne thou shalt saye to them suche wordes My lordes of Samye I am no dynyn ne Interpretour of the merueyllous thynges which ben to come Netheles I haue a seruaunt in my how 's whiche as he sayth can telle suche thynges yf it please yow I shalle make hym come befo re yow And theÌ„ne yf by my couÌ„ceyll I satisfye alle the felau ship thou shalt therfore receyue haue worship glorye prouf fyt And yf I can not satisfye them thou shalt be delyuerd of grete Infamye and shame And I shalle be rebuked put to grete shame Thenne Exantus hauynge his trust in the wordes of Esope wente on the morowe in to the grete place of Samye and assembled there the peple of the Cyte and went vp on hyghe where as the Iuge was acustomed to sytte and that whiche he had lerned of his seruaunt Esope he declared there byfore the Samyens the whiche thynges by hym reherced and sayd prayd hym that he wold make his seruaunt to come thyder before them Esope came anone thyder And as he was before all the company alle the peple of the Samyens loked and byheld hym with grete merueyll by cause he was so coâ—â—fayted and crosted of body and sayd loke here â—â—s a fayre persone able to be a sewre dyuyn and wente mocked with hym ¶ And Esope beynge thenne on the hyghest party of asse the place began to make a token or signe wyth his hand vnto the peple of the Samyens to th ende that they shold holde theyr peas and kepe scylence amonge them And sayd do them in this manere My lordes for what cause lawghe yow scorne me of my fygure forme knowe ye not that men must not loke in the face of a maÌ„ to see byhold of what fygure or forme that he is of but only to knowe his wysedom Also men ought not to loke and take hede to the vessel but to suche thyng as is within the vessel For ofte a fowle vessel is full of good wyn And thenne whan the Samyens herd these wordes they sayd to Esope Yf thou canst gyue vs good counceylle for the welthe of alle the comyn peple we al praye the that thou wylt doo it anone And thenne Esope hauynge confydence and trust in his wysedome and scyence sayd thus Nature or kynd of the whiche cometh all good hath this daye set put debute or stryf bitwene the lord the seruaunt for he that shall wynquysshe shal not be paid ne rewarded after his desserte for yf the lord gete the victorye I that am his seruaunt shal haue no lyberte as ryÈt requyreth but I shal be bete and cursed also emprysoned wherfor yf ye wil that I gyue yow good enseygnemeÌ„t of that that ye demauÌ„de aske I requy re you that ye do make me free be put ageyn in to my lyberte to th ende that with trust good coÌ„fydence I may speke to you And I promyt enseure yow that I shal shewe vnto yow the sygnyfycacion and vnderstandynge of this angry or signe thenne they al with an egal wys sayde he axeth thyng resonable Iuste wherfor exaÌ„tus shal make hym to be free as reson is the whiche thyng exantus reffused to doo And the lord of the auctoryte publyke sayd vnto hym Exantus yf thou wylâ—â— not obeye to the peple by the vertue of myn auctoryte I shal take hym out of thy seruytude shal humble thy self in the tem ple of Iunoys ¶ This historye folowyng maketh mencyon hou esope was restitued into his lyberte ANd by cause that exantus was requyred prayd by al his good frendes that he shold restore put esope in to lyberte he said to Esope hou be hit that it is not by my good wyl I gyue the lyberte And anon he thatmade them the cryes and proclamacions wente in to al the places whâ—â— suche cryes were done Exantus the philosopher hath gyuen lyberte to Esope And thus was acoomplysshed that what esope had said wyll ye or wyl you not I shal ones be put in to lyberte And thenne Esope went in to the myddes of alle the folauship and made signe with his hand that euery one shold kepe pees 〈◊〉 scylâ—â—nte And after said to them My lordes of Sa mye the Aygle whiche is kynge aboue al other byrdes As the kynges ben â–ª aboue the peple hath take awey the rynge and scal of your perfect or gouernour This bytokeneth and sygnefyeth that a kynge shalle demaunde axe your lyberte and shal destroye alle your lawes And whan the Samyens herd the wordes they wexed and became al abusshed sore aferd
I ben now of one offyce And the myserable and vnhappy hors was abusshed And for shame loked dounward ansuerd neuer one word for alle his felycite was thenne torned in to aduersyte ¶ And therfore they that ben in felycite oughte not to dysprayse them whiche ben in aduersyte For many one I knewe ryche and myghty whiche are now poure ¶ The iiij fable maketh mencyon of the beestes and of the birdes NOne maye doo no good to two bordes at ones whiche ben coÌ„trary one to that other as sayth to vs this fable that the beestes made grete werre ageynst the byrdes fought euery day to gyder And the backe feryng the wulues And that the beestes shold vaynquysshe and ouercome the byrdes wold haue hold with the beestes and be ageynst the byrdes And whanne the bataylle was ordeyned on bothe sydes the egle beganne to entre in to the batayll of the beestes by suche a strengthe that with the help of the other byrdes he gat the feld and vaynquysshed and ouercame the bestes wherfor the bestes maade pees with the byrdes and were alle of one acord and of one wylle And for the treason that the â—â—acke had made she was condempned to neuer see the day And neuer flee but only by nyght And also she was despoylled of alle her fethers And therfore he that wylle serue two lordes coÌ„ trary one to other may not be good ne trewe And they whiche relynquen and leue theyr owne lordes for to serue another straunger whiche is enemy to theyr lord ben wel worthy to be punysshed For as the Euangely sayth None may serue bothe god and the deuyl ¶ The v fable is of the nyghtyngale and of the sperehawke HE that oppresseth the Innocents shalle haue an euyl ende wherof Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable Of a sperehawk whiche dyd put hym within the nest of a nyghtyngale where he fond the lytyl and yonge byrdes the nyghtyngale came and perceyued hym wherfore she praid the sperehawke sayeng I requyre and praye the as moche as I may that thow haue pyte on my smal byrdes And the sperehawke ansuerd and sayd yf thow wylt that I graunte the thy request thow must synge swetely after my wylle and gree And thenne the nyghtyngale beganne to synge swetely not with the herte but with the threte onely For he was soo fylled of sorowe that otherwyse he myght not doo The sperehawk sayd thenne to the nyghtyngale This songe playseth me not And toke one of the yonge byrdes and deuoured hit And as the sayd sperehawke wold haue deuoured and eten the other came there a hunter whiche dyd caste a grete nette vpon the sperehawke And whanne she wold haue fleen awey he myght not for he was taken And therfore he that doth harme letteth the Innocents is worthy to deye of euylle dethe As Caym dyd whiche slewe his broder Abel ¶ The seuenth fable is of the foxe and of the wulf FOrtune helpeth bothe the good and euylle folke and to alle them whiche she helpeth not she sendeth euylle to them And they that setten alle theyr malyce ageynste fortune ben subuertysed and ouerthrawon by her wherof Esope reherceth suche a fable Of a wulf whiche had assembled to gyter a grete proye or moche mete for to haue lyued more delyaously wherof the foxe had grete enuye and for to haue robbed somme of this good he came vnto the cauerne or hole where as this proye or mete was in and sayd to the wulf My godsep the wulf by cause hit is longe syth I sawe the I am in grete heuynesse and sorowe and also by cause we haue not ben in long tyme gone chaced and gone to gyder ¶ And whan the wulf knewe the malyce of the foxe he sayd to hym thow arte not come hyder for to see me ne how I fare but thou arte come for to robbe and rauysshe my good For the whiche wordes the foxe was moche angry and wente toward a sheepherd to whome he sayd yf thow wylt be auenged of the wulf whiche is enemy of thy heerd or parke on this day I shalle put hym vnder thy handes And the sheepherd ansuerde to the foxe in this manere yf thow doo as thow sayst I shall paye the wel And thenne the foxe shewed to hym the hool wherin the wulf was And the sheepherd Incontynent wente toward the hole and with a spere he kyld the wulf And by this manere the foxe was wel fylled and refresshyd of the good of other but as he retorned homeward he was taken deuoured by somme dogges wherfore he seyd to hym self by cause that ryght euylle I haue done euylle cometh now to me For synne retorneth euer vpon his mayster And he that lyueth but of rauyn and robberye shal at the last be knowen and robbed ¶ The seuenth fable is of the herte and of the hunter MEn preysen somtyme that that shold be blamed vitu pered And ofte men blamen vytuperen that that shold be preysyd as reciteth to vs this fable of a her te To whome it happyd on a tyme that he drank in a fontayn or welle as he dranke he sawe in the water his hede which was horned wherfore he preysed moche his hornes And as he loked on his legges whiche were lene and smal he dispreysed and vytupered them And as he was drynkynge in the fontayne he herd the voys and barkynge of dogges wherfore he wold haue fledde awey in to the forest for to saue hym self but as he sawe the dogges so nyghe hym he wold haue entrid within a busshe but he myght not for his hornes kepte hym withoute And thenne seyng that he myght not escape began to saye within hym self I haue blamed vytupered my legges whiche haue ben to me vtyle and prouffitable and haue preysed my hornes whiche ben now cause of my dethe And therfore men ought to disprayse that thynge whiche is vnprouffitable and preyse that whiche is vtyle and prouffitable And they ought to preyse and loue the chirche and the commaundements of the same the whiche ben moche vtyle prouf fytable And dispreyse and flee al synne and vyce Whiche ben inutyle harmeful and dommageable ¶ The viij fable maketh mencion of Iuno of Menus and of the other wymmen BEfore the goddes and the goddesses men muste euer preyse chastyte for it is a worshipful an honest thyng to a woman to hold hyr contente with a man alone but Menus for her disporte for to dryue aweye the tyme wold Interprete the sayenge of the hennes wherfore she demaunded a henne whiche was in her how 's but at this tyme I shal kepe my tongue and no ferther I shalle speke therof For many wyse men whiche haue sene and redde alle this book vnder standen wel alle the nature of hit And by cause it is lycyte honest And that we alle ben bounden to kepe the ladyes in they re worship and honour also that in
and shame by cause that he was thus departed and gone fro theyr felauship and sayd to them My bretheren and my frendes I am well worthy to haue had this payne by cause I was gone depar ted from yow And therfore he that is wel lete hym beware that he moue not hym self For suche by his pryde desyreth to be a grete lord whiche ofte falleth in grete pouerte ¶ The thyrd fable is of the foxe and of the cocke OFtyme moche talkynge letteth As hit appiereth by this fable Of a foxe whiche came toward a Cocke And sayd to hym I wold fayne wete yf thow canst as wel synge as thy fader dyde And thenne the Cock shette his eyen and beganne to crye and synge ¶ And thenne the Foxe toke and bare hym awey And the peple of the towne cryed the foxe bereth awey the cok ¶ And thenne the Cocke sayd thus to the Foxe My lord vnderstandest thow not what the peple sayth that thow berest awey theyr cock telle to them that it is thyn and not theyrs And as the foxe sayd hit is not yours but it is myn the â—â—k sâ—â—aped fro the foxe mouthe and fâ—â—ough vpon a tree And thenne the Cok sayd to the fox thow lyest For I am theyrs and not thyn And thenne the foxe beganne to hytte the erthe bothe with his mouthe heed sayenge Mouthe thow hast spoken to moche thow sholdest haue eten the Cok had not be thyn ouer many wordes And ther for ouer moche talkyng letteth and to moche crowynge smarâ—â— therfore kepe thy self fro ouer many wordes to th ende that thow repentest the not ¶ The fourthe fable is of the dragon and of the â—â—erle MEn ought not to rendre euylle for good And them that helpen ought not to be letted As reherceth thys fable Of a dragon whiche was within a Ryuer and as this Ryuer was dymynuyssled of water the dragon abode at the Ryuage whiche was al drye And thus for lack of watre he coude not stere hym A labourer or vylayne came theÌ„ne that waye and demaunded of the dragon what dost thow there And the dragon ansuerd to hym I am here lefte withoute water withoute whiche I can not meue but yf thow wilt bynd me and sette me vpon thyn asse and lede me in to my Ryuer I shal gyue to the habondaunce of gold and syluer And the vylayne or chorle for couetyse bound and ledde hym in to his repayre And whanne he had vnbounden hym he demaunded his sallary and payment And the dragon sayd to hym By cause that thow hast bounden me thow wylt be payd And by cause that I am now hongry I shalle ete the And the vylayne ansuerd and sayd For to haue done wel thow wylt ete and deuoure me And as they stryued to gyder the foxe whiche was within the forest herd wel theyr question and different came to them and sayd in this manere Stryue ye no more to gyder For I wyll acord and make pees bytwixt you â—â—ate eche of yow telle to me his reason for to wete whiche of yow hath ryght And whanne eche of them had told his caas the foxe sayd to the vylayne Shewe thow to me how thow boundest the dragon to th ende that I may gyue therof a trewe and lawfull sentence And the vylayne put the dragon vpon his asse and bound hym as he had done before And the fox demaunded of the dragon helde he thenne the so fast bounden as he dothe now And the dragon ansuerd ye my lord and yet more hard And the foxe sayd to the vylayn Bynde hym yet more harder For who that wel byndeth wel can he vnbynd And whanne the dragon was fast and wel bounden the fox sayd to the vylayne bere hym ageyn there as thow fyrst tokest hym And there thow shalt leue hym bounden as he is nâ—â—w And thus he shalle not ete ne deuoure the For he that dothe euylle euylle he must haue For Iustly he shall ben punysshed of god they that done harme and dommage to the poure folke For who so euer rendreth euylle for good he shalle therof iust ly be rewarded ¶ The v fable is of the foxe and of the catte THere is many folke whiche auauncen them and saye that they ben wyse and subtyle whiche ben grete fooles and knowynge no thynge As this fable reherceth Of a foxe whiche somtyme mette with a Catte to whome he sa yd My godsep god yeue yow good daye And the catte answerd My lord god gyue yow good lyf And thenne the foxe demaunded of hym My godsep what canst thow doo And the catte sayd to hym I can lepe a lytyl And the fox sayd to hym Certaynly thow arte not worthy to lyue by cau se that thow canst nought doo And by cause that the cat was angry of the foxes wordes he asked and demaunded of the foxe And thow godsep what canst thow doo A thousand wyles haue I sayd the foxe For I haue a sak ful of scyenâ—â— and wyles And I am so grete a clerke that none maye begyle ne deceyue me And as they were thus spekyng to gyder the cat perceyued a knyght comynge toward them whiche had many dogges with hym and sayd to the foxe My godsep cer taynly I see a knyght comynge hytherward whiche ledeth with hym many dogges the whiche as ye wel knowe ben our enemyes The foxe thenne ansuerd to the cat My godsep thou spekest lyke a coward and as he that is aferd lete them come and care not thow And Incontynently as the dogges perceyued and sawe the foxe and the catte they beganne to renne vpon them And whanne the foxe sawe them come he sayd to the kat Flee we my broder flee we To whome the kat ansuerd Certaynly godsep therof is none nede Neuerthe les the foxe byleued not the cat but fledd and ranne as fast as he myght for to saue hym And the catte lepte vpon a tree and saued hym self sayenge Now shalle we see who shalle playe best for to preserue and saue hym self And whanne the catte was vpon a tree he loked aboute hym and sawe how the dogges held the foxe with theyr trethe to whome he cryed and seyd O godsep and subtyle foxe of thy thowsand wyles that syth late thow coudest doo lete me now see and shewe to me one of them the foxe ansuerd not but was killed of the dogges send the catte was saued ¶ And therfore the wyse ought not to disprayse the symple For suche supposeth to be moche wyse whiche is a kynd and a very foole ¶ The vj fable is of the hegoote and of the wulf THe feble ought not to arme hym ageynst the stronge As recyteth this present fable of a wulf which som tyme raune after a hegoot and the hegoot for to saue hym lept vpon a roche and the wulf besyeged hym ¶ And after whan they had duellid there two or thre dayes the wulf beganne to wexe hongry and the hegoote to haue thurst
cause me for to drynke to moche for it is to salte And as myn ers songe to me last I shalle ete this same day better and more delycious mete ¶ And thenne he beganne to walke ferther And as he entryd in to a fayr medowe he saâ—â— we a mare and her yong foole with her and sayd to hym self alone I rendre thankes and graces to the goddes of the godes that they send me For wel I wyst and was certayne that this daye I shold fynde somme precious mete And thenne he came nyghe the mare and sayd to her Certaynly my sister I shalle ete thy child And the mare ansuerd to hym My broder doo what someuer hit shalle please the But fyrst I praye the that one playsyre thow wylt do to me I haue herd saye that thow art a good Cyrurgyen wherfore I praye the that thou wylt hele me of my foote I saye to the my good bro der that yesterdaye as I wente within the forest a thorne enteyd in to one of my feet behynd the whiche greueth me sore I praye the that or thow ete my fool thow wylt drawe and haue it oute of my foote And the wulf answerd to the mare that shalle I doo gladly my good suster shewe me thy foote ¶ And as the mare shewed hir foote to the wulf she gaf to the wulf suche a stroke bytwixe bothe his eyen that alle his hede was astonyed and felle doune totheground and by the same occasion was hir foole or colt saued And a longe space was the wulf lyenge vpon the erthe as deed And whanne he was come to hym self ageyne and that he coud speke he sayd I care not for this myshap For wel I wote that yet this day I shalle ete and be fylled of delycious mete And in sayenge these wordes lyft hym self vp and wente aweye ¶ And whanne he had walked and gone a whyle he fond two rammes within a medowe whiche with their hornes lauÌ„ched eche other And the wulf sayd in hym self Blessyd be god that now I shal be well fedde he thenne came nyghe the two rammes said Certaynly I shall ete the one of you two And one of them sayd to hym My lord doo alle that it plese yow but fyrst ye must gyue to vs the sentence of a processe of a plee whiche is bytwixe vs bothe And the wulf ansuerd that with ryght a good wylle he wold doo hit And after sayd to them My lordes telle me your resonâ—â— and â—â—as to thenâ—â— that the better I may gyue the sentence of your different and question And thenne one of them beganne to say My lord this medowe was bylongynge to our fader And by cause that he deyde withoute mastynge ony ordenaunce or testament we be now in debate and stryf for the partynge of hit wherfore we praye the that thow vouchesauf to accorde oure different so that pees be made bytwene vs And thenne the wulf demaunded of the rammes how theyr question myght be accorded Ryght wel seyd one of them by one manere whiche I shal telle to the yf hit please to the to here me we two shalle be at the two endes of this medowe and thow shalt be in the myddes of it And fro th ende of the medowe we bothe at ones shalle renne toward the And he that fyrst shalle come to the shalle be lord of the medowe And the last shalle be thyn wel thenne sayd the wulf thyn aduys is good and wel purposed late set now who fyrst shalle come to me Thenne wente the two rammes to the two endes of the medowe and bothe at ones beganne to renne toward the wulf and with alle theyr myght came and gâ—â—f to hym suche two strokes bothe at ones ageynst bothe his sydes that almost they brake his herte within his bely there fyll doune the poure wulf alle aswowned And the rammes wente theyr way ¶ And whanne he was come ageyn to hym self he took courage and departed sayenge thus to hym self I care not for alle this Iniurye and shame For as myn erâ—â— dyd synge to me yet shalle I this day ete somme good and delycious mete ¶ He had not long walked whanne he fond a sowe and her smal pygges with her And Incontynent as he sawe her he sayd blessyd be god of that I shalle this daye ete and fylle my bely with precious metes and shalle haue good fortune And in that sayenge approched to the sowe sayd to her My suster I must ete somme of thy yonge pygges And the sowe wente and sayd to hym My lord I am content of alle that whiche pleaseth to yow But or ye ete them I praye yow that they maye be baptysed and made clene in pure and fayre water And the wulf sayd to the sowe Shewe me thenne the water And I shalle wasshe and baptyse them wel And thenne the sowe wente and ledde hym at a stange or pond where as was a fayr mylle ¶ And as the wulf was vpon the lytyl brydge of the sayd mylle and that he wold haue take one pygge the sowe threwe the wulf in to the water with her hwde and for the swyftnesse of the water he must nedes passe vnder the whele of the mylle And god wote yf the wynges of the mylle bete hym wel or not And as soone as he myght he ranne away And as he ranne seyd to hym self I care not for soo lytyl a shame ne therfore I shall not be lette but that I shalle yet this daye ete my bely full of metes delycious as myners dyd synge it erly to me ¶ And as he passed thurgh the strete he sawe somme sheep and as the shepe sawe hym they entryd in to a stable ¶ And whan the wulf came there he sayd to them in this manere God kepe yow my susters I must ete one of yow to th ende that I may be fylled and rassasyed of my grete honger And thenne one of them sayd to hym Certaynly my lord ye are welcome to passe For we ben comen hyder for to hold a grete solempnyte wherfore we alle praye yow that ye pontyfycally wylle synge And after the seruyse complete and done doo what ye wyll of the one of vs theÌ„ne the wulf for vayn glory faynyng to be a prelate beganne to synge and to howle before the sheep ¶ And whanne the men of the touâ—â—e herd the Wys of the wulf they came to the stable with grete staues and with grete dogges and wonderly they wounded the wulf and almost brought hym to deth that with grete payne he coude goo Neuertheles he soaped and wente vnder a grete tree vpon the whiche tree was a man whiche hewe of the bowes of the tree The wulf thenne beganne to syghe sore and to make grete sorowe of his euylle fortune and sayd Ha Iupiter how many euyls haue I had and suffred this daye but wel I presume and knowe that hit is by me and by myn
fonde a Fox And the knyght sayd to his archer In good soothe I see a grete Foxe And the Archer beganne to saye to his lord My lord merueylle ye therof I haue ben in a Regyon where as the Foxes ben as grete as an oxe And the knyght ansuerd In good soothe theyr skynnes were good for to make mantels with yf skynners myght haue them And as they were rydynge they felle in many wordes and deuyses And thenne by cause the knyght perceyued wel the lesynge of his Archer he beganne to make prayers and orysons to the goddes for to make his Archer aferd And sayd in this manere O Iupiter god almyghty ¶ I praye the that this daye thow wylt kepe vs fro all lesynges so that we may sauf passe thys flood and this grete Ryuer whiche is here before vs and that we may surely come to oure how 's And whanne the Archer herd the prayer and oryson of his lord he was moche abasshed ¶ And thenne the Archer demannded of hym My lord wher fore prayest thow now soo deuoutely And the knyÈt ansuerd wost thou not wel that hit is wel knowen and manyfested that we soone must passe a ryght grete Ryuer And that he who on al this daye shalle haue made ony lesynge yf he entre in hit he shalle neuer come oute of hit ageyne of the whiche wordes the Archer was moche doubtous and dredeful And as they had ryden a lytyl waye they fond a lytyl Ryuer wherfore the Archer demaunded of his lord Is this the flood whiche we must passe Nay sayd the knyght For hit is wel gretter O my lord I saye by cause that the foxe whiche ye sa we may wel haue swymmed and passed ouer this lytyl wa ter And the lord sayd I care not therfore ¶ And after that they had ryden a lytyl ferther they fond another lytyll Ryuer And the Archer demaunded of hym Is this the flood that ye spake of to me Nay sayd he For hit is gretter more brode And the Archer sayd ageyne to hym My lord I say so by cause that the Foxe of the whiche I spake of to daye was not gretter than a calf ¶ And theÌ„ne the knyght herkyng the dyssymylacion of his archer answerd not And soo they rode forthe so longe that they fond yet another Ryuer And thenne the Archer demaunded of his lord Is this the same hit Nay sayd the knyght but soone we shalle come ther to O my lord I saye so by cause that the Foxe wherof I spak to yow this daye was not gretter than a sheep ¶ And when they had ryden vnto euen tyme they fond a grete Ryuer and of a grete vrede ¶ And whan tharcher sawe hit he began al to shake for fere and demaunded of his lord My lord is this the Ryuer ye sayd the knyght O my lord I ensure you on my feythe that the Foxe of the whiche I spake to daye was not gretter than the Foxe whiche we sawe to day wherfore I knowlege and confesse to yow my synne ¶ And thenne the knyght beganne to smyle and sayd to his Archer in this manere Also this Ryuer is no wore than the other whiche we sa we to fore and haue passed thurgh them And thenne the archer had grete vergoyne and was shameful by cause that he myght no more couere his lesynge And therfore hit is fayre and good for to saye euer the trouthe and to be trewe bothe in speche and in dede For a lyer is euer begyled and his lesynge is knowen and manyfested on hym to his grete shame dommage ¶ Here after folowen somme Fables of Esope after the newe translacion the whiche Fables ben not founden ne wreton in the bookes of the philosopher Romulus ¶ The Fyrst fable is of the Egle and of the rauen ¶ The second Fable is of the egle and of the wesell ¶ The thyrdde fable is of the Foxe and of the gote ¶ The fourthe Fable is of the katte and of the chyken ¶ The v Fable is of the Foxe and of the busshe ¶ The syxthe Fable is of the man of the god of the wodes ¶ The vij Fable is of the fyssher ¶ The eyghte Fable is of the catte and of the rat ¶ The ix Fable is of the labourer and of the large foote ¶ The x fable is of the child that kepte the sheep ¶ The xj fable is of the Ante and of the columbe ¶ The xij fable is of the Bee and of Iupiter ¶ The xiij fable is of a carpenter ¶ The xiiij fable is of a yonge theef and of his moder ¶ The xv fable is of the man and of the flee ¶ The xvj fable is of the husbond and of his two wyues ¶ The xvij fable is of the labourer and of his children ¶ The fyrst fable is of the Egle and of the rauen NOne ought to take on hym self to doo a thynge whiche is peryllous withoute he fele hym self strong ynouÈ to doo hit As reherceth this Fable Of an Egle whiche fleyncte took a lambe wherof the Rauen hadde grete enuye wherfor vpon another tyme as the sayd rauen sawe a grete herd of sheep by his grete enuy pryde by his grete oultrage descended on them and by suche fachon and manere smote a wether that his clowes abode to the flyes of hit In soo moche that he coude not flee awey The sheepherd thenne came and brake and toke his wynges from hym And after bare hym to his children to playe them with And demaunded of hym what byrd he was And the Rauen ausuerd to hym I supposed to haue ben an Egle And by my ouerwenynge I wende to haue take a lambe as the egle dyd but now I kno we wel that I am a Rauen wherfore the feble ought not in no wyse to compare hym self to the stronge For somtyme when he supposeth to doo more than he may he falleth in to grete dishonour as hit appiereth by this present Fable Of a Rauen whiche supposed to haue ben as stronge as the egle ¶ The second Fable is of the egle and of the wesel NOne for what so euer myght that he haue ought not to dispreyse the other As hit appiereth by this present fable of an Egle whiche chaced somtyme after an hare And by cause that the hare myght not resyste ne withstande a geynst the egle he demaunded ayde and helpe of the wesel the whiche tooke hym in her kepynge And by cause that the egle sawe the wesel soo lytyl he dispreysed her and before her toke the hare wherof the wesel was wrothe And therfore the wesell wente and beheld the Egles nest whiche was vpon a hyghe tree And whanne she sawe hit the lytell wesell clymmed vpon a tree and took and cast doune to the ground the yong egles wherfore they deyde And for this cause was the Egle moche wrothe and angry and after wente to the god Iupiter And prayd hym that he wold fynde