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a It It it '1 fii
The Fables
op Aesop
Sbe fablee of Besop.
ii.
ISatlantgne pre&s
BALLANTVNE, HANSON AND CO.
i-IHNIil'KGH AND LONDON
SI P 'Sir
HRYLAND
5be fables of Hcaop
as first printed by William Caxtom m i
with thosi oj Avian, Alfonso and Poggio,
now again edited and induced
by Joseph Jacobs.
II.
Ii xi and Glossary.
5
/ .. '.v. Published by David Nui
Till SiK AST. M.D.CCCLXXXIX.
ESC3
a
T Jxrr begpnnetfj tlje book
of tfic 0til]ttji !ji0torj)C0 anD JFaMej
of C0opr toljicljc tocrc rranoIarcD
out of JfrntssJic in to Crnrjlusstic
bo toillinm Caiton
£U EScatmonBtrr En tfje orrr of ourc Eortr
.m. cccc.lmtij
C liHrc begrmctl) the preface or prologue of
ttjc furste booh of (Dsope
:
-:
Romulus (on of thybere of the
1 A.tyque/ gretyng/ Efope
man of grece/ lubtyll and In-
genyous/ techeth in his fables
how men (night to kepe and
rewle them well/ And to thende that be
lhold (hewe the lyf and cuftomes of al maner
of men/ he induceth the byrdes/ the trees and
the beeftes fpekynge to thende thai the men
may knowe wherfore the tables were found/
In the whiche he hath wreton the malyce of
the eaylle people and the argument of the
Improbes He teeheth alio to be humble and
tor to vie wordes/ And many other t'.ivr En-
famples reherced and declared here after/ the
whiche 1 Romulus have tranflated oute ofgrekes
tongue in to latyn tongue/ the whiche yt" thou
rede them/ they lhalle aguyl'e and lharpe thy
wytte and lhal gyue to the caul'e of Joye/
LIBER
C 8Hje first fable is of trje cod* atrti of tfje
precious CtotiE /
s a Cok ones fought his pafture in
the donghylle / he fond a precious
ftone/ to whome the Cok fayd/
Ha a fayre ftone and precious
thow arte here in the fylth And
yf he that defyreth the had found the/ as I
haue he wold haue take the vp / and fette the
ageyne in thy fyrft eftate/ but in vayne I haue
found the/ For no thynge I haue to do with
the/ ne no good I may doo to the ne thou
to me/ And thys fable fayde Efope to them
that rede this book/ For by the cok is to
vnderftond the fool which retcheth not of
fapyence ne of wyfedome/ as the cok retcheth
and fetteth not by the precious ftone / And by
the ftone is to vnderftond this fayre and play-
iaunt book
ruiucs.
\ "!n's fccorrti fable is of tfjr toulf antJ trjc
lambe/
t" the Innocent and of the lhnv.
Elope reherceth to vs i'uche a
fable/ howe it was lb/ that the
lambe and the wnlt" had bothe
thurlt/ and went both to a Ryuer
fortodtynke/ C It happed that the wnlf dranke
tboue kthe lambe dranke bynethe/ And as the
wnlf&we & percyued the lambe/ he fayd with
a byghe toys Ha knaue why halt thou troubled
ami
6 LIBER
and fowled my water/ whiche Ifhold now drynke /
Alias my lord fauf your grece/ For the water
cometh fro yow toward me/ Thenne fayd the
wulf to the lambe/ Haft thou no fhame ne drede
to curfe me/ And the lambe fayd My lord with
your leue/ And the wulf fayd ageyne/ Hit is
not fyxe monethes paffyd that thy fader dyd to
me as moche / And the lambe anfuerd yet was
I not at that tyme born / And the wulf faid
ageyne to hym / Thou haft ete my fader/ And
the lambe anfuerd / I have no teeeth / Thenne
faid the wulf/ thou arte wel lyke thy fader/
and for his fyne and myfdede thow fhalt deye /
The wulf thenne toke the lambe and ete hym /
This fable fheweth that the euylle man retcheth
not by what maner he may robbe and deftroye
the good and Innocet man.
PRIM I' S.
C Crjc tFjurtj fable is of t$f rnt / antj of the
frorrrrr
be fo ' that as the rat went in
pylgremagey became by a Ryuer/
and demauaded belpe of a fn
Br jaSg ' for to pafTe/ and go over the
water And thenne the frogge
bound the rata foote to her foote/ and thus
fwymed vnto the myddes ouer the Ryuer/ And
as they were there the frogge ftood ltylle/ to
thende that the rat lhold be drowned/ And in
the meane whyle came a kyte ypon them/ and
bothe hare them with bym/ This fable made
Efope for a fymylytude whiche is prcmrfitable to
many folkes / For he that thynketh evylle ageynlt
good/ the evil whiche he thynketh mall ones
falle upon hym felf.
LIBER
C E\)t fourtfj fable is of the tiotjge anti tfje
the men chalengynge / whiche ever
be fekynge occalion to doo fome
harme and dommage to the good /
faith Elope fuche a fable / Som-
tyme was a dogge/ whiche de-
maunded of a lheep a loof of brede that ihe had
borowed of hym / And the lheep anfuerd that
neuer Ihe had none of hym/ The dogge made
her to come before the Juge/ And by caufe the
{heep denyed the dette/ the dogge provyfed and
broughte with hym fals wytnes/ that is to wete
the wulf/ the mylan & the fpaehawk/ And
whanne thefe wytnes lhold be examyned and
herd / the wulf fayd to the Juge / I am certayne
& me remembreth wel / that the dogge lend to
her a loof of brede / And the myllan went and
fayd/ Ihe receyued hit prelente my perfone/
And the fperowhawk faid to the lheep/ come
hyder why denyeft thow that whiche thow haft
take and recyued / And thus was the poure lheep
vaynquyfthed C And thenne the Juge com-
maunded to her that Ihe lhold paye the dogge /
wherefore
PRIMUS. 9
wherfore (he (old awey before the wynter ln-r
flees and wulle for to paye that/ that (he aeuer
had/ and thus was the poure (heep defpoylled
In fnche maner done the euylle hongry peple
which by tlu-yr grete vntrouthe and malyce
robbeo and defpoillerj the poure folke
IO
LIBER
C GHje fuftfje fable is of tfje tjotjcje ana cf tfje
poece of flessfj
]e that defyreth to haue other mens
goodes oft he lofeth his owne
good / whereof Efope reherceth to
vs fuche a fable/ In tyme pafled
was a dogge that wente ouer a
brydge / and held in his mouthe a pyece of
flefllie / and as he pafTed ouer a brydge / he
perceywed and fawe the fhadowe of hym/
and of his pyece of fleffhe within the water/
And he wenynge that it had be another pyece
of fleffhe/ forthwith he thought to haue take
it/ And as he opened his mouthe/ the pyece
of fleffhe fylle in to the water/ and thus he loft
it/ Ryghte foo is of many/ for whanne they
thynke to robbe other/ they lefe theyr owne
and propre good / wherfor for the loue of a vayn
thynge men ought not to leue that whiche is
certeyn.
PRIMCS ii
\7!;
C (The bj fablr is of the Itjon nno" of thf cotoe/
of the rjootr auto of the fhecp
-n fayen that it is not good to ete
plommes with his lord/ ne to the
poure it is not good to have par-
tage and dyuyfyon with hym which
is ryche & myghty wherof Eibpe
rehercetb fuche a table/ The cowe/ the gote &
the (beep went (Hit's a hutyng & chafe/ with the
lyon and toke a herte/ And whanne they cake/
[came] to haue theyr parte/ the lyon layd to
them/ My lordes I late you wete/ that the fyrfl
part is mvn by caul'e I am your lord/ the fecond
by caufe/ I am ftronger than ye be/ the thyrd /
by caufe I ranne more fwifter than ye dyd/ and
wlio To ever toucheth the fourthe parte / he (hall
Ik- mvn mortal enemy/ And thus he took for
hvni felfe alone the herte/ And therfore this
fable techeth to al folk/ that the poure ought
not to hold felanfhip with the myghty/ For
the myghty man is neuer feythfull to the poure
12
LIBER
C (Efje feuentij fable is of the tfjeef ant of
the forme.
?lO man is chaunged by nature but
of an euyll man maye wel yffue
and come a wers than hymfelf /
wherof Elope telleth fuche a
fable / A theef held the feeft of
his weddynge / And his neyghbours came there
as the fell was holden and worshipped / and bare
honour to the theef/ And as a wyfe man fawe
that the neyghbours of this theef were ioyeful
and glad / he fayd to them / Ye make joye &
gladnes of that/ wherof ye fholde wepe/ take
hede thenne to my wordes and vnderftond your
ioye/ (I The fonne wolde ones be maryed / But
alle the Nacions of the world were ageynft hym /
& prayd Iupiter that he mold kepe the fonne
fro weddyng/ & Jupiter demauded of them
the caufe why they wolde not haue hym to be
wedded/ the one of them faid/ Iupiter thou
knoweft wel / how ther is but one fonne &: yet
he brenneth vs al / & yf he be maryed & haue
ony children/ they fhal deftroye al kynde/ And
this fable techeth vs that we ought not to be
reioyl'thed of euyll felowfhip /
PR I MI'S. i
C E|c frfij fable is of the foulf anfc of tfjc
crane
Ho (o cult doth ony good to the
euyll man lit- fvnneth as Efope
faith/ for of ony good which is
don to tlu' euils cometh no prou-
ffit/ wherof Efope reherceth to
v-, fuche a fable/ A wulf ete &: deuoured a fheep
of whoa bones lie had one in his throte which he
collide not haue out & lore it greued hym/ thenne.
went the wulf & praid the crane that llie wold
draw oute of his throte the bone/ & the crane
put her nek in to his throte & drewe out the bone
u herby the wulf was hole / C And the crane de-
maunded of hym to be payd of her (alary C And
the wulf anfwerd to her/ Thou arte well vn-
conyng & no good connyng/ remembryng the
good that I haue done to the/ for whan thou
haddelt thy neck within my throte/ yi I had
wold/ I might haue ete the/ and thus it ap-
piereth by the fable how no prouritte cometh of
ony good whiche is done to the euvle
14
LIBER
€ 9Tfje ix fable ts of the too bgtcfjeg
t is not good to byleue what flaterers
and euyll men faye / for by theyr
fwete wordes/ they deceyue the
good folke/ whereof Efope re-
herceth fuch a fable/ This was a
bytche which wold lyttre and be delyuerd of her
lytyl dogges/ and came to the hows of another
bytche / & prayd her by fwete and fayre wordes
that flie would lene to her a place for to lyttre
her lytyll dogges / And this other lend to her /
her bed and her hows wenynge to doo wel /
And whan the bytche had lyttred her lytyl
dogges/ the good bytche fayd to the other/ that
it was tyme that fhe fhold goo and departe oute
of her hows And then the bytche and her young
dogges ranne vpon the other / and boot and
called her oute of her owne hows / and thus for
to have doo well / grete dommage cometh ofte
therfore And ofte the good men lefe theyr goodes
by the decepcion and flaterye of the peruers and
evylle folke /
PRIM IS.
15
L Z\)t trnthic fable is of tfjc man antj of tht
frrpent
K thai leneth and helpeth the euylle
men/ fynneth/ for after th.it men
have doo t<> them fome good/
they hurte them afterward./ For
a- men layeii comynlv / yf ye
kepe a man fro tin- galhows/ he fhalle ncuer
loue you- after/ wherof Efo'pe reherceth fuche
a table/ C A man was lorn tyme whiche fond a
ferpeot within a Vyne/ and for the grete wynter
and frofl the (erpent was hard / and almoft deile
tor cold wherot" the good man hail pyte and toke
anil bare her in to his hows ami leyd her before
the fyre/ and fo moche he dyd that that the
came ae in to her ftrengthe and vygour/
She beganne thynne to crye and whyftled about
the hows and troubled the good wyt / and the
children/ wherfor this good man wold haue her
OUte of his hows/ And whanne he thoughte to
take her (he fprange after his neck tor to
have ftrangled hym/ And thus hit is of the
etiyll folk whiche tor the good done to them /
they yeld ageyne euyll and deceyuen t hem whiche
have had pyte on them / And alio theyre lelau-
fhip is nut good ne vt\lc/
i6
LIBER
C €ty xj fable i& at the Igan anb of tfje atte
^F them whiche mocken other efope
reherceth fuch a fable Ther was
an affe which met with a lyon to
whom he faid my broder god
faue the & the lyon fhaked his
hede and with grete payne he myght hold his
courage / to have forth with deuoured hym /
But the lyon fayd to hym felf / It behoueth not
that teethe foo noble and fo fayre as myn be
touchen not / ne byten fuche a fowle beeft / For
he that is wyfe muft not hurte the foole ne take
hede to his wordes / but lete hym go for fuche
as he is
PRIMUS.
17
< ~hc xfj fable is of the ttrjo rats
Ktter worthe is to lyue in pou< i
rarely/ than to lyue rychely beyng
etxer in daunger/ Wherof Efope
telleth fuche a fable/ There v.
two rata wherof the one was grete
and fatte/ and held hym in the celer of a Ryche
man And the other was poure and lene / COn
a daye this grete and fat ratte wente to fporte
hym in the teldes and niette by the way the
poure rat/ of the whiche he was I jrued as
well a8 he COUde in his poure cauerne or hole,
and gat' from of fuche mete as he had / Thenne
&yd the fatte ratte come thow wyth me j And
I thalle gvue the wel other metes / He went
with bym in to the toune/ and enterd bothe
int.) the celer of the ryche man/ the whiche
celer was full of alle goodes / And when they
within the grete rat prefented ami gat to
the poure rat of the de'.ycious mete-/ faying thus
to hym/ Be mery and make good chere / and
ind drynke Joyoufly/ i And as they were
etynge/ the bouteler of the place came in to the
celer; & the grete rat tied anon in to his hole/
1 8 LIBER
& the poure rat wift not whyther he fhold goo
ne flee/ But hyd hym behynd the dore with
grete fere and drede / and the bouteler turned
ageyne and fawe hym not/ And whan he was
gone the fatte rat cam out of his cauerne or
hole/ and called the poure ratte/ whiche yet
was ihakynge for fere/ and faid to hym/ come
hyder and be not aferd / & ete as moche as thou
wylt/ And the poure rat fayd to hym/ for
goddes loue lete me go oute of this celer/ For I
haue better ete fome corne in the feldes and lyue
furely / than to be ever in this torment/ for thou
arte here in grete doubte & lyueft not furely/
And therfore hit is good to lyue pourely &
furely For the poure lyueth more furely than
the ryche
PRIMUS. 19
< <riu rifj fable is of the flrglc antJ of the foit
. r < I w the puyflant cV myghty mult
doubte the feble Efope reherceth
~~ I to vs fuche a table/ Ther was an
• V 1 le whiche came ther as young
~~~"" foxes were/ and took awey on
them , and gaf bit to his younge Eglea to fede
them with The foxe wente after hym & praid
livm to reftore and gyue hym ageyne bis yong
i gle laid that he wold not/ For he
ouer hvm lord and maifter/ C And thenne
the foxe tulle of (hrewdnes and malyce beganne
to put to gyder grate habondaunce of ftraws
round aboute the tret-/ where vpon the egle and
e were in theyr nelt / and kyndeled it
with lyre'' t And whan the fmoke and the
rlambe began to ryfe vpward / the Egle terd-
fulle and doubtyng the dethe of her ly t vile <■
red ageyne the younge foxe to his nv
is fable iheweth V8 / how the myghty nun
oughte not to lette in ony thynge the linall folke /
the lytyle ryght one may lette and trouble
the grete
20
LIBER
C Sije it't'tj fable fa of the (Egle fobfcbe bare a
nutte in bis bcche anfi of the rauen
We that is fure and wel garnyffhed yet
by fals counceyll may be betrayed /
wherof Efope telleth fuche a fable /
C An Egle was fomtyme vpon a
tree/ whiche held with his bylle
a nutte/ whiche he coulde not breke/ the rauen
came to hym / and fayd/ Thow lhalt neuer
breke it/ tylle thow rleeft as hyghe as thow
mayli / and thenne late it falle vpon the ftones /
And the Egle beganne to flyhe and lete fall his
proye/ and thus he loft his notte/ C And thus
many one ben deceyued thorughe fals counceylle /
and by the fals tongue of other
PRIMUS.
:i
I he id fable fo of Hit rauru nnto of the foir
Hey that be glad and Joyefull of the
prayfynge of flaterers oftyme re-
pente them therot/ wherof Ef(
reherceth to as fuche a fable A
ratten whiche was vpon a tn
and held with his bylle a c-ht-il- / the whiche
chefe the fox defyred moche to bane ' wherfore
the foxe wente and preyfed bym by fuche
as folowen O gentyll rauen thou- art the fayreft
byrd ofalle other byrdes • For thy fethers ben fo
fayr fo bright and fo relplendyfihynge / and can
alfo fo wel fynge / yf thow haddefi the voys clere
and fmall thowfholdeft be the rnooft happy of
al other hvrdes/ And the foole whiche herd the
flateryringe wordes of the foxe beganne to open
bis bylle for to fynge/ And then the chefe fylle
to the grounde/ and the fox toke and ete hit/
And whan the rauen fawe thai for his vayn
glorye be was deceyued wexed hevy and forow-
tull / and repented hym of that he had byleued
the : And this fable techeth ?s/ how nun
ht not to be glad ne take reioyflhynge in the
aytyf tolke/ ne alio to leue flatery ne
vayn glory
22 LIBER
C 2Tftc ibi fable is of tfje Igon / of trje tonloe
bore / of the bole & of the affe
^^^^^Jhanne a man hath loft his dignyte or
offyce/ he mufte leue his fyrft audu-
cyte or hardynefs/ to thende/ that
he be not iniuryed and mocqued of
euery one / wherof Efope lheweth
vnto fuche a fable / There was a lyon whiche
in his yongthe was fyers and moche outragyous /
C And when he was come to his old age / there
came to hym a wyldbore / whiche with his
teeth rent and barft a grete pyece of his body
and auenged upon hym of the wrong the lyon
had doo to hym before that tyme / (I After
came to hym the boole whiche fmote and hurted
hym with his homes / And an afle came there /
whiche fmote hym in the forhede with his feete
by maner of vyndycacion / And thenne the poure
Lyon beganne to wepe fayenge within hym felf
in this manere/ When I was yonge and uertuous
euery one doubted and fered me / and now that
I am old and feble/ and nyghe to my dethe/
none is that fetteth ne holdeth ought by me/
but of euery one I am fetten aback / I haue loft
alle
PRIMUS.
all- good and veodhip ' and therfore this I
admonefteth many one whiche ben enhauo
in dygnyte and worflup fhewinge to them/ how
they mutt be meke and humble/ For he thai
:h and acquyreth no frendes ought to be
itoua to falle in fache caas and in i'uehe
peryl
2 4
LIBER
C 5Tfje x&fj fable fs of tfte afte onto of tfjc
gong tiatjge
[one ought to entermete hym of that
what he can not do wherof Efope
recyted fnche a fable / Of an aife
whiche was in the hows of a lord /
whiche lord had a lytyle dogge/
whiche he loued wel / and gaf hym mete and
ete vpon his table / And the lytyle dogge loked
and chered / and lepte vpon his gowne/ And to
alle them that were in the hows he made chere /
wherfor
PRIMUS. 25
wherfor the afle was enuyous and tayd in hym
felf/ yf my lord and his meyny Lone tin-, myf-
cbaunt befte by caufe that be chereth and maketh
fefte to euery body/ bygretter reafon they ought
to lou>- me vt' I make chere to them/ Thenne
. be in hym felf/ Fro henforth I lhall take
my difporte and lh.iil make Joye and playe
with my lord/ and wyth bis meyny/ And ones
as the afle was Id this thoughte and ymagyna-
bit happed that he (awe his lord whyche
entryd in to his hows/ the afle beganne thenne
to daunfe and to make feeft and fonge with his
voysj and approched hym felf toward his
lord \- went cV lepte vpon his (holders/ and
beganne to kyfle and to lykke hym/ The lord
thenne beganne to crye oute with a hyghe
and layd ./ lete this fowl and payllard/ whiche
hurteth and byteth me fore/ be bete and putt
awey/ The lordes feruauntes thenne toke anone
grete ftaues/ and beganne to l'mvte vpon the
poure alTe/ and fo fore corryged and bete hym /
that after he had do lufte ne courage to daunfe /
ne make to nonne chere ne fefle/ and therfore
none ought to entermete hym felf for to doo a
thynge/ whiche as for hym impoflyble is to be
done/ For the vnwyfe dilpleleth there v. here
as he fuppofeth to pleafe
26
LIBER
C 2TJje xbttj tabic is of ffre loon anti of
tfjc rat /
I He myghte and puyffant muft par-
donne and forgyue to the lytyll
and feble / and ought to kepe hym
fro al euylle / For oftyme the lytyll
may wel gyue ayde and help to
the grete / wherof Efope reherceth to vs fuche a
fable Of a lyon whiche flepte in a foreft and the
rats deiported and playd aboute hym / It happed
that the rat wente vpon the lyon / wherfore the
lyon awoke / and within his clawes or ongles he
tooke the rat / C And whanne the rat fawe hym
thus taken & hold fayd thus to the lyon / My
lord pardonne me / For of my deth noughte ye
ihalle wynne/ For I fuppofed not to haue done
to yow ony harme ne difplayfyre / C Thenne
thought the lyon in hym felf that no worfhip ne
glorye it were to put it to dethe / wherfor he
graunted his pardonne and lete hym go within
a lytyll whyle/ After this it happed fo that the
fame lyon was take at a grete trappe / and as he
fawe hym thus caught and taken / he beganne
to crye and make forowe/ and then whan the
rat
PRIMUS.
rat herd byra crye/ be approched bym
maunded <>t bjnn wherfor be cryed/ And the
lyon anfuerd to bym I Seefl thou not how I am
take & bound with thisgynne/ Thenne fayd the
ratte to bym ' My lord I wylle ool enkynde '
but euer I (hal remembre the grace whiche thou
halt done to me / And if I can 1 (hall now helpe
the/ The ratte beganne thenne to byte the lace
ird ami fo Long he knawed it that the lace
brake/ And thus the lyon efcaped/ C Therfore
this fable techeth vs how that a man myghty and
puyfiant ought not to dyfprayfe the lytyll/ For
fomtyme he that ran no body hurte ne lette may
at a nede gyue help and ayde to the grete
28
LIBER
C 2Hje id fable is of the mglan Sxrfttcfte foas
fefce antj of fjis motier.
E that euer doth euylle ought not
to fuppofe ne haue no truft that
his prayer at his nede flialle be
herd / Of the whiche thynge Efope
fheweth to us fuche a fable / Of
a mylan whiche was feke / fo moche that he had
no trufte to recouer his helthe/ And as he fawe
hym fo vexed with feblenes / he prayd his moder
that ihe ihold praye vnto the goddes for hym /
And his moder anfuerd to hym / My fone thow
haft fo gretely offendyd and blafphemyd the
goddes that now they wol auenge them on the /
For thow preyeft not them by pyte ne by loue/
but for dolour and drede/ For he whiche ledeth
euylle lyf/ and that in his euylle delynge is ob-
ftynate / ought not to haue hope to be delyuered
of his euyll / For whan one is fall into extremyte
of his fekenes/ thenne is the tyme come that he
muft be payed of his Werkes and dedes / For he
that offendeth other in his profperyte/ whan he
falleth in to aduerfyte / he fyndeth no frendes /
\MUS. 29
C CTIk 11 fable imketh rrtrncion of the ftualctor /
nnb oilier bglfcs
E that byleueth not good counceyll/
may do! fayll to be euylle coun-
ceylled I wherof Efope reherceth
to vs fuche a tabic/ Of a plowgb
man/ whiche lowed lynfeed/ and
the fwalowe feyng that of the lame lynfeed men
bt make nettes and gynnes/ wente and favd
to al other byrdes/ Come with me ye al &
v> plucke vp al this/ For yf we leue hit growe
the labourer lhal mowe make therof gunnes and
r to takers al / Alle the byrdes defprayfed
counceyl/ C And thenne as the fwalowe
lawe this/ he wente and herberowed her in the
plowgh mans hows/ (Andwbanne the flaxe
wren and pulled vp / the labourer made
grynnes and nettes to take byrdes/ wherwith he
took euery day many other byrdes/ and brought
• • his hows/ to the whiche byrdes the
fwalowe thenne fayd/ I told yow wel/ what
that (hold happe therof/ wherfore men on
not to defprayfe I councylle For he that is
euyl aduyfed and not wel counceyled lhalle h aue
moche payne
< : - . . :-D53fjctJ the foist Lookr. of tTsopc/
3Q
LIBER
C f^£t£ falofoetfj tftt prcdjemoe of tfje secono book
ai fables of csopc/ man ingse subtgU ano
IlXCfClTDOUS
\§g@f]le maner of fables ben found for to
fhewe al maner of folk / what
maner of thyng they ought to
enfyewe and folowe / C And alio
what maner of thyng they muft
and ought to leue and flee/ for fable is as
moche to feye in poeterye / as wordes in theo-
logye/ C And therfor I fhalle wryten fables
for to fhewe the good condycions of the good
men / for the lawe hath be gyuen for the tref-
pacers or myfdoers / And by caufe the good ond
Jufte be not fubget to the lawe as we fynde and
rede of alle the Athenyens/ the whiche lyued
after the lawe of Kynde / And alfo they lyued
at theyr lyberte / but by theyre wylle wold haue
demaunded a kynge for to punyflhe alle the
euyll / but by caufe they were not cuftomed to
be refourmed ne chaftyfed / whan ony of them
was corrected / and punyfihed / they were gretely
troubled / whan theyr newe kynge made Juflyce /
For by caufe that before that tyme they had
neuer
SECUNDl 3 i
neucr be ender do mans fubjedion/ and waa
grete charge to them to In- in feruytude/ wher-
they were forowful that euer they bad de-
maunded ony thynge/ ageynfl the whiche efope
reherceth fuche a fable whiche is the fyrft ami
formed of this fecund buok
32
LIBER
C &fjc fgrst fable is of tfje froggcg anb of
•afttpgter.
ilO thyng is fo good as to lyue Juftly
and at lyberte For fredome and
lyberte is better than ony gold or
fyluer/ wherof Efope reherceth
to vs fuche a fable/ There were
frogges whiche were in dyches and pondes at
theyre lyberte / they alle to gyder of one affente
& of one wylle maade a requeft to Jupiter that
he wold gyue them a kynge/ And Jupyter be-
ganne
CUNDUS. }}
ganne therof to merueylle/ And for theyr kyng
he ciiuil to them a grete pyece ol ■• whiche
maade .1 grete (bwne and ooyfe in the water
wherof alle the fi • bad grete drede and
fered moche/ And after they approched to theyr
kynge forto make obey (I inner vnto hym / i And
whanne they perceyued that liit was bu( a pyece
ol wood they torned ageyne to Jupiter prayenge
hym fwetely that lie wold gyue to them another
e And Jupiter gaf to them the Heron tor
to be theyr kynge / And then the Heron beganne
to entre in to the water/ and ete them one ai
other/ And whanne the frogges fawe that theyr
kyng deftroyed ' and ete them thus/ they beganne
tendyrly to wepe/ fayeng in this manere to the
god Jupiter/ Ryght hyghe and ryght myghte
god Jupiter pleale the to delyuere vs fro the
throte of this dragon and fals tyraunt which etetli
va the one after another/ And lie fayd to thi
the kynge whiche ye haue demounded llialle be
your m lyiter / For whan men haue that/ which
men oughte to haue/ they ought to be ioytul
and glad And he that hath lyberte ought to kepe
hit we! For nothyng is better than lyberte / For
lyberte lhold not he wel fold tor alle the gold
and hluer of all the world
34
LIBER
C 5Tfje fccono fable is of trje Columoes or "bourns
of trje kjjtc ano of the fperrijalnke
Ho that putte and fubmytteth hym
felf vnder the faue gard or protec-
tion of the euylle/ thou oughteft
to wete & knowe / that whan he
afketh & demanded ayde & helpe/
he geteth none / C Wherof Efope reherceth to
vs fuche a fable/ Of the douues whiche de-
maunded a fperehawke for to be theyr kynge /
for to kepe them fro the kyte or mylan/ And
whanne the fperehawke was maade kynge ouer
them/ he beganne to deuoure them/ the whiche
columbes or douues fayd amonge them / that
better it were to them to furTre of the kyte than
to be vnder the fubjeftion of the fperehawke /
& to be martyred as we be / but therof we be
wel worthy / For we oure felf ben caufe of this
mefchyef / And therfore whanne men done ony
thyng/ men ought well to loke and confydere
thende of hit/ For he dothe prudently and
wyfely whiche taketh good hede to the ende
SECUSDis. 35
i ~hr thurtJc fablr is of tfjf tl.ccf ant) of the
Hanne that one gyuetfa ony thyng/
men ought wel to take hede/ to
what ende hit is gyuen / \vh
Efope reherceth fuche a fable/
< >t a theef which came en a :
within a mans hows tor to baue robbed hvm
And the good mans dogge beganne to bark at
hvm/ And thenne the theef cafted at hvm a
ce of hrede/ And the dogge layd to hvm
thow caftefl not this brede tor no good wvlle/
but only to the ende that I hold mv pees/ to
thende that thow may It robbe my maylter/ and
therfore hit were not good for me that tor a
morlell of brede/ I lhold lefe my lvf wherfore
goo fro hens/ or els I thalle anone awake my
m i\ Iter and alle his meyne / The dogge thevnne
nne to bark / and the theef l> to flee
And thus by couetyfe many one haue oft vine
. ued grete yeftes ' the whiche haue been
Caufe of theyr dethe and to lefe thevre heedes/
(. Wherfore
36 LIBER
C Wherfore hit is good to confydere and loke
wel/ to what entencion the yeft in gyuen / to
thende that none may be betrayd thurgh yeftes/
ne that by ony yeftes none maketh fome trayfon
ageynft his mayfter or lord
UNDUS.
37
C Q$f fonrtlif mnhrtli mrnrvon of tf)r fouK
ant) of tl]t toulf
I - not good to byleue all fuche
thynges as men may lure wh-
! ; pe fa vet h ruche a fable ( )i a
'•-J Ijkx'j wull' whiche came toward a fowe
whiche wepte and made forowe
for the grete payne that (he felte / by caufe die
wold make her young nyi:ges And the wult"
came to her feyeng/ My fuller make th,
jes furely / for ioyoufly and with good wvlle/
I Qialle helpe & ferue the/ And the (owe feyd
thenne to hym/ go forth on thy waye/ tor I
baue no nede ne myfter of fuche a (eruaunt / For
a> longe as thow (halt ftonde here I thai not
delvuere me of my charge/ For other thyng
thou defy reft not/ than to haue and ete them/
The wult' then wente / and the lowe was anone
delyuerd of her pygges/ Foryffhe had byleuyd
hym die had done a forowful byrthe/ And thus
lie that folyflhly byleueth it happeth to bym
38
LIBER
C Oje fgftjje fable mafeeti) tncncgon of the
montagn iufjtc|j£ fftofce
ijYght fo it happeth/ that he that
menaceth hath drede and is ferd-
ful/ wherof Efope reherceth to vs
fuche a fable Of a hylle whiche
beganne to tremble and make by
caufeof the mollewhiche delued hit/ Andwhanne
the folke fawe that the erthe beganne thus to
make / they were fore aferd and dredeful / and
durft not wel come ne approche the hylle/ But
after whanne they were come nyghe to the mon-
tayne/ & knewe how the molle caufed this hylle
lhakynge / theyr doubte and drede were con-
uerted vnto Joye/ and beganne alle to lawhe/
And therfore men ought not to doubte al folk
which ben of grete wordes and menaces/ For
fome menacen that haue grete doubte
SBCUNDUS.
3')
i CTl-c Id fable is of the untlf ant of the lambe
_■ He byrth caufeth no fo moche to
fome frendes as doth the g«
wherof Efope reherceth to vs
fuche a table/ Of a wnlf whiche
fawe a lambe among a grete herd
ootes/ the whiche lambe fowked a got
And the wulf wente and feyd to hym ' this
I i!i moder/ goo and feke her at tbe Mon-
tavn for the lhalle nouryflhc the more fwetely
and more tendyrly than this gote lhalle / And
the lambe anfuerd to hym/ This goote nouryflheth
me inftede of my moder For the leneth to me
her pappes loner than to ony of her own chil-
dren / And yet more/ hit is better tor me to be
here with thefe gootes than to departe fro hens
and to falle in to thy throte for to be deuoured
And therfore he is a foole whiche leueth fredome
orlurete/ For to put hym felf in grete penile
and daunger of dethe/ For better is to lyue
Inrrly and rudely in lewrte than fwetelv in peryll
laonger
4o
LIBER
C 2TJje bit fable fpritetf) of tfje olo Dogge anti
of his magster
En ought not to dyfprayfe the aun-
cyent ne to putte a bak/ For yf
thow be yonge / thow oughte to
defyre to come to old age or aun-
cyente/ and alfo thow ou3teft to
loue and prayfe the fayttes or dedes whiche they
haue done in theyr yongthe / wherof Efope re-
herceth to vs fuche a fable/ Of a lord whiche
had a dogge/ the whiche dogge had be in his
yonghe of good kynde / For ye wote wel / that
of kynde the dogges chacen and hunten in theyr
yongthe/ and haue grete lufte to renne and take
the wyld beetles / whan thenne this dogge was
come to old age / and that he myght no more
renne / It happeth ones that he lete fcape and go
fro hym an hare / wherfore his mayfter was forow-
full and angry / and by grete wrathe beganne to
bete hym / The dogge fayd thenne to hym / My
mayfter/ of good feruyfe thow yeldeft to me
euylle gwerdone & reward / For in my yonge
age I ferued the ful wel/ And now that I am
comen to myn old age/ thow beteft and fetteft
me
SBCUNDUS. 41
me a i>ak haue memorye how in myn j
I was ftronge and tufty/ And how I made
onttrages and efibra I the whiche caufed my
yongthe/ Ami now when I am bycome old and
feble thow fettefl nought of me/ i This fable
techeth thai who fo euer doth ony good in hia
yongthe/ in his auncyente and old age he ihalle
not contynue in the vertues which he pofl!
in his yong a
42 LIBER
C 2The rjiij fable ts of tfje fjares anti of the
frogges
JEJflEn fay conynly that after that the
tyme goth / fo mull folke go / For
yf thow makeft deftinction of the
tyme thow lhalt wel accord the
Scryptures/ wherof Elope reher-
ceth to vs fuche a fable / And fayth thus / that
he whiche beholdeth the euylle of other/ mult
haue pacyence of the euyile that maye come
vpon hym / For fomtyme as a hunter chaced
thurgh the feldes and woodes/ the hares beganne
to flee for fere And as they ranne / they adreflyd
them in to a medowe fulle of frogges / C And
whanne the frogges herd the hares renne they
beganne alio to flee and to renne fail / And thenne
a hare whiche perceyued them fo ferdfull fayd
to alle his felawes / Lete us no more be dredeful
ne doubtuous / for we be not alone that haue had
drede/ For alle the frogges ben in doubte/ and
haue fere and drede as we haue / Therfore we
ought not to delpayre/ but haue trull and hope
to lyue / And yf fomme aduerfyte cometh vpon
us/ we mull bere it pacyently/ For ones the
tyme
SBCUNDl
tyme (halle come that we (halle be outeofpayne
and oute <»t .ill drede Therfore in the vnhappy
and Intortun.it tyme men ought not to be def-
payred ' but oughte euer to I ood hop
haue om r in tyme of profperyte / For a
grete wrerre cometfa good pees And alter the
rayne cometh the fair weder
44 LIBER
C iZHje ix fable maJtEth tnertrgon of the toulf
ano of the kgooe
^Ood Children ought to obferue and
kepe euer the comaundements of
theyr good parents and frendes/
wherof Eibpe reciteth to vs fuche
a fable / Of a gote whiche had
made her yonge kyde / and honger toke her foo
that ihe wold haue gone to the feldes for to ete
fome graffe / wherfore ihe fayd to her kyd / My
child / beware wel / that yf the wulf come hyder
to ete the / that thou opene not the dore to hym
C And whanne the gote was gone to the feldes/
came the wulf to the dore / And faynynge the
gotes voyce fayd to the kydde / My child opene
tome the dore/ And thennethe kydde anfuerd to
hym / goo hens euylle and fals befte / For well
I fee the thurgh that hole / But for to haue me
thow fayneft the voyce of my moder/ C And
therfore I ihalle kepe me well fro openynge of
ony dore of this hows/ And thus the good chil-
dren ought euer to kepe wel / and put in theyr
hert & memory the docfryne and the techyng of
theyr parentes/ For many one is vndone and loft
for faulte of obedyence
SECUNDIS.
45
1 The trntlic fable is of tlic rfoo"b man ttrifc
of tije fcrpnxtc
E th.it ought not to be aflewerd th.n
apply keth and fetteth hym to doo
fomme other eny euyll/ wh<
efope reherceth fuche a table/ < >t
a ferpenl / whiche wente & came
into the hows of a poure man/ which ferpent
Kuril of that whiche telle fro the poure mans
table/ For the whiche thynge happed a grete
fortune to this poure man and bycame moche
ryche/ But on a daye this man was angry
ageynlte the ferpent / and took a grete liar'/ and
fmote at hym/ and gretely hinted him/ wherfore
the ferpente wente oute of his hous And therin
he came neuer ageyne/ And within a lytyll
whvle after this / this man retourned and telle
ageyne in to grete pouerte/ And thenne he
knewe that by the fortune of the Serpent he was
bycome ryche/ and repented hvm mocheoi that
lie fmote the ferpent/ And thenne this poure
man wente and hubled hym before the ferpent
age to hym/ I praye the that thow wylt par-
donne me of thofienfe that I have done to the
C And
46 LIBER
C And thenne fayd the ferpente to the poure
man/ Syth thow repenteft the of thy myfdede /
I pardonne andtbrgyueit to the/ But as longeas
I ihalle be on lyue / I fhalle remember me of thy
malyce/ For as thow hurteft me ones/ thow
maeft as wel hurte me another tyme / For the
wounde that thow madeft to me/ may not for-
gete the euylle whiche thow haft done to me
wherfore he that was ones euylle / fhalle euer be
prefumed & holden for euylle/ And therfore
men ought to prefume ouer hym/ by whome
they receyue fomme dommage and not haue luf-
pedte theyr good and trewe frendes
SECUNDUS.
47
i £fjf ii fablr is of llic hcrtr / of thr fhrcp ft
of tl]C toulf
He thynge which is promyfed by
force & for drink' is not to be
hold wherofefope rehercethrache
a fable of a hert which in the
•nee of a wulr" demanded of"
a (heep thai the (hold paye a buflheJ of corn/
And the wult" commanded to the (beep to paye
hit/ Andwhanne the day of payment was come
the herte came and demaunded of the (heep bis
corn And the (beep favd to hym the conenaunces
and pactions made by dredc and force oughte
not to be bolden/ For it was force to me bej
to tore the wulf to promytte & graunte to gyue
to the that whiche thou neuer leneft to me / And
therfor thow (halt bane ryghl nought of me/
wherfore fomtyme it is good to make promifle
. t fome thynge for to efchewe gretter dommage
or lode/ For the thyngs whiche are done by
force liaue none fydelyte
48
LIBER
C 2Tfje it] fable is of the balleo man/
ano of the flge/
MF a lytyl euylle may wel come a
gretter/ Wherof Efope recyteth
fuche a fable / Of a flye / whiche
pryked a man vpon his bald hede/
And whanne he wold have fmyte
her/ me flewgh awey/ And thus he fmote hym
felf/ wherof the fly beganne to lawhe/ And the
bald man fayd to her/ Ha a euylle beeft thow
demaundefl wel thy dethe/ yf I fmote my felf
wherof thow lawheft and mocquefl me / But yf I
had hytte the/ thow haddeft be therof ilayne/
And therfore men fayen comynly that of the
euylle of other/ men ought not to lawhe ne
fcorne/ But the Iniuryous mocquen and fcornen
the world/ and geteth manyenemyes/ For the
whiche caufe oftyme it happeth that of a fewe
wordes euyll fette/ cometh a grete noyfe and
daunsrer
SECUNDUS.
< Che liij fable is of the foir ant) of the ftorkc
'-'-■ "__"" .\How oughteft not to doo to otlu-r
;^~ . f " that whiche thow woldefl Dot thai
X&v. nun lhold doo to the/ wherof
Efope reherceth to vs fuche a
fable/ Of a foxe whiche conui
a ftorke to Coxxper j And the foxe put the mete
vpon a trauncher/ the whiche mete the ftorke
ia oof ete / wherof (he tooke & had
difplayfauDce / & weote & departed oute of the
f<
50 LIBER
foxes hows al hungry and wente geyne to her
lodgys / and by caufe that the foxe had thus
begyled her/ the bythoughte in her felf / how
the myght begyle the Foxe / For as men faye /
it is meryte to begyle the begylers/ wherfore the
ftorke prayd the foxe to come and foupe with
her/ and put his mete within a glas/ And
whanne the foxe wold haue eten / he myght not
come ther by / but only he lycked the glas / by
caufe he cowde not reche to the mete with his
mouthe / And thenne he knewe wel that he was
deceyued / And thenne the ftorke fayd to hym /
Take of fuche goodes as thow gaueft to me/
And the poure foxe ryght ihameful departed fro
thens / And with the ftaf whiche he had made
he was bete And therfore he that begyleth other /
is oftyme begyled hym felf/
SECUNDUS. 51
< ~lif iiiij fable is of tlir unilf nno of t!)c
tfOf mans I) cur
I Any one ben whiche haue grete
worfhip and glorye/ but noo pru-
dence ne nooWyfedom they haue
in them wherof Efope reherceth
fuche a fable/ Of a wulf which
ad a dede mans hede/ the whiche he torned
vp Co doune with his foote/ And layd / Ha a
how t'.ivr halt 1 how be and plavlannt And now
thow halt in the neyther uvtu- ne beautey &
yet thow arte withoute voys and withoute ony
thought/ and therfore nun ought not only to
behold the beautte and fayrenefle of the body/
but only the goodnes of the courage/ For lom-
tyine men gyuen glorye and worfhip to Come/
whiche haue oot deferuyd to haue hit/
52
LIBER
C GKjc in fable ts of the Sage ant) of the pecon
||One ought to were and putte on
hym the gowne of other / wherof
Efope reherceth to vs fuche a
fable Of a Jaye full of vayne
glory/ whiche tooke and putte
on hym the fethers of a pecok / and with them
he a[d]ourned/ and arayed hym felf well/ And
whanne he was wel dreffyd and arayed / by his
oultrecuydaunce or ouerwenynge wold haue gone
and conuerfed amonge the pecoks / and def-
prayfed alle hisfelawes / And whanne the pecokes
knewe that he was not of theyr kynd / they anone
plucked of alle his fethers / and fmote and bete
hym by fuche maner/ that no fethers abode
vpon hym / And he fledde away al naked and
bare/
C And thenne whanne his felawes fawe
hym / they fayd to hym / What gallaunt come
hyther/ where ben thy fayre fethers/ whiche
thow haddeft but late a gone / Haft thow no
fhame ne vergoyne to come in oure companye /
And tbenne alle the byrdes cam vpon hym/
and fmote & bete hym/ fayenge thus to hym/
yf
SECUNDUS. 53
yf thou haddefi be content of thyn owne \
roentes/ thow badefl not to this vylo
Ther tor hit appereth that hit ia not good to
were another man me For fuche w
fayre gownea and fayr gyrdels of gold that haue
theyr tt-et.li cold at home
54 LIBER
C flHjc ibj fable is of tty male antJ of the flge.
i^Orame maken gretemenaces/ whiche
haue no myghte / C Wherof Efope
reherceth fuche a fable / C Of a
carter/ whiche ladde a Charyot
or carte / whiche a Mule drewe
forthe/ And by caufe the Mule wente not fart
ynough / the flye fayd to the Mule / Ha a payllart
Mule / why gooft thow not falter / I fhalle foo
egrely pryke the/ that I fhalle make the go
lyghtely / C And the Mule anfwered to the
flye / God kepe and preferue the mone for the
wolues/ For I haue ne grete drede ne fere of
the/ But I drede and doubte fore my mayfter/
whiche is vpon me / whiche conftrayneth me to
fulfylle his wylle / C And more I oughte to
drede and doubte hym more / than the / whiche
arte nought/ and of no valewe ne myght/
CAnd thus men ought not to gette by ne
double them / whiche haue no myght ne that
ben of no valewe
UNDUS. 55
< Efje xfcij Cable is of the ante an) the flue.
j< ) make boofl and auaunrj but
vayne glorye and folye wh
Efope recyteth fuche a fable/ Of
the ante or formyce and ot the
flye/ whiche ftryued to gyder/
tor to wete whiche was the mofl noble of
them bothe/ .S: the flye tiyJ to the formyce/
Come hyder formyce/ wylt thow compare thy
I'll to me that dwelle in the kynges places ami
palays and eteand drynkeat theyr table/ And
alio I kylle botlie kynge and quene / and the
molt fayre maydens/ and thow poure and myf-
chaunt beefl thow arte euer within the erthe/
And the formyce anluerd to the live/ Now
knowe I wel thy vanyte and folye / i. For thow
ananntcft the of that wherof thon lholelt def-
fe the/
For fro alle places where as thow goofl or
flyefl I thow arte hated chacedand putOUte anil
it in grete daunger/ for aflbne as thewynter
lhalle come thow lhalt ileye / And I ilia I ai
on lyne alone within my chamber or hole/
where aa I drynke and ete at my playiyr/ For
the
56 LIBER
the wynter fhalle not forgyue to the thy myf-
dede / but he fhalle flee the / C And thus he
that wylle mocque or defpreyfe fomrae other/
he ougt fyrfi to loke and behold on hym felf
wel / For men fayn comynly / who that be-
holdeth in the glas/ well he feeth hym felf/
C And who feeth hym felf/ wel he knoweth hym
felf/ And who that knowith hym felf/ lytel he
preyfeth hym felf/ C And who that preyfeth
hym felf lytyll / he is ful wyfe and fage.
I SDUS.
57
i CTIir xfetfj fable is of the tunlf of thr foif
ant) of the ape
that ones falleth in to fomme
euylle faytte or dede/ he (halle
euer lyue with defhonoor and in
fufpecion / of the peple/ C And
how he it that by aduentnre he
purpofed to doo fomme prourfitable thynge to
fomme other/ yet be ihold not be trufted ne
byleued/ wherof Efope reherceth to va luche a
table/ Of a wulfwhiche maade the foxe to be
cyted before the Ape/ C And the wulf fayd
that the foxe was but a theef and a payllart and
a knaae of poure folke And the foxe layd that
he lyed / and that he was a good and trewe man /
! that he dyde moche good/
i. And thenne the Ape whiche was fette as
a Ju i fuche a (entence/ and tayd to the
waif J Come hyther/thow halt not lofl al that
whiche thow demaundef) / C And thow Foxe
1 beleue wel that thow halt vfurped and robbed
fom thynge/ howe be it that thow denyefl hit
in Juftyce/ But tor as moche t hat pees may be
bytv. w bothe ' ye (halle parte to gyder
58 LIBER
your good/ to thende/ that none of yow haue
no hole parte/ For he that is wonte and acuf-
tomed to robbe and gnawe/ with grete payne he
may abfteyne hym felf fro hit/ For a begyler
wylle euer begyle other/ C And by caufe that
the ape fehe them bothe gulty and fufpycious
made theyr dyrference to be acorded / and parted
half by half/ For they that ben cuftomed to doo
ony frawde or falfhede / fhall euer lyue rygte
heuyly and in fufpycon
SECUNDUS.
59
1 (The in fable is of the man anti of the
U]C5Cl
Kn ought wel to loke and behold the
courage & thought of hy m whiche
dothe i;ood / ami the ende/ wher-
for he dothe liit / wherof Efope
reherceth fuche a fable Of a man
whiche tooke a wefell/ the whiche chaced after
the ratios wythynne his hows/ C Ami after
whanne he had taken her / he wold haue kylled
her/ 1 And whanne the poure Wefelle fawe
the wrathe and furour of her mayfter (he cryed
to hvm / mercy/ fayenge thus/ My lord I re-
quyre and praye the/ that thow wylt pardonne
to me/ and that thow wylt reward me of the
grete feruyfe whiche I haue done to the/ For
eiier I haue chaced the rats outeof thy hows/
C And the man lavd to her/ thow dydelt not
that tor the loue ot'me/ but only thow halt done
it lor to t'ylle thy Inly For yf tliow haddett done
it tor the loue of me / I (hold haue pardonned to
the/ C And by caufe that thow dydefl not for
to (erue me ' but tor to lette and ado me/
For that the rattea myght not ete/ thou bared
it
60 LIBER
it awey / And foo bycaufe / that thow arte wexed
fatte of myne owne brede/ thow rauft rendre
and geue to me alle the fatnefle/ whiche thou
haft conquered and goten here / For he that
robbeth lhall be robbed/ Juxta illud / pellatores
pillabuntur/ For hit fuffyfeth not to doo wel/
but men muft haue good wylle and good enten-
cion for to do hit / For an almefle that is done
for vayne glorye/ is not merited / but difmeryted /
wherfore I thai not pardonne the/ but incon-
tynent and withoute taryenge thow fhalt deye /
For by caufe that thow haft deferuyd no mercy /
thow fhalt now be putte to dethe
SECUXDUS.
Gi
1 £fjf ii fable mnkcth mention of tfic ©tt/ nno
of the fioggc I ualjirnc ujoIU jjaue compare*
her to train
I [e poure ought not to compare hym
felf to livm which is ryche and
myghty/ As (ayth this fable of .1
firogge/ whiche was in a medowe/
when (he afpyed and fawe an oxe
whiche paftured / She wold make her felf as grete
and as myghty as the oxe/ and by her grete
pryde (he beganne to fwelle ageynfte the
And denaunded of his children yf (he was not
as grete as the oxe and as myghty And theyr
children anfuerd and (ayd nay moder/ For to
loke and behold on the oxe/ it femeth of yow to
be nothynge / And thenne the frogge beganne
more to l'welle / f And when the oxe (awe her
pryde/ be tbraddeand threfted her with his fote I
and brake her belv / Thertore hit is not good to
the poure to compare hym felf to the ryche/
Wherfore men fayn comynly/ Swelle not thy
felf/ to thende that thow brefte not
< ll'cre fonossljctJ the frrono fcookc of £-:opc/
62
LIBER
C ffim bcggnetfj ffje tijgrote oooke of tfje fttbtrjle
fables of (IBsope/ toftcraf tije forste mafcetlj
mention / of the Igon / & of ffje pastour. or
heroman
f He myghty and puyffant oughte not
to be flowfull of the benefetes
done to them by the lytyl and
fmalle And oughte not alfo to for-
gete them / but that they may be
rewarded of them / C And this fable approueth
efope & fhoweth vnto vs / of a lyon whiche ranne
after a beeft/ and as he ranne/ a thorne entred
into his foote/ whiche hurted and greued hym
gretely / wherfore he mught no ferther goo /
but as wel as he cowde he came to a fhepeherd
whiche kepte his fheep and beganne to flatere
with his taylle ihewynge to hym hys foote / whiche
was fore hurted and wounded / The fhepherd
was in grete drede and cafted before the lyon
one of his fheep/ But the lyon demaunded no
mete of hym / For more he defyred to be me-
dycyned and made hole of his foote/ C And
after whenne the lhepherde fawe the wounde/ he
with
TBRTIUS. 63
with .1 nydle fubtylly drewe oute of his foote the
thorne/ .mil had cute of the wound allc the
roten fleffhe/ and enoynted hit with I jrne-
iiH-nts / < Ami anone the lyon was holey And
to haue rendryd graces and thankys to the
Qiepherd or paftour the lyon kyfled liis handes/
And after he retorned :il;<\' n in to the hyefl of
tin.- woode And within a lytel whyle after it
happed that this lyon was taken ami conui
ti> the Cyte ol Rome ami was put amonge the
other b r to deuoure the myfdoers / \ <•
it befelle that the fayd Qiepherd commyfed a
crymynous dede / wherfore he was condempned
to be deuoured by thefe Defies/ And ryght lb as
he was cafl among them the lyon knewe hym /
and beganne to behold on hym / ami made to
hvm chere and lykked hym with his tongue/
And preferued and kepte hym from alio the
other beite-./ Thenne knewe the Qiepherd that
it was the lyon whiche he maade hole/ Ami
that he wold thenne baue recompenfed hym of
the good whiche he had done to hym/ wh
alle the Etomayns were all wonderly abaflhed/
And wold knowe the caufe of hit And the
Qieepherd fayd to them as aboue i.^ fayd
< And whanne they knewe the caufe/ they
leoe to the Qieepherd/ to goo home and
fente ageyne the lyon in to the foref) And
therfore
64 LIBER
therfore this is notary and trewe that al maner
of folke ought to rendre and gyue thankynges
grace and mercye to theyr good doers / For
flowfulnes is a fynne/ whiche is moche difplay-
faunt to god
TBRTIUS.
C £bc fcccnb fablr is of thr loon arrt) of the hots
. •(' c one oughl to efchewe dyflymy-
irnoneou3t to were on bym
■f''2 wyll be lyke to bym/ For none
ougt to fayne bym felf other than
fucbe as he is/ As to vs rehercetb this fable/
( Of a lyon whiche la we a hors/ which,
grade in a medowe/ And tor to fynde fomme
lubtylyte and manere for to etc and deuoure
hym approched to bym/ and layd / God 1.
the my broder/ I am a lecbe / and with al a g
phef] C And by caufe that I fee that
thow halt a fore foote/ I am come hyther for
to hele the of hit/ And the liors knewe wel
all bis euyell thought And fayd to the !••
M . broder I thanke the gretely ' and thow arte
welcome to me/ I preye the that thow wyll
make my foote hole/ And thenne the lyon I
to the hors/ late fee thy foote/ And as the lyon
;ed "ii hit / the hors Qnote bym on the for-
bede/ In fuche wyfe thai be brake bis hede and
lyll oute of his mynde/ & the lyon felle to the
ground/ and Coo wonderly he was hurt
alinult
66 LIBER
almort he myght not ryfe vp ageyne / And thenne
fayd the lyon in hym felf / I am wel worthy to
haue had this / For he that fercheth euylle /
euyll cometh to hym/ And by caufe that I
dyifymyled and fayned my felf to be a medycyn /
where as I fhold haue fhewed myfel a grete
enemye / I therfore haue receyued good reward /
and therfore euery body oughte to fhewe hym
felf fuche as he is /
TBRTIUS. 67
C. tlfif tftynft fablr mnkrth mention of the ass* /
of thf bars ft of thcyi fortune
]E that is we] fortuned and happy/
and is atte vpperefi «it' the- whele
of fortune/ may wel talk- doune/
And therfore none oughte to del-
prayie the poure/ but oughte to
thynke how the whele of fortune is moche
doubtous as (hewethe this prefent fable/ Of a
tayr hors whiche was wel harnayfed and arayed /
and his faciei and brydel garnyfllud with gold/
whiche hors mete with an a fie fore laden in a
oaroweway/ And by caufe that the afie tourned
hvm not a bak Incontynent the hors lhvd to
hvm / Ha a chorle haft thow noo lhame ne ver-
goyne/ that thow dofte nc berefl none worfhippe
ne reuerence vnto thy lord/ who holdeth now
me/ thai wyth my foote I breke not thyn hede
by caule that thow putteft not thy felf afyde
and OUte of my wave / fo that I myght pall'e
00 on my wave The poure afle anfuerd
ne lavd to hvm neuer a word/ and was fore
aferd that the horle lhold haue bete hvm/ wher-
fore
68 LIBER
fore he held his pees as wyfe and fage/ And
the hors wente his waye / C And within a lytyl
whyl after / it befelle / that fortune tourned his
whele vp fodoune / For thys fayre hors became
old lene and feke / C And whanne his mayfter
fawe that his hors was thus lene and feke and
oute of proiperyte/ he comauded that he lhold
be had in to the toun and that in ftede of his
ryche fadel men fhold put and fette on his
backe a panyer for to bere dounge in to the
feldes / Now it happed that the affe whiche was
in a medowe etyng graffe perceyued and fawe
the hors and wel knewe hym / wherof he was
wonder abaflhed / and merueylled moche that
he was thus poure and fo lene bycome / C And
the afle went toward hym andfayd / Ha a felawe.
where is now thy fayre fadel/ and thy ryche
brydel/ garnyflhed with gold/ how arte thow
now bycome foo lene and fuche a payllard /
what haue prouffyted to the thy fayre and ryche
rayments / and what auaylled now to thy grete
fyerfte and pryde / and thy grete prelumpcion
whiche ones thowfheweft to me/ Thynke now/
how thow arte lene and vnthryfty/ and how
thow and I ben now of one onyce/ And the
myierable and vnhappy hors was abaflhed / and
for lhame loked dounward/ & anfuerd neuer
one word / for alle his felicitie was thenne
turned
TBRTIUS. 69
turned into adnerfyte / C And therforethey that
ben m felycite/ oughte Dot to dylprayfe them /
whiche ben in aduerfyte/ For many one I
knewe ryche and myghty whiche arc now
pom
7°
LIBER
C QTfjc ftfj fable mafatfi tttmcpn of the berates
anti of the forties
One maye do no good to two lordes
at ones/ whiche ben cotrary one
to that other/ as iayth to vs this
fable that the beeftes made grete
werre ageynft the byrdes / & fought
euery day to gyder / And the backe feryng the
wulues And that the beeftes fhold vaynquyffhe
and ouercome the byrdes / wold haue hold with
the beeftes / and be ageynft the byrdes / And
whanne the batylle was ordeyned on bothe fydes /
the egle beganne to entre in to the batayll of
the beeftes by fuche a ftrengthe/ that with the
help of the other byrdes he gat the feld/
and vaynquyfftied / and ouercame the beftes /
wherfor the beftes maade pees with the byrdes /
and were alle of one accord and of one wylle /
And for the treafon that the backe had made /
fhe was condempned to neuer fee the day/ And
neuer flee / but only by nyght / And alfo {he was
defpoylled of alle her fethers / And therfore he
that wylle feme two lordes cotrary one to other
may-not be good ne trewe / And they wheche
rely n que n
TBRT1US. -i
relynquen and lene thejrr owne tardea for to
feme another ftraunger/ whiche is enemy to
tlu-vr lord' ben we] worthy to be punyflhed/
l as the Euangele iivth/ None may ferue
botlit- god and the deuj 1
72
LIBER
C E]}t fa fable is at tfje ngghtgngale anti of
the fpereljafajke
E that oppreffeth the Innocents
fhalle haue an euyl ende / wherof
Efope reherceth to vs fuche a
fable/ Of a fperehawk/ whiche
dyd put hym within the neft of
a nyghtyngale/ where he fond the lytyl and
yonge byrdes/ the nyghtyngale came and per-
ceyued hym / wherfore ihe praed the fpere-
hawke/ fayeng/ I requyre and praye the as
moche as I may/ that thow haue pyte on
my fmal byrdes / And the fperehawke anfuerd
and fayd / yf thow wylt that I graunte the
thy requeft / thow mull fynge fwetely after my
wylle and gree And thenne the nyghtyngale
beganne to fynge fwetely/ not with the herte/
but with the throte onely/ For he was fo fulled
with forowe that otherwyfe he myght not doo /
The fperehawk fayd thenne to the nyghtyngale /
This fonge playfeth me not / And toke one of the
yonge byrdes and deuoured hit / And as the fayd
fperehawke would haue deuoured and eten the
other came there a hunter whiche dyd cafte a
grete
TBRTIUS. 73
grete iK-ttr vpon the fperehawk / And whanne (he
wold haue Been awey ' he myght not / for he
Ami therfore he that duth harme &
letteththe Innocents/ is worthy to deye of euylle
dethe/ As Caym dyd whiche Qewe his brodcr
Alul
74
LIBER
C (Efte fmmth fable fs of the foxe antJ of
the toulf
Ortune helpeth bothe the good and
euylle folke/ and to alle them/
whiche fhe helpeth not fhe fendeth
euylle to them/ And they that
fetten alle theyr malyce ageynfte
fortune ben fubuertyfed and ouerthrawen by
her / wherof Eibpe reherceth fuche a fable / Of
a wulf whiche had affembled to gyder a grete
proye / or moche mete for to haue lyued more
delycioufly / wherof the foxe had grete anuye /
and for to haue robbed fomme of this good/ he
came vnto the cauerne or hole where as this
proye or mete was in/ and fayd to the wulf/
Mygodfep the wulf / by caufe hit is longe fyth I
fawe the / I am in grete heuynefle and forowe /
and alfo by caufe we haue not been in longtyme
gone chaced and gone to gyder/ C And whan
the wulf knewe the malyce of the foxe / he fayd
to hym thow arte not come hyder for to fee me /
ne how I fare / but thou arte come for to robbe
and rauyflhe my good/ For the whiche wordes
the foxe was moche angry / and wente toward a
fheepherd/
TBRTIUS. 75
(heepherd I towhome he fayd ' jrf thow wyh be
auenged of the wolf whiche is enemy of thy h i I
or parke / on this day I fhalle put hym under
thy handes ' And the (hepherd aufuerede to the
foxe in this manere/ yf thow doo as tho\( I lyfl '
I ill. ill paye the wel ' And thenne the foxe
(hewed to hym the hool/ wherin the wult'v.
And the (hepherd [ncontynent wente toward
the hole/ and with a (pere he kyld the wulf/
And by this manere the f! - wel fylled and
of the s^ood of the other/ but as he
returned home ward lie was tuke and deuoured
immedogges/ wherfore be fayd to bym felf/
by cauie thai ryghl euylle I haue done/ euylle
cometh thow to me/ For fynne retorneth euer
vpon his mavlter/ And he that lyueth hut of
rauyn and robberye flial at the lalt be knowen
and robbed /
76
LIBER
C 8The fatcnth fable is of the httte antJ of tfje
punter
^iEn preyfen fomtyme that / that
fhold be blamed & vitupered /
And ofte men blamen & vytu-
peren that / that mold be preyfed /
as reciteth to vs this fable of a
herte / To whome it happyd on a tyme that he
drank in a fonteyn or welle as he dranke/ he
fawe in the water his hede which was horned /
wherfore he preyfed moche his homes/ And
as he loked on his legges/ whiche were
lene and fmal / he defpreyfed 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
foreft for to faue hym felf / but as he fawe the
dogges fo nyghe hym he wold haue entred within
a buflhe / but he myght not / for his homes
kepte hym withoute / And thenne feyng that
he myght not efcape began to faye within hym
felf/ I haue blamed and vytupered my legges /
whiche haue ben to me vtyle and prouffitable /
and haue preyfed my homes / whiche ben now
caufe
TBRTIUS. 77
caufe of my dethe/ And therfore men ou -lit to
defprayfe that ihyugej whiche isvnprouffitable/
and preyfe thai whiche is vtyle and prouffitable /
Ami they ought to preyfe and louc the chirche and
the commaundementa of the fame/ the whiche
hen mocbe vtyle .\ proufry table / And defpreyfe
and Hoc al lyniu- and vycr / whiclic ben iiuityle
barmeful and dommageable
78 LIBER
C Cfje bit] fable mafcetf) tnntcton of Suno / of
Ucnus / anb of tije otfttr ingmmm
Efore the goddes and the goddefles
men mufte euer preyfe chatty te /
for it is a worfhipful & an honeft
thyng to a woman to hold hyr
contente with a man alone / but
Venus for her defporte & for to dryue aweye the
tyme / wold Interprete the fayenge of the hennes /
wherfore {he demaunded a henne whiche was
in her hows /but at this tyme I fhal kepe my
tongue / and no ferther I {halle fpeke therof/
For many wyfe men whiche haue fene and
redde alle this book vnderftanden wel alle the
nature of hit / and by caufe it is lycyte & honeft /
And that we alle ben bounden to kepe the ladyes
in theyre worlhip and honour/ alfo that in euery
place where hit thalle be poffyble to vs we ought
to preyfe them / We fhalle now ceffe to enquere
ferther of this matere/ and hiftoryye/ whiche
we fhall leue in latyn for the grete clerkes / & in
efpecial for them that wylle occupye theyr tyme
to judge and rede the glofe of the fayd Efope
TERTIUS. 79
i CHic ngntijt fable is of the knurjljt ant) of
the ujutioUK
|He woman whiche lyueth in this
world without reproche or blame
is worthely to be gretely prevled /
Wherof Efope reherceth fuche a
tabic of a man and of a woman/
whiche loued mocheeche other/ It happed thenne
by the effors of Atropos or dethe/ the whiche
il muft fuller that the layd man deyde /
And as men wold haue borne hym in to his
graue/ whiche was withoute the toune there to
be buryed / his wyf made grete forowe and wepte
pyteoully / And whanne he was buryed / the wold
abyde ltvlle vpon the graue/ and lete do make a
lytyll lodge or hows thcrupon/ and oute of this
lodge the wold neuer departe for no prayer ne
fayr word / neyther for ony yeftes ne tor menaces
of her parents Now it befell in thetonn thatamyf-
doer waa condampned to be hanged/ C And to
thende that he (hold not be taken fro the gallows
hit was thenne eommaunded that a knyght (hold
hym And as the knyght kepte hym / grete
thurlte look hym/ And as he perceyued the li
ol
So LIBER
of the fayd woman he wente to her / and prayd
her to gyue hym fomme drynke/ And ihe with
good herte gaf hym to drynke/ And the knyght
dranke with grete appetyte / as he that had grete
thurfte/ & whan he had dronke/ he torned ageyne
to the galhows ward/ This knight came another
tyme to the woman for to comforte her/ And
thre tymes he dyd foo / And as he was thus goyng
and comynge / doubtynge hym of nobody / his
hanged man was taken and had fro the galhows /
And whanne the knyght was come ageyne to
the galhows & fawe that he had lofie his dede
man / he was gretely abaffhed & not withoute
caufe For hit was charged to hym vpon peyne
to be hanged/ yf he were take awey/ This
knyght thenne seynge his Judgement/ tourned
and went ageyne to the fayd woman / & call
hym at her feete / and laye before her as he
had be dede / And lhe demauded of hym / My
trend/ what wylt thow that I doo for the/ Alias
fayd he / I praye the that thow focoure and
counceylle me now at my grete nede/ For by
caufe I haue not kept wel my theef/ whiche
men haue rauyfthed fro me/ the kynge fhalle
make me to be put to dethe / And the woman
fayd / Haue no drede my frend / For well I fhalle
fynde the manere wherby thow fhalt be delyuerd/
For we fhall take my hufbond/ and fhalle
hange
TERTIUS.
bange hym in ftede of thy theef/ C Thenne
mne (he to delue and tooke <»ut of the erthe
her liullioinl / and .it n\;,t the banged hym at
the galhows in ftede of the other/ and (ayd to
tin- knyghl My ryght dere frend I pray
• kepi well fecrete/ For we doo hit
theefly ami thus the dede men baue fomi
whiche make forowe for them/ bui that (browe
i^ foi ami paflyd/ And they wh;
«m lyue baue fome whiche drede them/ but
theyr ilrede wantith and faylleth whan they ben
dede
82 LIBER
C (Cfje tmtfte fable manetf} ntmcgon of the gong
man/ ana of tlje camtm foaman
j|P|F the comyn and folyflhe wymmen
Efope reherceth to vs fuche a
fable/ Of a woman whiche had
to name Tahys / the whiche was
caufe by her feyned loue of the
dethe and loffe of many yonge men / to one of the
whiche me had be bete ofte before that tyme /
ihe fayd to hym in this wyfe / My ryght dere
loue and good frende / I fuppofe that of many
one I am wel byloued and defpred / Neuertheles
I lhall fette my loue on thy felf alone / wherfore
I pray the that thow mayft be myn / and I fhalle
be thyn for alle thy goodes I retche not / but
only I defyre thy fwete body / And he that
knewe the feyntyfe and falfheed of the woman /
anfuered to her / ryght benyngly and fwetely / thy
wyll and the myn ben both but one alone / For
thow arte fhe whiche I mooft defyre / and the
whiche I fhalle loue all the terme of my lyf / Yf
thow deceyue me nomore / For by caufe that
thow haft decyued me in tyme palfed / I am
euer aferd of the/ but notwithftondynge this/
thow
TBRTIUS. 83
thow arte now moche playianni and fayr to the
fyghte of m \:nl thus the one begyled tint
other For tin- lour of a comyn woman is oot to
be trailed Por thow oaghterl to knowe and
thynk within thy felf/ that the comyn and
tolyi'ih woman loue the not / but lhe louctli thy
fyluer
8 4
LIBER
C £fce xj fable is at tfje faticr ano of the
ewlle fane
it
He good and wyfe fader ought to
chaftyfe his children in theyr yong
age/ and not in theyr old age/
For thenne hit is moche dyffycyle
to make them bowe As to us
reciteth this fable/ Of a fader of famylle/
whiche had a fone/ the whiche dyd no thynge
that he oughte to haue done/ but euer was
goynge and playeng in the toune/ And the
fader for the cryme and myfrewle of his fone
brawled euer and bete his meyny/ And fayd to
them fuche a fable/ Of a ploughman or la-
bourer/ whiche bond a bole by the homes to
an oxe The booll wold not be bound / and
fmote ftrongly whith his feet after the man/ and
launched his homes at hym / C And at the laft
whan he was bound / the labourer fayd to them
I haue ioyned and bound you bothe to gyder/
to thende that ye doofomme labour/ But I wyll
that the left of yow two / that is to wete the
boole/ be lerned and corryged of the mofte/
whiche is the oxe / For I muft fayd the labourer
to
ITIUS.
to hvm lilt" bynde them thus to gyder/ to thende
that the bole/ whiche is yong fyen and maly-
cious and . Qnyte ne hurte nobody/
wherof grete dommage myght come to me Bui
by caufe that I bote wi-11 thai the oxe fhalle
teche and con hym wrel/ I haue put and
bound them bothe to gyder/ ([Thus this fable
Qieweth to vs thai the fader ought to teche and
gyue good enlample to his children and chaftyfe
them whanne they be yong For he that well
loueth wcl be cbaftyfeth
86
LIBER
C Cfje itj fable is of the ferpent
He Auctor that is to wete Efope
reherceth to vs fuche a fable of
two euyls/ fayeng that a ferpent
entryd fom tyme within the forge
of a fmythe / for to ferche fomme
mete for her dyner/ It happed / that fhe fond a
fyle whiche fhe beganne to gnawe with her
teethe/ Thenne fayd the fyle to her/ yf thow
byte and gnawe me / yet fhalt thow doo to me
no hurte/ but bytynge and gnawyng on me/
thow fhalt hurte thyn owne felf / For by my
ftrengthe alle the yron is planed by me / And
therfore thow arte a foole to gnawe me / For
I telle the/ that none euyll may hurte ne adom-
mage another as euylle as he / Ne none wycked
may hurte another wycked / ne alfo the hard
ageynft the hard fhalle not breke eche other/
ne two enuyous men fhal not both ryde vpon an
affe / wherfor the myghty and ftronge muft loue
hym whiche is as myghty and as ftrong as hym
felf is
1 1 us.
BTfje iiij fable is of tl-c toulurs anti of
the fiicrp
MI. linn.' men haue a good hede/ and
od defenfour / or :i good (
tayne ' men oughte noi to leue
hyin ' tor he that leueth hvm re-
penteth hvm after wan! of hit/ as
- reherceth this fable/ Of the (ho p whiche
had werre and cleleencion with the wolues /
by cauie that the wulues made to ftronge werre
ageynft the lheep/ the lhcpe thenne tooke for
theyr help tlie dogges / and the wli [fo
And thenne was the bataylle of the lheep fo grete
and fo ftronge/ & fought lb vygoroufly agevnlt
the wolues that they put them to tlvst < And
whanne the wolues (awe the ftrengthe of theyr
rfaryes/ they lent an ambaflade toward the
(heepfor to trete the pees with them/ thewhiche
Ambaflade l.iyd to the lheep in this maner \i
• vile gyue us the dogges / we lhalle fwere
yow onre feythe / that we lhalle neuer kepe
lie hold werre agevnlt vow/ And the (h
anfaerd/ yf ye wylle gyue vs your fayth/ we
lh.dle be content/ And thus they made pe»
gyder
88 LIBER
gyder/ but the wulues kyld the dogges/ whiche
were capytayns and prote6tours of the fheep /
And the dogges dyde but lytyll hurte to the wulues /
wherfore whanne the lytyl and yong wulues
were growen in theyr age / they came of eche
part and countrey / and affembled them to gyder /
and all of one accord and wylle fayd to theyr
aunceftres and faders/ we muft ete vp alle the
iheep / And theyr faders anfuerd thus to them /
we haue made pees with them / Neuertheles the
yonge wolues brake the pees and ranne fyerfly
vpon the lheep / and theyr faders wente after
them / C And thus by caufe that the fheep had
delyuerd the dogges to the wolues / the whiche
were theyr capitayns / and that they had none
that kepte them/ they were all eten and de-
uoured of the wulues/ Therfore hit is good to
kepe well his capytayne / whiche may at a nede
gyue focor and helpe / For a trewe trend is
oftyme better at a nede than a Royalme / For
yf the fheep had kepte the loue of the dogges/
the wolues had neuer deuoured them/ wherfore
it is a fure thynge to kepe wel the loue of his
protectour and good frende /
TBR II I
i xm\ fable is of thr man ant of thr tuaotJ
'tfftffiR- that gyueth ayde and help to his
* I I i-iK-iny is cauil' ol his dethe as
P , ith this table of a man
IT— ^Y *iv whiche made an axe / And after
that he had made 1 / he
aiked of the trees and fayd ye trees gyue j
to me a handle/ and the trees were content/
( \ ii el whanne he had maade tad his handle to
the axe/ he began to cutte and throwe doune to
the ground alle the trees/ wherfore the oke and
the althe iayd / yt~ we be cutte / hit is wel ryght
and reafon/ For to oure owne felfwe ben cut
and thrawen doune/ CAnd thus hit is not
good to put hym felf in to the daunger and lub-
d ol his enemye/ ne to belpe hym for to
be adomaged/ . mail! fee by this prelente
fable I For men oughl not to gyue the* ftaf by
whiche they may be beten with
90 LIBER
C QTfje id fable 10 at tijt irrulf ano of tfje Dogge.
yberte or freedome is a moche fwete
thynge / as Efope reherceth by
this fable/ of a wulf and of a
dogge whiche by aduenture mette
to gyder/ wherfore the wulf de-
maunded of the dogge/ wherof arte thow fo
fatte and fo playfaunt / And the dogge anfuerd
to hym / I haue wel kepte my lordes hows / &
haue barked after the theues whiche came in the
hows of my mayfter / wherfore he and his meyny
gyue to me plente of good mete / wherof I am
fatte and playfaunt / and the wulf fayd thenne
to hym/ It is wel fayd my broder/ Certaynly
fyth thow arte fo wel atte thyn eafe and fareft fo
wel I haue grete defyre to dwelle with the / to
thende that thow & I make but one dyner/ wel
fayd the dogge / come on with me yf thow wylt
be as wel at thyn eafe as I am / and haue thou
no doubte of no thynge / The wulf wente with
the dogge/ and as they wente by the way/ the
wulf beheld the dogges neck/ whiche was al
bare of here/ and demaunded of the dogge/
My broder why is thy neck fo lhauen / And the
dog
TBRTIUS. 91
dog anfuered/ it is bycaule of my coler
of vr.Mi to ilic whiche dayly I ana faded/ And
at nyght I am vnbound for to kepe the hows the
■r / Thenne feyd the wult" to the dogge/
"l'hts I wyfhe ne nede nol I r I that am in
lyberte wrylle not be put in no fubie&ion /
therefor for to fylle my bely/ I wylle nol be
el yf thou be acuftommed for to be bound /
contynue thow in bit ' and I (halle lyue as I
am wonte and acuftomed / therfore there is no
rycheffe gretter/ than lybete/ tor lyberte is
better than alio the gold of the world/
92
LIBER
C t£fje xbj fable maketfj mwtcfon of tfje pantos /
cf tJj£ feet/ atto of tfje mans brig
jpOw fhalle one do ony good to an-
other/ the whiche can doo no
good to his owne felt"/ as thow
mayft fee by this fable / Of the
feet and of the handes / whiche
fomtyme had gredeftryf with the bely/ fayenge /
Al that we can or may wynne with grete labour
thow eteft it all / and yet thou dooft no good /
wherrbre thou ihalt no more haue nothynge
of vs / and we ihalle lete the deye for honger /
And thenne when the bely was empty and fore
hongry/ fhe beganne to crye and fayd Alias I
deye for honger / gyue me fomwhat to ete / and
the feet and handes fayd / thou getefl no thynge
of vs / and by caufe that the bely myght haue no
mete / the conduyts thorugh whiche the metes
pafleth became fmal and narowe/ And within
fewe dayes after the feete and handes for the
feblenes whiche they felte wold thenne haue
guuen mete to the bely / but it was to late / for
the conduits were ioyned to gyder And therfore
the lymmes myght doo no good to other/ that
is
TBRTH 93
te the bely And he that gouerneth n<>t
wel his bely withe grete payne he may hold the
r lymmea in theyr ftrengthe and rertue/
wherfore a feraaunt ought to ferae wel his
mayfter/ to thende thai Ins mayfter hold and
kepe livm honeftly/ and to receyue and haue
1 reward of liyin / when his mayfter lhallc
fee his feythfulneffe
94
LIBER
C JEJje xbtj fable is of tjje "Upc ano of tfje foie.
F the poure and of the Ryche Efope
reherceth fuche a fable / Of an
ape/ whiche prayd the foxe to
gyue hym fomme of his grete
taylle for to couere his buttokes
therwith/ fayenge thus to hym/ what auaylleth
to the foo long a taylle/ hit doth but wagge/
And that whiche letteth the / fhalle be prouffit-
able and good for me/ The foxe faid to hym
I wold that hit were yet lenger/ For rather I
wold fee hit al to fowled and dagged / than hit
lhold bere to yow fuche honour/ as to couere
thy fowle buttoks therwith / And therfore gyue
thou not that thynge of whiche thow haft nede
of/ to the ende that afterward thow myfter not
of hit
1 1, Kins.
95
i Z\\t xfcffj fable 13 of tlir matcfjamtt anb
of tlir B00C
one ben trauaylled after theyr
dethe/ wherfore men ought not
to defyre the dethe/ As reherceth
Efope by this table/ Of a mar-
chaunt whiche ladde an afle laden
vnto the market/ And tor to be the fooner at
the market/ he bete his arte/ and lore prycked
liym / wherfore the poureafle wyflhed & defyred
bis owne deth / wenyng to hym that after his
dethe he (hold be in refte And after that he
had be wel bete and chaced he deyde/ And
his mayfter made hym to be flayne/ and of his
ikynne he dyd doo make turn hours whiche ben
euer bete/ And thus for what payne that men
may haue durynge his lyf/ he ought not to
delyre and wyflhe his dethe/ For many one
whiche haue grete payne in this world
that (hall haue a gretter in the other world/
For the man hath no refte for the dethe but for
his mer
9 6
LIBER
ft BHjc iti fable is of tfje fjerte ano of the oie
Nely for to flee is affured to fcape
the daunger wherfore he fleeth /
As thow fhalt no we fee by this
fable / Of a herte whiche rane
byfore the dogges / and to thende
that he ihold not be take / he fledde in to the
fyrft toun that he found/ & entryd in to a liable
where as many oxen were / to whom he fayd the
caufe why he was come there / prayeng them
fwetely that they wold faue hym / And the
oxen fayd then to hym / Alias poure herte thow
arte amonge vs euylle adreffyd/ thow iholdelt
be more furely in the feldes ft For yf thow be
perceyued or fene of the oxeherd or els of the
mayfter/ Certaynly thow arte but dede/ Helas
for god & for pyte I praye yow that ye wylle
hyde me within your racke / and that ye deceyue
me not/ and at nyght next comynge/ I ihalle
goo hens / and ihalle putte my felf in to a lure
place / ft And whanne the feruaunts came for
to gyue hey to the oxen / they dyd caft heye
before the oxen / and wente ageyne theyre waye
and fawe not the hert / wherof the herte was
gretely reioyflhed wenynge to haue fcaped the
perylle
TBRTIUS. 97
perylle of dethe/ He tbenne rendred thanke
and grace to the ox< □ and one of the oxen fayd
to liyin ' It is facyle to fcape out of the handea
of the blynd but hit is not facyle to fcape out of
the- handea of bym thet feeth wel/ For jrf oure
mayfter come byther whiche hath more than an
bonderd Certayn thow arte deed yt" he
perceyue the (And yt" be fee the not/
t tynly thow arte faued/ and (halt goo forthe on
thy w aye rarely/
The mayfler within a lhort whyle after entryd
into the liable / And after be commaunded to
vyfyte and fee the bey whiche was before his
oxen/ And hym felfwent and tafted/ yf they
had ynough of hit/ And as he tafted thus the
e/ he felt the homes of the herte with his
hand / and to bym felf he fayd / what is that
that I fele here/ and beynge dredeful called alle
his feruauntes / and demaunded of the manere
how the herte was come thyder/ And they I
to hym/ my lord I knowe nothynge therof/
And the lord was full gladde and made the
herte to be taken and llavne / and maade a gi
feefl for to haue ete hym/ Therfore it happeth
oftyme/ that he whiche fuppofeth to flee is
D and hold within the lace or nette/ For he
that fleeth awey is in grete perylle/ wherfore
men OUght wel to kepe them felf to doo fuche
dede / that they mult nedes the then
G
9 8
LIBER
C Efyc xx fable tnanetfj mention of tfjc fallace of
the loon/ %Li\t> of his conuersaci'on
^vr^jy-^j Q conuerfe with folke of euylle lyf
is a thyng moche peryllous / And
only to fpeke with them letteth
moch other/ As this fable reher-
ceth of a lyon ryght ftrong and
ryght myghty / the whiche made hym felf kynge
for to haue grete renommee and glorye / And fro
thenne forthon he beganne to chaunge his con-
dycions and cuftomme ihewing hym felf curtois /
and fwore that he ihold hurte no beftes / but
fhold kepe them ageynft euery one / And of this
promeile he repented hym by caufe hit is moche
dynycyle and hard to chaunge his owne kynd /
And therfore whanne he was angry/ he lad
with hym fomme fmalle beeftes in to a fecrete
place for to ete and deceyue them / And de-
maunded of them / yf his mouthe ftanke or not /
And alle they that fayd that it ftanke or not
were al faued / And alle they the whiche an-
fuered not he kylled / & deuoured them al / It
happed that he demaunded of the Ape/ yf his
mouthe ftanke or not / And thape fayd no but
that
TBRTIUS. 99
that hit fmelleth lyke barney And thenne the
lyon had lh.iinc to Dee the :\\k- / but he fond .1
grete falfheed for to put hyoo to dethe/ II-
fayned to be (eke and commaunded that al his
lech 1 rurgyens fhold anone come rato bym /
whan they were come/ he commaumlt'd them
to lokc- his vryiu- / And whan they had fene hit /
they fayd to bym / Syre ye (halle foone be hole I
ye mult cte lyght metes/ And by caufe
that ye be kynge/ alle is at your commaunde-
ment/ And the lybnanfuerd Alias Ryghtfayne
I wold ete of an Ape/ Certaynly layd the
medecyn that fame is good mete/ Thenne was
the Ape fente for And notwithftondyng that
he worlhipfully fpak and antuerd to the kyn
the kynge made hym to dye/ and deuoured
hym QTherfore hit is peryllous and harmeful
to be in the felaulhip of a Tyraunt / For be hit
euylle or good he wylle ete and deuoure euery
thynge/ And we] happy is he/ that may e<
fro his blody handes / And that may efchewe
and rlee the felaufhip of the eyyll tyraunt
C |i>rrc fgngsshcb" the thgrtioc boolu of
Cuhtplt fables of Csope/
too
LIBER
C 5Ti)£ fgrst fable tnaketft mrrtcgan of the foie
ano of tfj£ ragsgns
PfE is not wyfe/ that defyreth to haue
?• JS^I M a thynge whiche he may not
haue/ As reciteth this fable Of
a foxe / whiche loked and beheld
the rayfyns that grewe vpon an
hyghe vyne / the whiche rayfyns he moche
defyred for to ete them C And whanne he
fawe that none he myght gete/ he torned his
forowe in to Ioye / and fayd thefe rayfyns ben
fowre /
QUARTUS. 101
fowre/ and yt I bad fome I wrold not ete thi
And therfore this fable theweth that be is
whiche fayneth not to defyre that thynge the
whiche he ma) not haue/
102
LIBER
C GEhe second fable i& of tije auncoent inesel ant)
of the rat /
^jYtte is better than force or ftrengthe/
As reherceth to vs this fable of
an old wefel/ the whiche myghte
no more take no rats/ wherfore
fhe was ofte fore hongry and be-
thought her that fhe mold hyde her felf with-
ynne the flowre for to take the rats whiche came
there for to ete hit. And as the rats came to the
floure/ fhe took and ete them eche one after
other / And as the oldeft rat of all perceyued
& knewe her malyce/ he fayd thus in hym
felf/ Certaynly I fhalle kepe me wel fro the /
For I knowe alle thy malyce & falfhede C And
therfore he is wyfe that fcapeth the wytte and
malyce of eyylle folke/ by wytte and not by
force
QUA1
103
< OTlic tlu'itjr fable Efl of tfu to til f BtiU of the
shrepbrrtj ant) of the tiuntrr
Any folke fhewe therafelf good by
theyr wordes whiche are fill of
grete fantafyes As reherceth to
vs thvs fable of a wulf whiche
fledde byfore the hunter/ and as
be fledde lie mette with a flieepherd to whome
lid my frende I praye the that thow telle
not to hvm that folowitb me whiche wey I am
gone/ & the flaeep herd laid to hvm haue no
drede nefere nothynge/ For I (halle not accufe
For I lhalle lhewe to hvm another v.
And ^ the hunter came/ he demaunded of the
flieepherd yf he had fene the wulf pane/ And
the hunter both with the heed and of the even
(hewed to the hunter the place where the wull
was/ & with the hand and the ton- tie (hewed
alle the contrarye / And incontynent the hunter
vnderltood hvm wel / But the wulf whiche per-
ceyued wel all the fayned manera of the (b
I fled awey ' ( And within a lytyl whylle
after the flieepherd enconntred and mette with
the wull'/ to whome he favd / pave me of that
I
104 LIBER
I haue kepte the fecrete/ CAnd thenne the
wulf anfuered to hym in this maner/ I thanke
thyn handes and thy tongue / and not thyn hede
ne thyn eyen/ For by them I ihold haue ben
betrayed/ yf I had not fledde aweye/ CAnd
therfore men mull not truite in hym that hath
two faces and two tongues/ for fuche folk is
lyke and femblable to the fcorpion / the whiche
enoynteth with his tongue/ and prycketh fore
with his taylle
QUARTUS.
1 >-.
< ~M foir.tii fable is of Euno tlir gottcssr aifo
of tlir pecol; ant) of tiic ngghtgngale
Wtv one oughte to be content ol
kynde/ and of fuche good as god
hath fente vnto hym/ wherof he
mutt vie luitly/ As reherceth
this fable of a pecok whiche came
to luno the goddefle/ and fayd to her I am
heuy and forowful/ by caul'e I can not fynge
as we\ a> the oyghtyngale For euery one
mockctli and fcorneth me/ by caule I can not
fynge/ And luno would comforte hym and
lavd / thy fayre torme and beaute is fayrer and
more worthy and of gretter preyfynge than the
fonge of the nyghtyngale / For thy tethers and
thy colour ben refplendyflhyng as the precious
Emerawd And theyr is no byrde lyke to thy
fethers ne to thy beaulte/ CAnd the pecok
: thenne to luno/ All this is nought / fyth
I can not fynge/ And thenne luno fayd ageyne
thus to the pecok for to contente hym/ This is
in the defpofycion of the goddes / whiche haue
gyuen to eyther of vow one propyrte/ and one
ie/ luche as it pleafyd them/ As to the
they
106 LIBER
they haue gyuen fayr fygure / to the egle haue
they gyuen ftrengthe/ and to the nyghtyngale
fayr & playiaut lbnge/ And fo to all other
byrdes / wherfore euery one mult be content
of that that he hath For the myferable auary-
cious / the more goodes that they haue the more
they defyre to haue
IRTUS.
107
< "lie b fable manrth nunci'on of the pant! irr
ant) of tlic urdauns
. v ••. one ought to do wel to the
rtraunger and forgyue to the
myferable/ As reherceth this
fable of a panthere whiche fylle in
to a pytte And whan the vy-
l.ivnes or chorles of the country (awe her/
fomme of them beganne to fmyte on her/ and
the other fayd pardoiine and forgyue her/ tor
(he hath hurted no body/ and other were that
_ it to her breed/ And another fayd to the
vvlayns/ beware ye well that ye flee her not/
And by caufe that they were al of dyuerfe wyll
euerychone of them wente and retomed home
ageyne wenynge that the (hold deye within the
favd pytte/ but lytyl and lytyl die clymmed vp /
anil wente to her hows ageyne/ and made her
to be wel medicyned/ in fo moche/ that foone
the was al hole/ C And within a whylle alter
da- hauynge in her memorye the grete Iniurye
that had be done to her came ageyne to the
place where the had be hurte and lore bete/ &
began to kylle & the al the belies whiche were
there
108 LIBER
there about and put al the fheepherds and fwyne-
herds & other whiche kepte beeftes all to flyght /
fhe brente the Corne & many other euyl and
grete harme lhe dyd then aboute/ And whanne
the folke of the country fawe the grete dom-
mage that fhe dyd to them / they came toward
her/ prayenge that lhe wold haue pyteon them/
And to them lhe anfuerd in this manere / I am
not come hyther to take vengeaunce on them
whiche haue had pyte and mylerycorde of me /
but only on them that wold haue ilayne me /
And for the wycked and euyele folk I recyte this
fable / to thende that they hurte no body / For
yf alle the vylaynes hadde hadde pyte/ the one
as the other of the poure panthere or ferpent
whiche was ftraunger and myferable / as moche
as lhe was fallen in to the pytte / the for fayd
euylle and dommyge had not come to them
QUARTUS. 109
< £\)t bi fable 13 of the rjorhrrs nrrti of the
tDhcthcrs
|Hanne 1 lygnage or kynred is in-
dyfFerenl or indyuyfyon/ not
itly theyfhalledoo ony thynge
to theyr lalute/ as reherceth to va
this table/ Of a bocher whiche
cntryd within a (table full ofwhethers/ And after
.is the whether* fawe bym/ none of them fayd
one word / And the bocher toke the fyrfl that
he fonde/ CThenne the whethers fpake al to
gyder ami fayd lete him doo what Ik- wylle
And thus the bocher tooke him all one after
another fauf one onely / Ami as he wold haue
taken the laft /' the poure whether layd to hvm /
Iultlv 1 am worthy to be take/ by caufe I haue
not holpen my felawes/ For he that wylle not
belpe ne comtorte other / ought not to demaunde
or aike helpe ne comtorte/ For vertne whiche is
rayed is better than vertue ieparate
no
LIBER
C 3H)£ feumtlj fable fa of the fatohoner atfo of
the bgrocs
He wyfe ought to kepe and obferue
the good couceyll/ And in no
wyfe they ought not to doo the
contrarye/ As reherceth to vs
this fable / Of the byrdes whiche
were Ioyeful and gladde/ as the prymtemps
came / by caufe that theyr neftes were thenne al
couerd with leues/ And Incontynent they be-
held and fawe a fawkoner whiche dreffyd and
leyd laces and nettes for to take them/ C And
thenne they fay d al to gyder/ Yonder man hath
pyte of vs / For whanne he beholdeth vs he
wepeth / C And thenne the pertryche / whiche
had experymented and afTayed all the deceytes
of the fayd Fawkoner/ fayd to them/ kepe yow
alle wel fro that fayd man and flee hyghe in to
the ayer / For he feketh nothynge / but the
manere for to take yow / or to the markette he
fhalle bere yow for to be fold / And they that
byleuyd his couceylle were faued / And they
that byleuyed it not were taken and loft / d And
therfore they whiche byleue good councylle are
delyuerd oute of theyr peryles / And they whiche
byleue it not ben euer in grete daunger
li
1 1 1
■- ^..^«. <■
\ tyme paill-d men preyfyd m
tin- folke full oflefynges and falf-
hede than the man lull of trouthe/
the whiche thynge regneth gretely
vnto this clave/ As we may fee
by this prefent table ' Of the man of trouthe
and of the man lyar/ whiche went to gyder
thoragh the countrey / And fo longe they wente
to gyder by theyr journeyes/ that they came in
to the prouynce of the apes/ And the kynge of
thapes made them bothe to be taken and brought
re hym And he beynge in bis Royal magerte /
where as he fatte lyke an Kmperour/ and alle
his Apes aboute hym / as the fubgets ben aboute
theyr lord / wold haue demaunded / and in d
he demaunded of the Iyer/ who am 1/ And the
age maker and rlaterer layd to hym/ thow
emperour and kynge/ the fayrefi creature
that is on earthe ("And after the kynge de-
maunded of hym ageyne/ who ben thole whiche
tl aboute roe / And the lyar anfuerd / S
they ben thy knyghte^ & your fubgi r to
kepe
H2 LIBER
kepe your perfone / and your Royalme / And
thenne the kynge fayd thow arte a good man / I
wylle that thow be my grete ftyward of my
houfhold / and that euery one here to the honour
and reuerence/ And whan the man of trouthe
herd alle this he fayd to hym felf / yf this man
for to haue made lefynges is foo gretely en-
haunced / thenne by gretter rayfon / I fhalle
be more worshipped and enhaunced / yf I faye
trouthe / C And after the kynge wold afke the
trewe man / and demaunded of hym / who am
I / and alle that ben aboute me / And thenne
the man of trouthe anfuerd thus to hym / thow
arte an ape and a befte ryght abhomynable/
And alle they whiche ben aboute the are lyke
and femblable to the/ CThe kynge thenne
commaunded that he ihold be broken and toren
with teeth and clawes and put alle in to pycees /
And therfore it happeth ofte that the lyers and
flaterers ben enhauced / and the men of trouthe
ben fet alowe and put aback / For oftyme for
to faye trouthe men lefe theyre lyues / the whiche
thynge is ageynft Iuftyce and equyte
nUARTUS.
"3
C Z\)t ix fable is of the hors / of tljc punter nno
of the rjert/
I • ought to put hym ti It" in lul>
o for to auenge hym on other/
For better is not to fubmytte hym-
felf/ than after to be fubmytted/
Aj reheroeth to vs this fable/ < >f
mi hors whiche had enuye oner an herte / by
canfe the herte was fayrer than he/ and the
hors by enuye went vnto an hunter/ to whome
he fayd in this manere/ yf thow wylt byleue
me/ we lhalle this day take a good pro
Lepe vpnn my bak/ and take thy fwerd/ and
we lhalle chace the herte/ and thow limit hytte
hym with thy fwerd/ and kylle hym/ and
(halt take hym/ and thenne his fleflhe thow
mivit ete/ and his fkynne thow may 11 Telle/
C And thenne the hunter rnoued by auaryce/
demaund d of the hors/ thynkeft thow by thy
feythe that we may take the berte/ ofwhomme
thowfpekefl to me ot"/ C And the borsaniwerd
thus/ - the/ For ther to I lhalle put al
my dylygence and alle my ftrengthe/ lepe \
me/ and doo alter my counceylle/ i A: id
thenne
ii
U4 LIBER
thenne the Hunter lepte forthwith vpon the
hors backe/ And the hors beganne to renne
after the herte/ And whanne the herte fawe /
hym come he fled / And by caufe that the hert
ranne fafter/ than the hors did/ he fcaped fro
them / and faued hym / C And thenne when the
hors fawe and felte hym moche wery / and that
he myght no more renne / he fayd to the hunter
in this manere/ alyght fro my back/ For I may
bere the no more and haue myft of my proye /
Thenne fayd the hunter to the hors Syth thow
arte entryd in to my handes / yet fhalt not thow
efcape thus fro me / thow haft the brydel in thy
mouthe wherby thow mayeft be kepte ftylle and
arrefted / And thow wylt lepe / the fadell flialle
faue me / And yf thow wylt cafte thy feet fro
the/ I haue good fpores for to conftrayne and
make the goo whether thow wylt or not where
as I wylle haue the/ And therfore kepe the
wel / that thow ftieweft not thy felf rebelle vnto
me/ C Therfore it is not good to put and
fubmytte hym felf vnder the handes of other
wenynge therby to be auenged of hym / ageynfte
whome men haue enuye / For who fubmytteth
hym felf vnder the myght of other / he byndeth
hym felf to hym
QUARTUS.
i [i
1 iTIif tattfcf fable is of tl)c assr ant) of Hie Iuon
II • • callers by theyr hyghe and
lowd crye fuppofen to make folke
aferd/ As recyteth this fable/ ()t'
an affe whiche fomtyme mette
with a lyon/ to the whiche the
alii- fayd I lette va clymme vpon the montayne j
and I (halle Qiewe to the ' how t he beeftes ben
aferd of me/ and the lyon beganne to fmyle '
and he anfnerd to the afle Goo we my broder
And whan they were on the top of the hylic
the affe byganne to crye/ And the foxe and
hares beganne to flee/ And whanne thafle law
them flee fayd to the lyon/ Seelt thownot bow
thefe beeftes dreden and doubten me ' and the
lyon fayde/ I had ben afo ferdfull of thy vi
vf I had not knowen veryly that thow arte but
an afle ' C And therfore men oede not double
nc drede bym thai auanceth hym felffor to do
that that he may not doo/ For god kepe the
mone firo the wulues/ Ne alio men nede not
doul)te a foole for hia menaces/ ne for his hyghe
( rye
n6
LIBER
C £fjc ij fable is of the ftainke Btttl of other
buroes
g s^gR-s?^ fj e ypocrytes maken to god a berd
of ftrawe / As recyteth to vs this
fable / Of a hawke / whiche fom-
tyme fayned/ that he wold haue
celebrated and holden a natal 1 or
a grete fefte / the whiche fefte fhold be celebred
within a Temple / And to this fefte and folemp-
nyte he Inuyted and fomoned alle the fmal
byrdes / to the whiche they came / And Inkon-
tynent as they were all come in to the temple/
the hauk fhette the gate and put them alle to
dethe / one after an other / C And therfore this
fable iheweth to vs / how we muft kepe our felf
fro all them / whiche vnder fayre femynge haue
a fals herte/ and that ben ypocytes and decep-
tours of god and of the world /
QUARTUS.
117
f vTfic xfj fafalr is of the forr / ant) of the loon
> - Vyre doctryne taketh he in hym
felf/ thai chaftyfeth hym by the
perylle of other/ As to vs re-
heroeth this prefent tabic/ Of a
[yon whiche (bmtyme faygned
hym felf feke ' C And whanne the beeftes
c that the lyon was (eke/ they wold goo
alle to vyfyte and fee hym as theyr kyn
I id [ncontynent as the beeftes entryd in to
his hows for to fee and comforte hym/ he de-
uoured and ete them/ CAnd whan the fi
were come to the yate for to haue vvlyded the
lyon / they knewe wel the fallace and fallhede
of the lyon and falewed hym at the entre of the
And entryd not within/ CAnd whan
the lyon (awe that they wold not entre in to his
hows/ he demauded of them/ why they wold
not come within/ And one of the tn\r> (ayd to
hym we knowe wel by thy traces/ that alle
the beeftes whiche haue entryd in to thy hows
came not oute ageyne/ And alfo yf we entryd
within / Qomore (hold we come ageyne CAi
therfor lie is wel happy that taketh emample
by
n8 LIBER
by the dommage of other/ C For to entre
in to the hows of a grete lord / it is wel facyle /
but for to come oute of hit ageyne it is moche
dyftycyle /
QUARTUS. rig
C Che lit] fable ffl of tlic R00C / nnb of tfje toulf
_( ) none cyylle man feythene trouthe
, ' - , mi dit neuer to be adioufted
A> men may wel fee by this
table/ Of a vrolf whiche vyfyted
an afle whiche was wel feke the
whiche wuli ine to fele and tafte hym / and
demaanded of hym/ My broder and my trend
where aboute is thy fore/ And the afle layd to
hym/ there as thow tafteft C And thenne the
wtilf faynyng to vyfytc hym/ beganne to byte
and lmyte hym/ C And therfore men muft not
truft fiaterers/ For one thynge they faye/ and
done another
120
LIBER
C E\\t xmj fable t's of tfje ^eogeljorjtje ano of the
Igtgl fcgboes
"T behodeth not to the yong and
lytyl of age to mocke ne fcorne
theyr older / As this fable fayth /
ofthre lytyl hedgehogges/ whiche
mocked a grete hedgehogge /
whiche fled before a wulf/ And whanne he
perceyued the fcornyng of them / he fayd to
them / Ha a poure fooles & wood ye wote not
wherfore I fle / For yf ye wyfl: and knewe wel
thyn conuenyent and paryll/ ye {hold not mocke
of hit/ And therfore whan men feen that the
grete and myghty ben ferdful and doubtous/
the laife or lytyll oughen not to be affured / For
whan the toune is taken and goten by fortune
of warre the Country aboute is not therfore
more acertayned / but ou3t to tremble and lhake
QUART US.
121
i. Zbc ib fable is cf tbc man anb of the loon /
En ought not to byleue the paynture /
but the trouthe and the dede <
.\^ men may fee by this prefent
Fable/ Of a man & of a lyon
whiche had ftryf to gyder ,\ were
in grete difcenfion tor to wete and knowe/
whiche of them bothe was more ltronger/
< The man fayd that be was ftronger than the
And for to haue his fayenge veryfyed/
he (hewed to the lyon a py&our/ where as a
man bad vy&ory oner a Lyon/ As the py&our of
Sampfon the ftronge CThenne fayd the lyon
to the man' yf the Iron coude make pvetour
good and trewe / hit had be herin pavnted /
how the lyon had had vy&orye of the man;
hut now 1 lhalle lhewe to the very and trewe
wytnefle therof/ The lyon thenne ledde the
man to a grete pytte/ And there they fought
yder/ But the lyon cafte the man into the
pytte / and fubmytted hym in to his fubie&ion
and fayd/ Thow man/ now knowelt thow alle
the trouthe/ whiche of va bothe i ;er/
< nd therfore at the werke is know en the Ik it
and molt fnbtyle werker/
122
LIBER
C SRje ibj fable is of the camel / anb of the flee
E that hath no myght ought not to
gloryfye ne preyfe hym felf of no-
thynge/ As reherceth to vs this
prefente fable of a camell / whiche
bare a grete charge or burden
It happed that a flee by caufe of the camels
here lepte to the back of the camel / and made
her to be borne of hym all the day And whanne
they had made a grete way/ And that the
camel came at euen to the lodgys/ and was put
in the ftable/ the flee lepte fro hym to the
grounde befyde the foote of the camel / And
after fayd to the camel/ I haue pyte of the/
and am comen doune fro thy back by caufe that
I wylle nomore greue ne trauaylle the by the
berynge of me/ And the camel fayd to the
flee/ I thanke thee/ how be it that I am not
fore laden of the / And therfore of hym which
may neyther helpe ne lette men nede not make
grete eftymacion of
IRTUS. 123
C 3Tht xbij fable is of the Snt ant of tfjt fggale
-T^r>':.| ' is good to purueye hym felf in the
J Ibmer feafon of fache thyn
sL\ wherof he thalle myfier and haue
v - ^" IVrQ nede in wynter feafon/ As tbow
m.iyit fee by this prefent table/
be fygalle / whiche in the wynter tyme wenl
and demaunded of the ant fomme of her Corne
tnrtoete/ C And thenne the ant (ayd to the
fygall / what halt thow done al the fomer lad
paffed/ And the fygalle anfuerd / I haue fon
C And after layd the ante to her/ Of my corne
lhallt not thou none haue/ And yf thow halt
fonge alle the fomer/ danfe now in wynter/
C Ami therfore there is one tyme tor to doo fome
labour and werk / And one tyme for to haue
red/ For he that werketh not ne doth no good/
dial haue ofte at his teeth grete cold and lacke
at his nede/
I2 4
LIBER
C 8Hje tbt'fj fable fe of tfje pglgrgm ana of tfje
ftoero
n euylle man maye be caufe of the
perdycion or lofle of many folke/
As reherceth to vs this prefent
Fable/ Of a pylgrym / whiche
fond in his way a fwerd C And
afked of the fwerd / what is he that hath loft
the / C And the fwerd anfwerd to the pylgrym /
A man alone hath loft me/ but many one I
haue loft/ And therfor an euyl man may wel
be loft / but er he be loft he may wel lette many
one / For by caufe of an euylle man may come
in a Countrey many euyls
QU ARILS.
125
C Che id fable is of tijc shrrp nub of the iTrofoe
En ought not to iniuiye ne def-
prayfe the poure Lnnocentes ne
the fymple folke- As reherceth
this fable Of a Crowe/ whiche
fette her felf vpon the back of a
(heep ' And whan the (heep had born her a
gn-te whyle (he fayd to her/ thow (halt kepe
thy felf wc'l to fette vpon a dogge/ C And
thenne the crowe feyd to the (heep/ Thynke
1 how poure Innocent that I wotc we] with
whome I playe/ For I am old and malyckms/
and my kynde is to lette all Innocents/ and to
be fren i'' vnto the euyls/ C A[n]d therfore this
table wylle telle and (aye/ how ther be folke
of fuche kynde/ that they wyl doo no good
werk/ but only to lette euer the Innocents and
fymple tolke
126
LIBER
C 8The xx fafole mafcrtfj mend'on of the tree ano
of tfje teeo /
One ought to be prowd ageynft his
lord / but oughte to humble hym
felf toward hym / As this fable
reherceth to vs of a grete tre/
whiche wold neuer bowe hym
for none wynd / And a reed whiche was at his
foote bowed hym felf as moche as the wynd
wold / And the tree fayd to hym / why doft
thow not abyde ftylle as I doo/ And the reed
anfuerd / I haue not the myght whiche thow
haft/ And the tree fayd to the reed prowdly/ than
haue I more ftrengthe/ than thow/ And anone
after came a grete wynde / whiche threwe doune
to the ground the fayd grete tree / and the reed
abode in his owne beynge/ For the prowde
lhall be allway humbled And the meke and
huble fhalle be enhaunced/ For the roote of
alle vertue is obedynce and humylyte
C f^ere fgngssheth the fourth* foook of the sufo=
tgle Jafoles of (Esope / lino ftofu foe it that
mot
QUARTUS. 127
ntor of them brn not founrj in ontj tug
Dstvt Xrucrtrjclcs many other fables com*
poscti bg rjS^n / rjaue bat fountcn toijicrje
rjcu after folotocn
128
LIBER
C 9T!)e fgrste fable mafcetfj mrnciort of ffte mulet/
of the foie / atvb of the Inulf
^En Calle many folke Affes/ that
ben wel fubtyll/ And fuche
wenen to knowe moche/ and to
be a grete clerke that is but an
atfe/ As hit appiereth by thys
fable / Of a mule whiche ete graffe in a medowe
nyghe to a grete foreft/ to whome came a foxe
whiche demaunded of hym / What arte thow /
And the mule anfuerd I am a beeft/ And the
foxe fayd to hym / I ne demaunde ne afke of
the that / but I afke who was thy fader / C And
the mule anfuerd/ my grete fader was a hors/
And the foxe fayd ageyne I ne demaunde to the
that / but only that thow telleft me / who thow
arte named / And the mule fayd to the foxe /
I ne wote / by caufe I was lytyll whanne my
fader deyde/ Neuertheles to thende that my
name (hold not be forgoten / my fader made hit
to be wreton vnder my lyfte foote behynde /
wherfore uf thow wylt knowe my name/ goo
thow and loke vnder my foote/ C And whanne
the foxe vnderftood the fallace or falihede / he
wente
QUINTUS. 129
wente ageyne into the forefl / And met with
the wult to whome he (ayd/ Ha myfchaunt
bee ft / what dolt thow liere / Come with me
and in to thy hand I fhall put a good proy
Luke in to yonder medowe/ there lhalt thow
fynde a fatte beefl Ot" the whiche thow mayfl
be fylled ! i. And thenne the wnlf entryd in
to the medowe j and fonde there the mule/
Of whom he demaonnded/ who arte thow/
And the mule anfuerd to the wult'/ I am
a beefl And the wulf fayd to hyra / This
i^ not that that I a(ke to the but telle how
thow arte named/ And the mule l.iyd I wote
not/ but neuerthelesa yf thow wylt knowe my
name/ thow lhalt t'vnde it wreton at my lyfte
foote behynde / Thenne fayd the wulf/ I praye
vouche laut" to lhewe it to me/ And the
mule lytt up his foote/ CAnd as the wulf
beheld and ftudyed in the foote of the mule/ the
Mule gat" hym fuche a ftroke whith his foote
before his forhede/ that almoft the brayne ranne
oute of his hede / And the foxe whiche wis
within a builhe and lawe alle the m.mer besanne
to lawhe and mocque the wulf/ to whomme
be l.iyd / Foole beefte thow wolt wel / that
thow canfl not rede/ wherfore yf euj He is th
e to the/ thy felf is caufe of bit For n
ought not to entremete hym to doo that/ that
Impoilyble ii to hym /
i
1 30 LIBER
C Eljt fccotrtJ fable is of the bore ano of the fault
1 Vche defyren to be grete lordes /
and dyfpreyfen his parents/ that
at the laft becomen poure and
fallen in to grete dishonour/ As
thow may ft fee by this prefent
fable / Of a bore / whiche was amonge a grete
herd of other fwynes/ And for to haue lordihip
and domynacion ouer alle them / he beganne to
make grete rumour / and ihewed his grete teethe
for to make the other fwynes aferd/ but by
caufe they knewe hym / they fette naught by
hym / wherof he difpleafed moche / and wold
goo in to a herd of fheep/ and emonge lambes/
And whanne he was amonge the lambes/ he
began to make grete rumour/ and ihewed his
fharp and long teeth C And whanne the lambes
herd hym/ they were fore aferd/ and begganne
to ihake for fere / C And thenne fayd the bore
within hym felf/ here is the place wherin I
rauft abyde and duell For here I fhalle be
gretely worshipped/ For euerychone quaken
for fere of me/ C Thenne came the wulf there
for to haue and rauyfle fomme prove/ And
the
QUISTUS. 131
the Lambes beganne alle to flee/ but the bore
a> prowd weld not ftere hytaj oe go firo the
place by caufe he fuppofed to be lord/ but the
wait" toke hym / and bare hym in to the wode
tor to ete hym C And as the wulf bare hym/
it happed that he palled b( the herd of
fwynes/ whiche the bore had lefte/ C And
thenne whanne the bore perceyued and knewe
them/ he prayd and cryed to them/ that for the
loue of god they wold helpe hym / And that
withoute her help' he was deed/ And thenne
the fwynes alle of one affent and owne wvlle
wente and recouered theyr felewe / and after
llewe the wulf/ And as the bore was delyuerd/
ami (awe hym amongethe fwynes/ and that alle
hi> doubte and fere was gone/ he beganne to
haue vergoyne and lhame/ by caufe that he was
thus departed/ and gone fro theyr felaufhip and
fayd to them/ My bretheren and my frendes/ I
am well worthy to haue had this payne/ by
caufe/ I was gone & departed from yow/ And
therfore be that is wel lete hym beware that
he moue not hym felf/ For fuche by his pryde
delyreth to be a grete lord/ whiche ofte falleth
in grete pouerte/
132
LIBER
C &fje tfjgro fable is of tfje faxz ano of tfje cockc /
vapFtyme moche talkynge letteth/ As
hit appiereth by this fable / Of a
foxe/ whiche came toward a
Cocke / And fayd to hym / I
wold fayne wete / yf thow canft
as wel fynge as thy fader dyde / And thenne
the Cock ihette his eyen / and beganne to crye
and fynge / C And thenne the Foxe toke and
bare hym awey/ And the peple of the towne
cryed / the foxe bereth awey the cok / CAnd
thenne the Cocke fayd thus to the Foxe/ My
lord vnderftandeft thow not/ what the peple
fayth / that thow bereft awey theyr cock / telle
to them / that it is thyn / and not theyrs / And
as the foxe fayd/ hit is not yours/ but it is
myn / the cok fcaped fro the foxe mouthe / and
flough vpon a tree / And thenne the Cok fayd
to the fox thow lyeft/ For I am theyrs and not
thyn / And thenne the foxe beganne to hytte
erthe bothe with his mouthe & heed fayenge/
mouthe/ thow haft fpoken to moche/ thow
fholdeft haue eten the Cok/ had not be thyn
ouer
QUI NT US. 133
oucr many wordes/ And therfor oner mochc
talkyng letteth/ and to moche crowynge fmart-
eth/ therfore kepe thy felf fro ouer many
nrordes to thende/ that thow repentefl the
DOt
'34
LIBER
C 2H)e fcmttfte fable fa at tlje dragon una at the
fjcrte
£3^5] En ought not to rendre euylle for
good / And them that helpen
ought not to be letted / As re-
herceth thys fable Of a dragon
whiche was within a Ryuer/ and
as this Ryuer was dymynuyfihed of water/ the
dragon abode at the Ryuage / whiche was al
drye / And thus for lack of watre he coude
not Here hym / A labourer or vylayne came
thene that waye / and demaunded of the dragon /
what doft thow there/ And the dragon anfuerd
to hym/ I am here lefte withoute water/ with-
oute whiche I can not meue/ but yf thow wilt
bynd me / and fette me vpon thyn afle / and
lede me in to my Ryuer/ I fhal gyue to the
habondaunce of gold and fyluer/ And the
vylayne or chorle for courtyfe bound and ledde
hym in to his repayre/ And whanne he had
vnbounden hym/ he demaunded his fallary /
and payment / And the dragon fayd to hym /
By caufe that thow haft bounden me/ thow
wylt
QUINTUS. 135
wylt be payd And by caufe that I am now
hungry/ I (halle ete, the/ and the vylayne
anfuerd and fayd/ For to baue done wo! / thow
wylt t-tc- .uul deuoure me And as they ftryued
to gyder/ the foxe whiche was within the foreft
herd wel theyr queftion and diflPerent came to
them/ and (ayd in this manere/ Stryue ye no
more to gyder/ For I wyll acord/ and make
pees bytwixt \ on Late eche of vow telle to me
his reafon tor to wete/ whiche of yow hath
rvglit / And whanne eche of them had told
his caas the foxe fayd to the vylayne/ Shewe
thow to me/ how thow bounded the dragon
to thende that I may gyue therof a trewe and
lawful] fentence / And the vylayne put the
dragon vpon his affe/ and bound hym as he
had done before And the fox ilemaunded of
the dragon / helde be thenne the lb tad bounden /
as he dothe now/ And the dragon anfuerd
my lord' and yet more hard/ And the :
l'avd to the vylayn / Bynde hym yet more
harder/ For who that wel byndeth/ well can
he vnbvnd And whanne the dragon was talt
and wel bounden/ the fox feyd to the vylayne
here hvin a<je\ne there as thow tyrll tokelt hym/
And then- thow (halt hue hym bounden as he
i> now And thus he (halle not ete ne deuoure
1 or he that dothe euylle / euylle be mult
baue/
136 LIBER
haue/ For Jnftly he fhall ben punyifhed of
god / they that done harme and dommage to
the poure folke For who fo euer rendreth
euylle for good/ he fhalle therof iuftly be re-
warded
QUINTUS.
137
C (Tilt fa fable is of the foir anb of thr cattr /
Here is many folke/ whicbe auaun-
them and faye that they ben
wyfe and lubtyle / whiche ben
grete fooles and knowynge no
thynge/ As this table reherceth
( )t a foxe whicbe fom tyme mette with a
Cute to whome he fayd / My godlep/ god
geue yow good daye / And the catte anfwerd/
my lord god gyue yow good lyf/ And thenne
the foxe demaunded of hym / My godlep what
canft thow doo/ And the catte fayd to hym/
I can lepe a lytyl / And the fox fayd to hym/
Certaynly thow art not worthy to lyue/ by caufe
that thow canft nought doo/ And by caufe that
the c.n was angry of foxes wordes/ he alked and
demaunded of the tbxe / And thow godlep what
canft thow doo/ A thoufand wyles haue I I
the foxe/ For I haue a sak tul of fcyences and
wyles/ And I am lb grete a clerke/ that none
maye begyle ne decevue me / And as they were
thnsfpekyng to gyder the cat perceyued a knyght
Comynge toward them / whiche had many doj
with hym/ and layd to the foxe/ My godfep/
certaynly
v
138 LIBER
certaynly I fee a knygtt comynge hyther ward /
whiche ledeth with hym many dogges/ the
whiche as ye wel knowe ben our enemyes / The
foxe thenne anfuerd to the cat/ My godfep/
thou fpekeft lyke a coward/ and as he that is
aferd / lete them come and care not thow / And
Incontynently as the dogges perceyued and fawe
the foxe and the catte/ they beganne to renne
vpon them/ And whanne the foxe fawe them
come / he fayd to the kat / Flee we my broder /
flee we / To whome the kat anfuerd / Certaynly
godfep/ therof is none nede/ neuer the les the
foxe bylued not the cat / but fledde / and ranne
as faft as he myght for to faue hym / And the
catte lepte vpon a tree and faued hym felf/
fayenge/ Now ihalle we fee/ who fhalle playe
beft for to preferue and faue hym felf/ And
whanne the catte was vpon a tree/ he loked
aboute hym/ and fawe how the dogges held the
foxe with theyr teethe / to whome he cryed and
feyd / O godfep and fubtyle foxe / of thy thow-
fand wyles that fyth late thow coudeft doo / lete
me now fee / and fhewe to me one of them /
the foxe anfuerd not/ but was killed of the
dogges fend the catte was faued / C And ther-
fore the wyfe ought not to defprayfe the fymple/
For fuche fuppofeth to be moche wyfe whiche
is a kynd and a very foole /
QUINTUS.
»39
C Z-ht bj fable is of H)t bftjootc nnb of the toulf
^jHe feble ought not to arme hvni
ageynfl the ftronge/ As recyteth
this prefent fable of a wulf/ whiche
fome tyme ranne after a hegoot /
and the hegoot for to lauc hvni
lept vpon a rocke / and the wulf befyeged hym /
( And after whan they had duelled there two
Of thre dayes / the wulf beganne towexe hongry/
and the hegoote to haue thurft/ And thus the
wulf went for to etc/ and the hegoot went for
to
140 LIBER
to drynke / And as the hegoot dranke he fawe
his fhadowe in the water/ and fpeculynge and
beholdynge his fhadowe profered and fayd fuche
wordes within hym felf/ Thou haft so fayre
legges / lb fayr a herd / and fo fayre homes / and
haft fere of the wulf/ yf hit happed that he
come ageyne/ I fhalle corryge hym wel/ and
lhalle kepe hym wel/ that he lhalle haue no
myght ouer me / C And the wulf whiche held
hys peas / and herkened what he fayd / toke hym
by the one legge thus fayenge / what wordes ben
thefe whiche thow profereft & fayft brorder He-
goote/ CAnd whanne the hegote fawe that
he was taken / he beganne to faye to the wulf/
Ha my lord / I faye no thynge / and haue pyte
of me/ Iknowe wel/ that it is my coulpe / And
the wulf toke hym by the neck and ftrangled
hym/ CAnd therfore it is grete folye whan
the feble maketh werre ageynft the puytfant and
ftronge.
QUINTUS.
141
C GHjc Wj fable (0 of the faulf nntj of the affe
"Kn ought not to byleue lyghtly the
counccylle of hym 10 whome men
purpofen to lette/ As ye maye
fee by this fable / Of a wulf
whicbe fomtyme mette with an
Afle to the whiche he layd / My broder I am
hungry/ wherfor I mutt nedes ete the/ C And
thenne the Affe anfuerd ryght benyngly/ My
lord/ with me thow may ft doo what fomeuer
thow wylt/ For yf thow eteft me/ thow (halt
pntte me oute of grete payne/ But I preye the
yf thow wylt ete me/ that thou voucheiauf to
ete me oute of the way/ For wel thow knoweft
that I biynge home the rayiyns fro the vyne/
and fro the feldes home the come/ C Alio wel
thow knoweft/ that I bere home wood fro the
foreft/ And whanne my mailter wel do buyld
famine edynyce/ 1 mult go fetche the ftonea
from the montayne/ And at the other parti- 1
bete the cornevnto themylle/ And after I bere
borne the tloure/ And for alle lhort conclufiona
I was borne in acurlvd houre/ For to alle payne
and to alle grete labours I am fubmytted & fub-
get
142 LIBER
get to hit/ For the whiche I wylle not that
thow ete me here in the waye for the grete ver-
goyne and fhame that therof myght come to
me / But I pray the / and Inftantly requyre the /
that thow wylt here my counceylle / whiche is /
that we two go in to the foreft / and thow fhalt
bynde me by thy brefte/ as thy feruant/ And
I fhalle bynd the by thy neck as my mayfter
And thow fhalt lede me before the in to the
wood where fomeuer thow wylt/ to the ende
that more fecretely thow ete me/ to the whiche
counceylle the wulf acorded and fayd / I wylle
wel that it be donnefo/ CAndwhanne they
were come in to the foreft/ they bounde eche
other in the maner as aboue is fayd/ CAnd
whanne they were wel bounden / the wulf fayd
to the Afle/ goo we where thow wylt/ and goo
before for to fhewe the waye/ And the afle
wente before and ledde the wulf in to the ryght
waye of his mayfters hows / C And whanne the
wulf beganne to knowe the way/ he fayd to the
afle/ we goo not the ryght way/ to the whiche
the afle anfuerd/ C My lord faye not that/
For certaynly/ this is the ryght wey/ But for
alle that / the wulf wold haue gone backward /
But neuerthelefs the afle ledde hym vnto the
hows of his mayfter / C And as his mayfter and
alle his meyny fawe how the Afle drewe the
wulf
QUINTUS. 143
wulf after hym I and wold bane entree! in to the
hows they emu- crate with ftaues and clul
and fmote <»n the wolf/ C And as one of them
wold baue cafle and fmyten a grete ftroke ei
the wulfea beede be brake the cord/ wherwith
be was boundeo / And fo fcaped and ranneawey
vpon the montayne fore burted and beten/ And
thenoe the afle for the- grete ioye he hadde of
that he was fo fcaped fro the wulf/ beganne to
\:ul the wuli" whiche was vpon the
montayne/ & herd the voys or' thalle beganne to
lave in hvm lilt" / thow mavlt wel cry and calle/
For I lhalle kepe the wel another cyme/ that
thow (hall not bynd me as thow halt done/ but
Lite gone/ CAnd therr'ore hit is grete folye to
byleue the counceylle of hym/ to who me men
will lette/ And to putte hym felt" in his lub-
iccti.m And he that ones hath begyled / mult
kepe hvm fro another tyme that he be not de-
ceyued/ For he to whome men purpolen to
fomme euylle tourn / lyth men holden
hym at auauntage/ men mude putte him lei f at
the vpper lyde of hym/ And alter men (hall
purueye lor their counceylle
144 LIBER
C (Ehe biij fable is of tfje ferpent anti of tfje
labourer/
v
y<?a^^HE Auctor of this booke reherceth
fuche another Fable and of fuche
fentence/ as the precydent/ that
is to wete / that men fhold not
byleue hym/ to whome/ men
hath done eyylle/ And fayth that fomtyme in
herueft tyme a labourer wente for to fee his
goodes in the feldes/ the whiche mette on his
way a ferpent / And with a ftaf whiche he bare
in his hand fmote the fayd ferpent / and gaf hym
fuche a ftroke vpon the heed/ that nyghe he
flewe hym / CI And as the ferpent felte hym
felf fo fore hurted / he wente fro the man / and
entryd in to his hole / And fayd to the labourer /
O euylle Frende / thow haft bete me / But I
warne the / that thow neuer byleue not hym /
to the whiche thow haft done ony eyylle / Of
the whiche wordes the labourer made lytyl ex-
tyme and went forthe on his waye /
C It befelle thenne in the fame yere / that
this labourer wente ageyne by that waye / for
to goo laboure and ere his ground / To whome
the
QUINTUS. 145
the fayd Serpent fayd / 1 Ha my trend / wbyther
And the labourer aufwerd to bym/
1 10 ere and plowe my ground/ And the Ser-
pent fayd to bym ' (owe not to moch<
this yere lhalle be raynful] and grete babond-
aunce of waters fhalle falle / But byleue not to
hym to whome tbow halt fomtyme done
euylh Ami withoute ony wordes the labourer
wente forthe on his waye and byleued not the
ferpent/ but made alle his ground to becultyued
and ered/ and fowed as moche corne as he
hte In that fame yere felle grete babond-
annce of watery wherfore the fayd labourer had
but lytyl of his corne ' For the moofte part
the corne that he had fowen peryflhed that lame
yere by caufe of t.' viie that telle that
lame yere/ C And the next yere after folow-
as this labourer pally d before the repayre
or dwellynge place of the fayd Serpent and
went for to fowe his ground ■' the Serpent de-
maunded thenne of hym/ My Frend whyther
:• thou- (.And the labourer aufwerd / I
: r to (owe my ground wyth corn and With
other g[r]aynes fuche as I hope that lhalle ben
flary for me in tyme comynge/ And thene
the Serpent (aide to hym/ My trend fowe but
rne Forthe Somer next comynge lhalle
be loo grete and loo bote / that by the dryenes and
hete/
K
146 LIBER
hete / that alle the goodes fowen on the erthe
(hall peryffhe But byleue not hym/ to whorae
thow haft done ony euylle/ CAnd withoute
fayenge ony word / the labourer wente / and
thought on the wordes of the Serpent / C And
wenynge / that the Serpent hadde foo fayd for
to deceyue hym / he fowed as moche corne and
other graynes / as he myght / CAnd it happed
that the Somer next folowynge was fuche/ as
aboue is fayd/ Therfor the man was begyled /
C For he gadred that fame yere nothynge /
C And the next yere after folowynge / the fayd
feafon as the poure labourer wente ageyne for
to ere and cultyue his ground the ferpent fawe
hym come fro ferre/ CAnd as he came and
palled before his repayre he alked of the labourer
in fuche maner/ C My friend whyther gooft
thow / And the labourer anfuered / I goo cultyue
and ere my ground / C And thenne the ferpent
feyd to hym / My Frend fowe not to moche ne
to lytyl of corne and of other graynes / but fowe
bytwene bothe / Neuertheles byleue not hym /
to the whiche thou haft done euyl C And I
telle the that this yere fhalle be the most tem-
perate and the mooft fertyle of alle maner of
corne/ that euer thow faweft/ And whanne the
labourer hadde herd thefe wordes/ he wente
his waye / and dyd as the Serpent had fayd /
And
QUINTUS. 147
Ami that yen- he gadred moche good / bycaufe of
the lt < > < > 1 1 difpofycion of the feafbn and tyn
C Ami <n a daye of the (ame yere/ the ferpenl
i'iwc the fayd labourer comynge fro the herui
to whome he came ageynfte / And fayd N
(aye me my good Frend/ Halt thow not fond
now grete plente of goodes/ as I bad told to
the byfore And the labourer anfuerd and fayd
ye certaynly wherof I thanke the / C And
thenne the Serpent demaunded of hym Re-
muneration or reward / C And the labourer
thenne demaunded what he wold haue of hym/
Ami the Serpent fayd I ne demaunde ot" the
nothynge/ but only that to morowe on the
mornyng thowwyll fende meadyflhful ofmylk
by fom ot" thy children/ (.And thenne the
ferpenl (hewed to the labourer the hole of his
dwellvng/ & fayd to hym/ telle thy lone
that he brynge the mylke hyther/ but take
good heede to that that other whvle I told to
the/ that thow byleueft not hym/ to whome
thou haft done euylle/ CAnd anone after
whanne thefe thyngea were fayd/ the labourer
wente '' ird/ and in the morninge next
he betoke to his fone a dvi'ihe full
mylke/ whiche he brought to the ferpent /
and lette the dyfihe before the hool/ And
anone the ferpent came oute and Qewe the
child
148 LIBER
child through his venym / and when the labourer
cam fro the feld/ and that he came before the
repayre or dwellinge of the ferpent/ he fond his
ibnne whiche laye doune deed on the erthe /
Thenne beganne the fayd labourer to crye with
a hvghe voys/ as he that was ful of forowe and
of heuyneffe fayinge fuche wordes / Ha curfed
& euylle ferpent/ vermyn and fals tray tour/
thow haft deceyued me/ Ha wycked and de-
ceytfull beeft/ ful of all contagyous euyll thow
haft forowfully flayne my fone/
CAnd thenne the ferpente fayd to hym/ I
wylle well / that thow knowe / that I haue not
flayne hym forowfnlly/ ne withoute caufe/ but
for to auenge me of that/ that thow hurteft me
on that other daye withoute caufe/ and haft not
amended hit/ Haft thow now memorye/ how
ofte I fayd to the/ that thow iholdeft not byleue
hym / to whome thow haft done eyyll / haue
now thenne in thy memorye/ that I am auengyd
of the /
C And thus this fable fheweth how men ought
not to byleue ne bere feythe to them / to whome
men hath done fomme harme or euylle.
n CIST US.
149
C Or ix fable fa of the fore / of t!ic toulf / anti
of the loon/
F hit be (bo that ony hath ben
adomm iged by other he oug hi
not to tak« - vengeauce by the
long in gyuyng [niuryous word
and the caufe why/ is by caufe/
that fuc saunce is difhoneft. As to ns re-
eth this prefent fable/ Somtyme wasa I
that etc fyflhe in a Ryuer/ C It happed/ that
the wulf came that waye/ C Ami whanne he
(awe the foxe ' whiche ete with fo grete appe-
tyte/ He beganne to (aye/ My broiler gyue me
fomme fyflhe And the t'oxe anfuerd to hym/
Alias m\ r lord / It behouveth not that ye ete the
ef of my table ; but tor the worfhip of 3
perfone I (hall counceylle vow wel / Doo foo
jrow a balket / And I lhalle teche
how men lhalle take fyflhes / to thende/
that ye may take fomme whan ye (halle be
\:id the wolf wente in to the ftreete/
and It. die a balket/ whiche he brought with
hym/ the foxe tooke the baiket/ and bound
it with a cord at the wulfs taylle/ C And
whanne
150 LIBER
whanne he was wel bounden / the foxe fayd
to the wulf/ goo thow by the Ryuer/ and I
fhalle lede and take hede to the bafket/ And
the wulf dyde as the foxe had hym do / C And
as the wulf was goynge within the water/ the
foxe fylled the bafket fulle of ftones by his
malyce / C And whan the bafket was full /
the foxe fayd to the wulf/ Certaynly my lord/
I maye no more lyfte ne hold the bafket / fo full
it is of fyffhe / C And the wulf wenynge that
the foxe had fayd truthe / profered fuch wordes /
fayenge / I render graces and thankes to god /
that I maye ones fee thyn hyghe and excellente
wyfedome in the arte and crafte of fyffhynge/
C And thenne the foxe fayd to hym / My lord
abyde me here/ And I fhalle fetche fome to
helpe vs for to haue and take the fyffhe oute
of the bafket/ And in fayenge thefe wordes/
the foxe ranne in to the ftrete/ where he fond
men/ to whorae he fayd in this manere/ My
lordes what doo ye here / why are yow werk-
lefs / fee yonder the wulf/ which ete your fheep /
your lambes / and your beeftes / and yet now he
taketh your fyffhes oute of the Ryuer/ and
ete them / C And thenne alle the men came to
gyder/ fomrae with flynges/ and fomme with
bowes / and other with flaues vnto the Ryuer /
where they fond the wulf/ whiche they bete
outragyouffly
QUINTUS. 151
outragyouffly / C Ami wlunne the poure wulf
(awe liym thua opprefiedj & vexed with it r
with alle bis ftrengthe & myghte to
drawe/ and fuppofed to haue caryed the fyflhe
awey/ but fo ftrongly he drewe/ thai he drewe
and pulled bis taylle fro bia ere/ and thus he
fcaped vnnr.hr with his lyt"/ tin the mene-
whyle tbenne happed/ that the lyo n which e w.is
kynge ouer alle beeftes felle in a grete fekeneffe/
For the whiche caufe euery beefl wente tur to fee
hym/ as tlu-yr lord/ 1 Ami when the wait"
would haue gone thyder/ he falewed his lord/
laying thus to hyiu / My kynge I falewe yow /
pleafe it you to knowe that I haue gone round
aboute the countre and prouynce/ and in alle
places dt" hit for to ferche fomme medycynes
prourfitable for vow/ and to recowere your
helthe/ but nothyng I haue found good for
your fekeneffe/ but only the (kynne of a foxe
fyera and prowde and malycious/ whiche is
youre body medyeynal / but he dayneth not to
come hyther to fee you But ye lhalle calle
hvtn to a counceylle/ ami whanne ye hold
hyni/ lete his (kynne be taken from hym/
Ami tlienne lete hym mine where he wylle/
and that fiyr (kynne which is lb holtbme/ ye
tli.ille make hit to be fette and bound ?pon
your bely / And within tewe dayes after hit
lhalle
152 LIBER
fhalle rendre yow in as good helthe / as euer ye
were / C And whanne he had fayd thefe wordes /
he departed fro the lyon and toke his leue/ but
neuer he had fuppofed / that the foxe had
herd hym / but he had / For he was within
a terryer nyghe to the lodgys of the lyon /
where he herd alle the propofycion of the
wulf/ to the whiche he dyd put remedye and
grete prouyfyon / For as foone as the wulf was
departed fro the lyon/ the foxe wente in to the
feldes / And in a hyghe way he fond a grete
donghyll/ within the whiche he put hym ielf /
C And as he fuppofed after his aduys to be de-
fowled and dagged ynough / came thus arayed
in to the pytte of the lyon/ the whiche he
falewed as he oughte to haue done to his lord /
fayenge to hym in this manere / Syre kynge god
yeue good helthe/ And the lyon anfuerd to hym
God falewe the fwete frend / come nyghe me
and kyfle me/ & after I thalle telle to thefomme
fecrete / whiche I wylle not that euery man
knowe/ to whome the foxe fayd in this maner
Ha a lyre kynge be not difplealyd/ for I am to
fowle arayed and al to dagged/ by caufe of the
grete way / whiche I haue gone / fekynge al
aboute fomme good medycyne for you/ wher-
fore it behoueth not me / for to be fo nyghe your
perfone For the ftenche of the donge myght
wel
QU1NTUS. 153
wel greue you for the fekeneffe that ye
bane/ but dere tyre ' yf hit pleafe to the or euer
1 come aerer to your Royal magefte I lh
bathe me and make me fayre and clene/ And
thenne I th.ill come ageyne to prefente my (elf
byfore thy Doble perfone/ And notwitbftond-
al this/ alio cr I goo/ pleafe the to wete
& knowe that I come from alle tbe contrees I
and from alle the Royal mes adiacent
to thi> prouynce tor to fee j i I coudefyndefomme
good medycyn dufynge and nedeful to thy fike-
oefley and for to recom re thy helthe/ but ccr-
taynly I baue foud no better couceylle than the
couceylle of an aucyent greke with a grete &
long berd/ a man of grete wyfdom/
worthy to be prayfed/ the whiche fayd to me
bow in this prouynce is a wulf withoute taylle/
the whiche hath loft his taylle by the vertu
the grete medycyn whiche is within hvm / For
the whiche thynge it is nedeful and expedyenl /
that ye doo make this wulf to come to yoM
the recoueraunce of the helthe of your fayr and
noble body/ And whan he i* come dyflymylle
and calle hym to coiinceylle / fayenge that it
Oialle be for his grete worlhip & profEte
be thai be nyghe vnto vow call on hvm your
armed feet/ and as fwetely as ye mayo pulle the
Ikynne tro the body of hvm &: kepe it h<
taut
154 LIBER
fauf only that ye fhalle leue the heed and the
feet / And thenne lete hym gone his way to feche
his auenture/ And forthwith whan ye fhalle
haue that fkynne/ al hot and warme ye fhal do
bynd hit al aboute your bely/ And after that or
lytyll tyme be palled / your helthe fhalle be
reftored to yow / and ye fhal be as hole as euer
in your lyf ye were / C And thenne the foxe
toke his leue of the kynge/ and departed/ and
wente ageyne in to his terryer / C Soone after
came then the wulf for to fee the lyon / And
Incontynent the lyon called hym to counceylle /
and caftynge foftly his feet vpon hym dyfpoylled
the wulf of his fkynne fauf the fkynne of his hede
and of his feet/ And after the lyon bound it al
warme about his bely / G And the wulf ranne
aweye fkynles / wherfore he had ynough to doo
to defende and put from hym the flyes/ whiche
greued hym fore/ And for the grete deftrefle
that he felte by caufe of the flyes/ that thus ete
his fleflhe/ he as wood beganne to renne/ and
paffyd vnder an hylle / vpon the whiche the foxe
was / CI And after whanne the foxe fawe hym /
he beganne to crye/ and calle/ lawhyng after
the wulf/ and mocked/ and fayd to hym / who
arte thow that paffeft there before with fuche a
fayre hood on thy heed and with ryght fayr
glouues in thyn handes/ Herke herke/ what I
fhalle
QUI NT US. IS
33
Hulk- feye to the/ whan thow wente & can* fl
by the kynges bows/ thow werte blefled of the
lonl,' & whan thou were at the Court thow her-
kenefl and alio laved many good wordea and
1 talkynge of al the world/
< And therfore mygodfep be it euyl or good/
thow multe al lete pafle/ and goo/ and haue
pacyence in thyn aduerfyte/
C And thus this tabic (heweth vnto vs/ that yt
ony be harted or dommaged by fomme other
he inuti not auenge hym felf by bis tonge tor
to make ony trefon / ne tor to lay of other ony
harme ne open blalphemye / For he ought to
confydere / that who fo euer maketh the pytte
redy tor his broiler/ ofte it happeth that he hym
felf falleth in the lame/ and is beten with the
lame rodde that he maketh tor other
i 5 6
LIBER
C (Efje i fable is of the frmlf roljttfje matjc a fart
T is folye to wene more / than men
ought to doo / For what fomeuer a
foole thynketh • hit femeth to hym
that hit fhalle be / As it appiereth
by this fable/ of a wulf/ whiche
fomtyme role erly in a mornyp.ge/ And after
that he was ryfen vp fro his bedde/ as he retched
hym felf/ made a grete fart/ and beganne tofaye
to hym felf/ blerfed be god therfore / thefe ben
good tydynges / this daye / I lhalle be wel for-
tunate and happy/ as myn ers fyngeth to me/
And thenne he departed from his lodgys/ and
biganne to walke and goo / & as he wente on his
way he fonde a fak ful of talowe/ whiche a
woman had lete falle/ and with his foote he
torned hit vpfo doune/ and fayd to hym/ I lhalle
not ete the / For thow fholdeft hurte my tendre
ftomak / and more is / I mail this day haue better
mete/ and more delycious / For well I knowe
this by myn ers/ whiche dyd fynge it to me/
And fayenge thefe wordes went his way/ And
anone
QUINTUS. 157
anone after be fond a :•< te p I bakoa we]
(alted/ tin.- whiche be tourned and retoarned vp
; ane And whan he bad torned and n
hit 1 be fayd / I dayne nol to ete
of this mete/ by caufe thai hit (hold caufe me
tor to drynke roocbe/ tor it is to falte And as
myn to me lafl I (halle ete this 1
day better and more delycions mete/ CAnd
thenne be beganne to walke ferther/ And a
entryd in ti> a fayr medowe be fawe a mare/
and her yoi e with her/ and 1.1yd to bym
felf alone/ I rendre thankes and - to the
goddes of t he godes that they lend me/ For wel
1 w\i't and was certayne/ that thi> daye I llmld
fynde fomme precious mete/ And thenne he
came nyghe the mare and (ayd toiler/ Certaynly
my luitcr I (halle ete thy child/ And the mare
anfuerd to bym) My broder doo what fomeuer
hit (halle pleale the/ Bui fyrfl I praye the that
one playfyre thow wylt do to me/ 1 haue herd
that thow art a good Cyrurgyen/ wherfore
I praye the/ that thou wylt hele meofm) foote/
1 faye to the my good broder / that yefter daye
a^ 1 wente within the foreH a thorne entryd in
to one of my feet behynd/ the whiche
me fore/ 1 praye the/ that or thow ete my
fool / thow wylt drawe and baue it 1 ate oi my
\ ad the wulf anfwerd to the mare that
ilialle 1 doo gladly my good l'uitei (hewe me
thy
158 LIBER
thy foote / C And as the mare (hewed his foote
to the wulf/ fhe gaf to the wulf fuche a ftroke
bytwexe bothe his eyen / that alle his hede was
aftonyed and telle doune to the ground/ and a
longe fpace was the wulf lyenge vpon the erthe /
as deed / And whanne he was come to hym felf
ageyne/ and that he coud lpeke/ hefayd/ I care
not for this myfhap / For wel I wote that yet
this day I fhalle ete / and be fylled of delycious
mete/ And in fayenge thefe wordes lyft hym
felf vp / and wente aweye / C And whanne he
had walked and gone a whyle / he fond two
rammes within a medowe whiche with theyr
homes lauched eche other/ And the wulf fayd
to hymfelf/ Bleffed be god/ that now I fhal
be wel fedde/ he thenne came nyghe the two
rammes/ & faid/ Certaynly I (hall ete the one
of you two And one of them fayd to hym /
My lord doo alle that it plefe yow / but fyrft ye
muft gyue vs the fentence of a procelfe of a
plee whiche is bytwixe vs bothe / And the wulf
anfuerd / that with ryght a good wylle he wold
doo. hit/ And after fayd to them/ My lordes
telle my your refons and caas / to thende that the
better I may gyue the fentence of your dyferent
and queftion/ And thenne one of them beganne
to fay/ My lord/ this medowe was bylongynge
to our fader/ And by caufe that he deyde with-
oute
QUINTUS. 159
onte makynge ony ordenaunce or teftament / we
be now in 1 and ltryt tor the parivn
hit/ wherfore we praye the that thow vouche-
fauf to accordc oure dyferent/ fo that pees
l>c made bytwene vs/ And thcnne the wulf
demaunded of the rammes how theyr queftion
myght be accorded/ Ryght wel feyd one of
them/ by one manere/ whiche I 1h.1l telle to
vf hit pleafe to the to here me/ we two
fhalle be at the two endes of the medowe/ and
thow ilia 1 1 be in the niyddes of it/ And fro
thende of the medowe/ we hothe at ones lhalle
renne toward the/ And he that fyrfl lhalle come
to the/ lhalle be lord of the medowe/ And the
l.iit fhalle be thyn f Wei thene layd the wulf/
thvn aduys is good and wel purpofed / late lee
now who fyrlt lhalle come to me/ Thenne wente
the two rammes to renne toward the wulf/ And
with alio theyr myght came and gaf to hvin
fuche two ltrokes bothe at ones ageynll bothe
his fydes/ that almoft they brake his herte within
his bely / & then fyll doune the poure wulf alle
alwowned/ And the rammes wente theyr *
i. Aild whanne he was come ageyn to hym felf/
he took courage and departed/ lavenge to hym
1 care not tor alle this Iniurve and lh.unc
For afl nivn ers d\de iyngc to me/ yet lhalle I
this day etc l'omme good and delycious m<
c 11
160 LIBER
C He had not long walked / whanne he fond a
fowe/ and her final pygges with her/ And In-
contynent as he favve her/ he fayd/ bleffed be
god of that I fhalle this daye ete and fylle my
bely with precious metes/ and fhalle haue good
fortune/ And in that fayenge approched to the
fowe / & fayd to her / My fufter I muft ete
fomme of thy yonge pygges And the fowe wente
and fayd to hym/ my lord I am content of alle
that/ whiche pleafeth to yow/ Bat or ye ete
them / I praye yow that they maye be baptyfed
and made clene in pure and fayre water/ And
the wulf fayd to the fowe/ Shewe me thenne
the water / And I fhalle wafihe and baptyfe
them wel / And thenne the fowe wente and
ledde hym at a ftange or pond where as was a
fayr mylle CAnd as the wulf was vpon the
lytyl brydge of the fayd mylle/ and that he wold
haue take one pygge/ the fowe threwe the wulf
in to the water with her hede / and for the fwyft-
neife of the water/ he muft nedes paffe vnder
the whele of the mylle/ And god wote yf the
wynges of the mylle bete hym wel or not / And
as foone as he myght / he ranne away / And as
he ranne feyd to hym felf/ I care not for foo
lytyl a lhame/ ne therfore I fhall not be bette/
but that I fhalle yet this daye ete my bely full
of metes delycious/ as myn ers dyd fynge it erly
to
QUINTUS. r6i
to me ' f \n 1 aa he palled thurgh the ft-
he fawe fomme (heep/ and as the (hepe I
hyra / they entryd in to a ftable / i. And whan
the unit came there he fayd to them in this
manere/ God kepe yen ray fullers/ I mufl
one of yow/ to thende/ that I may be t
and raflafyed of my grete bonger/ And thenne
one "i" them fayd to hym / Certaynly my lord /
ire welcome to pafle/ For we ben comen
hyder tor to bold a grete folempnyte/ wherfore
ille praye yow/ that ye pontyfycally wylle
.- And after the feruyfe complete ami dour/
doo what ye wyil of the one of vs / & thenne the
wulffor vayn glory/ faynyng to be a prelate be-
ganne to fynge and to howle before the (heep/
(And whanne the nun of the toune herd the
voys of the wulf/ they came to the liable with
grete ftaues and with grete dogges/ and wonderly
they wounded the waif and almoft brought
hym to deth/ that with grete payne he coude
goo/ oeuertheles he fcaped/ 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 fyghe fore/ and to make
grete forowe of his euylle fortune/ and Uvd I I [a
Jupiter how many cuyls haue I had and fuffred
thisdaye/ but wel I prefume and knowe/that
hit is by me and by myn owne caufe / and by
L
162 LIBER
my proud thoughte/ For the daye in the morn-
ynge I fond a fak ful of talowe / the whiche I
dayned not but only fmelle hit. And after I
fond a grete pycece of bakon / the whiche I wold
neuer ete for drede of grete thurft and for
my folyflhe thought/ And therfore yf euylle is
fyn happed to me it is wel bellowed and em-
ployed/ My fader was neuer medecyn ne leche/
and alio I haue not ftudyed and lerned in the
fcyence of medycyn or phifyke / therfore if it
happeth euylle to me/ whanne I wold drawe
the thorne oute of the mares fote it is wel em-
ployed / C Item my fader was neuer neyther
patryarke ne Biffhop / and alfo I was neuer
lettred / and yet I prefumed / and toke on me
for to facryfyce and to fynge before the goddes /
faynyng my felf to be a prelate / but after my
defer te I was wel rewarded / C Item my fader
was no legift ne neuer knewe the lawes / ne alfo
man of Juftyce / and to gyue fentence of a plee /
I wold entremete me / and fayned my felf grete
Juftycer/ but I knewe neyther/ a/ ne/ b/
C And yf therfore euylle is come to me / it
is of me as of ryght it fhold be/ O Jupyter I
am worthy of gretter punycyon whanne I haue
offenfed in fo many maners/ fende thow now to
me from thyn hyghe throne a fwerd or other
vepen /
QUINTUS.
repen / wherwith I maye ftrongly punyflhe and
bete me lv grete penaunce/ For wel worthy I
am to receyue a gretter defciplyne/ And the
d man whiche was vpon the tree/ herkened
alle thefe wordes and deuyfes/ and fayd no
word/ I" And whanne the wulf had tynvnlucl
alle his fyghes and complayntes/ the good man
toke liisaxe/ wherwith he had kytte awey the
dede braunches tro the tre/ and call it vpon the
wulf/ and it telle vpon his neck in fuche maner
that the wulf torned vpfodoun the feet vpward
and lave as had ben dede/ And whan the wulf
ht releue and drefle hym felf/ he loked and
byheld upward to the heuen/ and beganne thus
to crye/ Ha Jupiter I lee now wel that thow
halt herd and enhaunced my prayer/ and thenne
he perceyued the man whiche was vpon the ti
c\ wel wende that he had ben Jupiter/
thenne with alle his niyght he fledde tow;
the tort.it fore wounded/ and rendred hym felf
to huniylvte/ and more meke and humble he
afterwards than euer before he had ben
rs ne prowde/ C And by this fable nun
may knowe and fee that moche refteth to be
done of that/ that a ibole thynketh/ And hit
lheweth to vs/ that whan l'oinme good cometh
to lb mine ,' it ought not to be relt'uled/ For it
maye
1 64 LIBER
maye not ben recouerd as men wyll / And alfo
it iheweth / hou none ought to auaunte hym to
doo a thynge whiche he can not doo / but ther-
fore euery man ought to gouerne and rewle
hym felf after his eftate and faculte /
QUINTUS. i 65
C vTiic rj fable is of the rnuooits fiogrjc/
Jt)one ought not to haue enuyi
i of other/ As it appiereth
by 1 1 1 i 3 table/ Of a dogge whiche
was enuyous/ and that fomtyme
was within a liable of oxen/ the
whiche was ful ofheye/ This dogge kept the
o that they (hold not entre in to theyr liable/
and that they (hold not etc of the lay d hey/ And
thenne the oxen fayd to hym/ thow arte wel
peruera and euylle to haue enuye of the good/
the whiche is to vs nedefuH and prouffitable/
and thow halt of hit nought to doo/ lor thy
kynde is not to ete no hey/ And thus he dyd of
a grete bone/ the whiche he held at his iuouthe /
and wold not leue hit by caule and for enuye o(
another dogge/ whiche was therby / And ther-
kepe the wel fro the company or felaulhip
of an enuyous body/ For to haue to doo with
hym hit is moche peiyllous and dyffycyle / As
to vt is wel (hewen by Lucyfer
1 66
LIBER
C 8Tf}c ifj fable is of the fault ano of the
fjongrg t«orjge /
Uche fuppofen fomtyme wynne that
lefen / As hit appiereth by this
Fable/ For hit is fayd comunly
that as moche defpendeth the
nygard as the large/ As hit ap-
piereth by this fable of a manwhiche had a grete
herd of fheep / And alio he had a dogge for to
kepe them fro the wulues / To this dogge he gaf
no mete / for the grete auaryce whiche held hym /
And therfore the wulf on a daye came to the
dogge and demaunded of hym the rayfon / why
he was too lene / and fayd to hym / I fee wel
that thow dyefl; for honger/ by caufe that thy
mayfter gyueth the no mete/ by his grete fcar-
cyte / but yf thow wylt byleue me I fhalle gyue
to the good counceylle / And the dogge fayd to
hym/ Certaynly I myfter gretely of good coun-
ceylle / (I Thenne the wulf fayd to hym / This
ihalt thow doo/ Lete me take a lambe/ And
whanne I fhalle haue hit I fhalle renne awey/
and whanne thow fhalt fee me renne/ make
thenne
QUINTUS. 167
thcnuc femblant to renne after me I and lete thy
felf falle faynynge that thow canft nol oaertake
me/ for lack and fawte of mete/ whiche mal
the fo feble/ And thus whanne the fheepherd
lh.ille fee that thow may ft not haue the Iamb
me by caufe of the grete feblenefle and debylyte
iv lene body be (hell telle to thy lord that
thow myghtefl Dot focoure the lambe/ by caufe
that thow arte fo fore ahongryd/ and by this
ins thow (halt haue mete thy belyful/ C I
e thenne acorded this with the wulf/ and
of them made and dyde as aboue i> 1 V
C And whane the fheep herd fawe the dogge
falle/ fuposedwel/ that hoi: is a caufe of
it Porthe whiche caufe whanne one of the
Iheep herdes came home he told hit to his mavf-
ter/ And whan the may Iter vnderltood hit/ he
fayd as a man wroth for fhame/ I wylle that
fro hensforthon he haue breed ynough C A !
thenne enery daye the fivd dogge hadde (bppes
ot brede/ and of drye breed he hadde ynough/
C Thenne the dogge toke ftrengthe/ and
ageyne/ C It happed within a lytyl whyle after/
thai the wulf came ageyne to the dogge/ and fivd
to hym / I perceyue wel / that I gaf to the g
counceylle/ And the dogge layd to the wulf/
My broder thow fay ft foothe/ wherfore I thanke
the moche For of hit I hadde grete nede/
CAnd
168 LIBER
C And thenne the wulf fayd to hym / yf thow
wylt I ihall gyue to the yet better counceylle /
And the dogge anfuerd hym with ryght a good
wylle I fhalle here hit / And yf hit be good I
ihalle do after hit/ C Thenne fayd the wulf to
hym Lete me take yet another lambe/ and doo
thy dylygence for to haue hit fro me/ and to
byte me/ and I lhalle ouerthrowe the thy feet
vpward / as he that hath no puyflaunce ne
ftrength withoute hurtynge of thy felf / byleue
me hardyly / and wel hit lhalle happe to the /
And whanne thy mayfters feruaunts ihalle haue
fene thy dylygence / they ihal fhewen hit to thy
mayfter how that thow fhal kepe ful wel his
folde/ yf thow be wel nouryfihed/ C And
thenne the dogge anfuerd to the wulf that he
was contente/ And as hit was fayd/ ryght fo
hit was done/ and bothe of them maad good
dylygence The wulf bere aweye the lambe/
and the dogge renne after hym / and ouertook
hym / & bote hym fayntly / And the wulf ouer-
threwe the dogge vpfodoune to the ground /
And whan the lheepherdes fawe gyue fuche
ftrokes amonge the dogge & the Wulf/ fayd
Certaynly we haue a good dogge/ we mufte telle
his dylygence to our mayfter/ and foo they dyd/
& how he bote the wulf/ and how he was ouer-
throwen / And yet fayd Certaynly yf he hadde
hadde
QUINTUS. 169
hadde euer mete ynough/ the wulf had not
borne awey the lambe/ Thenne the lord com-
maunded to hym plente of mete/ wherof
the dogge took ageyne al ftrengthe and vertue/
And wiihin a whyle after the wulf came ageyne
to the dogge ^ and layd to hym in this manere/
My broder haue I not gyuen to the good coun-
ceylle/ And thenne tin.- dogge anfuerd to hym/
Certaynlyye/ wherof I thankeyow/ And the
wolf 1.1 \ d to the dogge/ I praye the my broder
and my good trend thai thow wylt yet gyue
another lainbc/ and the dogge layd to hym/
Certaynly my broder/ wel hit maye fufiyfe the
to hane bad tweyne of them/ C Thenne feyd
the wulf to the dogge/ C At the left wave I
maye haue one for my labour and fallarye/ That
lhalt thow not haue layd the dogge/ Halt thow
not had good fallarye tor to haue hadde two
lambea oute of my mayfters herd/ (And the
wulf anfuerd to hym My brother gyue
hit me yf hit pleafe the/ CAnd after layd the
je 10 hym Naj 1 wylle not/ And yf thow
takelt hit ageynlte my wylle/ I promytte and
w.irne the/ that neiu-r after tyme thow lhalt
none/ And thenne the wulf layd to hym/
Alias my broder I deye tor b Counceylle
me : lone what 1 lhalle doo/ And the
layd to hym, 1 lhal couceylle the wel a
walle
170 LIBER
walle of my mayfters celer is fallen doune/ go
thyder this nyght and entre in hit/ and there
thow mayft both ete and drynke after thy play-
fyr / For bothe breed flefthe and wyn (halt thow
fynde at plente there within/ And thenne the
wulf fayd to hym/ Alias my broder/ beware
wel thenne / that thow accufe ne deceyue me
not/ And the dogge anfuerd / I waraunt the/
but doo thyfaythe foo pryuely/ that none of my
felawes knowe not of hit/ C And the wulf
came at the nyght / and entryd in to the celer /
and / ete and dranke at his playfyre / In fo
moche that he wexed dronke And whanne he
hadde dronke foo moche / that he was dronke /
He fayd to hym felf / whanne the vylaynes ben
fylled wyth metes/ and that they ben dronke/
they fynge theyr fonges / and I wherfore fhold
I not fynge / C And thenne he beganne to crye
and to howle / And the dogges herd the voys of
hym wherfore they beganne to barke and to
howle / And the feruaunts whiche herd them
fayd/ It is the wulf/ whiche is entryd within
the celer/ And thenne they al to gyder wenten
thyder/ and kylled the wulf/ And therfore
more defpendeth the nygard than the large/
For auaryce was neuer good / For many one
ben whiche dare not ete ne drynke as nature
requyreth/ But neuertheles euery one oughte.
to
QUINTUS. 171
to ule and hue prudently of all fuche goodes
as god fended) to liym / This fable alio (heweth
to \^ ' th.it none ought to do ageynlte his kynde /
as of the wulf whiche v. < v d dronke/ for the
whiche caufe lie was Qayne
172
LIBER
C &he xt'ij fa&Ie mafcetf) mcncgon of the falser
ano of ijts thre chtloten
E is not wyfe / whiche for to haue
vanyte and his plefyr taketh debate
or Itryf / As hit appiereth by this
fable / Of a man whiche hadde
thre children/ and at the houre
of his dethe he byquethed / and gaf to them his
herytage or lyuehode/ that is to wete a grete
pere tree/ a gote & a mylle/ CAnd whanne
the fader was deed/ the bretheren aflembled
them thre to gyder / and wente before the Juge
for to parte their lyuehode/ and fayd to the
Juge/ My lord the Juge/ Oure fader is dede
whiche hath byquethed to vs thre bretheren al
his herytage and as moche of hit fhold haue
the one as the other And thenne the Juge
demaunded/ what was theyr lyuehode/ And
they anfuerd a pere tree/ a gote and a mylle/
And thenne the Juge fayd to them / that they
fhold fette and make partyes egal of your lyue-
lede/ And the one to haue as moche of hit as
the other/ hit is a thynge moche dynycyle to
doo/ but to your aduys how fhold ye parte it/
And
QUINTUS.
Ami thenne the elded of the throe bretheren
fpake and layd/ I (halle take fro the pere tree
allc that is croked and vpright/ And the fe<
fay 1 I I (halle take fro the pere tree alle that is
e and clrye / And the thyrd layd I (halle
haue alle the rote/ the pulle or ma lie and alle
the branches of the pere tree/ t And th<
the Juge i ivil to them/ He that thenne (halle
haue tin- mod parte of the tree/ lete hvm be
Juge/ Por I ne none other may know ne
vnderltande who (halle haue the more or lefle
parte/ And therfore he that can or (halle proue
more openly/ that lie hath the molt parte llial
be lord of the tree/ C And after the Juge de-
maunded of tliem / how that theyr fader had
deuyled to them the gote / And they layd to
hvm he that lhalle make the iayrelt prayer and
requefl mult haue the gote/ And thene the
t'yrlte broder made his requell/ and layd in this
manere/ wold god that the goot were now 1. o
grete that (he myght drynke alle the water
whiclie is vinler the cope of heuen / And that
whanne llie hadde dronken it/ (he (hold vet be
lore thurlty C The lecond layd/ I l'uppol'e that
the gote lhalle be myn ' For a t'ayrer demaunde
or requefl than thyn is I lhalle now make/ < I
wold' that alle the hempe / and alle the Flaxe
and alle the wulle of the worlde were made in
one
174 LIBER
one threed alone / And that the Gote were fo
grete / that with that fame threde men myght
not bynde one of his legges / C Thenne fayd
thirdde/ yet fhalle be myn the gote/ C For I
wolde/ that he were foo grete/ that yf an Egle
were at the vppermoft of the heuen / he myght
occupye and haue thenne as moche place as the
Egle myght loke and fee in hyght/ in lengthe and
in breed/ CAnd thenne the Jugefayde to them
thre / who is he of yow thre / that hath maade the
fayreft prayer/ Certaynly I nor none other canne
not faye ne gyue the Jugement/ And therfore
the goote fhalle be bylongynge to hym that of
hit fhalle fay the trouthe C And the Mylle how
was hit deuyfed by your Fader for to be parted
amonge yow thre/ CAnd they anfuerde and
fayde to the Juge/ He that fhalle be mooft Iyer/
moofte euylle and mofi Howe ought to haue hit /
C Thenne fay the eldeft fone /lam mooft flow-
full / For many yeres I haue dwellyd in a grete
hous / and laye vnder the conduytes of the fame /
oute of the whiche felle vpon me alle the fowle
waters / as pyffe / dyffhe water / and alle other
fylthe that wonderly ftanke / In fo moche that
al my flefihe was roten therof / and myn eyen
al blynd / and the durt vnder my back was a foot
hyghe/ And yet by my grete flouthe I hadde
leuer to abyde there / than to tourne me / and
haue lyfte me vp C The
QUINTUS. 175
< The fecond 1.1yd/ I fuppofe welj that
niylle llialle be myn For yt I bad faded twenty
yere And yi I badde come to a table couerd of
a! maner of precious and dely ate metes y therof
I myght we\ ete yt I wold take- of the belt/ I
am fo floutbfull that I maye not eteWithoute
one (hold putte the mete in to my moutbe/
CAiul the thyrde layd/ the mylle llialle be
myn/ For I am yet a gretter lyar and more
llout ht'iill / than ony ct' vow bothe/ For \t I
badde ben athurli vnto the dethe/ And yi I
found thenne my felf within a fayre water into
the neck/ 1 wold rather deye/ than to meue ones
my heed for to drynke therof only one drop/
C Thenne layd the Juge to them/ Ye wote not
what ye lave For I nor none other maye not
wel vnderftande vow/ But the caufe I remytte
and put amonge vow thre/ And thus they wente
withoute ony fentence/ For to tolvi'the de-
maunde behoueth a folyflhe anfuere
(. And thertore they ben fooles that wylle
plete fuche vanyte one ai^vnlte other/ And
many one ben fallen thertore in grete pouerte
For for a lytyl thynge ought to be made a lytyl
plee
176
LIBER
C 2£fje xt'if falile is of tTjc fernlf ant) of tlje foie
One maye not be mayfler without
he haue be fyrfle a difciple/ As
hit appiereth by this Fable/ Of
a Foxe whiche came toward a
wulf / and fayd to hym / My lord
I praye yow that ye wylle be my godfep /
And the wulf anfuerd/ I am content/ And the
foxe toke to hym his fone prayenge hym that to
his fone he wold fhewe and lerne good doclryne/
the whiche the wulf tooke/ and wente with hym
vpon a montayne / And thenne he fayd to the
lytyll foxe whanne the beetles fhalle come to the
feldes calle me/ And the foxe wente and fawe
fro the top of the hylle / how the beetles were
comynge to the feldes / and forth with he wente
and called his godfader/ and fayd My godfader
the beetles comen in to the feldes/ And the wulf
demaunded of hym / what befles are they / and
the fox anfuerd / they be bothe kyne & fwyn to
gyder/ Wei fayd the wulf/ I gyue no force for
them / lete them go for the dogges ben with
them / And foone after the foxe dyd loke on
another fyde / and perceyued the mare whiche
wente
QUINTUS. 177
wente to the '■ and he wente to his
fader & (ayd I godfader the mare is goo to the
feldes & the unit" demaunded of hym where
aboute is (1: A' 1 the foxe aniuered (he is by
tin- forefl / And the wulf (ayd/ Now go we I 1
dyner/ Ami the unit' with his godfone entryd
in to the wood ' and came to the mare/ CThe
wulf perceyued wel and (awe a yonge colt/
whiche was by his moder/ the wulf tooke hym
by the neck with his teethe ami drewe hit within
the wood/ and ete & deuoured hym bytwene
them bothe/ ([And whan they had wel
the godfon fayd to his godfader/ My godii
1 1 immaude yow to god and moche I thanke
:r doctrine For wel ye haue taught me I
in (b moche/ that new I am a grete clerke
now I wyllegoo toward my moder/ And thenne
the wulf fayd to his godfon/ My godfone \i
thow gofl awey/ thow (hall repente the ther-
: For thow halt not yet wel itudyed / an 1
knoweft not yet the Sylogyfines/ CHa my
godfader fayd the Foxe / I knowe wel al / C '
the wulf (ayd to hym / Sythe thow wyll goo/
to god I commaunde the/
4 v 1 whanne the Foxe was conn- toward
bis d (he (ayd to hym / Certaynly/ thow
haft not yet (tudyed ynough i And he thenne
. to her I Moder I am loo grete a clerke thai
I
M
178 LIBER
I can caft the deuylle fro the clyf / Lete vs go
chace / and ye fhalle fee yf I haue lerned ought
or not/ C And the yong foxe wold haue done
as his godfader the wulf dede / and faid to his
moder/ make good watche/ CAnd whanne
the beetles ihalle come to the feld / lete me
haue therof knowlege / And his moder fayd /
wel my fone fo fhalle I doo / She maade good
watche / And whanne fhe fawe that bothe kyne
and fwyne wente to the feldes / fhe fayd thenne
to hym My fone the kyne and the fwyn to gyder
ben in the feldes / And he anfuerd / My moder
of them I retche not / lete them goo / for the
dogges kepe them wel/ CAnd within a fhort
whyle after / the moder fawe come the mare
nyghe vnto a wode/ and wente/ and fayd to
her fone / My fone the mare is nyghe the wood
And he anfuerd / My moder thefe ben good
tydynges/ Abyde ye here/ For I goo to fetche
our dyner/ and wente and entred in to the
Wode/ And after wold doo as his godfader
dyd before/ and wente and tooke the mare by
the neck/ But the mare tooke hym with her
teeth / and bare hym to the fheepherd And
the moder cryed from the top of the hylle/
My fone lete goo the mare/ and come hyder
ageyne / but he myght not/ For the mare
held hym faft with her teethe/ CAnd as the
iheepherde
QUI XT US.
(heepherde came for to kylle hym / the moder
ciyed and feyd wepynge/ Alias my fone thow
dydefl not lerne wel/ And halt ben to lytel
a wliyle atte fchole/ wherfore thow mufl now
deye nivirr.il.lv / And the (heepherdes took and
flewe hym For none ought to lay hym kit'
mayfter whhoute that lie baue tyrit ftudyed/
For fome wrene to be a grete clerke/ that can
DOthyng of clergye/
i8o
LIBER
C 3Efje xb fable is of tfje borfge / of the fiaulf antj
of tfje fofjetfjer
Rete folye is to a fool that hath no
myght / that wylle begyle another
ftronger tha hym felf / as reher-
ceth this fable of a fader of
famylle whiche had a grete herd
or flock of fheep / and had a grete dogge for to
kepe them which was wel ftronge / And of his
voys all the wolues were aferd wherfore the
fheepherd flepte more furely/ but it happed/
that this dogge for his grete age deyde/ wher-
fore the fheepherdes were fore troubled and
wrothe/ and fayd one to other/ we fhall no
more flepe at oure eafe by caufe that our dogge
is dede / for the wulues lhall now come and
ete our fheep/ CAnd thenne a grete wether
fyers and prowd / whiche herd alle thefe wordes
came to them and fayd / I fhalle gyue yow good
counceylle/ Shaue me/ and put on me the
ikynne of the dogge And whanne the wulues
fhalle fee me / they fhalle haue grete fere of me /
C And whanne the wulues came and fawe the
wether clothed with the ikynne of the dogge/
they
QUINTUS. i i
they beganne all to dee/ and ranne awey / H It
happed on a day that a wnlf whiche was fore
hongry came and toke a lambe/ and after ran
awaye tberwith/ C And thenne the lay d wether
ranne alter hym / And the Wlllf whiche fuppofed
that it bad hen the dogge lhote t lines by the
wave tor the grete fere that he had/ And ranne
ener as t aft as he coude/ and the wether alio
ranne after hym withonte cede/ tvl that he
ranne thurgh a buflhe full of lharp thornes/ the
whiche thoraea rente and brake alle the dogges
lkvnne / whiche was on hym/ And as the wnlf
Lotted ami (awe behynde hym/ beynge moche
doubtous of his dethe/ fawe and perceyued alle
the decepcion and falfhede of the wether/ And
forthwith returned agevnfte hym and demaunded
of hvm / what heed arte thow / And the wether
anfuerd to hym in this maner I My lord I am a
wether whiche plaveth with the/ And the wiilf
la\ d / Ha maylter ought ye to plave with your
mavfter and with your lord/ thow halt made me
re aferd / that by the waye as I ranne before
the/ I dyte (byte thre grete toordes/ And thene
the wulf ledde hym unto the place where a^ he
bad ihvte favenge thus to hym/ loke hyther/
calleft thow this a pi aye / I take hit not for plave /
for now 1 (halle (hewe to the/ how thow 01.
eft not to plave (b with thy lord / And thenne
the
1 82 LIBER
the wulf took and kylled hym / and deuoured
and ete hym/ C And therfore he that is wyfe
mufte take good hede/ how he playeth with
hym whiche is wyfer/ more fage/ and more
ftronge / than hym ielf is /
{'CI STL'S.
183
€ CTiu ilij fable makrtfj mmcoon of the nun cf
the loon & of his font
E that reffuieth the good dodrj
of his fader /yfeuyl happe con
to hym / it is but rvglit / As to va
reherceth this fable of a labourer
whiche fomtyme lyued in ;i deli rte
of his cultyuynge and laboure/ In this deferte
a lyon/ whiche walled and deftroyed all
the Cede/ which curry daye the layd labourer
fewed/ and alio this lyon deftroyed bis ti
And by caule that he bare and dyd to hym fo
grete harme and dommage/ he made an hedge/
to the whiche he putte and fette cordes and
nettes for to take lyon/ And ones as this lyon
came for to ete come he entryed within a n
& was taken ' And thenne the good man came
ihydcr/ and bete and ftnote hym fo wonderly/
that vnnethe he myght (cape fro deth / And by
caule that the lyon lawe that he myghl
efcape the (ubtylyte of the man/ he took his
I lyon/ and went to dwelle in another
von/ and within a lytyl whyle after that
the lyon was wel growen an 1 w
1 84 LIBER
itronge he demaunded of his fader/ My fader
be we of this Regyon / Nay fayd the fader /
For we ben fledde awey fro oure land / And
thenne the lytyl lyon afked/ wherfore/ And
the fader anfuerd to hym/ For the fubtylyte of
the man / And the lytyl lyon demaunded of
hym what man is that / And his fader fayd to
hym / he is not foo grete ne fo ftronge as we
be/ but he is more fubtyle and more Ingenyous/
than we be/ and thene fayd the fone to the
fader/ I ihalle goo auenge me on hym And
the grete lyon fayd to hym / goo not / For yf
thow goft thyder thow malt repente the ther-
fore/ and fhalt doo lyke a fole And the fone
anfuerd to his fader / Ha by my heed I Ihalle goo
thyder/ and Ihalle fee what he can doo/ And
as he wente for to fynde the man/ he mette an
oxe within a medowe / and an hors whofe back
was al fleyen / and fore/ to whome he faid in
this manere/ who is he that hath ledde yow
hyder/ and that fo hath fo hurted yow/ And
they fayd to hym / It is the man / C And
thenne he fayd ageyne to them/ Certaynly/
here is a wonder thynge / I praye yow / that
ye wylle fhewe hym to me And they wente
and ihewed to hym the labourer/ which ered
the erthe/ And the lyon forthwith and with-
oute fayinge of ony moo wordes wente toward
the
QUINTUS.
man/ to whome be (ayd in this man •
lh man thow halt done oner many euj
hoi lie to me and to my Fader/ and in lyke
• to oure beeftes ' w . rfore I telle the that
to me thou- (bait doo Juftyce An I the man
anfuerd to hym/ I promytte and warm- the/
that jrf thow come oyghe mi- I (halle flee with
this greete clubbe/ And after with this knyi 1
(hall flee the/ And the [yon fayd to hj
Come thenne before my fader/ and he as k\
(halle doo to vs good Juftyce/ And thenne the
man (ayd to the lyon/ I am content yf that
thow wylt fwere to me/ that thow (halt not
toucheme/ tyll that we hen in the prefence of
thy fader/ And in lyke wyle I (halle fwen
the/ that I lhal go with the vnto the prefence
of thy fader/ And thus the lyon and the man
fwered eche one to other/ and wente to .
the grete lvon/ and the man beganne to
by the way where as his cordes and oettes were
drefled/ And as they wente / the lyon lete hym
felf falle within a corde and by the feet he was
take/ fo that he myghte not farther goo/ An 1
by cauie he coude not goo lie (ayd to the man/
() man I prey the that thow wilt helpe me/
I may no more goo/ And the man anlv.
to hym/ I am lworne to the that I (halle not
louche the vnto the tyme that we hen before thy
ier/
1 86 LIBER
fader / And as the lyon fuppofed to haue vnbound
hym felf for to fcape / he fylle in to another nette
And thenne the lyon beganne to crye after the
man / fayenge to hym in this manere / O good
man I praye the that thow wilt vnbynde me/
And the man beganne to fmyte hym vpon the
hede/ C And thenne whanne the lyon fawe
that he myght not fcape / he fayd to the man /
I praye the / that thow fmyte me no more vpon
the heed/ but vpon myn erys / by caufe that I
wold not here the good counceylle of my fader /
And thenne the man beganne to fmyte hym at
the herte and flewe hym/ the whiche thyng
happeth ofte to many children whiche ben
hanged or by other maner executed and put to
dethe/ by caufe that they wil not byleue the
do&ryne of theyr faders and moders / ne obeye
to them by no wyfe
QUISTC^
187
< Thf xbi fable fa of tfir kn right anb of the
fcruaunt/ tlir tobiclic font) the jFoic/
:. that tor 1 hevr grete lefyn
fuppofen to put vnder alle the
world/ but oner at lafl theyr le-
es ben knowen and many-
i ' as bit appiereth by this
table of a knvght whiche fomtyme wente with
an archer of bis thurgh the lande/ And as they
rode/ they fonde a Fox And the knvght fayd
to the archer in good loot he I fee a grete l'oxe/
And the archer beganne to live to his lord/ My
lord / merueylle ye therof / I haue ben in a Re.
whereas the Foxes ben as grete as an o\e And
the knvght anluerd In good foothe theyr (kynnes
were good for to make mantels with / jrf ikynners
myght haue them/ And as they were rydynge/
they telle in many wordes and deuyfes/ Ai: I
thenne by caufe the knvght perceyued wel the
lclynge of his Archer/ he beganne to make
prevers and oryfons to tl !es/ lor to make bis
Archer aferd / And layd in this manere ( ) Jupiter
god almyghty/ CI preye the/ that this daye
thow wylt kepe vs fro all lefynges fo that we may
fauf
i88 LIBER
fauf paffe thys flood and this grete Ryuerwhiche
is here before vs / and that we may furely come
to oure hows/ And whanne the Archer herd
the prayer and oryibn of his lord / he was moche
abaffhed C And thenne the Archer demaunded
of hym / my lord wherfore prayeft thow now foo
deuoutely / And the knygt anfuerd woft thou not
wel that hit is wel knowen and manyfefted/ that
we lbone muft paffe a ryght grete Ryuer/ And
that he who on al this dayefhalle haue madeony
lefynge / yf he entre in hit / he fhalle 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 muft paffe / Nay
fayd the knyght/ For hit is wel gretter/ O my
lord I faye by caufe that the foxe whiche ye fawe
may wel haue fwymmed and paffed ouer this lytyl
water / And the lord fayd / I care not therfore /
C And after that they had ryden a lytyl ferther/
the fond another lytyll Ryuer / And the Archer
demaunded of hym/ Is this the flood that ye fpake
of to me/ Nay fayd he/ For hit is gretter &
more brode/ And the Archer fayd ageyne to
hym / My lord I fay fo / by caufe that the foxe
of the whiche I fpake of to daye was not gretter
than a calf/ C And thene the knyght herkyng
the
QUISTUS. 189
the dyflymylacion of his archer/ anfwerd not/
And loo they rode forthe (b Longe thai they I
vet another Ryuer And thenne the
demaunded of his lord/ Is this the fame hit /
Nay feyd the knyghl / but (bone we (halle come
therto/ O my lord I (aye fo by caufe that the
1 wherof I fpak to you- this daye/
gretter than a (heep/ 1 And when they had
:i vnto euen tyme they fond a grete Ryuer
and of a grete brede/ ('Ami whan tharcher
fawe hit/ he began al to (hake tor tire/ and de-
maunded ot" bis lord/ My lord is this the Rj 1
Ye fayd the knyght / o my lord I enfureyouon
my feythe/ that the F< ne of the whiehe I fpake
Lye/ was not gretter than the I whiehe
to day/ wherfore I knowlege and 1
feffe to yow my fynne/ i ^nd thenne the knj
beganne to fmyle/ and fayd to his Archer in this
manere/ Alio this Ryuer is no wors than the
other whiehe we fawe to fore and haue palled
thurgh them / And thenne the archer had grete
rod was (hameful/ by caufe that he
lit no more coiiere his lefynge And I
hit is fayre and good tor to faye euer the
trot: 1 to Ik- trewe hothe in fpeche and in
dede/ For a Iyer is euer begy led/ and his le-
:i and manyfelted on hym to
grete lliame & doinmage
t Here
190 LIBER QUINTUS.
C f^ere after folofoen fame jFaales of Ccfape
after tf)e netoe tranGacion / tf)e fcotltctie
jFaoles ben not founotn ne foreran
in tijc oaofces of tfje pj)ila=
fopljer Romulus
I )l
< II :-f f;vft tabic is of tlif iFglc nntj of the
canrn
'( rae ought to take on hym fell
doo :i thynge/ whicheis peryllous
withoute be fele hym felf it-
ynou} to doo hit/ As reherceth
this l-'able/ Of an Egle/ whiche
fleynge took a lambe/ wherof the Rauen hadde
grete enuye wherfor vpon another ivme as / the
fayd rauen fewe a grete herd of flieep/ by his
grete entry A: pryde &: by bis grete oultrage de-
fended on them/ And by fuche fachoo
manere fmote a wether that his clowes abode to
the flyes of hit/ In foo moche that he coude
nol flee awey/ Thefheep herd thenne came and
brake and toke his wynges from hym / And after
bare hym to his children to playe them with/
And demannded of hym / what bvrd lie v.
And the Rauen anfuerd to hym/ I fuppofed to
baue ben an Egle - And by my ouerwenyn I
wende to haue take a lambe/ as the egle dyd/
but now I knowe wel thai I am a Rauen/ wher-
fore the teble ought not in no wyle to compare
hym
192
hym felf to the ftronge/ For fomtyme when he
fuppoleth to doo more than he may/ he falleth
in to grete delhonour/ as hit appiereth by this
prefent Fable/ Of a Rauen/ whiche iuppolen
to haue ben as lironge as the egle
'93
< B lie frrorfo jTnblc is of tbr rglr nrfo of the
tocfel
r what i'o euer myght that
he haue ought not to defpr
the other As hit appiereth by
this prefent fable of an Egle/
whiche chaced fomtyme after an
And by caufe that the hart- myght not
refyfte oe withftande ageynft the egle/ be de-
maunded ayde and belpe of the wefel I the whiche
tooke hym in her kepynge/ And by caufe that
the egle (awe the wefel inn lytvl/ he defprej
her/ and before her toke the hare/ wherof the
wefel was wrothe Ami therfore the wefell wente/
and beheld the Egles nefl whiche waa vp
he tree/ And whanne fhe fawe hit/ thelj
11 clymmed vpon a tree/ and toke and
donne to the ground the yonge egles whei
they deyde/ And for this caufe was the 1
he and angry / and after v. the
god Jupiter And prayd hym that he ode
hym a fare place where as he myghl
his < ! ind his lytvl chykynes/ Anil f u-
inted hit and gaf hym fuche a gyfte/ that
wh
M
194
whan the tyme of childynge mold come/ that
{he mold make her yong Egles within his bofome/
And thenne whanne the wefel knewe this/ {he
gadred and affembled to gyder grete quantite of
ordure of fylthe / and therof made an hyghe hylle
for to lete her felf falle fro the top of hit in to
the bofome of Jupiter/ And whanne Jupiter
felte the ftenche of the fylthe/ he beganne to
make his bofome/ and both the wefel and the
egges of the egle felle doune to the erthe / And
thus were alle the egges broken and loll / And
whanne the Egel knewe hit/ me made auowe/
that me mold neuer make none egles/ tyll of
the wefel me were afluerd / And therfore none
how ftronge and myghty that he be / ought not
defpreyfe fomme other/ For there is none foo
lytyl / but that fomtyme he may lette and auenge
hym felf/ wherfore doo thow ne defplayfyr to
none / that defplayfyre come not to the
»9!
(. vLiir tliurtrtir fable fa of tfjt jToif nnt) of
tl)c gate
I whiehe is wvle and fage ought
,,1 lyrit to loke and behold theende/
or he begynneth the werke or
dede as byer appiereth by this
table / Of a foxe & of
that fomtyme defcended and wente doune in
depe welle/ for to drynke. Ami Whanne
they had wel dronke/ by caufe that thei coude
not come vpward ageyne/ the Foxe feyd to the
in this maner/ my freml jrf thow wylt helpe
me/ we (hall lone ben bothe oute of this welle/
For yt thow wylt fette thy two feet ageynfte the
walle I thai wel lepe vpon the/ & vpon thy
homes And thenne I lhal lepe oute of this
welle/ C And whanne I lhalle be oute of hit/
thow {halt take me by the handes/ and I thai
plucke and drawe the oute of the welle/
at this requeft the gote/ acorded and anfuerd/
I wylle wel/ And thene the gote lyt'te rp his
ageynfl the walle/ and the foxe dyd lb
he by his malyce that 1
welle t And whan he was oute/ he began to
loke
196
loke on the gote/ whiche was within the welle/
& thenne the gote fayd to hym/ help me now
as thow haft promyied/ And thene the foxe
beganne to lawhe and to fcorne hym/ and fayd
to hym/ O mayfter goote/ yf thow haddeft be
wel wyfe with thy fay re berde / or ener thow
haddeft entryd in to the welle/ thow fholdeft
fyrft haue taken hede / how thow fholdeft haue
comen oute of hit ageyne /
(I And therfore he whiche is wyfe/ yf he
wyfely wylle gouerne hym felf / ought to take
euer good hede to the ende of his werke
197
C E|c Com the fablf is of the rattc ant) of
tht thulun.
E whiche is t'als of kyndc/ & hath
begonne to deceyue fome other/
euer he wvl ofe his crat't / As it
'■•• k ', j_k appiereth by this prefent Fable
~ --— • m ot ., ^ ,, w hiche fomtyrae toke a
chyken/ t lie whiche he beganne ftrongly to
blame/ tor to haue fonde fomme caufe that he
ht ete hit / ami l'.iyd to bym in this mam
Come hyther thou chyken/ thow dolt none
other good but crye alle the nyght/ thow
leteft not the men llepe/ And thenne the chyken
anfuerd to hym/ I doo hit tor theyre grete
prouffite/ And ouer ageyne the catte fayd to
bym/ yet is there wel wors/ For thow arte
an incette & lechour For thow knoweft natii-
relly both thy moder and thy doughter
thenne the chyken fayd to the cat/ I doo bit
by canfe that my mayfter maye haue ej
his etynge/ And that bys mayfter tor his prou-
gai to hym hot he the moder and the
donghter tor to multyplye the egges/ And
thenne the catte l'ayd to hym/ by my feythe
198
godfep thow haft excufacions ynough / but
neuertheless thow fhalt pafle thurgh my throte /
for I fuppoie not to fafte this day for alle thy
wordes/ CAnd thus is it of hym whiche is
cuftommed to lyue by rauyn/ For he can not
kepe ne abfteyne hym felf fro hit/ For alle
thexcafacions that be leyd on hym.
'99
i Zht fa fable is of the jfoic nnto of tlu buff!):.
T.n oust not to demaude ne a Ike
help of them that ben more cuf-
tomed to lette than to do good
or prouffit/ as it appereth by t His
fable of a fox which tor to fcape
the peril to be taken wente vpon a thorne
buffhe/ whiche hurted hym fore/ And v.
ynge fayd to the buffhe / I am come as to my
refuge vnto the/ and thow hart hurted me vnto
the dethe/ And thenne the bufhe fayd to hym/
thow halt erred/ and wel thou haft begyled
thy felf/ For thow fuppofeft to haue taken me
as thow arte cuftommed to take cbekyns and
hennes/ C And therfore men ought not to
helpe them whiche ben acuftomed to doo euylle /
but men ou<rht rather to lette them.
200
C QTfje bj fable in of tfje man anti of tfje rjofc of
tfjc tooties
^F the euylle manfom tyme prouffiteth
fome other/ he doth hit not by
his good wylle/ but by force/ As
reherceth to vs this fable / Of a
man whiche had in his hows an
ydolle the whiche of tyme he adoured as his god /
to whome ofte he prayed that he wold gyue to
hym moche good And the more that he prayed
hym/ the more he faylled / And became pouere/
wherfore the man was wel wrothe ageynft his
ydolle/ and took hit by the legges/ and fmote
the hede of hit fo ftrongly ageynft the walle / fo
that it brake in to many pyeces/ Oute of the
whiche ydolle ylfued a ryght grete trefoure /
wherof the man was ful gladde and Joyous/
And thenne the man fayd to his ydolle/ Now
knowe I wel/ that thow art wycked/ euyl and
peruers/ For whanne I haue worlhipped the/
thow haft not holpen me/ And now whanne I
haue bete the/ thow haft moche done for me/
C And therfore the euylle man whanne he doth
ony good / it is not of his good wylle / but by
force
201
C JTlje bij fable is of a foffhrr
Lie thynges which ben done & made
in theyr tyme <.v feafon ben wel
made/ as by this prefent fable it
appereth Of a fyflher whicbe fom-
tvme touched liis bagpype nvhe
the Ryuer tor to make the fyflhe to daunce/
< And whan be (awe that tor none Conge that
he coude pvpe/ the fyflhes wold not dauie/ As
wroth dyd calt his oettea in to the Ryuer/ & toke
of fyflhe grete quantite/ And whanne he
drawe oute his nettes oute of the water/ the
fj flhe beganne to lepe and to dauie/ and thenne
lie lav d to them/ Certaynly hit appiereth l
wel / that ye be euylle beeltes / For now whanne
ye be taken/ ye lepe and daunle/ And whanne
I pyped and played of my mule or bag py]
dayned I oe wold not daunfe/ Therfore hit ap-
piereth wel that the thynges whiche ben made
in feafon/ ben wel made and done by reafon
202
C 2Trje eggfji fable is of tfje cattc an* of tfre rat
^E whiche is wyfe/ and that ones
hath ben begyled/ ought not to
trufte more hym that hath begyled
hym As reherceth this Fable of a
catte whiche wente in to a hows/
where as many rats were/ the whiche he dyd
ete eche one after other/ C And whanne the
rats perceyued the grete fyerfnes and crudelyte
of the catte / held a counceylle to gyder where
as they determyned of one comyn wylle/ that
they (hold no more hold them ne come nor goo
on the lowe floore . wherfore one of them mooft
auncyent profered and fayd to al the other fuche
wordes/ C My bretheren and myfrendes/ ye
knowe wel/ that we haue a grete enemye/ whiche
is a grete perfecutour ouer vs alle / to whome we
may not refyfte / wherfor of nede we mud hold
our felf vppn the hyghe balkes / to thende that
he may not take vs / Of the whiche propofycion
or wordes the other rats were wel content and
apayd/ and byleuyd this counceylle/ And whanne
the kat knewe the counceylle of the rats/ he
hynge hym felf by his two feet behynd at a pynne
of
203
dt yron whiche was flyked at a balke/ feynyi
byna felf to be dede I And whanne one of the
downward (awe the katte beganne
to lawbe and fayd to the cat / (J my Frend yt"
I fuppofed that thow were dede/ I lhold
doune but wel I knowe the fo fals &: pen.
that thow ma\ it we] baue hanged thy felf/ fayn-
sto be dede/ wherfore I lhall not goodonnc/
And therfore he that hath ben ones begyled by
fomme other/ ought to kepe hym wel fro the
lame
204
C 2T|jc ix fable is of tije labourer arto of the
prjelanre
|E whiche is taken with the wicked
and euyll ou}te to fufFre payne
and punycyon as they / As it
appiereth by this fable/ Of a la-
bourer whiche fomtyme dreffyd
and fette his gynnes and nettes for to take the
ghees and the cranes/ "Whiche ete his corne/ It
happed thenne that ones amonge a grete meyny
of ghees and cranes / he took a pyelarge / whiche
prayd the labourer in this maner/ I praye the
lete me go/ For I am neyther goos ne cranne
nor I am not come hyther for to do the ony
eyylle / The labourer beganne thenne to lawhe /
and fayd to the pyelarge / yf thow haddeft not be
in theyr felaufhip/ thow haddefl not entryd in to
my nettes / ne haddeft not be taken / And by
caufe that thow arte founde and taken with them /
thow flialt be punyflhed as they ihalle be Ther-
fore none ought to hold companye with the euylle
with oute he wylle fufFre the punycion of them
whiche ben punyflhed
:o 5
C <TIk tenth fable is cf tfic cljtltJ / fofjtriu fccptc
tiic fbrrp
i s»n*r - t j .vhiche is acuftomed to make lef-
t" * 'Tj f j
: ynges/ how be it that he faye
- I . trouthe/ Yet men byleue hym
Dot/ As reherceth this fable Of
a child whiche fomtyme 1
lhecp/ the whiche erred ofte withoute caule/
l'avenge/ Alias tor goddes luue l'ocoure yow ;
For the wulf wylle ete my lhecp/ And whanne
the labourers that coltyued and ered the erthe
aboute hym / herd his crye / they come to helpe
hym / the whiche came fo many tymes/ and i
DOthyng/ And as they (awe that there were no
wulu.es/ they retorned to they r labourrage. And
the child dyd fo many tymes for to playe hym/
C It happed on a day that the wulf came/ and
the child cryed as he was acuftomed to doo /
And by caule that the labourers fuppofed/ that
hit had not ben trouthe/ abode l'tylle at thevr
are/ wherfore the wulf dyd ete the fh<
For men bileue not lyghtly hym/ whiche is
k no wen tor a Iyer
206
C (Ehc xf fable is of the ante anti of tfje columbe
One ought to be flowful of the good
whiche he receyueth of other/ As
reherceth this fable of an Ante /
whiche came to a fontayne for
to drynke / and as fhe wold haue
dronke Ihe felle within the fontayn / vpon the
whiche was a columbe or douue / whiche feyng
that the Ante fhold haue ben drowned withoute
helpe / took a braunche of a tree / & caff it to
her for to faue her felf / C And the Ante wente
anone upon the braunche and faued her/ C And
anone after came a Fawkoner / whiche wold haue
take the douue / And thenne the Ante whiche
fawe that the Fawkoner drefTyd his nettes came
to his foote/ and foo faff pryked hit/ that Ihe
caufed hym to ifnyte the erthe with his foote/
and therwithe made foo gret noyfe/ that the douue
herd hit/ wherfore fhe flewhe aweye or the
gynne and nettes were al fette/ C And therfore
none ought to forgete the benyfyce whiche he
hath receyued of fome other/ for flowfulneffe is
a grete fynne
:o7
C <Thc nj fable is of the I5cc nub of Hupitrr
. (Jw the euyl which men wyflhe to
other/ cometh to hym whiche
wyflheth hit/ as hit appiereth by
tin-, fable/ of a Beewhicheofl
and g if to I upyter a pyce of bony /
wherof Jupyter was mocbe Joyous / And tbenne
J upyter i.ivd to the bee/ demaunde of me what
tbow wyltl and I (halle grannie and gyue hit to
the gladly/ And tbenne the Bee prayed hym in
this manere/ God almyghty I pray the that thow
wylr gyue to me and graute/ that who fo euer
(ha) come tor to take awey my bony yf I pryke
hym/ lie may lbdenly deye / And by caul'e that
Jupyter loued the hum a) n lygnage he layd to
the Bee/ Suflyfe the/ that who fo euer (halle
goo to take thy hony / yf thow pryke or ltynge
hym [ncontynent thow (halt deye And thus
her prayer was tourned to her grete domm
men ought not to demaude of god / but luche
tbynges that ben good and honed
2o3
C %\)t ittj fable ts of a carpenter
N as moche as god is more propyce
and benygne to the good and holy /
moche more he punyfiheth the
wycked and euylle / As we may
fee by this fable/ Of a carpenter
whiche cutte wode vpon a Ryuer for to make a
temple to the goddes / And as he cutte wode /
his axe felle in the Ryuer/ wherfore he beganne
to wepe and to calle helpe of the goddes/ And
the god Mercurye for pyte appiered before hym
And demaunded of hym wherfore he wepte / and
fhewed to hym an axe of gold / and demaunded
of hym yf hit was the axe whiche he had loft/
& he fayd nay/ And after the god fhewed to hym
another axe of fyluer/ And femblably faid nay
And by caufe that Mercurius fawe that he was
good and trewe / he drewe his axe oute of the
water/ and took hit to hym with moche good
that he gaf to hym/ And the carpenter told thy-
ftory to his felawes / of the whiche one of them
came in to the fame place for to cutte woode as
his felawe dyd before / & lete falle his axe within
the water/ and beganne/ to wepe and to de-
maund
20)
mauiul the belpe and ayde of the goddes/ A.i
thenne Mercuryappiered to tore byrn/ and (hewed
to hvin an axe of gold I and demaunded ofhym
in (ache maoere/ Is the fame hit that thow bad
loft/ And he anfuerd to Mercury/ ye fayre (yre
and my 1 the fame i-> it/ And Mercury
feynge the malyce of the vylayne gaf to hym
aeyther the lame oe none other I and lefte bym
wepynge/ For god whiche is good and [ufl re-
warded the good and trewe in this world/ or
eche other after Ids delerte and punyflheth the
eyylle and Iniulte
210
G 2Cf)C xtiij UW ts of a gouge tfjecf anti of fjis
mooer
]e whiche is not chaftyfed at the
begynnynge is euyll and peruers
at the ende / As hit appiereth by
this fable of a yonge child whiche
of his yongthe beganne to ftele/
and to be a theef / And the theftys whiche he
maad/ he broughte to his moder/ and the moder
toke them gladly / & in no wyfe fhe chaftyfed
hym / And after that he had done many theftys /
he was taken / and condempned to be hanged /
And as men ledde hym to the Juftyce/ his moder
folowed hym and wepte fore/ And thenne the
child prayed to the Juftyce / that he myght faye
one word to his moder/ And as he approuched
to her/ made femblaunt to telle her fomme
wordes at her ere / & with his teeth he bote of
her nofe / wherof the Juftyce blamed hym / And
he anfuerd in this manere / My lordes ye haue
no caufe to blame me therfore / For my moder
is
: 1 1
is caufe of my dcth For jrf (he had we] chaftyfed
me/ I had not come to this limine and vei
For who loueth wel '' we] he chaftyfeth ' And
therfore chaftyic wel youre children/ to thende/
that ye falle not in to Cache a caaa
212
C JEfje ib fable 10 of the flee ano of tfje man.
j|jE that dothe euyl/ how be hit
that the euylle be not grete
men ought not to leue hym
vnpunyffhed / As it appereth
by this fable/ Of a man whiche
took a flee whiche bote hym / to whome the
man fayd in this manere/ Fie why byteft thow
me/ and leteft me not flepe/ and the flee
anfuerd It is my kynd to doo foo / wherfore
I praye the that thow wylt not put me to
dethe/ And the man beganne to lawhe/ &
fayd to the flee/ how be it/ that thow mayft
not hurte me fore / Neuertheless / to the be-
houeth not to prycke me / wherfore thow {halt
deye / For men ought not to leue none euyll
vnpunyfihed how be hit that hit be not grete.
a»3
< Z\)t rbt fafalf is of the bufborrtj ano of his
tuoo touues.
Oo thynge is werfe to t lie man than
the woman/ As it appereth by
this fable/ of a man of a meane
L^^y age/ whiche tooke two wyi.
that is to wete an old ' & one
/ whiche were both dwellyng in his howa
.\ by caufe that the old defyred to bane his
Ioue / (he plucked the blak berya fro bia hede
and his berde / by cauie he lhold the more be lyke
her/ And the yonge woman at the other
plucked
214 LIBER
plucked and drewe oute alle the whyte herys/
to the ende/ that he ihold feme the yonger/
more gay and fayrer in her fyghte/ And thus
the good man abode withoute ony here on his
hede And therfore hit is grete folye to the
auncyent to wedde them felf ageyne/ For to
them is better to be vnwedded / than to be
euer in trouble with an euyl wyf/ for the
tyme in whiche they fhold refte them / they
put it to payne and to grete labour.
QUINTUS.
215
C Zht xbfj fable (0 of the labourer ant) of his
ehilbrrn.
e that laboureth and werketh con-
tvniu'llv maye not faylle to haue
plente of goodes/ as it appieretfa
by this prefent fable ' ( >t 1 !
in. m labourer/ whiche all his lyf
had laboured and wrought/ and was ryche/
and whan he lhold deye/ he fayd to his chil-
dren/ My children I multe now deye / and
my trefour I haue lefte in my vyne/
after that the good man was dede/ his children
whiche fappofed that his trefour had ben in the
vyne/ dyd nothyng al day but delued hit/ &
it bare more fruyte than dyd before/ C For
who trauaylleth wel / he hath euer brede ynough
for to ete / And he that werketh not dyeth for
honger.
C ll'etr fonuflhcrt the JTablrs of iPfopc
C :lnb after folotorth the
fables of ftunan
2l6
THE FABLES
C &f)£ fgrft fable is of the olti fooman antj of
tijc inulf
En ought not by byleue on al maner
fpyrytes/ As reherceth this fable
of an old woman / which faid to
her child bicaufe that it wept/
certeynly if thow wepft ony more /
I ftial make the to be ete of the wulf / & the
wulf heryng this old woman / abode ftyll to fore
the yate/ & fuppofed to haue eten the old
womans child / & by caufe that the wulf had foo
longe taryed there that he was hongry / he re-
torned and went ageyne in to the wood/ And
the ihewulf demaunded of hym/ why haft thow
not brought to me fome mete/ And the wult
anfuerd / by caufe / that the old woman hath be-
gyled me / the whiche had promyfed to me to
gyue to me her child for to haue ete hym / And
at the lafte I hadde hit not/ And therfore men
ought in no wyfe to truft the woman / And he
is wel a fole that fetteth his hope and trufte in a
woman/ And therfore trufte them not/ and thow
ihalt doo as the fage and wyfe
OF ALIAS.
!'7
i \L\)t fcronti fablr is of the tortofc nntj of tlic
other bortics
I. th.it enhaunceth hym felf more
than he oughte to do To hym
oughte nut to come noo good /
Ajb liit appiereth by this prefenl
fable/ ( M a tortofe/ whiche (aid
to the byrdes/ yt' ye lyt't me rp wel byghi
tin- ground to the ayer I (halle ihewe to yow
grete plente of proems liones / And the Egle toke
her and hare her fo hyghe thai (he myghte not
fee the erthe/ And the Egle fayd to her (hewe
me now thefe precius ftones that thow promyfet
to fhewe to me/ And by caule that the tortofe
lit not fee in the erthe/ and that the 1
knewe wel that he was deceyued/ threfted his
clowea in to tin' tortofes bely/ and kylled hit/
For he that wyllc bane and gete worlhip and
glorye may not haue hit without^ grete laboure/
Therfore hit is better and more lure/ to kepe
hym lowely than to enhaunce hym fell on hyghe/
and after to deye (hamefully and myferably/
C For men fayn comynly / who fo moonteth
by her/ than he (hold/ he falletb lower than he
Id
2l8
THE FABLES
C GThe tljgrt fable is of tfjc ttoo (Ereugffes
tf— «j|E whiche will teche and lerne fome
HS 1MI i| other/ ought firft to corryge &
examyne hym felf / as it appereth
by this fable of a creuyffe / whiche
wold haue chaftyfed her owne
doughter bicauie that me wente not wel ryght /
And fayd to her in this manere / My doughter /
hit pleafeth me not that thow gooft thus back-
ward / For euylle myght wel therof come to the /
And thenne the doughter fayd to her moder My
moder I lhalle go ryght and forward with a good
will but ye muft goo before for to fhewe to me
the waye/ But the moder coude not other wyfe
goo / than after her kynd / wherfore her doughter
fayd unto her/ My moder fyrft lerne your felf
for to goo ryght and forward / and thenne ye
ihalle teche me And therfore he that wylle teche
other/ ought to ihewe good enfample / For grete
lhame is to the docfour whanne his owne coulpe
or faulte accufeth hym
OF A CIA .V.
C (The fourtlif fable is of tfir assc / antj of tiic
fkunnc of the iiuon
One ought not to gloryfye hym felf
of the goodes of other . as i
this table ot" an alii- whiche fom-
tyme fond the flcynne of a lyon/
the whiche he dyd & wereil 00
hym J but he coude neuer hvde his eres thcr-
with / & when he was/ as he fuppoied wd
arayed with the feyd ikynne/ he ramie in to
the turrit I And whanne the wvld beeftes I
hym come/ they were fo terdt'ull that they alle
nine
220 THE FABLES
beganne to flee/ For they wend/ that it had be
the lyon / And the mayfter of the affe ferched and
foughte his affe in euery place al aboute And
as he had foughte longe/ he thoughte that he
wold go in to the foreft for to fee yf his affe
were there/ And as foone as he was entryd
in to the foreft / he mette with his affe arayed
as before is fayd / but his mayfter whiche had
foughte hym longe fawe his erys/ wherfore he
knewe hym wel / and anone toke hym / and
fayd in this manere/ Ha a mayfter affe/ arte
thow clothed with the fkynne of the lyon / thow
makeft the beftes to be aferd / but yf they knewe
the / as wel as I do / they fhold haue no fere of
the / but I enfure the / that wel I fhalle bete the
therfore / And thenne he toke fro hym the fkynne
of the lyon / and fayd to hym Lyon fhalt thow be
no more / but an affe fhalt thow euer be / And
his mayfter tooke thenne a ftaf/ and fmotehym/
foo that euer after he remembryd hym wel of
hit/ And therfore he whiche auaunceth hym
felf of other mennes goodes is a very foole / For
as men fayn comynly he is not wel arayed nor
wel appoynted/ whiche is clothed with others
gowne/ ne alfo it is not honefte to make large
thonges of other mennes leder
OF ALIAS.
K i
C £f]c fa fable fa of tfjl froggc anfa of the JFoic
;One ought to auauncc hym (elf to
doo that whiche he lie can not
doo / As hit appiereth of a frogge/
whiche lomtyme yffued or came
oute of a dyche/ the whiche
prefomed to haue Lepte vpon a hyghe mon-
tayne/ And whanne (he was vpon the moun-
tayne (he (ayd to other beetles/ I am a mayf-
trefle in medecyn/ and canne gyue remedy to
al manere of fekenes by myn arte/ and lubtylyte/
and (halle rendre and brynge yow vp ageyne in
good helthe/ wherof Tome byleued her/ And
thenne tlie Foxe whiche perceyued the folyfihe
byleue of the beetles/ beganne to lawhe/ and
(ayd to them/ poure beetles/ how may this
fowle and venemous beett whiche is like and
pale of colour render and gyue to yow helthe/
For the leche whiche wylle hole (bmme other/
oughl fyrfte to bele hym felf/ For many one
connterfayteth the leche/ whiche can not .1
word of the fcyence of medecync / from the
u blche god preferae and kepe vs
222
THE FABLES
C SEfje bj fable is of tfje tfcoo fcoijses
E that taketh within hym felf vayne
glorye of that thynge/ by the
whiche he (hold humble hym felf
is a very fole / as hit appereth by
this fable / of a fader of famylle /
whiche had two dogges / of the whiche the one
withoute ony barkyng bote the folke/ & the
other dyd barke and bote not/ And whan the
fader of famyll perceyued the ihrewdnefs and
malyce of the dogge that barkyd not he henge
on his nek a belle / to the ende that men mold
beware of hym / wherfore the dogge was ouer
prowd and fyers / and beganne to dyfpreyfe alle
the other dogges / of the whiche one of the mooft
auncyent fayd to hym in this manere / O fole
beeft/ now perceyue I wel thy foly and grete
wodeneffe to fuppofe / that this belle is gyuen to
the for thyn owne deferte and meryte/ but cer-
taynly hit is not foo/ For hit is taken to the for
thy demerytes / and by caufe of thy fhrewdnelfe /
and grete treafon / for to ihewe / that thow arte
fals and traytour/ And therfore none oughte to
be Joyeful and gladde of that thynge/ wherof
he
OF AVI AS. 223
he oughte to be tryfl and forowful/ as many fi
done/ whiche make Joye of theyr vycea and
euyll dedes/ tor a moche fole were the theef
whiche thai men ledde tor to be hanged/ and
that he had a cord of gold abonte his neck/ yf
lie (hold make Joye therof/ how be hit that the
corde were moche ryche and t'ayre
224
THE FABLES
C 2Tfte bfj fable is of the camel ano of Jupiter
Uery creature ought to be content
of that/ that god hath gyuen to
hym withoute to take their hery-
taunce of other / As reherceth this
fable Of a camel whiche fom
tyme complayned hym to Jupiter of that the
other beeftes mocqued hym / by caufe that he
was not of lb grete beaute/ as they were of/
wherfore to Jupiter Inftantly he prayd in fuche
maner as foloweth / Fayr fyre and god / I re-
quyreand praye that thow wylt gyue to me homes/
to thende that I maye be nomore mocqued /
Jupiter then beganne to lawhe/ and in ftede of
homes/ he took fro hym his erys/ and fayd/
thow haft more good than hit behoueth thee to
haue / And by caufe that thow demaundeft that /
whiche thow oughteft not to haue I haue take
fro the that whiche of ryght and kynd thow
ou3teft to haue/ For none ought not to defyre
more than he ought to haue/ to the ende that
he lefe not that whiche he hath/
OF ALIAS.
< Z\\t crgfjt fable is of the ttao fclatocs
SSiSI''.ii ought not to hold felauihip with
■<i hym / whiche is acuftomrned to
jrle other/ As hit appiereth
by thys Fable/ Of two fel
whiche fomtyme held felauihip
to eche other for to goo bothe by montaynes and
valeyes And for to make better theyr vyage/ they
were fworne eche one to the other/ that none
of them bothe (hould hue other vnto that the
tyme of dethe (hold come and departe them/
And as they walked in a forefl they mette with
a gretewyld bere / & bothe felaws ran lone ..
tor fere/ of the whiche the one clymmed/ vpon
a tree And whan the other law e that his felawe
had Lefte hym leyd hym felf on the erthe/ and
fayned to be dede/ And Incontynent the here
came for to ete hym/ but by caufe the gailaunt
playd wel his game/ the bere went forthe
wayeand touched hym not , Ami thine his felawe
came doun fro the tree whiche layd to hym I
pray thee to telle me what the bere fayd to t)
For as me femeth he fpake to the/ and hath
(hewed
226 THE FABLES
ihewed to the gretefygne or token of loue/ And
thenne his felawe fayd to hym / He taught me
many fayre fecretes/ but emonge alle other
thynges he fayd to me/ that I ihold neuer truft
hym who ones hath deceyued me
OF AVIAN.
C £bc it fable mahcth mention of the tfao pottcs
-
J£~ ' ■•■'•■-'•-"■^'Ilf poure ought not to take the
Ryche as his felawe as it ap-
piereth by this fable of two pottes /
of the whiche the one waa coper/
and the other of ertlu-/ the whiche
pottes ilyil mete to gyder within a Ryuer/ C &
by caule that the erthen pot wente fwyfter than
dyd the coper potte / the pot of coper feyd to
the pot of erthe/ I praye the that we may
to gyder/ And the erthe D potte anfuerd and
fayd to the coper pot/ I wylle not go with the/
For it fhold happe to me as it happed to the
glas and of the morter For yf thow (hol<
mete with me/ thow lholdeft breke and putte
me in to pyeces/ C And therfore the poure is
a fole that compareth and lvkeneth hvm lilt" to
the ryche and myghty/ For better is to lyue in
pouerte than to deye vvlaynoufly and oppreliyd of
the ryche
228
THE FABLES
C 2Efte i fable ts of the Igori ano of the ooole
T is not alweye tyme to auenge hym
felf of his enemye / As it appiereth
by this fable of a bole/ whiche
fomtyme fledde before a lyon/
And as the bole wold entre with-
in a cauerne for to faue hym / a gote wente
geynfte hym for to kepe and lette hym that
he fhold not entre in it/ to whome the bole
fayd / It is not tyme now to auenge me on the /
for the lyon that chafeth me / but the tyme fhalle
come that wel I fhalle fynde the/ For men
ought not to doo to hym felf dommage for to
be auengyd of his enemy / but oughte to loke
for tyme and place couenable for to doo hit
OF AVIAN
f Zht xi fable is of the 3pc anto of his fonc
) fowler a thyng is to the man / than
with his mouth to preyfe hym felf/
A- this fable reherceth to vs/ Of
Jupiter kynga of alle the world
whiche made alle the beeftes and
alle the byrdea to be aflembled to gyder for
to knowe theyr bounte/ and alio theyr kynd/
Emonge alle the whiche came the Ape/ whiche
prefented his lone to Jupiter/ fayenge thus/
Fayre lyre and myghty god/ loke and lee here
the faired beeft that euer thow createlt in this
world ' Ami Jupiter thenne beganne to lawhe/
and after layd to hym/ thow arte wel a fowle
beeft to preyfe foo thy felf/ For none oughte
to preyfe hym lilt"/ but oughte to doo g
and vertUOUS werkes/ wherof other may pre) K-
hym/ tor it is a lhameful thyng to preyfe hym
230
THE FABLES
C Ehe xtj fable is of the crane ant> of the pecocfc
Or what vertue that ony man hath/
none oughte to preyfe hym felt'/
As hit apiereth by this fable / Of
a pecok/ whiche fomtyme made
a dyner to a crane/ And And
whanne they had eten and dronken ynough/
they had grete wordes to gyder/ wherfore the
pecok fayd to the crane / Thow haft not fo fayre
a forme ne fo fayre a fygure as I haue / ne alio
fayr fethers / ne foo refplendyffhynge as I haue /
To whome the crane anfuerd / and fayd / It is
trouthe / Neuertheles thow haft not one good / ne
one fo fayre a vertue as I haue / For how be hit
that I haue no fo fayre fethers as thow haft/
yet can I flee better than thy felf doft/ For
with thy fayre fethers thow muft euer abyde
on the erthe/ and I may flee where fomeuer
hit pleafeth me / And thus euerychone ought to
haue furfyfaunce and to be content of that/ that
he hath/ without auanncynge or prayfynge of
hym felf/ and not to dyfpreyfe none other.
OF AUIAN. 231
t Z\)t n'ij fable is of the hunter antj of the tggte
-/THinc is t he itrokc of a tonge/ than
the ftroke of a fpere as bit ap-
piereth by this fable / Of a hunter/
whiche with his arowes hurted the
wyld beeftes/ in fuche wyfe that
none fcaped fro hym/ to the whiche beftes .1
tygre fyera and bard fayd in this manere/ Be
not aferd For I fhalle kepe yow well/ And as
the lYfirre came in to the wode / the hunter was
hvd within a builhe/ the whiche whan he (awe
pafle the tygre before the buiihe / he (bote at hym
an arowe/ and hytte hvm on the thye/ wher-
rewas gretely abaflhed Andwepyi
and litre fyghynge layd to the other beeites / 1
wote not from whensthis cometh to me/ CAnd
whanna the foxe l'awe hym foo gretely abaflhed
al lawhynge fayd to hym / I la a tygre/ thow arte
to myghtyand fo ftronge/ And thennethe 1
fayd to hym/ My ftrengthe auaylled me not at
that tyme/ For none may kepe hvm felf fro
treafon And therfore fome fecrete is here whiche
I knewe not before Bat notwithftandynge this 1
m ive wel eoncevue / that there is no won arowe/
1.
232 THE FABLES
ne that letteth more the man / than tharowe
whiche is fhotte fro the euyll tongue/ For whanne
ibm perfone profereth or fayth fom wordes in a
felaufhip / of foramen a of honeft & good lyf /
alle the felaufhip fuppofeth that that whiche this
euylle tongue hath fayd be trewe / be hit trewe
or not/ how be it that it be but lefynge/ but
notwithftondynge the good man fhalle euer be
wounded of that fame arowe/ whiche wound
lhalle be Incurable / And yf hit were a ftroke of
a fpere/ hit myght be by the Cyrurgyen heled/
but the ftroke of an euylle tongue may not be
heled / by caufe that Incontynent as the word is
profered or fayd / he that hath fayd hit / is no
more mayfter of hit / And for this caufe the ftroke
of a tongue is Incurable and withoute guaryfon
OF AT I AX.
233
<. Z\)t itiij fable fa of tfjc four orcn
En oughte not to broke bis feythe
. nlte his good Frend / ne to
Leue his felaufhip / as liit appiereth
by this tabic / ot" tour oxen whiche
to gyder were in a fair medowe/
C \:ul by caufe that euer they were and kepte
them to gyder I none other beefl durfte not aflaylle
them/ and alio the lyon dradde them moche
the whiche lyon on a daye came to them / A:, !
by his deceyuable wordes thoughte tor to begyle
them/ &: to rauflhe fie take them the better/
maade them to be lepared eche one fro other/'
ClAiul whanne they were fepered/ the lyon
wente/ ami toke one of them / Ami whan the
lyon wold banc ltranglcd hym / the oxe lavd to
hvm/ godlep/ He is a foole whiche byleueth
falsand deceyuable wordes Andleueth the felaw-
lliip of his good frende / For yf we had ben euer
to gyder/ thow baddeft not taken me/ And
thertore he whiche is/ and ftandetb wel lure/
Ottght to kepe hym loo that he falle not / Fi r
to whiche i-> wel/ meue not hvm kit'
234
THE FABLES
C Ei)t ib fable is of the bttfflje/ arib of the
aubuer tree
One for his beaute ought not to
defpreyfe fome other/ For fom-
tyme iuche one is fayre that
foone wexeth lothely and fowle /
and to hyghe falleth vnto lowe /
as it apperyth by this fable / Of a fayr tree
whiche mocqued and fcorned a lytyl bufihe/
and fayd / C Seeft thow not/ my fayre fourme
and my fayre fygure / And that of me men
and byldeth fayre edefyces as palays and caftellis /
galeyes & other fhippes for to faylle on the fee /
And as he auaunced & preyfed hym felf thus /
came there a labourer with his axe for to hewe
and fmyte hym to the ground / And as the
labourer fmote vpon the fayre tree/ the bufihe
fayd / Certaynly my broder yf now thow were
as lytel / as I am / men mold not hewe ne fmyte
the doune to the erthe/ And therfore none
oughte to reioyfihe hym felf of his worlhip/
For fuche is now in grete honour and worihip /
that herafter fhalle falle in to grete vytupere
lhame and difhonour
OF ALIAS.
235
C Che ifaj fable 13 of the f 9 {flier/ antj o{ the
Irjtul fnffnc
En ought not to leue that thynge
whiche is lure & certayne/ for
hope to haue the vncertayn / as
to vs reherceth this table of a
tvlllur whiche with his lyne toke
a lytyll ty lilie whiche layd to hym/ My frend I
pray the/ doo to me none euylle/ ne putte
me not to dethe / For now I am nought/ tor
to be eten / but whanne I lhalle be grete/ yf
thow come ageyne hyther/ of me (halt thow
mowe haue grete aaaylle/ For thenne I fhalle
goo with the good whyle/ And the Fyflher
tayd to the fyflhe . Syn I hold the now/ thou
(halt cot (cape fro me/ For grete foly hit were
to me for to feke the lure another tyme i For
men ought not to lete goo that/ of what they
be Cure of/ hopyngc to haue afterwards that
that they haue not and whiche is vnceriayne.
236
THE FABLES
C Wqz i&tj fable is of phdms / of tfje "Uttatgctous /
ano of the enugous
^jOne oughte to doo harme or dom-
mage to fomme other for to re-
ceyue or doo his owne dommage /
As hit appereth by this fable / Of
Jupiter whiche fent phebus in to
therthe for to haue al the knowlege of the
thou3t of men CThis phebus thenne mette
with two men / of whiche the one was moche
enuyous / And the other ryght couetous / Phebus
demaunded of them what theyr thought was /
We thynke faid they to demaunde and afke of
the grete yeftes/ To the which phebus anfuerd/
Now demaunde that ye wylle/ For all that that
ye fhalle demaunde of me/ I ihalle graunte hit/
And of that/ that the fyrft of yow ihalle afke/
the fecond haue the dowble parte / or as moche
more ageyne/ And thenne the auarycious fayd/
I wyl that my felawe afke what he wyll fyrlt
wherof the enuyous was wel content/ whiche
fayd to Phebus Fayre fyre I praye the that I
maye lefe one of myn eyen / to thende that
my felawe may lefe al bothe his eyen / wherfor
phebus
OF AVIAN. 237
phebus beganne to lawhe whiche departed and
wente ageyne vmo Jupiter/ and told bym the
grete malyce of the enuyous/ whiche was Joye-
ful and glad of the harme and dommage of aa
other/ & how he wai wel content to fuflfre
paync tor to haue adommaged lomme other
2 3 8
THE FABLES
C (Efte xbtij fable is of the tfjcef / attti of the
cfttlo totrije fcoepte
E 5 !^
pn
i
ll
1
1
E is a fole that putteth his good in
jeopardy to lefe it for to gete &
haue fom others good/ as it ap-
pereth by this fable of a theef
whiche fond a child wepynge be-
lyde a welle / of whom the theef dyde afke why
he wepte/ & the child anfwerd to hym I wepe/
by caufe that I haue lete falle within this welle
a loket of gold/ & thenne the theef toke of his
clothes/ & fette them on the ground and wente
doune in to the welle/ And as he was doune
the child toke his gowne & lefte hym within
the welle / And thus for couetyfe to wynne / he
loft his gowne / For fuche fuppofen to wynne
fomtyme whiche lefen/ And therfore none
ought to wyffhe that/ that he hath not/ to
thende that he lefeth not that / that he hath /
For of the thynge wrongfully and euylle goten /
the thyrd heyre ihalle neuer be ppffeffour of hit.
OF AVI AS.
239
< Oc ii'i fable is of the loon ant) of the gate
FT^^T^Sje is wyfe that can kepe hym felf
'. j I I^j from the wyly and fals / as hit
appereth by this fable / Of a lyon /
whiche ones mette with a gote/
whiche was vpon a montayne
And whanne the lyon fa we her/ he fayd to her
in this manere For to gyue to her occacion to
come doune fro the hylic / to thende that he
myght ete her/ My fuller why comefi thow not
byder on this fayre and grene medowe for to ete
of thefe fayre herbea or grafle And the gote
anfuerd to hym/ How be hit/ that thow fayfi
trouthe/ Neuerthelea thow fayft it not/ aeyther
tor my wele ne tor my prouftyte/ but thow fay It
hit/ by caufe that thow woldeft fayne ete and
deuoure me/ but I truth- not in thy fayre fpei
I many tymes I haue herd lave of my i;raut
moder/ be that i-. wel/ meue not hym felf/ For
rhtche is in a place wel fure/ is wel a fole to
1 hit / and to putte hym lilt in gretedaunger
and perylle
240
THE FABLES
C 2Cfte 11 fable toas of the ttaiae toht'rhe irias a
tijurft
Etter is crafte and fubtylyte than
force/ As reherceth to vs this
fable/ Of a crowe whiche vpon
a day came for to drynke oute
of a boket/ and by caufe that the
myght not reche to the water/ me dyd fyll the
boket ful of fmal ftones / in foo moche that the
water came vpward/ wherof me dranke thenne
at her wylle / and playfyre / And therfore hit
appiereth wel / that wytte or fapyence is a moche
fayr vertue For by fapyence or wytte / thow ihalt
mowe refyfte to all faultes /
OF A VIA -V.
Ui
C die iij fable is of tbr bylnrnc nnb: of tfjc
rongc bole/
E wbiche is ot' euvlle and flirewd
kyn*i with grete payne he may
chatty h ym felf/ as it appereth by
ibis fable/ Of a vylayne/ whiche
had a yonge bole/ the whiche he
lit not bynd/ by caufe that cuer he (mote
witli bis homes/ wherfore the vylayne cutl
his homes/ C But yet whan he Wold hane bound
hvm/ the bole called his fate fro h\ in / in Cliche
wyfe that he fuffred noman to come riyghe hvm
And whan the vylayne perceyiu d the malvce of
the bole/ he fayd to hvm/ I lhalle ehaftyfe the
Wei I For I lhalle take the in to the bouchers
han.ii - And tlienne was the bole wel chain i
{ And thus ought men to doo of the euvlle/
( urfvd & rebelles/ whiche doo no thynge but
playe with dees and cardes and to ruffule/ Such
folke ought men to put in to the bandes nt the
li. ocher tor to lede them to the galhows 1 -
betti no man chaltyl'e them/ For with
• payne may he be chatty fed whiche tleeth
alle good wcrkc^ olid alle good telaulhip
242
THE FABLES
C & je xxtj fable is of tije btator or palmer ana
of Satgre
En ought to beware & kepe hym
felf from hym whiche bereth both
fyre and water/ as reherceth to vs
this Fable Of a pylgrim / whiche
fomtyme walked in the wynter/
and wente thurgh a grete foreft/ CAnd by
caufe that the fnowe had couerd al the wayes /
he wift ne knewe not whyther he wente/
ageynfte the whiche came a wodewofe named
Satyre by caufe he fawe hym a cold/ whiche
aproched to the pylgrym and brought hym in
to his pytte / And whan the pylgrym fawe
hym/ he hadde grete drede by caufe that a
wodewofe is a monftre lyke to the man / as hit
appiereth by his fygure / C And as the wode-
wofe or Satyre ledde the pylgrym in to his
pytte/ the pylgrym dyd blowe within hishandes
for to chauffe them / For he was fore cold /
And thenne the wodewofe gaf to hym hote water
to drynke / C And whan the pylgrym wold
haue dronken hit/ he beganne to blowe in hit/
And the wodewofe demaunded of hym / why
he
OF AVIAN. 243
he ilyd blowe in bit/ And the pylgiym feyd to
hym/ I blowe in bit/ for to baue it (bmwhat
more cold than bit is/ The wodewofe thenne
feyd to hym / Thy felaufliip is not good to me/
by caufe that thow berelt bothe the lyre and the
water in thv mouthe I tlu-rtore go hens fro my
pvt and neuer retorne ageyne/ For the felau(hip
of the man whiche hath two tongues is nought/
And the- man wiche is wjrle ought to flee the
tVlauihip of llaterers/ For by flateryng & adu-
1 icion many haue ben begyled and decey/ued
244
THE FABLES
C She uttj fable is of the oxe antf of the rat
||He lordes ought to loue theyr fub-
gettis / For he whiche is hated of
his tenaunts and fubgets / is not
lord of his land/ as hit appereth
by this Fable / Of an oxe / whiche
fomtyme was within a liable / and as the oxe
on a tyme wold haue llepte fayne / a rat came /
whiche bote the oxe by the thyes / And as the
oxe wold haue fmyten hym / he ran awaye into
his hole / And thenne the oxe beganne to men-
ace the rat / And the ratte fayd to hym / I am
not aferd of the And yf thow arte grete / thy
parentes ben caufe therof and not thy felf / And
therfore the ftronge ought not to defpeyfe the
feble/ but ought to loue hym as the chyef or
hede ought to loue his lymmes/ For he that
loueth not/ oughte not to be loued/ And ther-
fore the lord mull loue his fubgettys / yf of them
he wylle be loued
OF AVIAN.
-45
i Z\\z xxftij fable is of thr goos ana of hrr lovtj
E that ouer ladeth hym felf/ is
euylle ftrayned/ As this fable
fayeth / of a man / whiche had
a goos / that leyd euery day an
^e of gold/ The man of
auaryce or couetoulb.es commannded and bad
to her/ tint euery daye (he lhold leye two
egges / And (he (ayd to hym/ Certaynly/ my
mayfter I maye not ' wherfore the man was
wrothe with her/ and flewe her/ wherfore he
lofl that lame grete good/ of the whiche dede
he was moche (browful and wrothe/ how be
it that it was not tyme to fliette the ftable
whan the horfes ben lotfe / & gone/ And he
is not wyfe whiche does fuch a thynge/ wheroi
he Qialle repente hym after ward/ ne bealfo/
whiche doth his owne dommage for to anenge
hym felf on fomme other i For by caufe that
fuppofeth to wvnne al / he lefeth all that
he hath.
246
THE FABLES
C 2Tfjc lib fable is of the ape ant) of Ijts too
cfjiloren
E that fomtyme men defpreyfen /
may wel helpe fomme other/ as
hit appereth by this Fable of an
Ape/ whiche had two children/
of the whiche he hated the one /
& loued the other / whiche he toke in his armes /
and with hym fled before the dogges/ And
whanne the other fawe/ that his moder lefte
hym behynde/ he ranne and lepte on her back/
And by caufe that the lytyl ape whiche the me
ape held in her armes empeched her to flee /
fhe lete hit falle to the erthe/ And the other
whiche the moder hated held fall and was
faued / the whiche from thens forthon kyifed
and embraced his moder/ And And fhe thenne
beganne to loue hym wherfore many tymes
it happeth / that that thynge whiche is def-
preyfed / is better than that thynge whiche is
loued and preyfed / For fomtyme the children
whiche ben preyfed and loued / done lalTe good
than they whiche ben defpreyfed and hated
OF A VIA .V.
=47
< Or utj jFnblc is of the founo ant) of
thtrtljm pot
^aAJjg
<•
I
1- •
,
i' that ouer mochc enhaunceth hym
felf/ (boner than he wold/ be
falleth doune/ as hit appereth by
this table/ Of an erthen pot
maker whiche made a grete pot
of erthe/ the whiche he dyd fette in the fonne
caufe that more furely hit (hold haue ben
dryed/ Ageynfte the whiche came and blewe a
grete wynd/ And whanne tin wynd l'aue the
potte he demaunded ot' hym / who arte thow/
And the pot anfuerd to hym/ I am a potte the
lut't made that men can fynde/ & none may
lie empeche me/ And how feyd the
wynde / thow art yet al lofte / and halt neyther
vcrtue ne none force/ and by caufe I knowe wel
thy ouer pryde / I lhall breke the/ and putle
the in to pyeces/ to thende/ that thow of thy
grete pryde mavft haue knowlege/ Andtherfore
the feble ought to meke and humble hym fell
and obeye to his lord/ and not to enhauce hym
more than he ought/ to thende/ he falleth not
from liyhe to lowe
248 THE FABLES OF AVIAN.
C (Eht nfatj fable i& of the irjulf ano at the lambe
jjf two euyls men ought euer to
efchewe and flee the worft of
bothe/ yf ony of them may be
efchewed / as hit appiereth by
this fable/ of a wulf/ whiche
ranne after a lambe/ the whiche lambe fled
into the hows where as gotes were / And whan
the wulf fawe that he myght in no wyfe take
the lambe/ he fayd to hym by fwete wordes/
Leue thy felaulhip / and come with me into the
feldes / for yf thow come not / thow ihalt be
take by them / and fhalt be facryfyed to theyre
goddes / And the lamb anfuered to the wulf/
I haue leuer to ihede al my blood for the loue
of the goddes / and to be facryfyed / than to be
eten and deuoured of the/ And therfore he is
ful of wyfedome and of prudence / who of two
grete euyls may and can efcape the gretteft of
bothe /
C P?ere fgngffijm the fables of &uian / &nD
after follotocn the fables of &lfonce
THE FABLES 01- ALFONi
C Che forft fable tt&fcftij mention of tfitifiorta--
cion of faprjencr. or toofrtoomc arte of louc
iRabe of Lucanye fayd to his lone in
this maner/ My (one beware &
loke that the formyce be ool
more prudent or wyfer / than
thy il- It '/ tin- whiche gadreth &
afiembleth to gyder in the fomer all that to
her aedeth to haue in the wynter/ and beware-
that thow Qepe no lenger/ than the Cocke
doth the whiche watcheth and waketh atte matyns
tvnic/ and that he be not wyfer and more fage
than thy felf/ the whiche rewleth and gouerneth
wel ix hennes/ but hit furlyfeth wel/ that thow
rewle and gouerne one wel/ And alio that the
je be not more noble than thy felf / the
whiche forgeteth neuer the good whiche is done
to hym / but eucr he remembiyth it / t Item my
fhppofe it not a lytyll thynge to bane a good
Frend but doubte not to haue a thowtand trended /
i And whanne A rabe wold deye / hedemaui.
nt" hia Cone J My (one how many good frendea
bast thow / And hia fonc anfwerd t<» hym My
fader 1 bane u I fuppofe an honderd rrerj
And
250 THE FABLES
And the fader anfuerd to hym / beware and loke
wel that thow iuppole none to be thy frendes
withoute that thow haft aflayed & proued hym/
For I haue lyued lenger than thy felf hafte/
& vnnethe I haue gete half a frend / wherfore
I meruaylle moche how thow haft geten fo
many frendes / And thenne the fone feynge the
admyracion or wonder of his fader / demaunded
of hym / My fader . I praye yow that ye wylle
gyue to me counceil how I fhalle mowe preue
and effaye my frend / And his fader fayd to hym
/ goo thou and kylle a calf / and putte it in a fak
al blody / and bere hit to thy fyrft frend / and
faye to hym that hit is a man whiche thou haft
flayne / And that for the loue of whiche he
loueth the / that he wylle kepe thy myfdede
fecretely and burye hit / to thende that he may
faue the / the which counceylle his fone dyd / to
whorae his frend fayd / retorne ageyne to thy
hows / For yf thow haft done euylle / I wylle
not bere the payne for the / For within my hows
thow {halt not entre / And thus one after other
he aflayed alle his frendes / and euery of them
made to hym fuche an anfuere as the fyrft dyd /
wherof gretely he was abaflhed / And thenne
he retorned ageyn to his fader / and told hym /
how he had done / And his fader anfuerd to
hym / Many one ben frendes of wordes only /
but
OF ALFONCE. 25 r
but fewe ben in fayth or dede / but I (halle telle
to the what thow (halt doo / Goo thou lo my
half frende / and bere to hym thy calf / and
thow (halt here and fee what he (halle faye to
the / And whanne the lone came to the half
frende of hia fader / he fayd to hym as he dyd
to the other J And whanne the half frende vn-
derftode hia fayt or dede / he anone toke hym
fecretely in to his hows / and ledde hym in to
a lure and obicure place / where he dyd burye
his dede calf / wherot" the lone knewe the trout he
of the half frendea loue / Thenne the lone of
Arabe torned ageyne toward his fader / and told
to hym all that his half frende had done to
hym / And thenne the tader fayd to his fone /
that the philofopher faith that the very and
trewe trend is fond in the xtreme nede / Thenne
alked the fone of his fader / faweft thou neuer
man whiche in his lyf gate a hole trend / &
his fader laid to hym / I (awe neuer none / but
wel haue I herd it fay / And the fone anfuered /
My fader I praye the that thow wyli reherce hit
to me / to thende / that by aduenture I mave
gete fuche one/ And the tader fayd to hym/
My fone/ lorn tyme haue I herd of two mar-
channta whiche neuer had fene eche other/ tlu-
one was of Egypte / and the other waa of Baldak
but they had knowleche eche of other by theyr
lettrea /
2 5 2 THE FABLES
lettres / whiche they fente and wrote frendly one
to the other/ hit befelle thenne that the mer-
chaunt of Baldak came in to egypte for to chepe
& bye fomrae ware or marchaundyfe / wherof
his frend was moche gladde / and wente to mete
hym and brought him benyngly in to his hows /
And after that he had chered and feftyed hym
by the fpace of xiiij dayes / the fame marchaunt
of baldak wexed and became feke/ wherof his
frend was sorowfull and ful heuy/ and Incon-
tynent fente for phifycyens or leches thurugh
alle egypte for to recouere his helthe / And whan
the medecyns had fene and vyfyted hym / and
his vryne alfo/ they fayd that he had no bodyly
fekeness/ but that he was rauyffhed by loue/ And
whan his Frend herd thefe wordes / he came
to hym / and fayd / My frende I pray the / that
thou wilt fhewe and telle to me thy sekenes/
And his frend faid to hym I praye the / that thow
wylt make to come hyder alle the wymmen
and maydens whiche ben in thy hows/ for to
fee / yf fhe whiche my herte defyreth is emonge
them / And anone his Frend made to come be-
fore hym bothe his owne doughters & feruants
Emonge the whiche was a yonge mayde / whiche
he had nouryffhed for his playiyre/ And whan
the pacyent or feke man fawe her/ he fayd to
his frend / the fame is fhe whiche maye be caufe
of
OF ALFOSCE.
3J>
of my lyf or my deth/ the whiche his trend gaf
to hym tor to be his wyf with alle fuche goodes
as he had of her/ the whiche he wedded/ and
retorned with her in to baldak with grete Jove/
but within a whyle alter it happed and fortuned
To that this marehaunt of egvpte fylle in pouerte/
and tor to haue foinme confolacion and comforte
he tooke his way toward baldak/ and fuppi
to goo ami lee his trend/ Ami aboute one euen
he airyued to the Cyte/ And for as moche that
he was not well arayed ne clothed/ he had
lli line by daye Iy;,t to go in to the hows of his
Fiend/ but wente and lodged hym withynne a
Temple oyghe to a Frendea b
C It. happed tbenne that on that lame nyght
that he laye there a man Gewe another man
before the yate or entre of the fayd Temple/
whertore the neyghbours were lore troubled/
And thenne all the peple moeued therof came
in to the Temple/ wherin they fond no b
fauf only thegypcyen / the whiche they toke /
and lyke a murderer Interroged hym why he
had llayne that man whiche lay dede before the
portal] or gate of the temple / He thenne fi
Infortune and pouerte/ COnfefled/ that he
h id kylled hym/ For by caofeofhis euyll fortune
he wold rather ileye than lvue oiiy more wher-
tore he WU had before the Juge/ and was
dempned
2 5 4 THE FABLES
dempned to be hanged / And whan men ledde
hym toward the galhows/ his frend fawe and
knewehym/ and beganne to wepe fore/ reraem-
bryng the bienf'ayttes whiche he had done to
hym / wherfore he went to the Juftyce and fayd /
My lordes this man dyd not the homycyde / For
hit was my felf that dyd hit / And therfore ye
iholddogrete fynneyfye dyd put this Innocent and
gyltles to dethe/ And anone he was take for be
had vnto the galhows / And thenne the Egypcyen
fayd/ My lordes/ he dyd hit not/ And therfore
euylle fhold ye doo to put him to dethe/ And as
the two frendes wold haue been hanged eche
one for other / he whiche had done the homycyde
came and knewe and confeffyd there his fynne /
and adrefled hym felf before the Juftyce and
fayd / My lordes / none of them bothe hath done
the dede / And therfore punyflhe not ye thefe
Innocents / For I allone ought to bere the payne/
whereof all the Juftyfe was gretely meruaylled/
And for the doubte whiche therin was grete/ the
Juftyce toke them al thre / & ledde them before
the kyng And when they had reherced to the
kynge all the maner/ after enqueft theupon
made/ and he knewe the very trouthe of hit/
graunted his grace to the murderer / and fo alle
thre were delyuerd / And the frend brought his
frend in to hys hows/ and receyued hym Joyoufly/
and
OF ALVOSCE.
-33
and after he gal" to hym bothe gold and lyluer/
And the egypcyen torned ageyne in to bis hows
And whan the fader had fayd and reheroed all
this to his (one ' hia tone feyd to hym/ My fader
I knowe now wed that he whiche may gete a
good frende is wel happy/ And with grcte labour
as 1 fuppofe I dial gete fuche one.
256
THE FABLES
C Qfyt Utovto fable is of the commgfGon of penmo
or rnonco
Spaynard arryued fomtyme in to
the lande of egipte and by caufe
that he doubted to be robbed
within the defertys of Arabe / he
purpoied and bethought in hym
felf that it were wyfely done to take his money
to fomme trewe man for to kepe hit vnto his re-
torne ageyne / And by caufe that he herd fomme
faye / that within the Cyte was a trewe man / he
anone wente to hym / and toke to hym his fyluer /
for to kepe hit/ And whan he had done his
vyage he came ageyne to hym / and demaunded
of hym his fyluer / whiche anfuerd to hym in this
manere / My frend / I ne wote who thow arte /
for I fawe the neuer that I wote of/ And yt
thou fayeft or fpekeft ony more wordes/ I fhalle
make the to be wel bete/ Thenne was the
fpaynard forowful and wroth/ and therof he
wold haue made a playnte to his neyghbours/
as he dyde/ & the neyghbours fayd to hym/
Certaynly/ we be wel abalihed of that/ that
ye telle to vs / for he is emonge vs alle reputed
and
OF ALFOSCF. 257
and holdm for a good man and trc.vc ' \ !
therfore retorne ageyne to hym and by i
wordes telle hym that he wyl rendre to the thy
good ageyne/ the whiche thynge he dyd / and
the old man anfuerd to hym more (harpely and
wonderly than he had done before/ wherof the
fpaynard was wonderly wrotlie/ And as he de-
parted i the old mans hows/ he mette with
an old woman the whiche demaunded of hym /
wherfore he was foo troubled and beuy/ And
alter that he had told to her the raule why/
thold woman fayd to hym ! make good chere '
For ji hit is fo as thow l'aylt / 1 lhalle councevlle
the how thou (halt recouere thy fyluer/
thenne he demafuled of her/ how hit myght be
done/ And (he fayd to hym bryng hyther to me
a man of thy country whome thow truftelt / and
doo to be made four fayre cheftes / and fylle
them alle with ftones / and by thy telawes thow
(halt make them to be borne/ in to his h<
and to hym they lhalle fay ' that the marci
of fpayne fend them to hym tor to kepe fun
And whan the cheftes lhalle be within his hi
thow (halt go and demade of hym thy fvluer/
he thynge he dyd ' And as the fayd ch< r i
were borne within his hows/ the fpayi
nth them/ that liare them the whiche
ftraungen (ayd to the old m.i My lord/ thele
f( ur
I
258 THE FABLES
four cheftes ben al ful of gold / of fyluer and of
precious ftones / whiche we brynge to yow / as to
the treweft man and feythful that we knowe for
to kepe them furely by caufe that we fere and
doubte the theues/ whiche ben within the defert/
After the whiche wordes fayd / came he / whiche
the old woman had counceylled / and demaunded
of hym his fyluer And by that caufe the old man
doubted / that the fpanynard wold haue def-
preyfed hym / he fayd thus to hym / Thow arte
Welcome / I merueylled how thow taryeft foo
longe for to come / And Incontynent he reftored
to hym his fyluer/ And thus by the counceylle
of the woman whiche he gretely thanked / he
had his good ageyn / and retourned ageyne in to
his countrey /
OF ALFOXCE. 259
€ Or tfjrrtj fable fprkrtb of a fubtolr £nunr
rton of a fentrnce gmun upon a ticinr ano
obfeuvf caufr.
i
[1 btfelle fomtyme that a good man
ih!J labourer wente fro 1 vf to deth /
the whiche labourer lefte nothvng
to bis lone / but only a hows /
the whiche fone lyued by the
laboure ot" his handes pourely / This yong man
had a luvirhbour whiche was made rvche
whiche demauded ot' the l'ayd yong man yf he
wold felle his hows / but he wold not Telle it /
lufe that it was come to hym by inherytauce
and by patrymony wherfore the ryche man his
neygbour conuerlyd & was fuJ oft with hym tor
to deceyue hym / but the yong man fled his
company as moche as he myght / & whan the
ryche man perceyued that the yong man fled
from hym / he bethougt hym felf o( a grete
Si falfhede & demauded of the p are
yong man that he wold byre to hym a parte of
his bows for to delne & make a celer / the wh
he (hold bold of hym payeng to hym yerely rent /
cV the poure yong man hyred it to hym / .v whan
the
260 THE FABLES
the celerwas made/ theryche man did do bryng
therin x tones of oylle of the which the v were
ful of of oylle / & the the other v were but half
full / & dyd do make a grete pytte in the erthe /
& dyd do put the fyue tonnes whiche were half
ful in hit / & the other fyue aboue them / And
thenne he lhytte the dore of the celer / and de-
lyuerd the keye to the poure yonge man/ and
prayd hym frawdelently to kepe wel his oylle/
but the poure yonge man knewe not the malyce
and fallbede of his neyghboure/ wherfore he
was contente to kepe the keye / And within a
whyle after as the oylle became dere/ the ryche
came to the poure / and afked hym his good / and
the yong man toke to hym the keye/ this Ryche
man thenne fold his oylle to the marchaunts/
and waraunted eche tonne al ful / And when the
marchaunts mefured theyr oylle/ they fond but
fyue of the x tonnes full/ wherof the ryche man
demaunded of the pcure yonge man reftitu-
cion / and for to haue his hows he maade hym to
come before the Juge / C And whanne the poure
man was before the Juge / he demaunded terme
and fpace for to anfwere / For hym thought and
femed that he had kepte well his oylle / and the
Juge gaf and grauted to hym day of aduys/ &
thene he went to a philofophre which was pro-
curator of the poure peple/ & prayd hym for
charyte /
OF ALFOKCE.
chaiyte thai he wold gyue to hym good coflceylle
of his grete nede cV- he reherced and told to bj ra
al bis caufe .\ fwore rpon the holy euangely thai
be toke none of the rv.hr mans oylle/ And
thenne tbe philofopher anfuerd to hym in this
manere Myfone bauenofei I rthetrouthe
maynot faylle And the next morowe after
philofopher wente with the poure man in to
ment the whiche philofopher was confti-
tued by the kynge for to gyue the Jufl fentence
of liit And after thai the caufe had Ik- wel
defended and pleted by bothe partyes/ the
philofbpbre l.iyd the lame ryche man is of good
renommee and I fuppofe not that he demaui
more than he llumld haue/ And alio I byleue
not thai this poure may be maculed ne gylty of
the blame which he putteth on hym/ but not-
withftondynge for to knowe the trouthe of hit/ I
ordeyne and gyue (entence/ thai the oylle pure
and clene ot" the v tonne-, whiche are tul to be
mt lured and alio the lye therot" And alter that
the pure and clene oylle of the fvue which been
but half tul to be alio meafured and with the lye
thereof and that men loke yf the lye of the I
I ' halt fill is egal and lyke to the lye of the
1 lines whiche ben tulle / And yf hit be
not 100 that as mocbe lye be fond within the
Veflels whiche ben but half full a-, in the other
he
262 THE FABLES
he flialle thenne be fuflyfauntly & ryghteoyfly
proued/that none oyle hath be taken oute of
them / but yf ther be fond as moche lye in the
one as in the other/ the poure ihall be con-
dempned/ and of this fentence the poure was
contente/ & the trouthe was knowen/ wherfore
the poure man went quyte/ and the ryche was
condempned/ For his grete malyce and falflieed
was knowen and manyfefted/ For there is no
fynne or myfdede done / but that ones it flialle be
knowen and manyfefted.
YC£.
263
C vThr fourthc fable tiokctl) mrnrion of Ifjc fetts
truce gotten up 1 1) c prcunu or moncu tohicrjc
to as fountt.
Ryche man fomtyme wente by a
1 e And as he walked fro one
to that other fylle fro hym
a grete purfe/ wherin were a
thoufand Crownes the whiche a
ire man fond ' and toke them for to kep
his wyf wherof fhe was fol gladde and fayd/
thanked be rod of al the goodes whiche he
fendeth to vs yf he fendeth now this grete
fomine kepe we hit wel And on the next morne
: ilowyng/ the Ryche man made to be
cryed thurgh the cyte/ that who fomeuer had
fond a thowfand Crownes in a purfe he (hold
tue m 1 brynge them to hym ageyne and
that he llioUl haue tor his reward an hon
them And after that the poure man bad herd
this crye he ranne Incontynent to ln\ wyf &
fayd to her/ My wyf that that we haue fond
mnit be rendred or yolden ageyne For bit is
better to hane a C crownes withoute fvnne than
a thowfand with fynne & wrongfully And how
be
264 THE FABLES
be hit that the woman wold haue refyfted /
Neuertheles in thende fhe was content / And thus
the poure man reftored the thowfand crownes to
the Ryche / and demaunded of hym the honderd
crownes / And the ryche full of frawde or falf-
hede fayd to the poure/ thow rendreft not to
me al my gold/ whiche thow fondeft/ For of
hit I lack four honderd pyeces of gold And
whanne thow ihalt rendre and brynge to me
ageyn the fayd four hondred pyeces of gold/
thow ihalt haue of me the C crownes too whiche
I promyfed to the / And thenne the poure anfuerd
to hym / I haue take and brought to the al that
I haue found/ wherfore they fylle in a grete
dytferent or ftryf/ in fo moche that the caufe
came before the kyng / to be decyded and pletyd/
of the whiche the kyng made to be callyd before
hym a grete philofopher whiche was procuratour
of the poures / And whanne the caufe was wel
dilputed/ the philofopher moued with pyte/
called to hym the poure man/ and to hym feyd
in this maner/ Come byther my frend/ by thy
feythe haft thow reftored alle that good whiche
thou fondeft in the purfe / and the poure anfuerd
to hym / ye fyre by my feythe / And thenne the
philofophre fayd before thafliftantes / Syth this
ryche man is trewe and feythfull/ and that hit
is not to byleue/ that he fhould demaunde more
than
OF ALFONCB. 265
than be oughl to '1"" I"- oughl to be byleued
And aa to the other parte men mufte that
this poure man is of good renomme and knowen
tor a trewe man whertore the philofopher i j I
tothekynge Syre I gyue by my fentence/ that
thow take thefe thowfand crownes/ and that an
C thow take of them the whiche honderd thow
lh.ih delyuere to this poure man whiche fond
them And after whan he that hath lofl them
(hall come thou reftore them to bym/ And yt"
it happeth that another perfone fynde the thow-
iand cV lour C crownes/ they thai be rendryd
and taken ageyne to the lame good man whiche
is here prefent whiche lavth that he hath lofl
them/ the whiche fentence was moche agreable
and plefaunt toal the companye/ And when the
ryche man fawe that be was deceyued/ he de-
maunded myierycorde and grace of the k
("avenge in this manere/ Syre this poure man
that hath fond my purfe/ trewely he hath re-
id it to me all that I ou3t to haue but
certaynly I wold haue deceyued hym. whertore
I praye the that thouwylt hauepyteand myfery-
cordeonme Andthennethe kynge bad rayfery-
le on hym And the poure man was weJ
tented and payd . and al the malyce ol the
ryche man was knuwen and man) -idled
:66 THE FABLES
C &ty b fable is of tfje fotfje of the tfjre fdafoes.
Fte it happeth that the euyll whiche
is procured to other cometh to
hym whiche procureth it/ as hit
apperyth by the felawes/ of the
whiche tweyn were burgeys/ &
the thyrd a labourer/ the whiche alfembled them
to gydre for to go to the holy fepulcre/ This
thre felawes made fo grete prouyfyon of flour for
to make theyr pylgremage/ in fuche wyfe/ that
it was all chauffed / and confumed / excepte only
for to make one loef only/ And whan the
Burgeis fa we thende of theyre floure they fayd
to gyder/ yf we fynde not the maner and cau-
tele for to begyle this vylayn / by caufe that he
is a rygt grete gallaunt/ we fhalle deye for hongre/
wherfore we muft fynde the maner and facyone
that we may haue the loot" whiche (hall be maad
of alle oure floor/ And therfore they concluded
to gyder and fayd/ whanne the loof fhalle be putte
within the ouen we fhalle go and lye vs for to
flepe/ and he that fhalle dreme beft/ the loof
fhall
OF ALU OS < 267
Dial] be his/ And by caufe that we bothe ben
fubtyle and wyfe he Qulle not mowe dreme
;i^ wel .1- we lhalle wherof the loof be ours/
wherof alle they thre were wel content nnd al
inne to llepe/
I Bui whanne the labourer or vylayne ki.
and perceyued all theyre fallace/ and (awe that
two felawes were a deep he wente and
drewe the loof oute of the ouen and ete bit/
( \nd alter he feyned to be a Qepe and thene
oneof the burgeys rofevp and fayd. to hys felav
1 banc divined a wonder dreme, For two Angels
baue taken & borne me with grete Joye before
the dyuvn magefte/ And the other burgeys his
felawe awoke and fayd Thy dreme is merueyl-
lous and wonderful] but I fuppofe that the inyn
i> fayrer than thyn i-v For I baue dremed that
two Angels drewe me on hard ground tor to
lede me in to belle/ And after they dyd awake
the vylavne whiche as dredeful layd who is
there/ and they anluerd/ we be thy tel.i
And he fayd to them, how be ye foo foone
limed/ And they anfwerd to bym how
rned we departed not yet fro hens And he
to them by my fey the/ I baue dremed that
the A:. Is had led one of \<>w in to par. hi'.
heiien and the other in to belle wher! I I
fuppofed that ye lhold neuer have COmen
ne
2 63 THE FABLES
ageyne / And therfore I aroos me fro fleep / and
by cauie I was hongry/ I wente and drewe oute
of the ouen the loef and ete hit/ For ofte hit
happeth that he whiche fuppofeth to begyle
fomme other / is hym felf begyled.
OF ALFONCE.
269
C Crjc faj f-.falc is of the labourer anto of tlir
nggfjtgngali
Omtyme there was a labourer
whiche had a gardeyn wel play-
i.iunt and moche delycious/ in to
tin- whiche he ofte wente tor to
take his defporte and playfure/
And "ii a day at euen when he was wery and
had tranaylled fore/ tor to take his recreacion he
entryd in to his gardyn and fette himfelf donne
vndcr a tree/ where as he herd the fonge of a
nyghtyngale / And for the grete plefyre and Joye
whiche he took then;!" he (ought and at the la ll
fond the meanes for to take the nyghtyngale/ to
thende/ that yet gretter joye and playfaunce be
myght haue of hit/ And whan the nyghtyn-
gale was take/ he demaunded of the labourer/
wherfore hall thow take fo grete pavne for to
1 ike me/ For wel thow knowelt that of me
tiiow maylt not haue grete proufiyte / And the
vylayne anfuerd thus to the nyghtyngale For to
Dgeofthe I haue taken the And the
nyghtyngale anfuerd Certaynly in vayne thou
halt payned and laboured/ For/ for no good I
lie
270 THE FABLES
wylle fynge whyle that I am in pryfon / And
thenne the labourer or vylayne anfuerd / yf thow
fyngeft not wel/ I fhalle ete the/ And thenne
the nyghtyngale fayd to hym / yf thow putte me
within a potte for to be foden/ lytyl mete flialt
thou thenne make of my body/ and yf thow lettefl
me for to be rolled / leffe mete ihalle be thenne
made of me/ And therfor neyther boylled ne
rofted fhalle not be thy grete bely fylled of me /
but yf thow lete me flee/ hit fhall be to the a
grete good prouflyte / For thre doctrynes I fhall
teche the whiche thow fhalt loue better than
thre fat kyne / and thene the labourer lete the
nyghtyngale flee/ And whan he was oute of his
handes/ and that he was vpon a tree/ he fayd to
the vylayne in this maner/ My Frend I haue
promyfed to the/ that I fhall gyue to the thre
doctrynes/ wherof the fyrfl- is this that thow
byleue no thynge whiche is Impoflyble/ The
fecond is that thow kepe wel that thyn is / And
the thyrd is/ that thow take no forowe of the
thynge loft whiche may not be recouererd / And
foone after the nyghtyngale beganne to fygne/
& in his fonge fayd thus / bleflyd be god / whiche
hath delyuerd me oute of the handes of this
vylayne or chorle / whiche hath not knowen /
fene/ ne touched the precious dyamond whiche
I haue within my bely/ For yf he had foude
hit/
OF ALFONi 271
hit he bad be mo< be ryche/ And fro hi-, bandes
J bad Dot fcaped / And thenne t be \ ylayne whiche
herd this beganne to complayne and to
make grete forowe . and after fayd I am we]
vnhappy/ that haue lofl fo fayre a trefour/
whiche 1 bad wonne and now I baue loft hit/
And the nyghtyngale feyd thenne to the chorle/
\ w knowe I weJ that thow arte a fool /
thow takeft forowe of that wherof thow lholdrit
baue nunc and fone thow halt forgeten my
do&ryne aufe that thow wenefl that within
mybelylhold be a precious ftone more of weyght
than I am And I told and taught to they that
thow {holder! neuer byleue that thynge/ which
is Impofiyble/ And yf that ftone was thyn y why
halt thow loft bit/ And yf thow haft loft hit and
mayft not recouere hit / why takeft thow forowe
tor hit/ And therfore hit is foly to chaftyfe or to
teche a fole/ whiche neuer byleueth the lernynge
and do&ryne whi< be 1- gyuen to bym.
272
THE FABLES
C Efje bij fable is of a 3&ttftotucfan antj of a
croink backeti /
Philofopher fayd ones to his fone/
that whan he were falle by fortune
2^!==^Ys] ' n to f° mme dommage or perylle/
ife-^L^i tlie f° oner that he myght he mold
delyuere hym of hit/ to thende/
that afterward he fhold no more be vexed ne
greued of hit / As hit appiereth by this fable of a
rethoryque man or fayr fpeker/ whiche ones
demaunded of a kynge / that of alle them whiche
ihold entre in to the cyte/ hauynge fomme faulte
of . kynde on theyr bodyes / as crouked or coun-
terfayted / he myght haue and take of them at
thentre of the yate a peny / the whiche demaunde
the kynge graunted to hym / and made his lettres
to be fealed and wreton vnder his fygnet/ And
thus he kepte hym ftyll at the yate/ And of
euery lame / fcabbed / & of alle fuche that had
ony counterfaytour on theyr bodyes / he tooke a
peny / C It happed thene on a day that a
croukbacked and counterfayted man wold haue
entryd within the Cyte withoute gyuynge of ony
peny/ and bethought hym felf/ that he fhold
take
OF ALFOSCE.
take and put on hym ;i fayre mantel and thus
arayed came to the yate i And tbenne whan
the porter byheld hym he perceyued that he
was goglyed and (ayd to hym pay me of my
dewte And the goglyed wold paye nought/
wherfore he toke from hym his mantel/ And
thenne he (awe that he was crowkbacked and
in hym thow woldefl not to tore pave a
but now thou fhalte paye tweyne/ (And
whyle that they ftryued to gyder/ the bat and
the bonet felle from his hede to the erthe/ And
the porter whiche fawe his lcabbed hede (ayd to
hym Now lhalt thou paye to me thre pens/
and thenne the porter yet ageyne letted his
handes on hym/ and felte that his body was al
(cabbed And as they were thus wraftlynge to
gyder the crowkbacked fylle to the ground/
and burted hym felt" lore on the legge/ And the
porter (ayd thenne to hym/ Now (halt thow
paye v pens For thy body is al counterfayted
wherfore thow lhalt leue here thy mantele t Aj I
yf thou haddeft payd a peny/ thow haddefl
on thy wave tree and quyte wliertore he i-> wyle
that payeth that/ that he oweth of ryghl to
thende that therof come not to hym gretter
dommage
?74
THE FABLES
C &ty eggftt fable is of tlje totfcgplc/ arrti of
tlje fijeep /
Difcyple was fomtyme/ whiche
toke his playfyre to reherce and
telle many fables / the whiche
prayd to his mayfter/ that he
wold reherce vnto hym a long
fable / To whome the mayfter anfuerd / kepe and
beware wel that hit happe not to vs/ as it happed
to a kyng and to his fabulatour And the difcyple
anfuerd/ My mayfter I pray the to telle to me
how it befelle/ And thenne the mayfter fayd to
his defcyple/ C Somtyme was a kynge whiche
hadde a fabulatour/ the whiche reherced to
hym at euery tyme / that he wold fleep fyue
fables for to reioyffhe the kynge / and for to
make hym falle in to a flepe / It befelle thenne
on a daye / that the kynge was moche forowful
and fo heuy/ that he coude in no wyfe falle a
flepe / And after that the fayd fabulatour had
told and reherced his fyue fables / the kynge
defyred to here more/ And thenne the fayd
fabulatour recyted vnto hym thre fables wel
fhorte/ And the kynge thenne fayd to hym/ I
wold
OF ALFONCB.
wold fayne here one wel longe And thenne
(halle I leue wel the ilepe The fabulatour
thenne reherced vnto bym fuche a fable ( >f i
ryche man whiche wente to the market <>r feyre
tor to bye (heepy the which man bought a
thowfand (heep And as he was retornynge fro
the feyre he cam vnto a Kyuer/ and by cauie
of the grete waiues <>t' the water he coude not
pafle oner the brydge Neuertheles he wente
Coo longe to and firo on the Ryuage of the fayd
RyiK-r that at the I ail he fonde a narowe way/
vpon the whiche myght pafle leant ynough thre
(heep attones/ And tints he palled and hail them
oner one after another/ And hyderto reherced
of this table/ the fabulatour telle on flepe Aj
anon after the kynge awoke the fabulatour
favd to hym in this manere/ I pray the that
tho\v wylt make an ende of thy fable ' And the
fabulatour anfuerd to hym in this manere Syre
this Ryuer is ryght grete/ and the (hip i-. Ivtyl /
wherfore late the mar/haunt doo pal's oner his
(heep ' And after I (halle make an ende of my
table And thenne was the kynge wel appealed
and pacyfyed/ C And therfore be thow content
of that I bane reherced vnto the For there is
folke fuperftycious or capaxe ' that they maj not
be contented with fewe wordea
276
THE FABLES
C £he ti fable is of tlje toulf / of the labourer/
of tijc foie / & of the chcfe
Omtyme was a labourer wgiche vn-
nethe myght gouerne and lede his
oxen by caufe that they fmote with
theyr feet/ wherfore the labourer
fayd to them/ I pray to god that
the waif may ete yow/ the whiche wordes the
wulf herd/ wherfore he hyd hym felf nyghe
them vnto the nyght/ And thenne came for to
ete them / C And whanne the nyght was come /
the labourer vnbonde his oxen/ and lete them
goo to his hows / C And thenne whanne the
wulf fawe them comynge homeward / he fayd /
thow labourer many tymes on this day thow
dydeft gyue to me thyn oxen / and therfore hold
thy promefle to me / C And the labourer fayd
to the wulf/ I promyfed to the nought at al/ in
the prefence of whome I am oblyged or bound /
1 fwore not neyther to paye the/ and the wulf
aniuerd/ I lhalle not leue the goo/ withoute
that thow hold to me that/ that thow promyfeft
and gaueft to me/ C And as they had foo grete
ftryf and defcencion to gyder/ they remytted
the
OF ALFONCB. z :7
the cauie to be difcuted or pleted before the
Juge/ And as they were fechynge a Juge th
mette with the foxe to whome they recount 1
or toM alle theyr dj fierent and ftryf C Thenne
(ayd the Foxe vnto them ' I (halle accorde yow
bothe wel and I (halle gyue on your cauie or
plee a good (entence Bui I mufl (peke with
eche one of yow bothe a part or allone/ And
they were content/ C And the Foxe wente and
told to the labourer/ thow (halt gyue to me a
good hemic And another to my wyf / And I
(halle hit loo make/ that thow with alle thyn
oxen (halt firely goo vnto thy hows i wherof the
labourer was wel content C And after the
.<• wente and (ayd to the wulf/ I haue wel
laboured and wrought tor the/ For the labourer
(hall gyue to the therfore a grete chefe/ and lete
hym goo home wyth his oxen/ And the wulf
« a wel content/
C And alter the Foxe (ayd to the wulf/ come
thow wyth mc/ and I (halle lede the/ where
as the chefe is/ C And thenne he ledde hym
to and fro/ here and there vnto the tyme thai
the mone lliyned fill bryghtly And that they
came to a welle/ vpon the whiche the Foxe
and Iheued to the wulf the (hadowe of the
mone/ whiche reluced in the wel! \ :' ! to
hym loke now godfep i bora that chefe is faj
lAj< MCL
278 THE FABLES
grete and brodc / hye the now and goo doune
& after take that chefe/ C And the wulf fayd
to the Foxe/ thow muft be the fyrfte of vs
bothe/ that fhalle goo doune/ And yf thow
mayft not brynge hit with the / by caufe of his
greteneffe/ I fhalle thenne goo doune for to
helpe the/ And the Foxe was content/ by caufe
two bokettys were there / of whiche as the one
came vpward/ the other wente dounward/ and
the foxe entryd in to one of the fame bokettis /
and wente doune in to the Welle/ And whanne
he was doune / he fayd to the wulf/ godfep come
hyther and helpe me/ For the chefe is fo moche
and foo grete that I maye not bere hit vp/ and
thenne the wulf was aferd of that the Foxe ihold
ete hit/ entryd wythynne the other boket/ and
as fafte as he wente dounward / the Foxe came
vpward/ and whan the wulf fawe the Foxe
comynge vpward / he fayd to hym / My godfep
ye goo hens / thow fayft trewe fayd the Fox /
For thus hit is of the world/ For when one
cometh doune/ the other goth vpward/ and thus
the foxe wente awey/ and lefte the wulf within
the welle / And thus the wulf loft bothe the oxen
and the chefe/ wherfore hit is not good to leue that
whiche is fure and certayne/ For to take that
w hiche is vncertayne/ For many one ben therof
deceyued by the faliheed and decepcion of the
Aduocate and of the Juges
OF ALFOXCE.
C JTlir x fable is of the hufbont) ant) of the
motier & of hus uigf
Omtyme was a merchaunt whicbe
maryed hym to a yonge woman
the whiche bad yet her moder on
hue/ It happed that this Mar-
chaunt wold ones haue gone fom-
where in to ferre country tor to by fome ware or
marchaundyfe / And as he was hebetoke
bis wyf to her moder tor to kepe and rewle
her honeltly tyll he come ageyne/ C His wyf
thenne . by the owne confentynge and wylle ol
her moder enamoured her felf of a ryght gen-
tvl tavre and yong man whiche fourny tilled to
thappoyntement / And ones as they thre made
good chere the hulbond came ageyne fro the
feyre and knocked at the dore of the how 3
wherfore they were wel abaflhed/ Thenne fayd
the old moder thus to them h ine no fere but
doo aa I ihalle telle to yow/ and care yow m t
And thenne (he layd to the yonge man bold
this l'werd and goo thow to the yate / and be-
ware thy felf that thow laye DO word to h\ in
but lete me doo/ And as the bufbond wold baue
entyrd
2 8o THE FABLES
entryd his hows/ and that he fawe the yong
man holdynge a naked fwerd in his handes / he
was gretely aferd/ And thenne the old woman
iayd to hym / My lone thow arte ryght welcome /
be not aferd of this man/ For thre men ranne
ryght now after hym for to haue llayne hym /
and by auenture he fond the yate open / and this
is the caufe why he came here for to faue his
lyf/ And thenne the hufbond faid to them/ ye
haue done wel / And I can yow grete thanke /
And thus the yonge amerous wente his waye
furely by the fubtylyte of the moder / of his wyf /
to the whiche trufte thy fell" not/ and thow lhalt
doo as fage and wyle
OF ALFOSCE. 28 1
C vThr rj fable is of an oft harloltc or batufcc
Noble man was fomtyme whicbe
bad a wyf mocbe chafte and was
wonder fayr/ This noble man
wold bane go on pylgrimage to
Hume and lefte his w\t at home/
by caufe that he knewe ber tor a chafte and a
I unman (. It bapped on a daye as ihe
wente in to the toun A fayre jronge man was
efpryfed of her loue and took on hym bardynes I
and requyred her of loue and promyfed to ber
manygrete yeftes/ But lhe whiche was good had
leuer deye than to confenteher therto/ wherfore
the yonge man deyde almoofie for forowe/ to
the whiche felawe came an old woman ' whiche
demannded of hym the caufe of bis fekenefle /
And the yonge man manyt'elted or defcouered
vnto beralle bis courage and berte afkynge lielp
and counceylle of her/ And the old woman
wyly and malycioua feyd to hym/ Be thow
gladdeand Joyous and take good courage For
wel I (halle doo/ and brynge aboute thy I
in Coo moche thow (halt haue thy wyll fulfylled /
And after thys the old bawde wente to her h<
and
282 THE FABLES
and maade a lytyl catte which fhe hadde at
liunime to fafte thre dayes one after another/
And after fhe took fomme breed with a grete
dele or quantite of moftard vpon hit/ and gaf hit
to thys yonge Catte for to ete hit/ ft And
whanne the Catte fmelled hit /fhe beganne to
wepe and crye / ft And the old woman or
Bawde wente vnto the hows of the fayd yonge
woman/ and bare her lytyl Catte with her/ the
whiche yonge and good woman receyued and
welcomed her moch honeftly/ by caufe that alle
the world held her for a holy woman / ft And
as they were talkynge to gyder / the yong woman
hadde pyte of the catte whiche wepte/ And
demaunded of the old woman / what the cat
eyled / And the old woman fayd to her / Ha a
my fayr doughter & my fayre Frend/ renewe
not my sorowe / And fayinge thefe wordes fhe
beganne to wepe/ and fayd/ My frend for no
good I wyl tell the caufe why my catte wepeth /
And thenn / the yonge woman fayd to her/ My
good Moder I praye yow that ye wyll telle me
the caufe & wherfor your catte wepeth / And
thenne the old woman fayd to her/ My Frend
I wyll wel / yf thow wilt fvvere that thou fhalt
neuer reherce it to no body / to the whiche pro-
meffe the good and trewe yonge woman accorded
her ielf / iuppofyng / that hit had ben all good
and
OF ALFONCB. 2S3
and (ayd I wyll wel And thenne the old
woman layd to her in t hi-, manere My trend
t li i s fame catte whiche thow feefl yonder was
my daughter the whiche was wonder fayre
- and chafte/ whiche a yonge man toned
inu, he and was fo moche efpryfed of her loue/
that by caufe that (he refJufed hym be deyde fi r
her loue y wherfore the goddes hauyng pyti
hym haue torned my daughter in to this catte/
And the yonge woman whiche fuppofed that the
old woman had fayd trout he layd to her in this
manere Alias my tayr moder/ I ne wote what
1 (halle doo For fuche a caas myght wel happe
to me For in this Towne is a yonge man/
whiche deyeth almofi tor the loue of me/ But
tor loue of my hulkand to w home I oughte to
chaftyte I haue not wylle graunte hym
Neuertheles I lliall doo that that thow (halt
counceylle to me/ And thenne the old woman
layd to her My trend haue thow pyte on h\ 111
as foone as thow mayit Too that hit befalle not
to the lyke as it dyd to my donghter/
i 1 tie yonge woman thenne anfwerd to h
and layd , yf he reijuyie me oiiy more I (halle
rde me with hym And yf be requyre m<
more yet (halle I profere me to hym < \:d to
thende ' that I oll'ende not the goddes I (halle
ind accomplyflhe hit as foone as I maye
t The
284 THE FABLES
C The old woman thene took leue of her/ and
wente forthwith to the yong man/ And to hym
ihe reherced and told all thefe tydynges / wherof
hys herte was fylled with Joye/ the whiche
anone wente toward the yonge woman / and
with her he fulfylled his wylle/ C And thus ye
maye knowe the euyls/ whiche ben done by
bawdes and old harlottes/ that wold to god/
that they were al brente
OF ALFUSCF.
:S$
i Z\)z xfj fab'r is of a blunt) man ano of
t)is toof /
Here was fomtyme a hlynd man
whiche bad a fayre wyf/ of the
whiche bewaa moche Jalous/ He
kepte her fo that lhe myght doi
o oowher/ For ewer be bad ber
by the hand/ And after that (he was enamoured
of a gentil felawe, they coude not fynde the
maner ae do place tor to ralfylle theyr wyll but
notwithftandyng the woman whiche was fubtyle
and Ingenyoua counceylled to her frende that he
(hold come in to her hows/ and that he (hold
entre in the gardyn and that there be (hold
clymme vpon a pere tree/ And he did a^ (he
told hym and when they had made theyr enler-
pryfe the woman came ageyne in to the bows
ami fayd to her bufbond My trend I praye yow
that ye wylle go in to our gardyn for to defpofe
lytel whyle there I of the whiche prayer the
blynd man was wel content/ and fayd to bis
wyfy wel my good trend I will we] lete vs
thyd I And as they were viuier the peri' tl
(he fayd to her hufbond^ My frende I praye the
to
286 THE FABLES
to lete me goo vpon the pere tre/ And I fhalle
gader for vs bothe fome fayre peres/ wel my
frend fayd the blynd man / I wylle wel & graut
therto/ And when (he was vpon the tree/ the
yong man begann to fhake the pere tree at
one fyde / and the yonge woman at the other
fyde / And And as the blynd man herd thus hard
fhake the pere tree/ And the noyfe whiche they
made / he fayd to them / Ha a euyelle woman /
how be it that I fee hit not / Neuertheles I fele
and vnderftande hit well/ But I praye to the
goddes / that they vouchefauf to fende me my
fyght ageyne / And as foone as he had made his
prayer Jupiter rendryd to hym his fyght ageyn
C And whanne he fawe that pagent vpon the
pere tree / he fayd to his wyf Ha vnhappy
woman / I fhalle neuer haue no Joye with the /
And by caufe that the yonge woman was redy
in fpeche and malycious/ fhe anfuerd forth with
to her huibond/ My frend thow arte wel be-
holden and bounden to me / For by caufe and
for the loue the goddes haue reftored to the thy
fyght/ wherof I thanke alle the goddes and
godeffes whiche haue enhaunced and herd my
prayer/ For I defyryng moche that thow myght
fee me / celled neuer day ne nyght to pray them /
that theye wold rendre to the thy fyghte/ wher-
fore the goddeffe Venus vyfybly fhewed her felf
to
OF ALFONCE. 2S7
i" me and (ayd/ that vi' I wold (brume play-
lyre to the (ayd yonge man (he (hold reftore to
the thy lyght And thus I am caufe of it And
thenne the good man (ayd to her/ My n
dere wyl & good trriuli- I remercye and thanke
yow gretelyy For ryght ye haue and 1 gretc
wron
288
THE FABLES
G UThc it'ij fable is of tfje STagllcr / of a fcgnge /
anb of his fecuaunts
ESEn ousrht not to doo fome other /
that whiche he wold not that it
were done to hym / As it appiereth
by this preient fable/ of a kynge
whiche had a tayller whiche was
as good a workman of his craft / as ony was at
that tyme in alle the world / the whiche tayller
had with hym many good feruauntes/ wherof
the one was called Medius/ whiche furmounted
alle the other in lhapynge or fewynge / wher-
fore the kyng commaunded to his Ibyward that
the fayd tayllers fhold fare wel/ and haue of the
bell metes and of delycious drynke / C It happed
on a daye that the mayfter Styward gaf to them
ryght good and delycious mete in the whiche
was fome hony / And by caufe that Medius was
not atte that fefte/ the ftyward fayd to the other/
that they fhold kepe for hym forame of their
mete / And thenne the mayfter tayller anfuerd /
he muft none haue / For yf he were here / he
fhold
OF ALFOXCE. 289
(hold not ete of hit/ For he ete aeuer do bony
And .i> they had done/ Medina came / and de-
maunded of his felawea/ why kepte you not
parti- of this mete tor me/ And the ftyward
anfuerd and fayd to hym / By caufe that thy
mayfier layd to me that thou- ete aeuer do
bony do parte <»t" t he mete was kepte tor the
Medina anfuerd thenne oeuer one word/
but beganne to thynke/ how he myght paye li is
mayfter / And on a day as the ftyward waa allone
with Mediua/ he demaunded of Mediua/ yf he
knewe no man that coude werke as wel aa his
mayfier j And Mediua layd nay/ And that it
grete dommage of a fekenefs that he had/
And the ftyward demaunded what fekenefa liit
was/ And thenne Mediua anfuerd to hym/ My
lord whan he is entryd in to his franfy or
wodenes / there cometh vpon hym a rage/ And
how lhalle I knowe liit layd the ftyward (
taynly my lord fayd Mediua/ whan ye lhall fee
that he lhalle fette at his werke and that he
lhalle loke here and there/ and thai Gnyte vpon
his horde with his tylt / thefie may ye know
that his fekenefTe cometh on hym/ And tlune
withoute ye take and bynde hym and alio 1
hym wel t he (halle doo grete harme and dom-
mage And the ftyward fayd to hym Care doI
therof my trend/ For wel I lhalle hew. ire my
felf
T
2 oo THE FABLES
felf of hym / And on the mornynge next folow-
ynge the ftyward came for to fee the tayllers/
And whan Medius whiche knewe wel the caufe
of his corny nge/ tooke awaye fecretely his
mayfters flieres / and hydde them / And anone
his mayfter beganne for to loke after them / and
fawe and ferched al aboute here and there/ and
beganne to fmyte his fyfte vpon the borde/ And
thenne the mayfter ftyward beganne to loke on
hismaners/ and sodenly made hym to be take
and holde by his feruaunts/ And after made
hym to be bond and wel beten / Thenne was
the mayfter tayller al abaffhed / and demanded
of them / My lordes wherfor doo ye bete me foo
outrageouily/ what orfenfe haue I done/ wher-
fore I mult be bound and thus be bete/ And
thenne the Sty ward fayd to hym in thys maner/
by caufe that Medius told me/ that thow art
frantyk And yf thow be not wel bete/ thow
iholdeft doo grete harme and dommage / And
thene the mayfter came to his feruaunt Medius
and rygorouily fayd to hym / Ha a euyl boye
fylled whan [with] euylle wordes / whan faweft
thow me madde/ And his feruaunt proudely
anfuerd to hym / My mayfter whan dydert thow
fee that I ete no hony/ And therfore I threwe
to the one bole for another/ And the mayfter
ftyward / and alle his feruaunts beganne thenne to
lawhe
OF ALPONCB. 291
lawhe ' and feyd ;il that he hadde wel d(
< \;ul therfore men ought not to doo to ony
other that thynge whiche they wylle not that
men dyd to them /
( likrc rntmi thr fables of Slfotue
< Snti folotncn otljcr fablrs of Porrr the jHorrn*
ton
292 THE FABLES OF
C fthc forft fable is of the fubtglgte of the focmart
for to oecegue ijcr ftufbcmo
SSsa^S He cautele or falfhede of the woman
^jj is wonder merueyllous / as it ap-
piereth by this fable/ Of a mar-
chaut whiche was wedded of newe
vnto a fayre and yong woman /
the whiche marchaunt wente ouer the fee for to
bye & felle / and for to gete fomwhat for to lyue
honeftly / And by caufe that he dwellyd to longe/
his wyf fuppofed that he was dede/ And ther-
fore the enamoured her felf with another man /
whiche dyd to her mykle good/ as for to haue
doo make and bylde vp his hows of newe the
whiche had grete nede of reparacion / and alio he
gaf to her all new utenfyles to kepe houlhold /
And within a long tyme after the departyng of
the marchaunt he came ageyne in to his hows
whiche he fawe newe bylded/ & fawe dyflhes
pottes / pannes / and fuche other houlhold / wher-
fore he demaunded of his wyf how and in what
maner fhe had foiide the facion and the mean
for to haue repayred fo honeftly his hows / And
fhe anfuerd that it was by the grace of god / And
he
POGE THE FLORENTYN. 293
he anfuerd / Blclfyd be god of hit / And when he
was within the chambre/ be fawe the bedde
rychely couerd / & the wallea wel hanged/ and
demaunded of bis wyfhe bad done before/ And
fhe thcnnc anfuerd to hym in lyke maner as (he
dyd before/ And therfore he thanked god as he
had done to tore/ And as he wold fette hym at
his dyuer, there was brought before hym vnto
h - wyf a child of thre yere of age/ or there
aboute, wherfore he demaunded of his wyf/
My trend to whome belongeth this fayre child/
And the anfuerd/ My Frend the holy ghooft of
his grace hath fente hit to me/ Thcne anfuerd
the merchaunt to his wyf in this manere/ I
rendre not graces ne thankes not to the holy
ghooft of this/ For he hath taken to moche
payne and labour for to haue it made up myn
owne werke/ And I wyll that in no maner wvfe
he medle no more therwith / For fuche thynge
belongeth to me for to doo hit / and not to the
holy ghooft.
294 THE FABLES OF
C 2Hje fccoitO fable is of the fooman ano of
the opoccote
He generacion or byrth of the ypo-
cryte is moche dampnable and
euylle/ As it appiereth by this
fable/ and as poge reherceth to
vs whiche fayth/ that fomtyme
he fond hym felf in a good felaufhip / where he
herd a fable/ whiche was there reherced/ Of
the whiche the tenour foloweth/ and feyth the
layd poge/ that of alle the goodes of this world/
the ypocrytes ben poffeffours/ For how be hit/
that an ypocryte haue fomtyme wylle for to
helpe ibmme poure and Indygent/ Neuertheles
he hath a condycyon within hym felf/ that is to
wete / that he ihold rather fee a man at the poynt
of dethe than for to faue his lyf of an halfpeny /
And this prefumpcion is called ypocryfye/ as ye
ihal here herafter by the fable folowyng the
whiche fayth that one beynge in the felaufhip of
Poge reherced / that fomtyme the cuftomme of
alle the poure was that they wente before the
folkes dores withoute fayenge ony word It
happed thenne on that tyme that a poure man
moche
POGE THE FLORBNTYN.
moche faire and of good lyf wente to ferceh
lii> lyf fro one dore to another ( And rpon a
day emonge other he wente and fette hym
vpon a grete ftone before the yate of a wydo*
whiche wydowe was acuftoramed to gyue hym
euer fomwhat/ C And whan the good woman
knewe that be waa at hir dore (he dyd brj
to hym bis porcion as (he was cuftommed tor to
doo And a> (he gaf to hym the mete (he loked
on hym and (eyng hym ii)o fayre/ and wel
made of body/ (he thenne fylled of carnal con-
cupifcence/ and brennynge in the tyre of loue/
requered and Intrant lv prayd hym that be wold
retorne tbyder within thre dayes and promyfed
to him that the (hold gyue to hym a ryght g
dyner/ And the poure man (ayd to her that be
lhold doo (bo and whanne he came ageyne/ he
(ette hym fell as before / atte dore of the wydow es
hows whiche the woman knewe well whanne
he lhold come wherfore (he came to the yate
and (ayd Come within good man For now we
(halle dyne to the whiche prayer the poure
man allentcd & entred within the how, the
whiche wydowe gaf to hym good mete and
good drynke/ And whanne they had wel dyned
the (ayd wydowe preflyd the good man ftrongly
and after fhe kyfled hym/ requyrynge hym/ that
(he might bane the copye of bis loue Ami thSne
the
296 THE FABLES OF
the poure man al afhamed & vergoynous know-
ynge her thoughte and her wylle/ anfuerd thus
to her Certaynly my good lady I dare not/ but
neuertheles he wold fayne haue done hit/ And
the wydowe al embraced with loue befeched and
prayd hym more and more/ And thenne whan
the poure man fa we that he myght not excufe
hym felf / he fayd to the wydowe in this manere /
My frend fyth that thow delyreft it for to doo
foo moche and foo grete an euylle/ I take god
to my wytnes / that thow arte caufer of hit/ For
I am not confentynge to the faytte or dede / but
fayenge thefe wordes he confented to her wylle
C 2Tfjc thrjro fable ts of a rjoruje toomart tohirijE
accufeti her fjufbonti cf coulpe or blame
[Omitted. Cf. Poggio Facetted 45.]
POGE THE FLORENTYN. 297
f. CTijc fourth Cable is oC tfjc rjtmtrmrjc nntJ
fjafokrmge
YV-^\ "•' ' ' l'"l"rrntyn reherceth to vs / how
• be was in a felaufhip where
men fpak of the (uperflue cure of
them whiche gouerne the dogges
and hawkes/ wherof a mylannoys
named Paulus beganne to lawhe/ and lawhyng
requyred of Poge that he wold reherce fomme
table <it" the fayd hawkes/ And for loue of alle
the felaufhip be feyd in thys manere/ Somtyme
was a medecyn whiche was a Mylannoys This
medecyn heled al foles of al maner of foly/ and
how 8c in what manere he dyd hele them/ I
(hall telle hit to you This medycyn or leche had
within his hows a grete gardyn And in the
myddes of hit was a depe and a broile pytte/
whiche was ful of ftynkynge and Infected water/
And within the fame pytte the fayd medycyn
put the files after the quantyte of theyr folyflh-
nes/ fomme vnto the knes and the other vnto
the bely/ And there he bonde them t.ilt 1
pofl but none he putte depper / than TOtO the
ftomack t^r doubte of gretter Inconuenient / It
happed
29S THE FABLES OF
happed thenne that emonge other was one
brought to hym / whiche he putte in to the fayd
water vnto the thyes/ And whan he had be by
the tpace of xv dayes within the fayd water/ he
beganne to be peafyble and gate his wytte ageyne /
And for to haue take fomme difporte and confola-
cion he prayd to hym whiche had the kepynge
of hym that he wold take hym oute of the water /
and promyfed to hym that he ihold not departe
fro the gardyn/ And thenne the kepar that kepte
hym vnbounde hym fro the ftake / and had hym
oute of the water / And whanne he had be
many dayes oute of the pytte / he wente wel vnto
the yate of the gardyn / but he durft not go oute/
lefle that he ihold be put ageyne within the fayd
pytte/ And on a tyme he went aboue vpon the
yate/ and as he loked al aboute/ he fawe a fayr
yong man on a horfbak/ whiche bare a fpere-
hawk on his fyfte / and had with hym two fayre
fpaynels / whereof the fayd fole was al abaiified /
And in dede as by caas of nouelte/ he callyd
the fayd yong man / and after he fayd to hym
benyngly/ My frend I praye the that thou wilt
telle me what is that wherupon thow arte fette /
And thenne the yonge fone fayd to hym/ that
it was a hors whiche prouffited to hym to the
chace/ and bare hym where he wold/ And after
the fole demaunded of hym / And what is that
whiche
POGE THE PLORBNTYN.
wbiche thou bereft on thj fyfte and wher to is
it good and the yong man anfuerd to hym / It
is .1 fperehawk whiche ia good for to take par-
tryches and quayllea And yet ageyne the fole
demaunded of hym My frend what are thooa
that folowe the/ & wherto ben they good/ And
the yonge man anfuerd to bym/ they be doggea
whiche are good for to ierche and fynde partryches
& quay lies i Ami whan they baue reyfed them
my fperehawke taketh them/wherof procedeth
to me grete tolas and playfyre / Ami the fole
demaunded ageyne/ To your aduys the takyng
that ye doo by them in a hole yere/ how moehe
is hit/ llialle hit here to the grete proufiyte
And the yong man anfuerd to hym tour or fyue
Crownes or ther aboute/ And no more layd the
fole/ And to your aduys how moehe llialle they
dil'pende in a yere/ And the yong man anfuerd
xl or I crownes/ CAndwhanne t! nerd
thefe WOrdes he layd to the layd yonge man/ O
my trend I pray the that (bone thow wylt departe
fro liens/ For yf our iylicien come he llialle
putte the within the layd pytte by eaule that
thow arte a fole/ I was put in it vnto the thyes
but therm he fliold putte the vnto the ehymu' '
tor thow dolt the grcttel't toly that euer I herd
fpeke of/ CAnd therfore the ftudye of the
huntynge and hawkynge is a Qouful cure/ And
none
300 THE FABLES OF
none ought to doo hit withoute he be moche
ryche and man of lyuelode / And yet hit ought
not to be done ful ofte / but fomtyme for to take
difporte and folas/ and to dryue awey melan-
cholye.
POGE THE EEC RES TYS\ 301
i IE tic El fable (5 of the rcrutacion of fommc
monftrcs
• ( 1 ; of Florence recyteth how in bis
tyme one named Hugh prynce
; J of the medycyns/ (awe a catte
31 whiche had two hedes and a
calf whiche alio had two hedes
And his legges bothe before and behynde were
double as they bad be Joyned al to gyder
Bfl many folke f.iwc / Jtem about the marches
of ytalye withynne a nudowe was fomtym
Co we/ the whiche Cowe maa ( ' c and delyuerd
her of a ferpent of wonder and Ryght merueyl-
Ious grettenefle/ Ryghte bydous and ferdful
C I-'or tyrfte he hadde the heede gretter than the
hede ol a calf/ C Secondly/ he had a lucke of
the lengthe of an Alfe/ And his body made alter
the lykenelle of a dogge / and his taylle was
wonder grete / thycke and longe withoute com<-
paryfon to ony other .
t And whanne the Cowe fawe that (he hadde
maade fuche a byrthe/ And that within her
bely (he had borne foo ryght borryble a be<
(he was al ferdful/ and lyfte her felf np/ and
fuppofed
3 o2 THE FABLES OF
fuppofed to haue fledde aweye/ but the Ser-
pent with his wonder longe taylle enlaced her
two hynder legges/ And the Serpent thenne
beganne to fouke the Cow/ And in dede foo
moche / and foo longe he lbuked tylle that he
fond fomme mylke / C And whanne the Cowe
myght efcape fro hym / me fledde vnto the other
kyne / C And Incontynent her pappes and her
behynder legges and all that the Serpent touched
was all black a grete fpace of tyme C And
foone after the fayd Cowe maade a fayre calf/
The whiche merueylle was announced or fayd
to the fayd Pope he beynge atte Ferrare /
C And yet ageyne foone after that / ther was
fond within a grete Ryuer a monftre maryn /
or of the fee of the forme or lykneffe whiche
foloweth /
C Fyrfte he hadde from the nauylle vpward
the fymplytude or lykeneffe of a man / And fro
the nauylle dounward/ he had the fourme or
makynge of a Fyffhe / the whiche parte was iu-
melle that is to wete double/ (I Secondly he
hadde a grete berd/ and he hadde two wonder
grete hornys aboue his eres/ C Alio lie hadde
grete pappes / and a wonder grete and horryble
mouthe/ and his handes retched unto his en-
traylles or bowellys/ And at the bothe his
elbowes he hadde wynges lyght brode and grete
of
POGE THE FLORBNTYN. 303
of tviihcs may let/ wherwith he fwyramed/ and
only be hadde but the la-do oute of the water;
i I: tapped thenne .is many wymmen bouked
and weflhed at the porte or bauen of the &yd
Ryuer that thys borryble and ferdfull beefte
was for lacke and defaulte of mete cam &
fwymmyng toward the fayd wymcn Of the
which hr toke oik- by the hand and fuppofed
to bane drawe her in to the water but the was
ftronge and wel auyfed and refyfted ageynfte
the fayd monftre/ Ami as the deffended her
felf/ Ihe beganne to cryc with a hyhe voys/ help
help/ to the whiche came rennynge fyue wym-
men / whiche by hurlynge and drawvnge of
ftones kyld and flewe the Iayd monftre/ For he
was come to ferre within the fonde / wherfore he
myght not retorne in the depe water/ And alter
whanne he rendryd his ipyryte/ he made a ryght
lytyl ciye/ fayenge wo that he was lb deformed
and loo moche cruel/ For he was of grete corpu-
lence more than ony man's body/ And yet layth
in this manere / that he beyng at Ferrare he
lawe the fayd monftre/ And faith yet/ that the
yonge children were cuftomed for to go bathe
and wclihe them within the f.ivd Ryuer ' but
they came not all ageyne wherfore the wyraen
welllied ne bonked nomore theyr clothes at the
laid porte/ For the folke prefumed and fuppofed
thai
304 THE FABLES OF
that the monftre kyld the yonge children / whiche
were drowned / C Jtem alfo within a lytyl whyle
after hit befelle aboute the marches of ytaly that
a child of fourme humayne whiche hadde two
hedes and two vyfages or faces beholdynge one
vpon the other/ & the armes of eche other
embraced the body/ the whiche body fro the
nauyl vpward was Joyned fauf the two hedes/
and from the nauyll dounward the lymmes were
all fepared one fro other in fuche wyfe that
the lymmes of generacion were lhewed many-
feftly / Of the whiche child the tydynges came
vnto the perfone of the pope of Rome
foGE THE ELORENTYS.
J"3
f (The fiulhr fable is of t fir pnrfone/ of his
fiorrgc/ Unfc of the Biffljop
lYluer dothe and caufeth alle thvnge
to be done vnto the balowynge
ageyne of a place whiche is pro-
phane or Interdidte/ As ye fhalle
mowe here by thys prefente Fable /
C Of a preeft dwellynge in the countrey whiche
fomtyme had a dogge/ whiche he loued moche
the whiche preeft was moche ryche/ The fayd
dogge by procefie of tyme deyde & whan he was
dede lie entered and buryed hit in the chirche
yerd for cauie of the grete loue whiche he loued
hym I it happed thenne on a day his billhop
knewe bit by thaduertyfement of Ibrame other/
wherfore be fente for the fayd preeft/ and fup-
1 to haue of hym a grete lbmme of gold/
or els be (hold make hyin to be ftravtly punvlihed |
And thenne he wrote a lettre vnto the fayd preeft
of whiche the tenour conteyned only that he
(hold come and fpeke with hym/ And whan the
preft had redde the lettres he rnderftood \v<l
alle the caas/ and prefnppofed or bethought in
that be wold haue of hym lomme
ly liter /
u
306 THE FABLES OF
fyluer/ For he knewe wel ynough the condy-
cions of his bifihop/ & forth with he toke his
breuyarye / & an C crownes with hym / the pre-
late beganne to remembre and to fhewe to hym
the enormyte of his myfdede/ And to hym
anfwerd the preeft whiche was ryght wyfe fay-
enge in this manere/ O my ryght reuerende
fader / yf ye knewe the fouerayne prudence of
whiche the fayd dogge was fylled / ye fhold not
be merueylled yf he hath wel defernyd for to be
buryed honeffly and worihipfully amonge the men/
he was al fylled with humayn wytte as wel in his
lyf / as in thartycle of the dethe / And thenne the
bifihop fayd/ how may that be/ reherce to me
thenne al his lyf/ Certaynly ryght reuerende fader
ye ought wel to knowe that whanne he was atte
thartycle and at the poynt of dethe/ he wold
make his teftament/ And the dogge knowyng
your grete nede and Indygence / he bequethed
to yow an C crownes of gold/ the whiche I
brynge now vnto yow/ And thenne the Biffhop
for loue of the money he affoylled the preft And
alfo graunted the fayd fepulture/ And therfore
fyluer caufeth alle thynge to be graunted or
done.
POGE THE FLORESTYN. 307
(' Che btj fable is of the jfore of tijc Carh ana of
the tiotjgcs
rr
^llc the (allary or payment of them
y^l that mokken other is tor to be
mocqued at the laft / as bit ap-
ViJ pieretb by this prefent Fable/ of
' a Cock whiche fomtyme (awe a
CODiynge toward hym lore hongry and
famyfihed ' whiche Cock fuppofed Wei that be
came not toward hym / but tor to ete fomme
benne tor whiche caul'e the Cock maade al his
hennes to flee vpon a tree/ And whan the foxe
beganne tapproche to the laid tree/ he began to
crye toward the cock good tydynges good tyd-
ynges/ And alter he (alewed the cok r
rently/ & demaunded of hym thus ' ()
fep what dolt thow ther foo hyghe / And thy
hennes with the/haft not thow herd the
- worthy and prouffitable for vb i And
thenne the Cok t'ul of malyce anfuerd to hym
Nay wryly godfep ' but I praye the telle and
reherce them vnto vs/ Thenne feyd the fox
the cok/ Certaynly god fep / they be the belt
that euer ye herd/ For ye may goo and come/
talke
30S THE FABLES OF
talke and communyque emong alle beeftes with-
oute ony harme or dommage/ And they ih alle
doo to yow bothe pleafyr and alle feruyfe to
them poifible/ for thus it is concluded and
accorded / and alfo confermed by the grete
counceyll of all beftes / And yet they haue made
commaundement that none be fo hardy to vexe
ne lette in no wyfe ony other/ be it neuer foo
lytyll a beefl / For the whiche good tydynges I
praye the / that thow wylt come doune / to
thende/ that we may goo and fynge / Te deum
laudamus / for Joye/ And the cok whiche
knewe wel the fallaces or falfhede of the foxe
anfuerd to hym in this manere / Certaynly my
broder and my good Frend thow haft brought to
me ryght good tydynges / wherof more than C
tymes I fhalle thanke the/ And fayenge thefe
wordes the Cock lyfte vp his neck / and his feet/
and loked farre fro hym/ And the foxe fayd to
hym / what godfep / where aboute lokeft thow /
And the Cok anfuerd to hym/ Certaynly my
broder I fee two dogges ftrongly and lyghtly
rennynge hytherward with open mouthes /
whiche as I fuppofe come for to brynge to vs
the tydynges whiche thou haft told to vs / And
thenne the Foxe whiche fhoke for fere of the
two dogges fayd to the Cock / god be with you
my frend / It is tyme that I departe fro hens / or
thefe
GE THE I NTYN. 309
thefe two dogges come nerer/ And (ayinge thefe
wordea toke hia waye ,V' ranne a> fafl aa he
\:iJ thenne the cock demaunded and
cryed after bym godfep ' why rennefl thow
thus yfthe (ayd pa&e is accorded/ thow oughtefl
not to doubte no thynge Ha a godfep 1.1yd the
m ferre I doubte that thefe two do
baue not herd the decreet of the pees/ And
thus whanne a begyler i-. begyled / he receyued
the (allaiy or payemenl whiche he ought to
baue wherfore lete euery man kepe hym felf
ther fro
JOijiu-i reherceth that there were two
wymmen in Rome / whiche he
knewe of dyuerfe age and tonne/
' which came to a Curteyzan by
caufe to baue and wynne fomwhat
wyth theyr bodyes/ whome be receyued and
happed that be knewe the tayrclt of DOthe tw
and that other ones/ ami loo departed And
afterward whanne they (hold departe he , r .tt' to
them a pyece ot' lynen clothe/ not decern]
how moche eche ot" them (hold baue to her
parte and porcioD ' And in the partvn oi the
iayd clothe tylle bitwene the wymmen .1 li.vl'by
caufe
310 THE FABLES OF
caufe one of them demaunded two partes after
thexygence of her werke/ And that other the
half after theyre perfones / eche of them fhew-
ynge dyuerily theyr refons / that one fayeng that
lhe hadde fufrred hym twyes to doo his pleafyr/
and that other pretended/ that fhe was redy and
in her was no defawte And foo fro wordes they
came to ftrokes and cratchyng with naylys/
and drawynge theyr here/ in fo moche that
theyr neyghbours came to this batayll for to
departe them / And alfo of theyr owne and
propre hufbondes/ not knowynge the caufe of
theyr ftryf and debate / eche of them defendynge
his wyues caufe/ And fro the fyghtynge of the
wymmen hit aroos and came to theyr hufbondes
with buffettis and caftynge of ftones/ foo longe
that men ranne bytwene them/ And after
the cuftomme of Rome bothe the hutbondes
were brought to pryfon berynge enemyte eche
to other/ & knewe no thynge the caufe wher-
fore/ The fayd cloth is fette in the handes of
the wymen fecretely yet not departed/ but is
fecretely argued amonge the wymmen in what
wyfe that this mater fhal be deuyded/ And I
demaunde of doctoures what the lawe is of it
C He fayeth alfo that a marchaunt of Florence
bought an hors of a man/ and made his couenaunt
with
POGE THE PLORBNTYN. 3"
with the fellar for xxv ducattea for to paye forth-
with in hande w ducattea/ And as for the refl
be (hold abyde dettour and owe Ami the fellar
was content and therupon delyuerd the hors and
receyued the iv dncattes/ After this a certayne
terme the fellar demaunded of the byar the
refydue / And he denyed the payment / & had
hold his couenant/ For the oyer fayd we
WL ... . that I (holdbethydebtour/ And
! (hold latvitye and pave the I mold nonmre
thy dettour/ et cetera/ and foo he abode
ilettour
312
THE FABLES OF
E telleth alfo that ther was a carryk
of Jene hyred in to frauce for to
make warre ayenft englifmmen /
of the whiche caarrick the patrone
bare in his fheld painted an oxe
hede/ whiche a noble man of frauce beheld and
fawe / & fayd he wold auenge hym on hym that
bare tho armes / whempon aroos an altercacion
fo moche / that the frenffhman prouoked the
Janueye to bataylle and fyght therfore/ The
Januey acceptyd the proaocacion/ & came at
the day aifigned in to the felde withoute ony
araye or habyllements of warre / And that other
frenflhe man came in moche noble apparayll in
to the feld that was ordeyned/ & thene the
patrone of the carrik faid wherfore is it that
we two fhold this day fyght & make bataill fore
I faye faid that other that thyn armes ben myn /
& bylonged to me to fore that thow haddeft
them/ Thenne the Januey faid 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 fo fpoken the noble
Frenlihe man was abafihed and fo departed half
mocqued
POGE THE FLORENTYN. 313
|GEZ%fic9rif<> lie faith that thcr wa- .1 phifycyen
/ v^j dwellyng in a Cyte/ whi(
VM a irrete ,v a connyng man in that
a grete ,v a connyng man in that
_Vi, fcyence/ & he bad a feruaut a
og man whiche made pylles
after a certayne forme that Ik- (hewed to hym
.v whan this yong man / had dwellid long with
hym/' 8e coude parfjtly make the pylles/ lie
departed fro his mayfter ami went in to ftra
COUntre where as he was klioweli / and hie 1 1 1 • n
there to vnderftonde that be was a connynge
phifycyen and coude gyue medycyrjes tor al
maner maladves and (ekenefles ami myniltyn d
alwev his pylles to euery man that came to hym
for ony remedy And hit was loo that a poure
man of that place where he was came to hym and
complayned how he had lofte his afle and p
hym to gyne to hym a medycyne for to fynde
vne / And he gaf to hym the fayd
pylle.->; & badde hym to rcceyue and take them /
And he (hold fynde his ail".- And this poure
man dvd (bo and after wente in to the feldes
anil pafhires to feke and loke after his afle An I
doynge the pylleys wrongth (bo in bis bely/
that he muft nedes go purge hym; and went
amonge
3H THE FABLES OF
amonge the reed and there eafyd hym/ And
anonet here he fonde his affe / wherof he beyng
moche Joyeful ranne in to the toune/ and told
and proclamed/ that by the medecyn that he
had receyued of the phifycyen he had found his
aife/ whiche thynge knowen alle the fymple
peple reputed hym for a moche connynge man /
whiche coude no thynge doo but make pyllyes/
And thus many fooles are ofte taken for wyfe
and connynge/ For he was reputed to hele all
maner fekeneffes / and alio to fynde affes.
§^JSS°2^jHere was in a certayne towne a
wydower wowed a wydowe for
to haue and Wedde her to his
wyf/ And at the laft they were
agreed and fured to gyder / C And
whan a yonge woman beynge feruaunt with the
wydowe herd therof / fhe came to her mayftreffe /
and fayd to her / Alias mayftreffe what haue ye
doo / why fayd the / I haue herd fay fayd the
mayde/ that ye be allured and fhalle wedde
fuche a man / And what thenne fayd the
wydowe/ Alias fayd the mayde I am fory for
yow / by caufe I haue herd faye that he is a
peryllous man / For he laye fo ofte and knewe
fo
POGE Till: FLORBNTYN.
315
fo mocfa bis other wyf that the deyde therof ;
And I am forytherof, thai yf ye (hold ralle in
lyke caas to whome the wydowe anfwerd and
fayd Forfothe I wold be dede/ For ther is but
and care in this world/ This was a
curteys excufe of a wydo*
i )w thenne I wylle fynyflhe alle
thefe tables wyth this tale that
foloweth whiche a worfhipful
preefl and a parfone told me late
be layil that there were dnel-
lynge in Oxenford two prefles bothe mayflres ol
arte of whome that one was quyck and coude
putte hym (elf forth J And that other was
fymple preefl And foo it happed that the
mayfler that was perte and quyck was anone
promoted to a benefyce or tweyne/ and after to
prebendys/ and tor to be a Dene of a grete
prynces chappel fuppofynge and wenynge that
his telaw the fymple preefl (hold neuer haue be
promoted but be alwaye an Annuel or at the
in. .it a paryflhe preefl So after longe tyme that
this worihipfu] man this dene came rydynge in
good parytlh with a x or xij horfes, ly
prelate I and came in to the chirehe of the 1.1yd
parylllie/ and fond there this good fymple man
j
316 THE FABLES OF
fomtyme his felawe/ whiche cam and welcomed
hym lowely/ And that other badde hym good
raorowe mayfter Johan / and toke hym fleyghtly
by the hand/ and axyd hym where he dwellyd /
And the good man fayd in this paryffh / how
fayd he / are ye here a fowle preeft or a paryi'ih
prefte/ nay fyr faid he/ for lack of a better
though I be not able ne worthy I am parlbn
and curate of this paryffhe/ and thenne that
other aualed his bonet and faid mayfter par-
fon I praye yow to be not defpleafyd / I had
fuppofed ye had not be benefyced / But mayfter
fayd he/ I pray yow what is this benfyce worth
to yow a yere/ Forfothe fayd the good fymple
man / I wote neuer / for I make neuer accomptes
thereof/ how wel I haue had hit four or fyue
yere/ And knowe ye not faid he what it is
worth/ it fhold feme a good benefyce/ no For-
fothe fayd he/ But I wote wel what it lhalle be
worth to me / Why fayd he / what fhalle hit be
worth / Forfothe fayd he / yf I doo my trewe
dylygece in the cure of my paryflhes in prechyng
and techynge / and doo my parte longynge to
my cure / I lhalle haue heuen therfore / And yf
theyre fowles ben loft or ony of them by my
defawte / I fliall be punyflhed therfore / And
herof am I fure/ And with that word the ryche
dene was abaflhed And thought he fhold be the
better/
POGll THE FLORENTYN. 317
better/ And take more bede to his cares and
benefices than be bad done/ This was a good
anfwere of a good preeft and an boneft/
aitU hen faith. E fgnyffhr this booh; ttHttCIatrt
& nnpvyntcti by mc vLiLltlliam Caiton at
Hlrftmynftcr in thabbcy / Bill f^nuffticrj
tllf JOfej "Drxyc of jrlarchr. the uric
of ourc loro fR CCC€ Imiiij/
JSitil the forft yen of tlic
rr,nc of Itgltg Hych
atti the thyrtn".
ERRATA.
Those in Gothic are in the original Caxton.
Page.
Line.
6
11
TIccctb/ Ubcunc,
teeth / Thenne.
22
4
auducyte,
andacyte.
2 9
12
gunnes,
gynnes.
35
7
nygt,
ny3t.
47
12
conenaunces,
conuenaunces.
54
20
double,
doubte.
58
9
r>'K te >
ry3te.
74
1
Sevcntb,
Vj.
92
8
srcoe,
grete.
102
r 7
eyylle,
euylle.
103
10
folowith,
foloweth.
i°5
18
beaultc,
beaute.
in
Itto bcaMug.
112
20
enhauced,
enhaunced.
115
16
afo,
alfo.
J)
21
mone,
116
17
£POCY>tCS,
ypoerytes.
117
13
vvs^Scd,
vysyted.
119
2
eyyile,
euyelle.
120
3
behodeth,
behoueth.
120
12
thyn conuenynt,'
thynconuenyent.
128
22
uf,
yf-
138
1
knygtt,
knyght.
1*
25
fcno,
and.
145
5
raynfull,
raynfall.
198
7
thexcafacions,
thexcufacions.
204
15
eyylle,
euylle.
215
15
tban 01J0.
then hyt dyd.
221
3
be be,
he.
232
4
sommen of a,
som men of a.
234
12
ano bvloctb,
anil and.
238
24
ppsscssour,
poffeffour.
241
21
cmo.
and.
246
17
Bno Hno,
And.
.)
22
lassc,
lesse.
247
22
inhance,
enhauce.
248
16
sacrvf^eo,
facryfyfed.
251
13
Hrabc,
a Rabe.
266
5
tbc,
thre.
276
3
vegicbe,
whiche.
277
3
sccb^nge,
seckynge.
286
9
euyelle,
euylle.
3i3
8
parf^,
parftftly.
>>
23
wrongtb,
wrought.
GLOSSARY.
abhomynable, 1 1 -
adommage, hv. • '. 2\J
j se, adorn, 3
alme>se, alms, 60
ambassade, embassy, S7
amerous, later, 2S0
Annuel V Annueler,
cf. Chaucer, Cant. 1
12,940), priest who says
masses on the anniversary
of death, 315
aspyed, spied, 61
assoylled, absolved, 306
•:d, ill a swoon, 159
aualed, took off, $\6
aubyer, bramble, 234
backc, bat, 70
bailees ridges infields, 202,
203
bcrd, beard, 1 16
bienfayttes, benefits, 254
boot, bote, bit, 14, 168
bouked. J03
brente, burnt, 2S4
breste, burst, 61
burgeys, citizen, 266
can, know, 170. 221. 2S0?
carryk, galley, 312
Caym, Can:, 73
caytyf, cunning, 21
cliepe, j<r//, 252
commyse i, committed, 63
condempned, condemned, 63,
25 t, 262
cope, canopy, 173
corryged, chastened, 2;.
counterfayt, deceive, 27
cratchyng, jc/ 3'°
crymynous, crxVni
curtois, courteous, 98
curteys, (?), 315
Cyrurgeons, surgeons, 99,
'57
d*gg^,jagged, 1:2
-. 241
320
GLOSSARY.
departed, divided, 310
dommage, danger, S5
dommageable, dangerous, 77
doubtous, doubtful, 67, 120,
181, 188
empeched, prevented, 246,
247
ensample, example, 85
ensyewe, pursue, 30
entremete, meddle with, 24,
25, 129
entre, entrance, 253
erys, farc, 186, 220
esprysed, taken, 2S1, 2S3
euerychone, every one, 230
excusations, excuses, 198
facyle, (fa.y, 97
fallace, fraud, 267
fayt, flfc«f, 251
flough, flezu, 132
fly es, fleece, 191
force, give no, care not, 1 76
formyce, ant, 55
fyerste, fierceness, 68
gallaunt, glutton (?), 266
glose, comment, 78
goglyed, goggle-eyed, 273
grete father, grandfather,
128
grynnes, /r^j, 29
guaryson, <w?, 232
gwerdone, reward, 40
Ha a, /w / aA / j>(Wj.
habondaunce, abundance, 19
heed, by, by [God's] head,
184
herberowed, harboured, 29
Incontynent, ' immediately,
67, 75, 106, 116, 258
induceth, introduces, 3
iumelle, ta^'w, 302
Janneye, Genoese, 312
Jene, Genoa, 312
kynde, nature, 98, 105, 125,
218, 224, 272
labourage, labour, 205
large, generous, 166
lawhe, laugh, 38
leneth, supports, 15
lese, /<«<?, 236, 238
lesyng, #/j;y, 1 87, 1 88, 205
lette, prevent, 122, 124, 125,
134, 141, 143, 199, 228,
308
longynge, belonging, 316
luste, desire, 40
lygnage, lineage, 207
lyuebode, inheritance, 172,
300
maculed, guilty, 26 1
marzhaunt, merchant, 275
meane, middle, 213
GLOSSARY.
J2I
meke, to humble,
I
men
90, 204
mol
. 1
mul' 1 28
te, 8
myschaunt, miithit ; 5
129
:cr, miss (?), 94
natal!, birthday J bast, lifi
notary, /
orysons, prayers, 1S7, 1 88
oultrecuydaunce, overween-
111.; pi sumption, 52
pac': ements, 47
portage, partnership, 1 1
parysshes, parishioners, 316
payllard, -^5, 54- 57.
pletol, pleaded, 261
• (ROM, 261
iralour, proetor, 260
.vj, 20S
.
pryrotemps, spring, no
-.fruit of beech, 1 73
put\ I43
pyelarge, ma-pie, 204
Rabe, m
rele
remercye, f&B
retcheth, rwhs, 6, 82
rufiule, ,241
sale wed, saluted, 1 17
semblable, like, 1 1 2, 208
separeil, separated, 2 ; ?
slowful, a '. 206, 299
slowfulne<s, it • e, 64,
206
slyked, cloven, 203
sonde, sound, bay, 303
33
slange, /iW, i''i
spaehawk, deerhawk (?), S
sperehawk, sfarrox
subget, «*£/«►', 30, 91, 244
subvertysed, subverted, 74
sygalle, grasshopp . 123
terryer, /</;r, 152, 1 ;i
theefly, like a thit ''. 8l
thradde, trod, 61
thrested, th rusted, 61, 217
tryst, ak/,
turn!
52. 142.
21 1
vcriv
X
322
GLOSSARY.
vnnethe, scarcely, 1 5 1 , 1 S3, 250
vnconyng, silly, 13
vnyed, united, 109
vpperest, uppermost, 67
vpso doun, upside down, 68,
157, 163
vtyle, useful, 15, 76
vytupered, blamed, 76
wodenes, madness, 222
wood, mad, 120, 242, 154
wod^wose, monster, 242, 243
wreton, written, 272
yate, gate, 117, 216, 253,
272, 279, 295
ye, yea, pass.
yeftes, gifts, 3$, 36, 251
yeue, give, 152
yongthe, youth, 41
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