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Toronto
Library
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Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive
in 2008 witii funding from
IVIicrosoft Corporation
http://www.arcliive.org/details/fablesofaesopasf02aesouoft
The Fables
OP Aesop
ZTbc jfablc£> of Hcsop,
II.
BALl.ANTVNE, HANSON AND CO.
KDINBUHGH AND LONDON
iwn
Zbc Jfablct? of Bceoi'^
as fust printed hy William Caxtdn /;/ '4^4
iL'ith those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio,
now again cdiled and induced
by Joseph Jacobs.
II.
Tkxt and Glossary.
LoNDO!^. Published by David Nuti is
THL Strand, m.v.ccci.xxxix.
ESC5
If ibrrr hrg;pnnrtl) tlje ftook
of ti)c 0ubtpl i)i0tori)C0 antJ J^aMc.g
of C0opc tDljicljr tocrc rransIarcD
out of JPrfn3sf)E in to Crnglossfjc
bo failliam Caiton
f
2t GHcBtmonetrc I-n tf]f ofrr of ourc HortJf
.m. ccrc.Iirii'tj
.yi^^t^zsi:^:^
^
Vi>V^
>^ii
i^I
3^
C "^Hxt bfffmutlj tljE prrfact or prologue of
tljE forste book of Csope
Romulus fon of tliybere of the
Cyte of Atyque/ gretyng/ Efope
man of grece / fubtyll and In-
geiiyous/ techeth in his fables
how men ought to kepe and
rewle them well/ And to thende that he
Ihold Ihewe the lyf and cuftomes of al maner
of men/ he induceth the byrdes/ the trees and
the beetles fpekynge to thende that the men
niriy kmnve wherforc the fables were tbund /
In the wliiche he hath wrelon the malyce of
the euylle people and the argument of the
Improbes/ He techeth aUb to be humble and
tor to vie wordes / And many other fayr En-
lamples reherccd and declared here after/ the
whiche I Romulus have tranflated oute of frekes
tongue in to latyn tongue/ the whiche yf thou
rede them / they llialle aguyfc and (liarpe thy
wytte and ihal gyue to the caufe of Joye/
LIBER
C 2rf)£ first fable is of t!)£ coch anti of tfje
precious ftone /
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 fyhh 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 Elope 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-
faunt book
PRIMUS.
C Cbis fccontJ fnblf fs of t^e touU ant5 tbt
lambf /
i-iS^lt' the Innocent and of the {hrewe
p:ibpe reherceth to vs luche a
table/ howe it was lb/ that the
lambe and the wulf had bothe
thurl^ / and went both to a Ryuer
for to drynke / C It happed that the wulf dranke
aboue & the lambe dranke bynethe / And as the
wulf fawe & percyued the lambe/ he fayd with
a hyghe voys/ Ha knaue why haft thou troubled
and
6 LIBER
and fowled mywater/ whiche Illiold 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 Ihame ne drede
to curfe me / And the lambe fayd My lord with
your leue/ And the wulf fayd ageyne/ Hit is
not fyxe raonethes paflyd 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 hyni / 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 flieweth that the euylle man retcheth
not by what maner he may robbe and deflroye
the good and Innocet man.
PRIMUS.
C Z\)t tfiur^ fablr is of t!]c rat / ant) of tljc
froggf /
y^'-^ ^-^-1
^|o\v it be lb/ that as the rat went in
pylgremage / he came by a Ryuer /
and demaunded helpe of a frogge
tor to pall'e/ and go over the
water/ And thenne the frogge
bound the rats foote to her foote/ and thus
fwynied vnto the myddes ouer the Ryuer/ And
as they were there the frogge ftood liylle/ to
thende that the rat (hold be drowned/ And in
the meane whyle came a kyte vpon them / and
bothe bare them with hym / This fable made
Efope for a fymylytude whiche is proutfitable to
many folkes / For he that thynketh evylle ageynft
good/ the evil whiche he thynketh lliall ones
falle upon hym felf.
LIBER
C JUl^e fourt]^ fable is of tfje tiogcfe anti i^z
fjjecp
the men chalengynge / whiche ever
be fekynge occalion to doo fome
harme and dommage to the good /
laith Efope fuche a fable / Som-
tyme was a dogge/ whiche de-
maunded of a llieep a loof of brede that llie had
borowed of hym / And the fheep anfuerd that
neuer fhe had none of hym/ The dogge made
her to come before the Juge/ And by caufe the
ilieep 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 Ihold 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 prefente my perfone/
And the fperowhawk faid to the fheep / come
hyder why denyeft thow that whiche thow hall
take and recyiied / And thus was the poure fheep
vaynquyffhed C And thenne the Juge com-
maunded to her that Ihe Ihold paye the dogge /
wherefore
PRIMUS. 9
wherfore ftie fold awey before tlic wvntcr her
flees and wulle for to pave that/ that the neuer
had/ and tlius was the poure llieep delpoylled/
In fuche maner done the euylle hongry peple
which by theyr grete vntrouthe and nuilyce
robben and delpoillen tl>e poure folke
lO
LIBER
C 2r]^e fuftfje fable is of tl^e bacfge antJ of t^e
P2£ce of flessf)
e that defyreth to haue other mens
goodes oft he lofeth his owne
good/ whereof Efope reherceth to
vs fuche a fable/ In tyme paffed
was a dogge that wente ouer a
brydge/ and held in his mouthe a pyece of
flefflie/ and as he paffed ouer a brydge/ he
perceywed and fawe the fhadowe of hym /
and of his pyece of flefllie 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.
PRIMUS.
C Crf)e faj fnfalc is of tfif luon anb of tf]f cotof /
of the gootc ant) of tjjc fi)ccp
sn 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 hymwhich
is ryche & myghty / wherof Efope
reherceth fuche a fable/ The cowe/ the gote &
the fheep went ones a hutyng & chafe/ with the
Ivon and toke a herte/ And whanne they cake/
[came] to haue theyr parte/ the lyon fayd to
them / My lordes I late you wete / that the fyrft
part is myn by caufe I am your lord/ the fecond
by caufe/ I am ftronger than ye be/ the thyrd /
by caufe I ranne more fwifter tlian ye dyd / and
who fo ever toucheth the fourthe parte/ he (hall
be myn mortal enemy/ And thus he took for
hym felfe alone the herte/ And tlierfore this
fable techeth to al folk/ that the poure ought
not to hold felaufliip with the myghty/ For
tiie myghty man is neuer fcythtull to the poure
12 LIBER
C Ef)t feuentf) fafile I'g of t]^e tl^eef ant of
tfjE fonne.
II
^|0 man is chaunged by nature but
of an euyll man maye wel yffue
bj and come a wers than hymfelf /
wherof Efope telleth fuche a
fable / A theef held the feeft of
his weddynge/ And his neyghbours came there
as the feft was holden and vvoriliipped/ 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 fliolde wepe/ take
hede thenne to my wordes and vnderftond your
ioye/ C The fonne wolde ones be maryed / But
alle the Nacions of the world were ageynft hym /
& prayd lupiter that he {hold 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/ lupiter thou
knoweft wel / how ther is but one fonne &: yet
he brenneth vs al / & yf he be maryed & haue
ony children / they flual deftroye al kynde / And
this fable techeth vs that we ought not to be
reioyflhed of euyll felowfhip /
PRIMUS. 13
C Z\)t faifj fable is of tlic iriulf anti of tfjc
rrant
]Ho fo euer doth ony good to the
cuyll man he fynneth as Efope
.v liith/ for of ony good which is
Sd tion to the euils cometh no prou-
tfit / wherof Efope reherceth to
vs fuche a fable / A wulf ete & deuoured a fheep
of wlios bones he had one in his throte which he
collide not liaue out &: fore it greucd hym / thenne
went the wulf t^- praid the crane that Ihe wold
draw oute of his throte the bone/ & the crane
put her nek in to his throte & drewe out the bone
wherby the wulf was hole / C And the crane de-
maunded of hym to be payd of her falary 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
haddeft thy neck within my throte/ yf I had
wold/ I might haue ete the/ and thus it ap-
piereth by the fable how no prourttte cometh of
ony good whiche is done to the euyle
14
LIBER
C STfje II fable is of tfje tfea 62tc!)£0
t is not good to byleue what flaterers
and euyll men faye / for by theyr
iVete 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 Ihe 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 tiaterye of the peruers and
evylle folke /
PRIMUS.
15
C Z\}t tcntf)c fnfale ts of tfje man anlJ of the
fcrpent
• K that leneth and hclpeth the euylle
men/ lynnetli/ tor at'ier that men
have doo to them Ibme good /
_^)| they hurte them afterward/ For
as men layen comynly / yf ye
kepe a man tVo the galhows/ he Ihalle neuer
loue yow after/ wherof Elope reherceth luche
a table/ C A man was fom tyme whiche tond a
lerpent within a Vyne/ and for the grete wynter
and froll the ferpent was hard / and almoft dede
for cold wherof the good man had pyte and toke
and bare her in to his hows and leyd her before
the fyre/ and fo moche lie dyd that that flie
came ageyne in to her ftrengthe and vygour/
She begaime 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
have take her Ihe fprange after his neck for to
have ftrangled hym / And thus hit is of the
euyll folk whiche for the good done to them /
iheyyeld ageyne euyll and deceyuen them whiche
have had pyte on them / And alfu iheyre felau-
lliip is not good ne vtyle /
i6
LIBER
C m^z ij fabk IS of tj^e Igan anb of t!)e affe
;,F them whiche mocken other efope
reherceth fuch a fable Ther was
an affe which met with a lyon to
whom he laid my broder god
faue the & the lyon Ihaked 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
C Cfjc iij fable 13 of \])t ttoa rat3
FfP
Etter wortlic is to lyue in pouerte
lurely / than to lyue rychely beyng
r\-' euer in daunger/ Whcrof Elope
J4: tellelh fuche a fable / There were
two rats wherof the one was grete
and tatte/ and held hym in the celer of a Ryche
man And the other was poure and Icne / C On
a daye this grete and fat ratte wente to fporle
hym in the feldes and mette by the way the
poure rat / of the whiche he was receyued as
well as he coude in his poure cauerne or hole/
and gaf from of fuche mete as he had / Thenne
fayd the fatte ratte come thow wyth me/ And
I Ihalle gyue the wel other metes/ He went
with hym in to the toune/ and enterd bothe
into the celer of the ryche man/ the whiche
celer was full of alle goodes/ And when they
were within the grete rat prefented and gaf to
the poure rat of the delycious metes / faying thus
to hym/ Be mery and make good chere/ and
ete and drynke Joyoully / C And as they were
etynge/ the bouteler of the place came in to the
celer/ & the grete rat fled anon in to his hole/
&
1 8 LIBER
& the poure rat M^ift 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 fhakynge 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 lome 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
( Z\}t liij fnfalc is of the drglc nntJ of iljc foif
^0\v tlie puylKint & mvglity niuft
double the teble Elope reherceth
to vs fuche a fable / Ther was an
j^lJj|/^'^_^i Egle whiche came ther as young
I'oxes were / and took awey one of
them / and gaf hit to his younge Egles to fede
them with The foxe wente after hym & praid
hym to reftore and gyue hym ageyne his yong
foxe / and the Egle laid that he wold not / For he
was ouer hym lord and mailler/ C And thenne
the foxe fuUe of Ihrewdnes and malyce beganne
to put to gyder grete habondaunce of ftraws
round aboute the tree/ where vpon the egle and
his yonge were in theyr neft/ and kyndeled it
with fyre/ C And whan the fmoke and the
tlambe began to ryfe vpward / the Egle ferd-
fulle and doubtyng the dethe of her lytylle egles
reftored ageyne the younge foxe to his moder
C This fable Iheweth vs / how the myghty men
oughte not to lette in ony thynge the fmall folke /
For the lytyle ryght ot'te may lette and trouble
the grete
20
LIBER
C i2rtf liiif fa&Ic ts of tj^e W^ to!)tcf)e bare a
nutte m iji's iecke anti of tfje rauen
^^^Y^^^e that is fure and wel garnyffhed yet
l\ WkJj^Sl VA 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 Ihalt neuer
breke it / tylle thow fleeft as hyghe as thow
mayft / 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.
21
C Zht iM fable 13 of H)c rniicn nnti of tiic foic
H(.'y that be glad and Joyetull of the
praylynge of flaterers oftyme re-
pente them therof/ wherof Efope
reherceth to us fuche a fable/ A
rauen whiche was vpon a tree/
and held with his bylle a chcfe/ the whiche
chcfe the fox defyred moche to haue/ whertore
the foxe weiite and preyfed hym by fuche wordes
as folowen / O gentyll rauen thow art the fayrell
byrd of alle other byrdes / For thy fethers ben fo
fayr fo bright and fo rel'plendyflhynge/ and can
alfo fo wel fy nge/ yf thow haddeft the voys clere
and fmall thow Iholdell be the mooll happy of
al other byrdes / And the foole whiche herd the
flaterj'ringe wordes of the foxe beganne to open
his bylle for to fynge/ And then the chefe fylle
to the grounde/ and the fox toke and ete hit/
And whan the rauen fawe that for his vayn
glorye he was deceyued wexed hevy and forow-
full / and repented hym of that he had byleued
the foxe/ And this fable techeth vs / how men
ought not to be glad ne take reioyflhynge in the
wordes of caytyf folke/ ne alfo to leue flatery ne
vayn glory
22 LIBER
C STfje ibi fafilc f3 of tfje Igon / of t^e iuglte
iore/ of tf)£ bole ^ of tfje affe
Ihanne a man hath loft his dignyte or
otFyce/ he mufte leue his fyrft audu-
cyte or hardynefs/ to thende/ that
he be not iniuryed and mocqued of
euery one / wherof Efope Iheweth
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 / C 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. 2}
alle good and wurlhip / and therlore this fable
admonelleth many oik- whichc bt-n eiihaunced
in dygnyte and worlhip llu-wingc to iheni/ liow
tliL-y mull bo meke and humble/ For he tliat
geteth and ac(iuyrelh no frendes ought to be
doubtous to fjUe in luche caas and in luche
peryl
24
LIBER
C STije i&tj fable is of tfjc affe anti of tfje
song t!055£
one ought to entermete hym of that
what he can not do wherof Efope
recyted fuche a fable / Of an afle
whiche was in the hows of a lord /
whiche lord had a lytyle dogge/
whiche he loued wel / and gaf hyn:i 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
PRIAfUS. 25
whcrfor the aire was cnuyous and fayd in hyiii
felf / y{ my lord and his meyny loue this myf-
chaunt belle by caufe that he chereth and maketh
telle to euery body/ by gretter reafon they ought
to loue me vf I make chere to them / Thenne
layd he in hym fcIf/ Fro henforth I Ihall take
my difporie and Ihall make Joye and playe
with my lord/ and wyth his meyny/ And ones
as the all'e was in this thoughte and ymagyna-
cion / hit happed tiiat he fawe his lord whyche
entryd in to his hows/ the afle beganne thenne
to daunle and to make feert and Ibnge with his
fwete voys/ and approched hym felf toward his
lord & went & lepte vpon his lliolders/ and
beganne to kylVe and to lykke hym / The lord
thenne beganne to crye oute with a hyghe voys
and fayd/ lete this fowl and payllard/ whiche
hurteth and byteth me fore/ be bete and putt
awey/ The lordes feruauntes thenne toke anone
grete llaues/ and beganne to fmyte vpon the
poure affe / and lb fore corryged and bete hym /
that after he had no lufte ne courage to daunfe/
nc make to nonne chere ne fefte / and therfore
none ought to entermete hym felf for to doo a
thynge/ whiche as for hym impolTyble is to be
done/ For the vnwyfe difplefeth there/ where
as he fuppofeth to pleafe
26
LIBER
C Wiyi ibifj table is of t^je loan antJ of
tfje rat/
^s^^^He myghte and puyffant mud 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 Elbpe reherceth to vs fuche a
fable Of a lyon whiche flepte in a foreft and the
rats defported 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
fhalle 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. 27
rat herd hyiii crye / he approchcd hyni &: de-
maunded ot hym whertbr he cryed / And the
lyon anfucrd to hym / Seeft thou not how I am
take & bound with thisgynne/ Thenne fayd the
ratte to hym/ My lord I wylle not be vnkynde/
but euer I Ihal remembre the grace whiche thou
haft done to me/ And if I can I fliall now liclpe
the/ The ratte beganne thenne to byte the lace
or cord/ and lb K)ng he knawed it that the lace
brake / And thus the lyon elcaped / C Thertbre
this fable techeth vs how that a man myghty and
puyflant ought not to dyl'prayfe the lytyll/ For
fomtyme he that can no body hurte ne lette may
at a nede gyue help and ayde to the grete
28
LIBER
C STIje III fable is of tf)e tnglan irr]^tc!)e toas
feke anti of ^(s motiec
E that euer doth euylle ought not
to luppofe ne haue no truft that
his prayer at his nede llialle 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 /
PRIMUS.
29
C STfjc II fable m.ikctli mnicion of tfjc ftaaloinr/
anil olbcr bgrlirs
E that byleueth not good councovll /
may not fayll to he euylle coun-
ceyllcd / wherof Efope reherceth
to vs fuche a fable/ Of a j)Io\vgh
man/ whiche fowed lynfeed / and
the fwalowe feyng that of the fame lynfeed men
myght make nettes and g)'nnes/ wente and fayd
to al other byrdes/ Come with me ye al & lete
vs plucke vp al this/ For yf we leue hit growe/
the labourer llial mowe make therof gunnes and
nettes for to take vs al / Alle the byrdes defprayfed
his counceyl/ C And thenne as the fwalowe
fawe this/ he wente and herberowed her in the
plowgh mans hows / C And whanne the flaxe
was growen and pulled vp / the labourer made
grynnes and nettes to take byrdes/ wherwith he
took euery day many other byrdes/ and brought
them to his hows / to the whiche byrdes the
fwalowe thenne fayd / I told yow wel / what
that ihold happe therof/ wherfore men ought
not to defprayfe good councylle/ For he that is
euyl aduyfed and not wel counceyled Ihalle haue
moche payne
C %lc:t: fongsstjcU t!jc forct loohc of Crsopc/
30 LIBER
C f^ere foloiijctf) tfjc profjetnge of tfje stcontj 6cofe
of fables of csope/ man iugSE subtgU auti
JIngcngous
vft^gflle maner of fables ben found for to
fhewe al maner of folk / what
maner of thyng they ought to
enfyewe and folowe / C And alfo
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 fliewe 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 corre6ted / and punyflbed / they were gretely
troubled / whan theyr newe kynge made Juftyce /
For by caufe that before that tyme they had
neuer
SECUNDUS. 31
neuer be viuUt no niaiis lubjctlion / nnd was
greto cliarge to tliein to be in leruytudc/ wher-
fure they were forowful that euer they liad dc-
maunded ony thynge/ ageynft the whiche efope
reherceth luche a fable whiche is the fyrft and
formeft of this fecond book
32
LIBER
C 2rf)c fgrst fable is of tl^e frogges ant of
Supgter
j'O 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 aflente
& of one wylle maade a requeft to Jupiter that
he wold gyue them a kynge/ And Jupyter be-
ganne
SI-CUNDUS. 33
ganne thcrof to meriieylle/ And for tlicyr kyng
he called to them a grete pyece of wood / whiche
niaade a grete fowne and noyfe in the water/
wherof alle the frogges had grete drede and
fered moche / And after they approched to tlieyr
kynge for to make obeyflTaunce vnto hym / C And
whanne they perceyued tliat hit was but a pyece
of wood/ they torncd ageyne to Jupiter prayenge
hym fwetely that lie wold gyue to them another
kynge/ And Jupiter gaf to them the Heron for
to be theyr kynge/ And then the Heron beganne
to entre in to the water/ and ete them one after
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 pleafe the to delyuere vs fro the
throte of this dragon and fals tyraunt which eteth
vs the one after another/ And he fayd to them/
tlie kynge whiche ye haue demounded Ihalle be
your mayfter/ For whan men haue that/ which
men oughte to haue/ they ought to be ioyful
and glad And he that hath lyberte ought to kepe
hit wel / For nothyng is better than lyberte / Fur
lyberte Ihold not be wel fold tor alle the gold
and fyluer of all the world
34
LIBER
C STfje fcconti fable is of t^z Columbes or "bouues
of tfie totE anti of Hje fpcrcljaiuke
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
afl^eth & 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 fufFre of the kyte than
to be vnder the fubje6lion 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
SECUNDUS. 35
C Z\]t ttiortf fablf is of tljr ti;fcf a;;ti of ific
^<p"'^y^i^\l.\nnc that one gyuetli ony thyng/
' ^' \'rk '"'''" ought wel to take hede/ to
A hat ende hit is gyuen / wherof
[• Klope reherceth I'uche a fable/
< )f a theef which came on a nygt
wnuiii a iiiins hows for to haue robbed hyni /
And the good mans dogge beganne to bark at
hym/ And thenne the theef cafted at hym a
pyece of brede/ And the dogge fayd to hym/
thow caftell not this brede for no good wylle /
but only to the ende/ that I hold my pees/ to
thende that thow mayft robbe my mayfter/ and
therf'ore hit were not good for me/ that for a
morfell of brede/ I ihold lefe my lyf/ wherfore
goo fro hens/ or els I ihalle anone awake my
mayfter and alle his meyne / The dogge theynne
beganne to bark/ and the theef beganne to flee/
And tlius by couetyfe many one haiie oftyme
receyued grete yeftes/ the whiche haue been
caufe of theyr dethe and to lefe theyre heedt-s /
C 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 traylbn
ageynft his mayfter or lord
SECUNDUS.
37
C J!ri)c fourtljf mahtlf) mmryon of tijc foluc
nut) of ll]c toulf
T is not good to bylcue all fuche
iliynges as men may here/ wherof
Elope fayetli fuche a fable/ Ot a
wulf whiche came toward a fowe
whiche wepte and made forowe
for tlie grete payne that llie felte / by caufe flie
wold make her young pygges/ And the wulf
came to her fayeng/ My fuller make thy yonge
pygges furely / for ioyoully and with good wylle /
I ihalle helpe &: ferue the/ And the fowe fayd
thcnne to hym/ go forth on thy waye/ for I
h;uie no nede ne myller of fuche a fcruaunt/ For
as longe as thow ihalt flonde here I Ihal not
delyuere me of my charge/ For other thyng
thou defyreft not / than to haue and ete them /
The wulf then wente/ and the fowe was anone
delyuerd of her pygges/ For yf fhe had byleuyd
hym Ihe had done a forowful byrthe/ And thus
he that folyllhly byleueth it happeth to hym
38
LIBER
C 2r]^e fgftlje fable maketfi tnencpon of tfje
montaon inl^tcije fj^ofee
;|Yght fo it happeth / that he that
menaceth hath drede and is ferd-
ful / wherof Efope reherceth to vs
luche a fable Of a hylle whiche
beganne to tremble and fhake by
caufeof the moUewhiche delued hit/ Andwhanne
the folke fawe that the erthe beganne thus to
Ihake / 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
Ihakynge/ 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
SECUNDUS.
39
C Z\}t hi fable is of tfjc bjulf aiitj of Hit lambc
P^^T^tS^Hc byrtli caufcth no lb nioche togete
funic freiides/ as cloth the good-
nes/ wherof Efope reherceth to vs
luche a fable/ Of a wulf whicliL-
lawe a lambe among a grete herd
of gootes/ the whiche lambe fovvked a gote/
And the wulf wente and fayd to hym / tliis gote
is not thy moder/ goo and feke her at the Mon-
tayn/ for the flialle nouryflhe the more fwetely
and more tendyrly than this gote ihalle/ And
the lambe anfuerd to hym/ Thisgootenouryflhetii
me inllede of my moder/ For ihe leneth to me
her pappes foner than to ony of her own chil-
dren / And yet more/ hit is better for me to be
here with thefe gootes than to departe fro hens /
and to talle in to thy throte for to be deuoured/
And therfore he is a foole whiche leueth fredome
orfurete/ For to put hym felf in grete perylle
and daungcr of del he/ For better is to lyue
furely and rudely in fewrte than fwetcly in peryll
ic daunger
40
LIBER
C 2CfjE bii fable fpeltetT^ of tfi£ oltJ 'Ooqqz antJ
of fjis 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 Elbpe 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 beeftes/ 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-
fuU 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
SECUNDUS. 41
me a bak / hnue memoryc how in myn yong
age/ I was llrongc and hilly/ And how I made
grete outtragesand eHbrs/ the whiche caul'cd my
yonglhe/ And now when I am bycome old and
f'eble thow Ibttcll nought of me / C This fable
techeth that who fo euer doth ony good in his
yongthe/ in his aimcyenle and old age he llialle
not contynue in the vertucs which he pollcdcd
in his yong age
42
LIBER
C STfje fat'ij fable is of tf}e l^arcs atttj of t^e
frogges
En fay conynly that after that the
tyme goth / fo muft folke go / For
yf thow makeft deftindion of the
tyme thow ihalt wel accord the
Scryptures / wherof Efope 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 adreffyd
them in to a medowe fuUe of frogges / C And
whanne the frogges herd the hares renne they
beganne alfo to flee and to renne fall / And thenne
a hare whiche perceyued them fo ferdfuU 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 double/ and
haue fere and drede as we haue / Therfore we
ought not to defpayre/ but haue truft and hope
to lyue / And yf fomme aduerfyte cometh vpon
us/ we muft here it pacyently/ For ones the
tyme
SECUNDUS. 43
tyme llialle come that we IhnlK- be oute of payne
and oute of all drede / Thertbre in the vnhappy
and Intortunat tynie men ought not to be del-
payred / but oughte euer to be in good hoi)e to
haue ones better in tyme ot'prolperyte / Vot atter
grete werre cometh good pees/ And alter the
rayne cometh the tair weder
44 LIBER
C STl^e II fable makEtfj ntencgon of tfje feulf
anti of tijc jkuliti£
5^0od Children ought to obferue and
kepe euer the comaundements of
theyr good parents and frendes/
wherof Efope reciteth to vs fuche
a table/ Of a gote whiche had
made her yonge kyde/ and honger toke her foo
that ilie 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
to me the dore / And thenne the 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 do6lryne and the techyng of
theyr parentes/ For many one is vndone and loll
for faulte of obedyence
SECUNDUS.
AS
C Zht tfntlir fnblf is of the goot) man anli
of tijc fcrpcntc
K that ought not to be alVowerd that
applykcth and letteth hym to doo
loinme other eny euyll/ wherof
elope reherceth Tuche a table/ Ot"
a lerpent/ whiche wente & came
into the hows of a poure man/ which ferpent
lyued of that whiche telle tVo 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
ageynrte the ferpent/ and took a grete Ilaf/ and
fmote at hym / and gretely hurted him / wherfore
the ferpente wente oute of his lious And therin
he came neuer ageyne/ And within a lytyll
whyle 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 hym moche of that
he fmote the ferpent/ And thenne this poure
man wente and hubled hym before the lerpent
layenge to hym / I prayc the that thow wylt par-
donne me of thoffenfe that I have done to the/
CAnd
46 LIBER
C And thenne fayd the ferpente to the poure
man / Syth thow repenteft the of thy myfdede /
I pardonne andforgyueit to the/ But as longeas
I Ihalle be on lyue / I Ihalle 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 / flialle euer be
prefumed & holden for euylle/ And therfore
men ought to prefume ouer hym / by whome
they receyue fomme dommage and not haue fuf-
pe6te theyr good and trewe frendes
SECUNDUS. 47
C JThf li fablf is of the htrU j of llif fl]ffp .^
of tijc iuulf
He thynge wliich is promyfed by
force & for drcde is not to be
hold/ wherof efope reherceth fuche
a fable of a hcrt which in the
prefence of a wulf demuaded of
a fheep that flie ihold paye a buflhel of corn/
And the wulf commauded to the Ihcep to paye
hit/ And whanne the day of payment was come
the herte came and demaunded of the lliecp his
corn And the Iheep fayd to hym/ the conenaunces
and paftyons made by drede and force oughte
not to be holden / For it was force to me beynge
to fore the wulf to promytte &: graunte to g>'ue
to the that whiche thou neuer leneft to me / And
therfor thow flialt haue ryght nought of me/
wherfore fomtymc it is good to make promilVe
of fome thynge for to efchewe gretter dommage
or lolle/ For the thyngs whiche are done by
force haue none fydelyie
48
LIBER
C Wi}Z It] fable ts of tl^e balleti man/
anti of ti^e flg^/
F 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/ fhe 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
demaundeft wel thy dethe/ yf I fmote my felf
wherof thow lawheft and mocquefl me / But yf I
had hytte the/ thow haddeft be therof flayne/
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
daunscer
SECUNDUS.
49
C E\}t liij fnfalc is of tfic foif nntj of the ftorkc
Hdw oughtell not to doo to other
that wliiche thow woldelt not that
men iliold doo to the/ wherof
j^JlLst^^ Efope reherceth to vs fiiche a
"^^~ table/ Of a foxe whiche conueyed
a llorke to Touper/ And the foxe put the mete
vpon a traunclier/ the whiche mete the ftorke
myght not ete/ wherof the tooke & had grate
difplayfaunce/ & wente & departed oute of the
foxes
50 LIBER
foxes hows al hungry and wente geyne to her
lodgys/ and by caufe that the foxe had thus
begyled her / flie bythoughte in her felf / how
Ihe 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 gauell to me/
And the poure foxe ryght fliameful 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
C 2rf)E liii} fable is of tlir toulf ant of tfjc
tftf mans i^ctif
\ny one ben whiche haue grete
worlliip and glorj'e/ but noo pru-
dence / ne nooWyfedom they haue
in them wlierof Elope reherceth
liiche a fable / Of a wulf which
1. ...i.vi .1 vicJe mans hede/ the whiche he torned
vp fo doune with his foote/ And fayd/ Ha a
how fayr haft thow be and playfaunt / And now
thow hall in tlie neyther wytte/ ne beaute/ &
yet thow arte withoute voys and withoute ony
thought / and therfore men ought not only to
behold the beautte and fayrenelfe of the body /
but only the goodnes of the courage/ For fom-
tyme men gyuen glorye and worlliip to fome /
whiche haue not del'eruyd to haue hit/
52
LIBER
C QCfjc i& fable is of tfje Sage anti of tl^e pecofe
One ought to were and putte on
hym the gowne of other / wherof
Elope 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 dreflyd 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 thenne alle the byrdes cam vpon hym/
and fmote & bete hym / fayenge thus to hym /
SECUNDUS. 5 3
yf lliou haddeft be content of thyn owne vt-lty-
mcntes/ thow hadert not come to thisvylony/
Ther for hit appereth that hit is not good to
were another mans gowni* / For fuche weren
fayre gownes and fayr gyrdels of gold that haue
thevr teeth cold at home
54
LIBER
C 2E]^c ibj fable is at tfje mule ant( of tf)e flge.
Omme 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 faft
ynough / the flye fayd to the Mule / Ha a payllart
Mule / why gooft thow not fafter / 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 naone 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
SECUNDUS. 55
C tL\}c ibij fnblf is of ibc antf nnti t}]f Qdc.
C) make booll and auauntyngc is but
^:^;tI n^^«4j vayne s;lor)'e and folye/ wlicrof
) I -/. Elope recyteth fuclie a fable/ Of
*f ^' . v^)^J '^'*^ ^"^*^ '^'^ formyce and of the
tiye/ whiche rtryued to gyder/
for to wete whiche was the moll noble of
them bothe/ & the tlye fayd to the formyce/
Come hyder formyce / wylt thow compare thy
felf to me that dwelle in the kynges places and
palays/ and ete and drynke at theyr table/ And
alfo I kylfe bothe kynge and quene/ and the
moft fayre maydens / and thow poure and myf-
chaunt beeit thow arte euer within the erthe/
And the formyce anfuerd to the five/ Now
knowe I wel thy vanyte and folye / C For thow
auauntert the of that wherof thou Iholeft def-
prayfe the /
For fro alle places where as thow good or
flycft / thow arte hated chaced and put oute / and
lyueft in'grete daunger/ for aflbne as thewynter
Ihalle come thow (halt deye/ And I flial abyde
on lyue alone within my chamber or hole /
where as I drj-nke and ete at my playfyr/ Ft)r
the
56 LIBER
the wynter Ihalle not forgyue to the thy myf-
dede / but he Ihalle llee the/ CAnd thus he
that wylle mocque or defpreyfe fomme other/
he ougt fyrft to loke and behold on hym lelf
wel / For men fayn comynly / who that be-
holdeth in the glas/ well he feeth hym felf/
(I 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.
SECUNDUS.
57
C JTlic lUiij fable is of thf toulf / of i\)t: foif
nnti of tf)C ape
IE that ones talk-th in to ibmiiie
euylle faytte or decle / he Ihalle
euer lyue with delhoiiour and in
lul'pccion/ of the peple/ C And
how be it that by aduenture he
purpoled to doo ibmme prouffitable ihynge to
I'omme other/ yet he (hold not be trufted ne
byleued / wherof Efope reherceth to vs fuche a
fable / Of a wulf whiche maade the foxe to be
cyted before the Ape/ C And the wulf fayd
that the foxe was but a theef and a pay Hart and
a knaue of poure folke/ And the foxe fayd that
he lyed / and that he was a good and trewe man /
And that he dyde moche good/
C And thenne the Ape whiche was fette as
a Juge/ gaf fuche a fentence/ and fayd to the
wulf/ Come hyther/ tliow haft not loll al that
wliiche thow demaundelt / C And thow Foxe
I beleue wel that thow haft vfurped and robbed
fom thynge/ howe be it/ that thow denyeft hit
in Juftyce/ But for as moche that pees may be
bytwcxe yow bothe / ye ihalle parte to gyder
your
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 caiife that
the ape fehe them bothe guky and fufpycious
made theyr dyfference to be acorded / and parted
half by half/ For they that ben cuftomed to doo
ony frawde or falfhede/ Ihall euer lyue rygte
heuyly and in fufpycon
SECUNDUS.
59
C iTtjc III fable 15 of tlif man nnt] of i\]t
lUfSfl
En ought wel to loke and behold the
courage & thought of hyin/ whiclie
dothe good/ and the ende/ wher-
tor he dothe hit / wherof Elope
reherccth fuche a fable / Of a man
whiclie tooke a wefell / the whiche chaced after
the rattes wythynne his hows/ C And after
whanne he had taken her/ he wold haue kylled
her/ C And whanne the poure Wefelle fawe
the wrathe and furour of her mayfter/ ilie cryed
to hym / mercy/ fayenge thus/ My lord I re-
quyre and praye the/ that thow wylt pardonne
to nie/ and that thow wylt reward ine of the
grete feruyfe whiche I haue done to the/ For
euer I haue chaced the rats oute of thy hows/
C And tlic man fayd to her/ thow dydeft not
that for the loue of me/ but only thow haft done
it for to fylle thy bely For yf thow haddeft done
it for the loue of me / I Ihold haue pardonned to
the/ C And by caufe that thow dydeft not for
to ferue me/ but for to iette and adomage me/
Fur that the rattes myght not ete/ thou bareft
it
6o LIBER
it awey / And foo bycaufe / that thow arte wexed
fatte of myne owne brede/ thow muft rendre
and geue to me alle the fatneffe/ whiche thou
haft conquered and goten here / For he that
robbeth Ihall be robbed/ Juxta illud/ pellatores
pillabuntur / For hit fuftyfeth not to doo wel /
but men muft haue good wylle and good enten-
cion for to do hit / For an almeffe that is done
for vayne glorye/ is not merited/ but difmeryted /
wherfore I fhal not pardonne the/ but incon-
tynent and withoute taryenge thow fhalt deye /
For by caufe that thow haft deferuyd no mercy /
thow {halt now be putte to dethe
SECUNDUS.
6i
C Z\)t II fnblr mnUcth mrnn'on of t!ic ©it/ nnt)
of tlir froggc / toijirlie loalti liauc comparfti
her to fium
S^S^He poure ought not to compare hym
felf to hym which is ryche and
niyghty/ As fayth this fable of a
frogge / whiche was in a medowe /
when Ihe afpyed and fawe an oxe
whiche palhired / She wold make her felf as grete
and as myghty as the oxe / and by her grete
pryde llie beganne to fwelle ageynfte the oxe/
And denaunded of his children yf ihe was not
as grete as the oxe and as myghty/ And theyr
children anfuerd and fayd nay moder/ For to
loke and behold on the oxe / it femeth of yow to
be nothynge/ And thenne the frogge beganne
more to fwelle/ C And when the oxe fawe her
pryde/ he thraddeand threlled her with his fote/
and brake her bely / Therfore hit is not good to
the poure to compare hym felf to the ryche/
Wherfore men favn comynly / Swelle not thy
felf/ to thende that thow brefte not
C liUre fonDSs])^ tfjc fcconli bookf of Csopc/
62 LIBER
C '^zxt bcggnet!) t]^E tl)2rtitie ioofee of tf)e ftihtgle
failfs of (^sope/ iDfjcrof tfje fgrste tnakct]^
mencton/ of tfje Igon/ & of t]^e pastour or
i)£rliman
^sM^
'f^""^! He myghty and puyflant oughte not
^ ' to be llowfull 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 lliewynge 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 lliepherde fawe the wounde/ he
with
TERTIUS. 63
with a iivdlo lubtylly drewe outc of liis foote the
thorne/ and had oute of the wound alle the
roten fleflhe/ and enoynted hit with fwete oyne-
inents/ C And anone the lyon was hole/ And
for to haue rendryd graces and thankys to the
Ihepherd or paftour the lyon kylVed his handes/
And after he retorned ageyn in to the hyelt of
the woode/ And within a lyiel whyle after it
happed that this lyon was taken and conueyed
to the Cyte of Rome and was put amonge the
other beeftes for to deuoure the myfdoers / Now
it befelle that the fayd Ihepherd commyfed a
crymynous dede / whertore he was condempned
to be deuoured by thefe beftes/ And ryght fo as
he was call among them the lyon knewe hym /
and beganne to behold on hym/ and made to
hym chere and lykked hym with his tongue/
And preferued and kepte hym from alle the
other beftes/ Thenne knewe the Ihepherd that
it was the lyon whiche he maade hole/ And
that he wold thenne haue rccompenfed hym of
the good whiche he had done to hym / wherof
alle the Romayns were all wonderly abafihed/
And wold knowe the caufe of hit And the
Iheepherd fayd to them as aboue is fayd/
C And whanne they knewe the caufe / they
gaf leue to the Iheepherd / to goo home and
fente ageyne the lyon in to the foreft / 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
flowfuhies is a fynne/ whiche is moche difplay-
faunt to god
TERTIUS.
65
C iThc Ccccnb fable is of tlir loon nnti of tlir ijors
~^Ciie one ought to efchewe dylVymy-
lyng/ for none 01131 to were on hym
the fkyn of the wulf/ but that he
wyll be lyke to hym / For none
ongt to fayne hym felf other than
fuche as he is/ As to vs reherceth this fable/
C Of a lyon whiche fawe a hors/ whiche ete
gralVe in a medowe/ And for to fynde fomme
fubtylyte and manere for to ete and deuoure
hym approched to hym / and fayd / God kepe
the my broder/ I am a leche/ and with al a good
phefycyen/ C And by caufe that I fee that
thow haft a fore foote / I am come hyther for
to hele the of hit/ And the hors knewe wel
all his euyell thought And fayd to the lyon /
My broder I thanke the gretely / and thow arte
welcome to me/ I preye the that thow wylt
make my foote hole/ And thenne the lyon fayd
to the hors/ late fee thy foote/ And as the lyon
looked on hit/ the hors fmote hym on the for-
hede/ In fuche wyfe that he brake his hede and
fyll oute of his mynde/ & the lyon felle to the
ground/ and foo wonderly he was hurte / that
alniuft
E
66 LIBER
almoll he myght not ryfe vp ageyne / And thenne
layd 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
dyffymyled 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 Ihewe hym
felf fuche as he is /
TERTIUS.
67
t Crtjf l{)url) fablr mahrllj mnicioii af tljr nssc/
of t{}E Ijors/ ^ of tfjCDv foitunc
IE tliat is wel fortuned and happy/
and is atte vppereft of the whele
of fortune/ may wel falle doune/
And therfore none oughte to def-
prayfe the poure / but oughte to
thynke how the whele of fortune is moche
doubtous as Ihewethe this prefent fable/ Of a
tayr hors whiclie was wel harnayfed and arayed /
and his fadel and brydel garnyfllied with gold /
whiche hors mete with an afTe fore laden in a
narowe way / And by caufe that the alVe tourned
hym not a bak Incontyncnt the hors fayd to
hym / Ha a chorle hall thow noo Ihame ne ver-
goyne/ that thow dofte ne berell none worlhippe
ne reuerence vnto thy lord / who holdelh now
me/ that wyth my foote I breke not thyn hede/
by caufe that thow putteft not thy felf afyde
and oute of my waye / fo that I myght parte
& goo on my wave/ The poure affe anfuerd
ne fayd to hym neuer a word/ and was fore
aferd that the horfe fliold haue bete hym / 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 profperyte/ he comauded that he Ihold
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 here dounge in to the
feldes / Now it happed that the alfe whiche was
in a medowe etyng grafle perceyued and fawe
the hors and wel knewe hym / wherof he was
wonder abaflhed / and merueylled moche that
he was thus poure and lb lene bycome / C And
the afle went toward hym andfayd / Ha a felawe,
where is now thy fayre fadel/ and thy ryche
brydel/ garnyfflied with gold/ how arte thow
now bycome loo 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 offyce / And the
mylerable and vnhappy hors was abaflhed /and
for Ihame loked dounward/ & anfuerd neuer
one word / for alle his felicitie was thenne
turned
TFRTIUS. 69
turned into aduerfyte / C And therforc they that
ben in fclycite / oughte not to dyfprayfe tlieni /
whiche ben in aduerlyte/ For many one I
knewe ryche and myghty / whiche are now
poure
70
LIBER
C ^^z Hi} fable maketfi mmcpn of tl^e berstes
anti of t^z hixtJZQ
[One maye do no good to two lordes
at ones/ whiche ben cotrary one
to that other/ as layth to vs this
fable that the beeftes made grete
werre ageynll 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 vaynquyflhed / 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 /
Ihe was condempned to neuer fee the day/ And
neuer flee / but only by nyght / And alfo fhe was
defpoylled of alle her fethers / And therfore he
that wylle ferue two lordes cotrary one to other
may-not be good ne trewe / And they wheche
relynquen
TER'nUS. 71
relynquen and leue theyr owne lordes for to
Terue another Itraunger/ whiclie is enemy to
theyr lord/ ben wel worthy to be punylllied /
For as the Eiiangcle fayth/ None may ferue
bothe god and the deuyl
72 LIBER
C E^t fa fable is of t!)e nggl[)t2ngalE anli of
tf)e fp£r£|)airik£
E that opprefleth the Innocents
'^ ihalle haue an euyl ende / wherof
Elope 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 muft 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
THRTIUS. 73
gretc nette vpon the I'perehawk / And whanne fhe
wold haue fleen awey / he myght not / for he
was taken / And therfore he that doth harme &
lettcih the Innocents / is wortliy to deye of euylle
dethc/ As Cayni dyd whiche llewe liis broder
Abel
74 LIBER
C E^t Umnt}} fable fs of tfje iaxz antj of
tf)£ 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 Elope 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 longefyth 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
ftieepherd /
TERTIUS. 75
ftieepherd / towhome he fayd / yf thnw wvit hu
auenged of the wulf wliiche is enemy of thy hccrd
or parke/ on this day I Ihalle put hym under
thy handes/ And the Ihepherd aufuerede to the
tbxe in this manere/ yf thow doo as thow fayll /
I fliall paye the wel / And thenne the foxe
lliewed to hym the hool/ wherin the wulf was/
And the Ihepherd Incontynent wente toward
the hole/ and with a fpere he kyld the wulf/
And l)y this manere the foxe was wel fylled and
refreflliyed of the good of the other/ but as he
returned home ward / he was tuke and deuoured
by fommedogges/ wherfore he fayd to hym felf/
by caufe that r}'ght euylle I haue done/ euylle
Cometh thow to me/ For fynne retorneth euer
vpon his maylter/ And he that lyueth but of
rauyn and robberye llial at the lall be knowen
and robbed/
76
LIBER
C ST'^e feuent!) fable is of tfje l^erte atitr of tlje
fjunter
^En preyfen fomtyme that / that
Ihold be blamed & vitupered /
And ofte men blamen & vytu-
peren that / that iliold 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
TERTIUS. 77
caule of my dethe/ And thertbre men ought to
dcfprayre that thyngc/ whiche is vnproutfitable/
and preyle that whiche is vtyle and prourtitable/
And tht'V ought to prfylc and loue the chirche and
tlie conunaundenicnts of the fame/ the whiche
ben moche vtyle 6c prouftytable/ And defpreyfe
and flee al fyniie and vyce/ whiche ben inutyle
harmetul and domniaseable
78 LIBER
C 2Efje bitj fafele malket!) ntEncion of Suno / of
Ucnus / anti of tf)0 otfjer irigmmm
Efore the goddes and the goddeffes
men mufte euer preyfe chaftyte /
for it is a worfhipful & an honefl
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 fhe demaunded a henne whiche was
in her hows / but at this tyme I fhal kepe my
tongue / and no ferther I fhalle 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 & honefl: /
And that we alle ben bounden to kepe the ladyes
in theyre worlliip and honour/ alfo that in euery
place where hit Ihalle be pofl}'ble to vs we ought
to preyfe them / We flialle now ceffe to enquere
ferther of this matere/ and hiftoryye/ whiche
we fhall leue in latyn for tlie grete clerkes / & in
efpecial for them that wylle occupye theyr tyme
to judge and rede the glofe of the fayd Elope
TERTIUS.
79
C (E|}e nuntl)c fable is of i\)t knugljt anb of
tljc luntiotoc
g^-^n-jj^i,^' He woman wliiche lyueth in this
world witliout reproche or blame
is worthely to be gretely preyl'ed /
Wherof Efope reherceth fuche a
table of a man and of a woman /
whiche loued moche eche other/ It happed thenne
by the effors of Atropos or dethe/ the whiche
we al muft fuffer that the fayd 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 / Ihe wold
abyde Ih'ile vpon the graue/ and lete do make a
lytyll lodge or hows therupon/ and oute of this
lodge Ihe wold neuer departe for no prayer ne
fayr word / neyther for ony yeftes ne for menaces
of her parents Now it befell in the toun that amy f-
doer was condampned to be hanged / C And to
thende that he lliold not be taken fro the gallows /
hit was thenne commaunded that a knyght lliold
kepe hym / And as the knyght kepte hym / grete
ihurfte took hyra / And as he perccyued the lodge
of
8o LIBER
of the fayd woman he wente to her / and prayd
her to gyue hym fomme drynke/ And fte with
good 'herte gaf hym to drynke/ And the knyght
dranke with grete appetyte / as he that had grete
thurlte/ & 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 lofte 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 fhe demaiided of hym / My
frend/ 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 rauyflhed fro me/ the kynge flialle
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 llialt be delyuerd/
For we lliall take my hufbond/ and Ihalle
hanjre
TF.RTIUS. 8 1
hange hym in ftcde of thy tliecf/ C Tlienne
begaiine ihe to dclue/ aiul tooke out of tlie crthc
her hulboncl/ and at m}t Ihe hanged hym at
the galhows in ftede of the other/ and fayd to
the knyght/ My ryght dere frend I pray the
that this be kept well fecrele/ For we doo hit
tlieerty/and thus the dede men haue fomme/
whiche make forowe for them/ but lliat forowe
is fone gone and palFyd/ And they whiche ben
on lyue haue fome whiche drede them / but
theyr drede wantith and faylleth whan they ben
dede
82 LIBER
C (C'[)£ tentf)£ fabU mafeetfj mracgon of tl^e gong
man/ anti of tlje comcn inoman
MF the comyn and folyfihe 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 flie 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 fhall fotte my loue on thy felf alone / wherfore
I pray the that thow mayrt 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 falflieed 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 paffed / I am
euer aferd of the/ but notwithftondynge this/
thow
TERTIUS. 83
thow arte now moche playfaunt and fayr to the
lyghte of mc/ And thus the one bcgyled that
other/ For the loue of a comyn woman is not to
be trulled / For thow oughtell to knowc and
thynk within thy felf/ that the comyn and
folyflh woman loue the not / but the loucth thy
fyluer
84
LIBER
C QTi^c ij fable ts at tf)e fatiet antJ of tfje
Eimlle fone
He good and wyfe fader ought to
chaftyle 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 booU 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
TERTIUS. 85
to hym fclf byiulc them thus to gyder / to thciule
that the bole/ whiche is yong fyen and maly-
cious and Itrong/ fmyie ne hurte nobody/
wherot grete donimage myght come to me / But
by caul'e that I bote well / that the oxe Ihalle
teche and corryge hym wel / I haue put and
bound them bothe to gyder/ CThus this fable
Iheweth to vs / that the fader ought to teche and
gyue good enfample to his children and chaftyfe
them whanne they be yong For he that well
loueth / wel he ehalh'reth
86
LIBER
C Cf)e iij fa&Ie is of tije 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 ihe 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 flialle not breke eche other/
ne two enuyous men fhal not both ryde vpon an
afle / wherfor the myghty and ftronge muft loue
hym whiche is as myghty and as flrong as hym
felf is
TERTIUS. 8;
C Z\)( ii'ij fable 13 of tl;c toulucs auti of
t\)t ff)Cfp
iHanne men haue a good liede/ and
a good dct'cnknir / or a good Capi-
tayne/ men oughte not to leue
hym/ for he that leueth hym re-
pcnteth hym alter ward of hit/ as
to vs reherceth this fable/ Of the iheep whiche
liad werre and defcencion with the wolues / And
by caufe that the wuhies made to ftronge werre
ageynft the Iheep/ the Ihepe thenne tooke for
theyr help the dogges/ and the whethers ahb/
And thenne was the bataylle of the ftieep fo grate
and fo llronge / & fought fo vygoroully ageynll
the wolues that they put them to fly3t C And
whanne the wolues fawe the ftrengthe of theyr
aduerfaryes/ they fent an ambalTade toward the
iheep for to trete the pees with them / the whiche
Ambalfade fayd to the iheep in this maner/ yf
ye wylle g>'ue us the dogges/ we fhalle fwere
vnto yow oure feythe / that we Ihalle ncuer kepe
ne hold werre ageynll yow / And the iheep
anfuerd / yf ye wylle gyue vs your fayth / we
Ihalle be content / And thus they made pees to
gyder/
88 LIBER
gyder/ but the wulues kyld the dogges/ whiche
were capytayns and prote6tours of the Iheep /
And the dogges dyde but lytyll hurteto 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 layd 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 iheep/ and theyr faders wente after
them / C And thus by caufe that the flieep 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
o-yue 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 lure thynge to kepe wel the loue of his
protedour and good frende/
TERTIUS.
89
C liiij fnblf is of ttjf man anti of tfjt bjooti
that gyiioth aydc and help to his
enemy is caufe of his dethe / as
rccvteth tliis fable of a man
['_i : A^-^J;! whiclie made an axe / And after
that he had made his axe/ lie
alked of the trees/ and fayd / ye trees gyue yow
to me a handle / and the trees were content /
C And whanne he had maade faft his handle to
the axe/ he began to cutte and throwe doune to
the ground alle the trees/ wherfore the oke and
tlie aflhe layd / yf we be cutte / hit is wel tyght
and reafon / For to oure owne felf we ben cut
aiul thrawen doune/ C And thus hit is not
good to put hym felf in to the daunger and fub-
iection of his enemye / ne to helpe hym for to
be adomaged / as thou maift fee by this prefente
table / For men ought not to gyue the llaf by
whiche they may be beten with
90 LIBER
C W^z lii fa6l£ 10 of t|^e toulf aiiH of tf)e "fiogge.
lyberte or freedome is a moche fwete
thynge / as Elope 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 Ihauen / And the
dog
TERTIUS. 91
dog anfuered/ it is by caufe of my c;rctc color
of yron / to the whiclie dayly I am falted / And
at nyglit I am vnbouiul for to kcpc the hows the
better/ Thenne layd the wulf to the doggc/
This I wyllie ne iiede not / For I that am in
lyberte/ wylle not be put in no fubiedlion / And
therefor for to fylle my- bely / I wylle not be
fubget / yf thou be acuftommed for to be bound /
contynue thow in hit / and I Ihalle lyue as I
am wonte and acuftomed / therfore there is no
rychelle gretter / than lybete / for lyberte is
better than alle the gold of the world /
92 LIBER
C iH^z lijj fable tnakctlf nt£nct0n of tl^e j^anties /
of tf)£ f ££t / antj of t\)z mans ftelg
^Ow fhalle one do ony good to an-
other / the whiche can doo no
good to his owne felf/ 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 /
wherfore thou Ihalt no more haue nothynge
of vs/ and we llialle 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 geteft 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
TERTIUS. 93
is to wete the bcly/ And he that gouernetli not
wel liis bely withe grete payne he may liold the
other lymmes in theyr llrengthe and vertuc/
wherfore a feruaunt ought to I'erue wel his
mayller/ to thende that his niayller hold and
kepe hvm honelUy / and to rcceyue and haue
good reward of hym / when his mayllcr ihalle
fee his t'eythtulnclle
94
LIBER
C Cfjc i&ij fable IS of i^t ^pe anti of tfje foie.
ua^^'iF 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
Ihold here 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
TERTIUS.
95
C vTijc lUiij fnbic is of i{)c marchnunt nnti
of tl)f ns3£
J
^
■*.4
Kit joxz
«•/■
^
aw
?
s
EM
*•
any one ben trauaylled after ihcyr
dcthe / wherfore men ought not
to defyre the dethe/ As reherceth
Elope by this fable/ Of a mar-
chaunt whiche ladde an afle laden
vnto the market/ And for to be ilie fooner at
the market/ he bete his afTe/ and fore prycked
hym/ wherfore the poure alfe wyflhed & defyred
his owne deth / wenyng to hyni that after his
dethe he fliold 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
fkynne he dyd doo make tumbours whiche ben
euer bete/ And thus for what payne that men
ujay haue durynge his lyf/ he ought not to
defyre and wylThe his dethe/ For many one
ben/ whiche haue grete payne in this world
that fliall haue a gretter in the other world/
For the man hath no refte for the dethe but for
his merytes
96
LIBER
C 2r]^e iti fable is of tfje fjerte anti of tf)£ oie
Nely for to flee is alTured to fcape
the daunger wherfore he fleeth /
As thow fhalt nowe fee by this
fable / Of a herte whiche rane
by fore the dogges / and to thende
that he fliold not be take/ he fledde in to the
fyrft toun that he found/ & entryd in to a ftable
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 fholdelt
be more furely in the feldes C 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 fhalle
goo hens / and ihalle putte my felf in to a fure
place/ CAnd 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
TERTIUS. 97
penile of dethe/ He tlifime rendred thnnke
and grace to the oxen/ and one of the oxen I'ayd
tohym/ It is facyle to fcape out of the handes
of the blynd but hit is not facyle to fcape out of
the handes of liym thet feeth wel / For yf oure
mayfter come hyther whiche hath more than an
honderd even/ Certayn thow arte deed yf he
perceyue the C And yf he fee the not / cer-
taynly thow arte laued / and llialt goo forthe on
thy waye furely/
The mayfter within a lliort whyle after entryd
in to the ftable/ And after he comniaunded to
vyfyte and fee the hey / whiche was before his
oxen / And hym felf went and tafted / yf they
had ynough of hit / And as he tafted thus the
heye/ he felt the homes of the herte with his
hand/ and to liyni felf he fayd / what is that
that I fele here / and bcynge dredeful called alle
his feruauntes / and demaunded of the manere
how the herte was come thyder/ And they fayd
to hym/ my lord I knowe nothynge therof/
And the lord was full gladde and made the
herte to be taken and ftayne / and maade a grete
feeft for to haue ete hym/ Therfore it happeth
oftyme/ that he whiche fuppofeth to flee is
taken 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 muft nedes flee therfore
98 LIBER
C STfjc XI fable tna^tct]^ mrnrion of tfjc fallace of
t!jc loon/ ^nti of fiis conuersacion
%^
^^^^S^O conuerfe with foike of euylle lyf
"^^l 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 grate 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
promelTe he repented hym by caufe hit is moche
dytfycyle 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
TERTIUS. 99
that liit riiiclletli lyke bame/ And thenne the
lyon had lliame to llee the ape / but he tond a
grete taUlieed for to put hym to dethe/ He
fayned to be feke and conimaunded that al his
leches A: Cyrurgyens ihold anone come vnto hyni /
whan they were come/ he commaunded them
to loke his vryne/ And whan they had I'ene hit/
they layd to hym / Syre ye Ihalle Ibone be hole /
But ye mull ete lyght metes/ And by caule
that ye be kynge / alle is at your commaunde-
ment/ And the lyon anfuerd Alias Ryght tayne
I wold ete of an Ape/ Certaynly fayd the
medecyn that fame is good mete/ Thenne was
the Ape fente for And notwiihltondyng that
he worlhipfuUy fpak and anfuerd to the kynge/
the kynge made hym to dye/ and deuoured
hym CTherfore 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 wel happy is he/ that may ecape
fro his blody handes/ And that may efchewe
and flee the felaulhip of the eyyll tyraunt
C %]txt fonosshfli t{)£ tl)Drl)t)c boolu of tlje
fubtnlc fables of Csope /
LIBER
K
C SEfje ti^tst fable tnakct]^ meTtcgon of ii}Z foie
antJ at tfje ragsgns
E is not wyfe / that defyreth to haue
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 loye/ and fayd thefe rayfyns ben
fowre /
QUART us.
loi
lowre / and yf I had Iuiik- I wold not cte them /
And tliertorc this tabic ihcwetli that he is wyfe/
wliichc t'lyncih not to del'yre that tliynge the
whiche he may not haue/
I02
LIBER
C 2E]^E seconli fable 10 of tfje atmcoent toesel anti
of tfje rat /
Ytte 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 flie fhold hyde her felf with-
ynne theflowrefor to take the rats whiche came
there for to etc hit. And as the rats came to the
floure / Ihe 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 CAnd
therfore he is wyfe that fcapeth the wytte and
malyce of eyylle folke/ by wytte and not by
force
QUART us.
103
C ^\)C tln'ilic fable is of tlir toulf an^ of tlir
sfifcpf]crtj anti of tiic fnmtcr
Any folke Ihewe themfelf good by
theyr wordes whiche are ful of
grete tantafyes / As reherceth to
vs thys fable of a wulf whiche
fledde byfore the hunter/ and as
he fledde he mette with a flieepherd / to whome
he faid my frende I praye the that thow telle
not to hym that folowith me whiche wey I am
gone/ & the Iheep herd faid to hym haue no
drede ne fere nothynge / For I Ihalle not accule
the/ For I Ihalle Ihewe to hym another way/
And as the hunter came/ he demaunded of the
flieepherd yf he had fcne the wulf paffe/ And
the hunter both with the heed and of the even
Ihewed to the hunter the place where the wulf
was/ &c with the hand and the tongue Ihcwed
alle the contrarye / And incontynent the hunter
vnderftood hym wel / But the wulf whiche per-
ceyued wel all the fayned maners of the Ihcep-
herd fled awey / C And within a lytyl whylle
after the Iheepherd encountred and mette with
the wulf/ to whome he fayd/ paye me of that
1
104 LIBER
I haue kepte the fecrete / (I And thenne the
wulf anluered to hym in this maner/ I thanke
thyn handes and thy tongue / and not thyn hede
ne thyn eyen/ For by them I lliold haue ben
betrayed/ yf I had not fledde aweye/ CAnd
therfore men mull not trulle in hym that hatli
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
QUART us. 105
C Z\)t fouitf) fablt is of Euno tf]f goTJtJcssc ant)
of tbc peroh nntj of tlic nggbtgngalc
'Very one oughte to be content of
kynde / and of fuche good as god
hath fente vnto hym/ wherof he
muft vfe lullly/ As reherceth
this fable of a pecok whiche came
to luno the goddelfe/ and fayd to her I am
heuy and forowful / by caufe I can not fynge
as wel as the nyghtyngale For euery one
mocketh and fcorneth me/ by caufe I can not
fynge/ And luno would comforte hym and
fayd/ thy fayre forme and beaute is fayrer and
more worthy and of gretter preyfynge than the
fonge of the nyghtyngale/ B'or thy fethers and
thy colour ben refplendyUhyng as the precious
Emerawd And theyr is no byrde lyke to thy
fethers ne to thy bcaulte/ C And the pecok
fayd 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 yow one propyrle/ and one
vertue/ fuche as it pleafyd them/ As to the
they
io6 LIBER
they haue gyuen fayr fygure / to the egle haue
they gyuen ftrengthe/ and to the nyghtyngale
fayr & playlaut Ibnge / And fo to all other
byrdes / wherfore euery one muft be content
of that that he hath For the myferable auary-
cious / the more goodes that they haue the more
they defyre to haue
QUARTUS.
107
C €\}t b fable makctfi mention of tlic pantijirr
antJ of tijc fa^laons
Very one ought to do wel to the
ftraunger and forgyue to the
myferable/ As reherceth this
fable of a panthere whiche fylle in
to a pytte/ And whan the vy-
laynes or chorles of the country fawe her/
fomme of them beganne to fniyte on her/ and
the other fayd pardonne and forgyue her/ for
Ihe hath hurted no body / and other were that
r'af to her breed / And another fayd to the
vylayns/ beware ye well that ye ilee her not/
And by caufe that they were al of dyuerfe wyll /
euerychone of them wente and retorned home
ageyne wenynge that flie fliold deye within the
fayd pytte / but lytyl and lytyl (he clymmed vp /
and wente to her hows ageyne/ and made her
to be wel medicyned / in fo moche / that foone
llie was al hole/ C And within a whylle after
fhe hauynge in her memorye the grete Iniurye
that had be done to her came ageyne to the
place where ihe had be hurte and fore bete/ &
began to kylle & flee al the belles whiche were
there
io8 LIBER
there about and put al the llieepherds and fwyne-
herds & other whiche kepte beeftes all to flyght /
Ihe brente the Corne & many other euyl and
grate harme Ihe dyd then aboute/ And whanne
the folke of the country fawe the grete dom-
mage that llie dyd to them / they came toward
her/ prayenge that lliewold haue pyteon them/
And to them Ihe anfuerd in this manere / I am
not come hyther to take vengeaunce on them
whiche haue had pyte and myierycorde of me/
but only on them that wold haue llayne 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 (he was fallen in to the pytte / the for I'ayd
euylle and dommyge had not come to them
QUARTUS. 109
C CTlic bi fafalc is of t!]c borfjcrs nntj of tf)c
tnficHifrs
jHanne a lygnage or kynred is in-
dyrferent or indyuyfvon / not
lyghtly theyllialledoo ony thynge
to theyr falute/ as reherceth to vs
this fable/ Of a bocher whiche
entryd within a rtable full of whethers /And after
as the whethers fawe hym / none of them fayd
one word/ And the bocher toke the fyrfl that
he fonde/ CThenne tlic whethers fpake al to
gyder and fayd/ lete him doo what he wylle/
And thus the bocher tooke him all one after
another fauf one onely/ And as he wold haue
taken the laft / the poure whether fayd to hym /
lulllv I am worthy to be take/ by caufe I haue
not holpen my felawes/ For he that wylle not
hclpe ne comforte other / ought not to demaunde
or alke helpe ne comforte / For vertue whiche is
vnyed is belter than vertue feparate
LIBER
C STfie feumt]^ fable 10 of tlje faiDltoner anti of
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 loyeful 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 drelfyd and
leyd laces and nettes for to take them/ C And
thenne they fayd 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 alfayed 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
flialle here yow for to be fold / And they that
byleuyd his couceylle were faued/ And they
that byleuyed it not were taken and loft / C And
therfore they whiche byleue good councylle are
delyuerd oute of theyr peryles / And they whiche
byleue it not ben euer in grete daunger
QUART us.
Ill
-r ^j^S. S tyme pafled men preyfyd more
•^i S^ ^''^ *"^'^^" *"" "^ •^''>'"gcs and falf-
vf,}^, Ifei^ hrde llian the man tuUot" troiuhe/
the whiche thynge regneth gretely
vnto this daye/ As we may lee
by this prelent table/ Of the man of trouthe
and of the man lyar / whiche went to gyder
thorugh the countrey / And fo h)nge they wente
to gyder by theyr journeyes/ that they came in
to tiie prouynce of the apes/ And the kynge of
thapes made them bothe to be taken and brought
before hym And he beynge in his Royal magefte /
where as he fatte lyke an Emperour/ and alle
his Apes aboute hym / as the fubgets ben aboute
theyr lord/ wold haue demaunded/ and in dede
he demaunded of the Iyer / who am I / And the
lefynge maker and Haterer layd to hym/ thow
arte emperour and kynge/ the fayrell creature
that is on earthe/ C And after the kynge de-
maunded of hym ageyne / who ben thefe whiche
ben al aboute me / And the lyar anfuerd / Syre
they ben thy knyghtes & your fubgcttes for to
kepe
112 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
houlliold / and that euery one here to the honour
and reuerence/ And whan the man of trouthe
herd alia 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 worlhipped 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 enhanced / 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 luftyce and equyte
QUART us.
i»3
C nrijc II fable is of t!)c bors / of tl]c IjunUr ant)
of lt]C \}CXt/
P,Onc ought to put hym felf in lubiec-
tion tor to auenge hym on other/
-i- > ) I ^"'" ^<^^^^'' '^ "°^ *° fubmytte hym-
'^ik^^'-' lelf/ than after to be lubmytted /
As reherceth to vs this fable/ Of
an hors whiche had enuye ouer an herte / by
caufe the herte was fayrer than he / and tlie
hors by enuye went vnto an hunter/ to whome
he fayd in this manere/ yf thow wylt byleue
me/ we llialle this day take a good prove/
Lcpe vpon my bak / and take thy fwerd / and
we flialle chace the herte/ and thow Ihalt hytte
hym with thy fwerd/ and kylle hym/ and
Ihalt take hym/ and thenne his fleflhe thow
mayft ete/ and his fkynne thow mayfl. felle/
C And thenne the hunter moued by auaryce /
demaunded of the hors/ thynkeft thow by thy
feythe that we may take the herte/ of whomme
thow fpckeft to me of/ C And the horsanfwcrd
thus/ SutFyfe the/ For thcr to I flialle put al
my dylygence and alle my ftrengthe/ lcpe vpon
me/ and doo after my counccyllc/ C And
thenne
H
114 LIBER
tlienne 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 fhalle
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 {heweft 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
QUART us.
"5
C 5rf)e tmtf)C fable is of tlic assr anti of tfir Igon
He grete callers by thcyr liyghc and
lowd crye luppofen to make folke
aterd/ As recyteth this fable/ Of
an alfe whiche fomtynie mette
with a lyon / to the whiche the
aire fayd / lette vs clymme vpon the montayne /
and I Ihalle rtiewe to the/ how the beeftes ben
aferd of me/ and the lyon beganne to fmyle/
and he anfuerd to the alVe/ Goo we my broder/
And whan they were on the top of the hylle/
the alfe byganne to crj'e/ And the foxe and
hares beganne to flee/ And whanne thafle faw
them flee fayd to tlie lyon/ Seell thow not how
thefe beeftes dreden and doubten me / and the
lyon fayde / I had ben afo ferdtuU of thy voys/
yf I had not knowen veryly that thow arte but
an afle / C And therfore men nede not double
ne drede hym that auanceth hym felf for to do
that that he may not doo/ For god kepe the
mone fro the wulues/ Ne alfo men nede not
doubtc a foole for his menaces / ne for his hyghe
crye
Ii6 LIBER
C 3rf)e ij fa6Ie is of tf)e l^atofte antJ of atfjcr
fjurtics
^^^^'He ypocrytes maken to god a herd
5j^5j of ilrawe / 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 (hold 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.
"7
C Zht ii'j fafalf 13 of t!)E foxf / antj of i\}c han
Ayre doctryne taketh he in hym
felt"/ that chaftyfeth hym by the
pcn'lle of other/ As to vs re-
herceth this prefent fiible / Of a
lyon whiche fomtyme faygned
hym felf feke/ C And whanne the beetles
knewe that tlie lyon was feke/ they wold goo
alle to vylyte and fee hym as theyr kynge/
C And Incontynent as the beetles entryd in to
his hows for to fee and comfortc hvm / he dc-
uonred and ete them/ C And whan the foxes
were come to the yate for to haue vylyded the
lyon / they knewe wel the fallace and fallhede
of the lyon and falewed hym at the entre of tlie
yate/ And entryd not within/ C And whan
the lyon fiwe that they wold not entre in to his
hows/ he demanded of them/ why they wold
not come within/ And one of the foxes fayd to
hym/ we knowe wel by thy traces/ that alle
the beetles whiche haue entryd in to thy hows
came not oute ageyne/ And alio yf we entrvd
within / nomore rtiold we come ageyne C And
thertor he is wel happy that takelh onfimple
by
ii8 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
dyffycyle /
QUARTUS.
119
C STfjE lifj fnbic is of {\)t asse / an"b of t{)e toulf
^^^^^^^O none cyylle man fcythene trouthe
"H^^ ^^ ought neuer to be adioufted /
^^1 fable/ Of a wulf whiche vyfyted
an alVe whiche was wel feke the
whiche wulf bcganne to fele and tafte hym / and
demaunded of hym / My broder and my frend
where aboute is thy fore/ And the afle fayd to
hym/ there as thow taftefl C And thenne the
wulf faynyng to vyfyte hym / beganne to byte
and fmyte hym / C And therfore men muft not
truft flaterers/ For one thynge they faye/ and
done another
LIBER
C STije liiij fable is of tf)e fjetigeljosse antj of t!jE
"T behodeth not to the yong and
lytyl of age to mocke ne Icorne
theyr older / As this fable fayth /
of thre 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 wyft and knewe wel
thyn conuenyent and paryll / ye ihold not mocke
of hit/ And therfore whan men feen that the
grete and myghty ben ferdful and doubtous/
the laffe or lytyll oughen not to be afTured / 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 fhake
QUART us.
C SEfjeiij fafale is of tljc man nnti of tfic luon/
^En ought not to byleue the paynture /
but the trouthe and the dede /
As men may fee by this prefent
Fable/ Of a man & of a lyon
whiche had ftryf to gyder & were
in grete difcenlion for to wete and knowe/
whiclic of them bothe was more ftronger /
CThe man fayd that he was ftronger than the
lyon / And for to haue his fayenge verytyed /
he Ihewed to the lyon a py6tour/ wlitre as a
man had vyctory ouera lyon/ As the pyttour of
Sampfon the ftronge CThenne fayd the lyon
to the man / yf the lyon coude make py6tour
good and trewe / hit had be herin paynted /
how the lyon had had vydorye of the man /
but now I flialle lliewe to the very and trewe
wytnelfe therof/ The lyon thenne ledde the
man to a grete pytte/ And there they fought
to g)'der/ But the lyon cafte the man into the
pytte/ and fubmytted hym in to his fubiedion
and fayd/ Thow man/ now knowell thow alle
iIk- trouthe/ whiche of vs bothe is ftronger/
C And therfore at the werke is knowen the bell
and molt fubtyle wcrkcr/
LIBER
C STfje ibj fable is of tl^e camel / anti of tfje flee
i]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 liable/ 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
QUARTUS.
J 23
C STfiE ibij fable 13 of i\)t 3lnt ant) of ilir fogale
r is good to purucyc hym Iclf in the
lonier fealbii of fuche thynges/
wluTot" he llialle niyfter and haue
nedc in wynter lealon / As thow
mayll lee by this prefent fable/
Of the lygalle / whiche in the wynter tyme went
and deniaunded of the ant fomme of her Corne
for to ete/ C And thcnne the ant fayd to the
fygall / what hall thow done al the fomer lall
palled / And the lygalle anfuerd / I haue fonge /
CAnd after fayd the ante to her/ Of my corne
ftiallt not thou none haue / And yf thow hall
fonge alle the fomer/ danfe now in wynter/
C And therfore there is one tyme for to doo fome
labour and werk / And one tyme for to haue
roll / For he that werkcth not ne doth no good /
thai haue ofte at his teeth grele cold and lacke
at his nede/
124
LIBER
C STfje ibi'ij fable is of tf}e pglgrgm antJ of tfjc
ftoertJ
In euylle man maye be caufe of the
perdycion or lofle of many foike /
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
QUART us.
125
C Z\)c III fablf 13 of tfjE sljcrp anti of tijc Crotuc
En ought not to iniurye ne dcl-
prayle the poure Innocentes ne
the lyniple tblke ■ As reherceth
this fable/ Of a Crowe/ whiche
fette her felf vpon the back of a
llieep / And whan the Iheep had born her a
grete whyle (he fayd to her/ thow Ihalt kepe
thy felf wel to fette vpon a dogge/ CAnd
thenne the crowc fayd to the Iheep/ Thynke
thow poure Innocent that I wote wcl with
whonie I playe/ For I am old and malycious/
and my kynde is to lette all Innocents/ and to
be frende vnto the euyls/ C A[n]d therfore this
fable wylle telle and faye/ how ther be folke
of fuche kynde/ that they wyl doo no good
werk/ but only to lette euer the Innocents and
fymple folke
126
LIBER
C 9Cf)e IX fable malfert^ menctDn of tljE iut antj
0f tfje reetJ /
One ought to be prowd ageynft his
lord / but oughte to humble hym
felf toward hym / As this fable
reherceth to vs of a grate 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
Ihall be allway humbled And the meke and
huble fhalle be enhaunced/ For the roote of
alle vertue is obedynce and humylyte
C "^tn fgngssfjftlj tfie fourtl^e fioofe of tl^e ^uh--
tgle iFailes of ©sopc / ^nti ^oto &k it tljat
mor
QUARTUS. 127
nior of tficm fafn not fountJ in onu iug
gstie/ i\aifrti)clf5 many otiur fables conu
posctj fag \)^m! taue ben fount)tn taljicfje
i)n:e after folotocn
128
LIBER
y
C (2r!)e fgrste fabU mafeetfj tnmcfon of tl^e tnulet/
of tf)e foie / ant( of t!)E inulf
En Calle many folke Afles/ that
ben wel fubtyll/ And fuche
wenen to knowe moche/ and to
be a grate clerke that is but an
aire / As hit appiereth by thys
fable / Of a mule whiche ete grafTe in a medowe
nyghe to a grate 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 aike who was thy fader / C And
the mule anfuerd/ my grate 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 Oiold 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 foota/ C And whanne
the foxe vnderftood the fallace or faliliede/ he
wente
QUINTUS. 129
wente ageyne into the forcil / And met with
the wult'/ to whome he I'ayd/ Ha myfchaunt
beeft/ what doll thow here/ Come with me
and in to thy hand I fhall put a good proy
Loke in to yonder medowe/ there Ihalt thow
t'ynde a fatte beeft Of the whiche thow mayft
be fylled / C And thenne the wulf entryd in
to the medowe/ and fonde there the mule/
Of whom he demaunnded/ who arte thow/
And the mule anfuerd to the wulf/ I am
a beeft/ And the wulf fayd to hym / This
is not that that I afke to the/ but telle how
thow arte named / And the mule fayd I wote
not / but neuertheless yf thow wylt knowe my
name/ thow ftialt fynde it wreton at my lyfte
foote behynde / Thenne fayd the wulf/ I praye
the / vouche fauf to ftiewe it to me / And the
mule lyft up his foote/ CAnd as the wulf
beheld and ftudyed in the foote of the mule/ the
Mule gaf hym fuche a ftroke whith his foote
before his forhede/ that almoft the brayne ranne
oute of his hede / And the foxe whiche was
within a bulThe and fawe alle the maner beganne
to lawhe and mocque the wulf/ to whomme
he fayd/ Foole becfte thow woft wel / that
thow canft not rede / wherfore yf euylle is therof
come to the / thy felf is caufe of hit / For none
ought not to entremete hym to doo tliat/ that
Impoft'yble is to hym /
I
LIBER
C STfjE feconti fable is of tfie bore antj of t^e toulf
1 Vche defyren to be grete lordes /
and dyfpreyfen his parents/ that
at the laft becomen poure and
fallen in to grete diflionour/ As
thow mayft fee by this prefent
fable / Of a bore / whiche was amonge a grete
herd of other fwynes/ And for to haue lordlhip
and domynacion ouer alle them / he beganne to
make grete rumour / and fhewed 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 flieep/ and emonge lambes/
And whanne he was amonge the lambes/ he
began to make grete rumour/ and fhewed 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
muft abyde and duell For here I flialle be
gretely worfhipped/ For euerychone quaken
for fere of me/ C Thenne came the wulf there
for to haue and rauyffe fomme proye/ And
the
QUINTUS. 131
the lambes beganne alle to flee/ but the bore
as prowd wold not llere hym / ne go fro the
place/ by caul'e he fuppofed to be lord/ but the
wulf toko hym / and bare hym in to tlie wode
for to ete hym/ C And as the wulf bare hym/
it happed that he parted before 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 alTent and owne wylle
wente and recouered theyr felewe/ and after
flewe the wulf/ And as the bore was delyuerd/
and fawe hym amonge the fwynes/ and that alle
his double and fere was gone/ he beganne to
haue vergoyne and lliame/ 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 he that is wel / lete hym beware that
he moue not hym felf / For fuche by his pryde
defyreth to be a grete lord/ whiche ofte falleth
in grete pouerte /
132 LIBER
C 5rf)£ tfigrtJ fable i& of tfje foie anti of t^e corftc /
^Ftyme 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 hyni 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 vnderllandell 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
QUINTUS. 133
oucr mnny wordes / And tlierfor ouer moche
talkyiig letteth/ and to nioclji; crowyngc Iniart-
eth/ therfore kepe thy H*lf fro ouer many
wordes/ to thende/ that ihow rcpcnlell the
not
134
LIBER
C STfjE faurtf)e fable i& of t^e tiragon anlJ of tl^e
f)crte
plEn 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 vyiayne came
thene that waye / and demaunded of the dragon /
what doll 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 affe / and
lede me in to my Ryuer/ I fhal gyue to the
habondaunce of gold and fyluer/ And the
vyiayne 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 cnufe that I am now
hongry/ I (halle ete the/ and the vylayne
anUierd and I'ayd / For to haue done wel/ thow
wylt ete and deuoure me/ And as they ttryued
to gyder/ the toxe whiche was within the foreft
herd wel theyr quelVion and diti'erent came to
them/ and fayd in this manere/ Stryue ye no
more to gyder/ For I wyll acord/ and make
pees bytwixt you Late eche of yow telle to me
his realbn for to wete/ whiche of yow hath
ryght/ And whanne eche of them had told
his caas the foxe fayd to the vylayne/ Shewe
thow to me/ how thow boundelt the dragon/
to thende/ that I may gyue therof a trewe and
lawfuU fentence / And the vylayne put the
dragon vpon his alfe/ and bound hym as he
had done before/ And the fox demaunded of
the dragon / helde he thenne the fo faft bounden /
as he dothe now/ And the dragon anfuerd/ ye
my lord/ and yet more hard/ And the foxe
fayd to the vylayn/ Bynde hym yet more
harder/ For who that wel byndeth/ well can
he vnbynd And whanne the dragon was faft
and wel bounden/ the fox fayd to the vylayne/
here hym ageyne there as thow fyrll tokell hym /
And there thow (halt leue hym bounden as he
is now / And thus he Ihalle not ete ne deuoure
the/ For he that dothe euylle/ euylle he murt
haue /
136 LIBER
haue/ For Juftly he fhall ben punyffhed 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 2rij£ fa fabit IS of tlje foir anlD of fPir catte /
^ Here is many folke/ whiche auaun-
ccn them and faye that they ben
wyle and fubtyle/ whiche ben
grete fooles and knowynge no
thynge / As this fable reherceth
Of a foxe whiche fom tyme mette with a
Catte/ to whome he fayd / My godfep/ god
geue yow good daye / And the catte anfwerd/
my lord god gyue yow good lyf / And thenne
the toxe demaunded of hym / My godfep 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 wortiiy to lyue/ by caufe
that thow canll nought doo / And by caufe that
the cat was angry of foxes wordes/ he alked and
demaunded of the foxe / And thow godfep what
canll thow doo/ A thoufand wyles haue I fayd
the toxe / For I haue a sak ful of fcyences and
wyles/ And I am fo grete a clerke/ that none
maye begyle ne dcceyue me/ And as they were
thus Ipekyng to gyder the cat perceyued a knyght
comynge toward them / whiche had many dogges
with hym/ and fayd to the foxe/ My godfej)/
certaynly
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 fhalle 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 lliewe to me one of them /
the foxe anfuerd not/ but was killed of the
dogges fend the catte was faued/ CAnd 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.
139
C Sr^c faj fable is of tf)e fjrrjaotc anti of t!]e Iriulf
fe''^':-^'"^^)"^He feble ought not 10 arme hym
•J^iSi [y^/l , n .u„ A / A, t^tU
ageynd the ftronge/ As recyteth
~" ^''' this prelent fable of a wulf/ whiche
fome tyme ranne after a hegoot /
and the hegoot for to faue hym
lept vpon a rocke / and the wulf befyeged hym/
C And after whan they had duelled there two
or thre dayes / the wulf beganne to wexe hongry /
and the hegoote to haue thurft/ And thus the
wulf went for to ete / and the hegoot went for
to
I40 LIBER
to drynke / And as the hegoot dranke he fawe
his fhadowe in the water/ and fpeculynge and
beholdynge his fliadowe profered and fayd fuche
wordes within hym felf/ Thou haft so fayre
legges / lb fayr a herd / and lb fayre homes / and
haft fere of the wulf/ yf hit happed that he
come ageyne/ I flialle corryge hym wel/ and
ftialle kepe hym wel/ that he Ihalle 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/ I knowe 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 puylfant and
ftronge.
QUINTUS. 141
C STfjc faij fafalc (3 of tfif toulf nnb of i\}t affe
r^^'-^'^.-'En ought not to byleue lyghtly the
couiiccylle of hym towhome men
purpolen to lette/ As ye maye
lee by this fable/ Of a wulf
whiche fomtyme mette with an
Alfe / lu the whiche he fayd / My broder I am
l)ongry/ wherfor I mull nedes ete the/ C And
thenne the Alle anluerd ryght benyngly/ My
lord/ with me thow mayll doo what ibmeuer
thow wylt / For yf thow eteft me / thow ihalt
putte me oute of grete payne/ But I preye the
yf thow wylt ete me/ that thou vouchefauf to
ete me oute of the way/ For wel thow knowert
that I brynge home the rayfyns fro the vyne/
and fro the feldes home the come/ C Alio wel
thow knoweft/ that I here home wood fro the
foreft/ And whanne my maifter wel do buyld
fomme edylfyce / 1 mull go fetche the ftoiies
from the montayne / And at the other parte I
berc the corne vnto the mylle / And after I here
home the floure/ And for alle Ihort conclulions
I was borne in a curfyd houre / For to alle payne
and to alle grete labours I am fubniyttcd &: lub-
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 flialt
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/ CAnd whanne the
wulf beganne to knowe the way/ he fayd to the
afle/ we goo not the ryght way/ to the whiche
the aflTe 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 aflTe ledde hym vnto the
hows of his mayfter/ C And as his mayfter and
alle his meyny fawe how the AiTe drewe the
wulf
QUINTUS. 143
wulf after hym / and wold liauc cntrcd in to tlie
hows ihoy came oute with Ihiues and clubbes
and linoie on the wulf/ C And as one of tliem
wold haue carta and fmyten a grete ftroke vpon
the wulfes hcede/ he brake the cord/ wherwith
he was bounden / And fo fcaped and ranne awey
vpon the niontayne fore hurted and beten/ And
thenne the alVe for the grete ioye he hadde of
that he was fo fcaped fro the wulf/ beganne to
fynge / And the wulf whiclie was vpon the
niontayne/ He herd the voys of thalle beganne to
faye in hym felf/ thow mayft wel cry and calle/
For I flialle kepe the wel another tyme/ that
thow Ihalt not bynd me as thow hall done/ but
late gone/ CAnd therfore hit is grete folye to
byleue the counceylle of hym/ to wliome men
will lette/ And to pulte hym felf in his fub-
iedion / And he that ones hath begyled / muft
kepe hym fro another tyme that he be not de-
ceyucd/ For he to whome men purpofen to
doo fomme euylle tourn / fylh men holden
hym at auauntage/ men mufte putte him felf at
the vpper fyde of hym/ And after men Ihall
purueye tor their counceylle
144 LIBER
C Cfje &iij fable is of tl^e fetpent anti of tfje
labourer/
^^^HE Auctor of this booke reherceth
luche another Fable and of fuche
fentence/ as the precydent/ that
is to wete/ that men {hold 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 flaf whiche he bare
in his hand fmote the fayd ferpent / and gaf hym
fuche a ftroke vpon the heed/ that nyghe he
flewe hym / C 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
(JULXTUS. 145
the fayd Scrpcnl I'avd / i. 1 1.i niv trend / wlivtla-r
gooll thuw / And the labourer niil'wcrd to hym /
I goo ere and pluwe my ground/ And the Ser-
pent layd to liym/ I'owe not to moche/ For
this yere llialle be rayntuU and grete habond-
aunce ot" waters llialle talle/ But byleue not to
hym/ to whome thow hall Ibmtyme done ony
euylle/ And wiihoute ony wordes the labourer
wente forthe on his waye / and byleued not the
lerpent / but made alle his ground to becultyued
and ered / and fowed as moche corne as he
myghte/ In that lame yere telle grete habond-
aunce of water/ whertore the fayd labourer had
but lytyl of his corne / For the moofte parte of
the corne that he had fowen perylllied that lame
yere by caufe of the grete rayne that felle that
lame yere/ C And the next yere after folow-
ynge / as this labourer pallyd 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 whyiher
gooft thow/ C And the labourer anfwerd / I
goo for to fowe my ground wylh corn and With
other g[r]aynes fuche as I hope that Ihalle ben
necellary for me in tyme comynge / And thene
the Serpent faide to hym/ My frend fowe but
lytyl come/ F'or the Somer next comynge llialle
be foo grete and foo bote / that by the dryenes and
hete/
K
146 LIBER
hete/ that alle the goodes fowen on the erthe
fliall peryfllie But byleue not hym / to whome
thow haft done ony euylle/ C And 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 notliynge /
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
palfed before his repayre he afked 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 ftialle 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
And that yt-rc hv gadred nioche good / by caufe of
the good difpofycion ot the reafon and tyme/
C And en a daye of tlie fame yere / the fcrpcnt
lawe the fayd hibourer comynge fro the herucft /
to whonie he came ageynfte/ And fayd/ Now
faye me my good Frend/ Haft ihow not fond
now grete plente of goodes/ as I had 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-
muneracion or reward / C And the labourer
thenne demaunded what he wold haue of hym /
And the Serpent fayd I ne demaunde of the
nothynge/ but only that to morowe on the
mornyng thow wylt fende me a dyflh ful of niylk
by fom of thy children/ CAnd thenne the
ferpent fliewed to the labourer the hole of his
dwellyng / & fayd to hym / telle thy lone
that he brynge the mylke hyther/ but take
good heede to that that other whyle I told to
the/ that thow byleueft not hym/ to whome
tlum haft done euylle/ CAnd anone after
whanne thefe thynges were fayd/ the labourer
wente homeward/ and in the morninge next
folowynge/ he betoke to his fone a dyflhe full
of mylke/ whiche he brought to the ferpent/
and fette the dyfthe before the hool / And
anone the ferpent came oute and llewe 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
fonne 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 fayiuge fuche wordes / Ha curfed
& euylle ferpent/ vermyn and fals traytour/
thow haft deceyued me / Ha wycked and de-
ceytfuU beeft/ ful of all contagyous euyll thow
haft forowfuUy flayne my fone/
CAnd thenne the ferpente fayd to hym/ I
wylle well / that thow knowe / that I haue not
flayne hym forowfully/ 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 /
CAnd thus this fable flieweth how men ought
not to byleue ne bere feythe to them / to whome
men hath done fonmie harme or euylle.
QUINTUS.
149
C Jrf)c II fable is of lf)f foic/ of tijc inulf/ antJ
of tlic luon/
F hit be loo that any hath hen
adommaged by other lie ought
not to take vengeauce by the
tong in gyuyng Iniuryous wordes /
and the caufe why/ is by caule/
that luche vengeaunce is dilhonert. As to us re-
herceth this prelent fable/ Somtyme was a foxe /
that ete fyflhe in a Ryuer/ C It happed/ that
the wulf came that waye / C And whanne he
fawe the foxe/ whiche ete with fo grete appe-
tyte / He beganne to laye / My broder gyue me
fomme fvllhe / And the foxe anfuerd to hym /
Alias my lord / It behouveth not that ye ete the
releef of my table/ but for the worfliip of your
perlbne I Ihall counceylle yow wel / Doo foo
moche to gete yow a balket / And I Ihalle teche
yow how men ihalle lake fyflhes/ to thende/
that ye may take fomme whan ye Ihalle be
hongry/ And the wulf wente in to the ftreete/
and ftalle a balket/ whiche he brought with
hym/ the foxe tooke the bafket / and bound
it with a cord at the wiilfs taylle/ C And
whanne
ISO LIBER
whanne he was wel bounden / the foxe fayd
to the wulf/ goo thow by the Ryuer/ and I
Ihalle 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 fyfflie / 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 fyflhynge/
C And thenne the foxe fayd to hym / My lord
abyde me here/ And I llialle fetche fome to
helpe vs for to haue and take the fyflhe oute
of the bafket / And in fayenge thefe wordes /
the foxe ranne in to the ftrete/ where he fond
men/ to whome 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 fyfflies oute of the Ryuer/ and
ete them / C And thenne alle the men came to
gyder/ fomme with flynges/ and fomme with
bowes/ and other with flaues vnto the Ryuer/
where they fond the wulf/ whiche they bete
outragyouflly
QUIS'TUS. 151
outragyoufTlv / C Aiul whanne the poure wiilt'
lawe liym thus opprelll-d/ it vexed with llrokes
beganiie with alle his ftrengthe &: myghte to
drawe/ and liippofed to haue caryed the fylllie
awey/ but lb llroiigly he drewe/ tliat lie drewe
and pulled his taylle fro his ers/ and thus he
leaped vnnethe with his lyf/ C In the mene-
whyle thenne happed/ that the lyonwhiche was
kynge ouer alle beetles telle in a grete lekenefle /
for the whiche caufe euery beeft wente tor to lee
hym/ as theyr lord/ C And when the wulf
would haue gone thyder/ he lalewed his lord /
laying thus to hym / My kynge I lalewe yow /
pleale it you to knowe that I haue gone round
aboute the countre and prouynce/ and in alle
places of hit for to ferche Ibmme medycynes
prouffitable for yow / and to recowere your
helthe/ but nolhyng I haue found good for
your fekeneire/ but only the Ikynne of a foxe
fycrs and prowde and nialycious/ whiche is
voure body medycynal / but he dayneth not to
come hyther to fee you But ye Ihalle calle
hym to a counceylle/ and whanne ye hold
hym/ lete his fkynne be taken from hym/
And thenne lete hym renne where he wylle/
and that fayr fkynne which is lb holfome/ ye
Ihalle make hit to be fette and bound vpon
your bely/ And within fewe dayes after hit
Ihalle
152 LIBER
flialle 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 fuppoled / 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 felf/
d 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 kyffe me / & after I ihalle telle to the fomme
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 caule 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 lb nyghe your
perfone For the ftenche of the donge myght
wel
QUI NT us. 153
wel greue you for the grete fekenefTe that ye
haue/ but dere lyre/ ythit pleafe to the or euer
I come ncrer to your Royal niagefte I Ihalle g(Jo
bathe me and make me fayre and clene/ And
thenne I Ihall come ageyne to prelente my ll'lf
bytbre thy noble perlone/ And notwithllond-
ynge al this/ alio er I goo/ pleafe the to wcte
He knowe that I come from alle the contrees here
aboute/ and from alle the Royalmes adiacent
to this prouynce/ for to fee yf I coudefyndefomme ,
good medycyn dulynge and nedeful to thy (ike-
nelfe / and tor to recoucre thy helthe/ but cer-
taynly I haue foud no better couceylle than the
couceylie of an aiicycnt greke with a grete &:
long herd/ a man of grete wyfdom/ fage &
worthy to be prnyfed/ the whiche fayd to me/
how in this prouvnce is a wulf withoute taylle/
the whiche hath loft his taylle by the vertue of
the grete medycyn whiche is within hym / For
the whiche thynge it is nedeful and expedyent/
that ye doo make this wulf to come to yow for
the recoueraunce of the helthe of your fayr and
noble body/ And whan he is come dyllymylle
and calle hym to counceylle/ fayenge that it
Ihallc be for his grete worlhip &: prothte / &: as
he Ihal be nyghe vnto yow call on hym vour
armed feel/ and as fwetely as ye maye pulle the
fkynne fro the body of hym &: kope it hoole /
fauf
154 LIBER
fauf only that ye flialle leue the heed and the
feet / And thenne lete hym gone his way to leche
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 pafled / 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
paflyd 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 pafTefl there before with fuche a
fayre hood on thy heed and with ryght fayr
glouues in thyn handes/ Herke herke/ what I
ihalle
QUIETUS. 155
(halle faye to the/ whan thow wente & caincll
by the kynges hows/ thow werte bleiVed ot the
lord/ & whan thou were at the Court thow her-
kcnell and alio layert many good wordes and
good taikynge of al the world/
C And thertbre my godlep be it euyl or good /
thow mufte al lete pall'e/ and goo/ and haue
pacyence in thyn aduerlyte /
C And tinis tiiis table ihcwcth vnto vs/ that yf
ony be hurted or dommagcd/ by lb mm e othtr
he muli not auenge hym Iclt by his tonge lor
to make ony trelbn / ne for to fay of other ony
harme ne open blafphemye/ For he ought to
conlydere / that who fo euer maketh the pylte
redy for his broder/ ofte it happeth that he hym
felf falleth in the fame/ and is beten with the
fame rodde that he maketh for other
156
LIBER
C (irf)E I fable IS of t^c toulf irrI}icIjE matie a fart
T is folye to wene more / than men
ought to doo / For what Ibmeuer a
foole thynketh • hit femeth to hym
that hit fhalle be/ As it appiereth
by this fable/ of a wulf/ whiche
fomtyme rofe eriy in a mornynge / And after
that he was ryfen vp fro his bedde/ as he retched
hym felf / made a grete fart / and beganne to faye
to hym felf/ bleffed be god therfore/ thefe ben
good tydynges / this daye / I Ihalle 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 fek ful of talowe/ whiche a
woman had lete falle/ and with his foote he
torned hit vpfo doune / and fayd to hym / I fhalle
not ete the/ For thow fholdeft hurte my tendre
ftomak/ and more is/ I Ihall 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
QUI NT us. 157
anone after he fond a grcte pyccc of bakon \\ cl
failed/ the whiclie he tourned and retourned vp
fodoune/ And whan he had torned and returned
hit longe/ ynough / l)e fayd / I dayne not to ete
of tills mete/ by caufe that hit lliold caufe nic
for to drynke moche/ for it is to falte And as
niyn ers fonge to me lalt I llialle ete this fame
day better and more delycious mete/ €And
thenne he beganne to walke ferther/ And as he
entryd in to a fayr medowe/ he fawe a mare/
and her yong foole with her/ and fayd to hyni
felf alone/ I rendre thankes and graces to the
goddes of tlie godes that they fend me/ Tor wel
1 wyll and was certayne/ that tliis daye I lliuld
fynde fomme precious mete/ And thenne he
came nyghe the mare and fayd to her/ Ceriaynly
my fuller I ihalle ete thy child / And the mare
anfuerd to hym/ My broder doo what fomeucr
hit llialle pleafe the/ But fyrft I praye the that
one playfyre thow wylt do to me/ I haue herd
faye that thow art a good Cyrurgyen / wherfore
I praye the/ that thou wylt hele me of my foote/
I faye to the my good broder/ that yefter daye
as I wente within the foreft / a thorne entryd in
to one of my feet behynd/ the whiche greueth
me fore/ I praye the/ that or thow ete my
fool/ thow wylt drawe and haue it oute of my
foote/ And the uulf aufwerd to the mare tiiat
llialle I doo ghully my good fufter/ lliewe me
thy
1S8 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 felle 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 fpeke/ hefayd/ I care
not for this myiliap / For wel I wote that yet
this day I flialle 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 flial
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
mufl: gyue vs the fentence of a procefTe 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
oute makyngc ony ordonnnucc or teftamcnt / we
be now in debate and llryf for the parlynge of
hit/ wherfore we praye the that thow vouchc-
fauf to accorde oure dyferent / fo that pees
be made bytwene vs/ And thenne the wulf
deniaunded of the ranimes how theyr queftion
myght be accorded / Ryght wel fayd one of
them/ by one manere/ whiche I ftial telle to
the/ yf hit pleafe to the to here me/ we two
llialle be at the two endes of the medowe/ and
tliow llialt be in the myddes of it/ And fro
thende of the medowe/ we bothe at ones llialle
renne toward the/ And he that fyrft flialle come
to the/ Ihalle be lord of the medowe/ And the
laft Ihalle be thyn / Wei tliene fayd the wulf/
thyn aduys is good and wel purpofed / late fee
now who fyrft Ihalle come to me/ Thenne wente
the two rammes to renne toward the wulf/ And
with alle theyr myght came and gaf to hym
fuche two ftrokes bothe at ones ageynft bothe
his fydes/ that almoft they brake his lierte within
his bely / & then fyll doune the poure wulf alle
afwowned / And the rammes wente theyr way/
C And whanne he was come ageyn to hym felf /
he took courage and departed / fayenge to hym
felf/ I care not for alle this Iniurye and ftiame/
For as myn ers dyde fvnge to me/ yet ihalle I
this day etc Ibmnie good and delycious mete/
CHe
i6o LIBER
C He had not long walked/ whanne he fond a
fowe/ and her Ihial pygges with her/ And In-
contynent as he lawe her/ he fayd/ bleffed be
god of that I Ihalle this daye ete and fvlle 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/ But 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 Ihalle waiihe and baptyfe
them wel / And thenne the fowe wente and
ledde hym at a flange 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 thefwyft-
nelTe 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 Ihame/ ne therfore I ihall not be bette/
but that I ihalle yet this daye ete my bely full
of metes delycious/ as myn ers dyd iynge it erly
to
QUINTUS. i6r
to me/ C And as he palFed thurgh the ftrete /
he lawe fomme flieep/ and as tlie Ihepe fawe
hym / they entryd in to a ftable / C And whan
the wult came there he I'ayd to tliem in this
manere / God kepe you my fullers/ I muft ete
one ot vow/ to thende/ that I may be tyllcd
and rnllalyed of my grete honger/ And thenne
one of them fiyd to hym/ Certaynly my lord/
ye are welcome to palfe/ For we ben comcn
hyder for to hold a grete folempnyte/ wherfore
we alle praye yow / that ye pontyfycally wylle
fvnge And after the feruyfe complete and done/
doo what ye wyll of the one of vs / & thenne the
wulf for vayn glory/ faynyng to be a prelate be-
ganne to fynge and to howle before the Iheep/
CAnd whanne the men of the toune herd the
voys of the wulf/ they came to the rtable with
grete Ihuies and with grete dogges / and wonderly
they wounded the wulf/ and almoft brouo-ht
hym to deth/ that with grete payne he coude
goo/ neuertheles 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 lyghe fore/ and to make
grete forowe of his cuylle fortune/ and favd / Ha
Jupiter how many euyls haue I had and filtered
thisdaye/ but wel I prcfume and knowe/that
hit is by me and by niyn owne caufc / and i)y
my
L
i62 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 beftowed and em-
ployed/ My fader was neuer medecyn ne leche/
and alfo 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 neylher
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
deferte 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
Juflycer / 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 /
QUL\TUS. 163
vepen / wherwith I maye ftrongly puiiylllie and
bete me by grete penaunce/ For wel worthy I
am to reccyue a gretter dcfciplyne/ And the
good man whichc was vpon the tree / herkened
alle thefe wordes and deuyfes/ and I'ayd no
word/ C And whanne the wulf had fynyllhed
alle his lyghes and coniplavntes/ the good man
toke his axe/ wherwith he had kytte awey the
dede braunches tVo the tre/ and call it vpon the
wult"/ and it felle vpon his neck in fuche maner
that the wulf torned vplbdoun the feet vpward
and laye as had ben dede/ And whan the wulf
mygiil releue and drcfie hym felf / he lokcd and
byheld vpward to the heuen / and beganne thus
to crye/ Ha Jupiter I fee now wel that thow
haft herd and enhaunced my prayer /and thenne
he perccyued the man whiche was vpon the tree/
& wel wende that he had ben Jupiter/ And
thenne with alle his myght he fledde towards
the foreft fore wounded/ and rendred hym felf
to humylyte/ and more meke and humble he
was alicrwards than euer before he had ben
fyers ne prowde/ C And by this fable men
may knowe and fee that moche refteth to be
done of that/ tliat a foole thynketh/ And hit
Iheweth to vs/ that whan fomme good cometh
to fomme/ it ought not to be reffufed/ For it
maye
i64 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 /
QUIMUS.
i6S
C QTijEXJ fable is of the mucous tioggc/
one ought not to haue enuye of
V\ good of other/ As it appiereth
by this fable / Of a dogge whiche
was enuyous/ and that fomtyme
was within a liable of oxen/ the
whiche was ful of heye/ This dogge kept the
oxen that they Ihold not entre in to theyr ftable/
and that they ihold not ete of the fayd hey/ And
thenne the oxen fayd to hym / thow arte wel
peruers and euylle to haue enuye of the good/
the whiche is to vs nedefull and prouffitable/
and thow haft of hit nought to doo/ for thy
kvnde is not to ete no hey / And thus he dyd of
a grete bone / the whiche he held at his mouthe /
and wold not leue hit by caufe and for enuye of
another dogge/ whiche was therby / And ther-
fore kepe the wel fro the company or felaulhip
of an enuyous body/ For to haue to doo with
hym hit is moche peryllous and dyftycyle / As
to vs is wel ftiewen by Lucyfer
i66 LIBER
C El^c itj fable i& of tj^e biulf anti of t^e
|)ongr2 boggE /
]Uche fuppofen fomtyme wynne that
lefen / As hit appiereth by this
Fable/ For hit is fayd comunly
that as moche delpendeth the
nygard as the large/ As hit ap-
piereth by this fable of a man whiche had a grete
herd of llieep / And alfo 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 / wh}^
he was foo lene / and fayd to hym / I fee wel
that thow dyefl; for honger/ by caufe that thy
mayfler 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 / C Thenne the wulf fayd to hym / This
ihalt thow doo/ Lete me take a lambe/ And
whanne I fhalle haue hit I iTialle renne awey/
and whanne thow Ihalt fee me renne / make
thenne
QUINTUS. 167
thenne femblant to renne after mc / and Icte thv
fflf falle faynynge that thow canft not ouertnke
me/ for lack and fawte of mete/ whiche maketh
the fo feble/ And thus whanne the fheepherd
Ihalle fee that thow mayft not haue the lambe fro
nic by caufe of the grete feblenelle and debylyto
(if thy lene body/ he lliell telle to thy lord that
thow myghtcft not focoure the lambe/ by caufe
that thow arte ("0 fore ahongryd/ and by this
means thow Ihalt haue mete thy bely ful / C The
dogge thenne acorded this with the wulf/ and
eche of them made and dyde as aboue is fayd /
C And whane the Iheep herd fawe the dogge
falle/ fuposed wel / that honger was a caufe of
it Forthe whiche caufe whanne one of the
Iheep herdes came home he told hit to his mayf-
ter/ And whan the mayfter vnderftood hit/ he
fayd as a man wroth for Ihame/ I wylle that
fro hensforthon he haue breed ynough / C And
thenne euery daye the fayd dogge hadde foppes
of brede/ and of drye breed he hadde ynough/
C Thenne the dogge toke ftrengthe/ and vygour
ageyne/ C It happed within a lytyl whyle after/
that the wulf came ageyne to the dogge/ and fayd
to hym / I perceyue wel / that I gaf to the good
counceylle/ And the dogge fayd to the wulf/
My brodcr thow fayft foothe/ wherfore I thanke
the moche/ For of hit I hadde grete nedc/
CAnd
1 68 LIBER
C And thenne the wulf fayd to hym / yf thow
wylt I {hall 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 flialle ouerthrowe the thy feet
vpward/ as he that hath no puyffaunce ne
llrength withoute hurtynge of thy felf / byleue
me hardyly/ and wel hit fhalle happe to the/
And whanne thy mayfters feruaunts flialle haue
fene thy dylygence/ they fhal fliewen hit to thy
mayfter how that thow flial kepe ful wel his
folde/ yf thow be wel nouryflhed/ 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 here 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 llieepherdes 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
QUI NT us. 169
hadde euer inete ynough / tlic wulf lincl not
borne awey the lainbe/ Thenne the lord com-
niaunded to gyue hym pleiite of mete/ wherof
the dogge took ageyne al llrengthe and vcrlue/
And within a wliyle alter the wultcame ageyne
to the dogge/ and layd to hym in tliis nianere/
My broder haue I not g)'uen to the good coun-
ceylle/ And thenne the dogge anfuerd to hym/
Certaynly ye/ wherof I thanke yow / And the
wult" fayd to the dogge/ I praye the my broder
and my good frend that thow wylt yet gyue
another lambe/ and the dogge fayd to hym/
Certaynly my broder/ wel hit maye futfyfe the
to haue had iweyne of them/ C Thenne fayd
the wulf to the dogge/ (I At the left waye I
maye haue one for my labour and fallarye/ That
flialt thow not haue fayd the dogge/ Haft thow
not had good fallarye for to haue hadde two
lambes oute of my mayfters herd / C And the
wulf anfuerd to hym ageyne/ IMy brother gyue
hit me yf hit pleafe the/ C And after fayd the
dogge to hym/ Nay I wylle not/ And yf thow
takell hit ageynlie my wylle/ I promytte and
warne the/ that neuer after tyme thow flialt
ete none/ And thenne the wulf fayd to hym/
Alias my broder I deye for honger/ Counceylle
me for goddys loue what I Ihalle doo/ And the
dogge fayd to hym/ I flial couceylle the wel a
walle
I70 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-
lyr / For bothe breed flefllie 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 thy faythe 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 ufe and lyuc priulently of all fuche goodcs
as god lendeth to hym / This fable alfo fticweth
to vs/ that none ought to do ageynfte his kynde /
as of the wulf whiche wexed dronke/ for the
whiche caufc he was Ilayne
172
LIBER
C W-\)t xii} fable tnaketl^ mcncgon of i])t fatier
anti of ijis tf}re c|)illiren
E is not wyfe / whiche for to haue
vanyte and his plefyr taketh debate
or ftryf / 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 dyffycyle to
doo/ but to your aduys how (hold ye parte it/
And
QUISTUS. 173
And thenne the cldeft of the three brethcrcn
fpake and layd/ I flialle take fro the pere tree
alio that is croked and vpright/ And the fecond
fayd / I fhalle take fro tlie pere tree alle that is
grene and dr)'e / And the thyrd fayd I fliallc
haue alio the rote/ the puUe or mafte and alio
the branches of the pere tree/ CAnd thenne
the Juge fayd to them / He that thenne flialle
haue the mofl: parte of the tree/ lete hym be
Juge/ For I no none other may know ne
vnderrtande who Ihalle haue the more or lefle
parte/ And therfore he that can or Ihalle proue
more openly/ that he hath the moft parte Ihal
be lord of the tree/ C And after the Juge de-
maunded of them / how that theyr fader had
deuyfed to them the gote/ And they fayd to
hym/ he that (lialle make the fayreft prayer and
requeft mutl haue the gote/ And thene the
fyrrte broder made his requeft/ and fayd in this
manere/ wold god that the goot were now foo
grete that the myght drynke alle the water
whiche is vnder the cope of heuen / And that
whanne Ihe hadde dronken it / fhe Ihold yet be
fore thurfty C The fecond fayd/ I fuppofe that
the gote Ihalle be myn / For a fayrer demaunde
or requeft than thyn is I Ihalle now make/ C I
wold/ that alle the hempe/ and alle the Flaxe
and alle the wuile of the worlde were made in
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/ CThenne fayd
thirdde/ yet fhalle be myn the gote/ G 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 1 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/ (I And they anfuerde and
fayde to the Juge / He that fhalle be mooft Iyer/
moofte euylle and moll Howe ought to haue hit/
C Thenne fay the eldell 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 alia the fowle
waters / as pyffe / dyfllie water / and alle other
fylthe that wonderly ftanke / In fo moche that
al my fleflhe was roten therof / and myn eyen
al blynd / and the durt vnder my back was a foot
hvghe/ And yet by my grete llouthe I hadde
leuer to abyde there / than to tourne me / and
haue lyfte me vp C The
QUI ST US. 175
C The fecond l';iy<i/ I luppofe wel / that the
mylle Ihalle bo myn / For yf I had failed twenty
yere/ And yt" I hadde come to a table couerd of
al maner of precious and delyate metes/ tlierof
I myght wel etc yf I wold take of the belt/ I
am lb llouihfuU thai I maye not ete Withoute
one fliold putte the mete in to mv niouthe/
C And the tliyrde fayd / the mylle ihalle be
myn/ For I am yet a gretter lyar and more
llouthfuU/ than ony of yow bothe/ For yf I
hadde ben athurlt vnto the dethe/ And yf I
found thenne my lelf within a fayre water into
the neck/ I wold rather deye/ than to meue ones
my heed for to drynke therof only one drop /
C Thenne fayd the Juge to them/ Ye wote not
what ye I'aye/ For I nor none other maye not
wel vnderftande yow/ But the caufe I remytte
and put amonge yow thre/ And thus they wente
withoute ony fentence/ For to folylthe de-
maunde behoueth a folyllhe anfuere
C And therfore they ben fooles that wylle
plete fuche vanyte one ageynlle other/ And
many one ben fallen therfore in grete pouerte/
For for a lytyl thynge ought to be made a lytyl
plee
176
LIBER
/
C STfie xtij fable is of tfje Innlf antJ of tfje foie
One maye not be mayfter without
he haue be fyrfte a difciple/ As
hit appiereth by this Fable / Of
a Foxe whiche came toward a
wulf / and layd 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 doftryne/
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 beeftes were
comynge to the feldes/ and forth with he wente
and called his godfader/ and fayd My godfader
the beeftes comen in to the feldes / And the wulf
demaunded of hym / what beftes 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 feldes/ and he wente to his god-
fader & fayd/ godfader the mare is goo to the
teldes/ & the wulf demaunded of hym where
aboute is (he/ And the foxe anfuered fhe is by
the foreft / And the wulf layd / Now go we to
dyner/ And the wulf with his godfone entryd
in to the wood/ and came to the mare/ CThe
wulf perceyued wel and fawe a yonge colt/
whiche was by his moder/ the wulf tooke hym
bv the neck with his teethe and drewe hit within
the wood/ and ete & deuoured hym bytwene
them bothe/ C And whan they had wel eien
the godfon fayd to his godfader/ INIy godtader
I commaude yow to god and moche I thanke
yow your doftrine / For wel ye haue taught me /
in fo moche/ that now I am a grete clerke/ &:
now I wylle goo toward my moder/ And thenne
the wulf fayd to his godfon / My godfone yf
thow goft awey/ thow flialt repente the ther-
fore/ For thow haft not yet wel ftudyed/ and
knoweft not yet the Sylogylmes/ C Ha my
godfader fayd the Foxe / I knowe wel al / C And
the wulf fayd to hym/ Sythe thow wylt goo/
to god I commaunde the/
C And whanne the Foxe was come toward
his moder/ ftie fayd to hym/ Certaynly/ thow
haft not yet ftudyed ynough/ C And he thenne
fayd to her/ Moder I am loo grete a ck-rke that
I
M
178 LIBER
I can caft the deuylle fro the clyf / Lete vs go
chace/ and ye flialle 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 llialle come to the feld/ lete me
haue therof knowlege / And his moder fayd/
wel my fone fo iTialle I doo / She maade good
watche / And whanne flie fawe that bothe kyne
and fwyne wente to the feldes / {he 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 fliort
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 iheepherd 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
fheepherde
QUINTUS. 179
fheepherde cnmc for to kylle hym / the moder
crycd and layd wepynge/ Alias my (one thow
dydell not Icrne wel/ And hnft ben to lytel
a whyle atte fchole / wherfore thow mult now
deye myferably/ And the Iheepherdes took and
flewe hym/ For none ought to fay hym lelf"
mayfter withoute that he haue fyrll ftudyed /
For fome wene to be a grete clerke/ that can
nothyng of clergye/
i8o
LIBER
C 2E]^e i& fable is of tl)e tjorjge / of tfje toulf antj
of tfjE iri]^£tt)£r
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 flieep / 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 flieepherdes were fore troubled and
wrothe/ and fayd one to other/ we fhall no
more llepe at oure eafe by caufe that our dogge
is dede / for the wulues fhall now come and
ete our llieep / C And 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 Ihalle haue grete fere of me/
C And whanne the wulues came and fawe the
wether clothed with the ikynne of the dogge/
they
QUINTUS. i8i
they beganne all to flee/ and ranne awey/ C It
happed on a clay that a wulf whiche was I"<;re
hongry/ came and toke a lambe/ and after ran
awaye therwitli / C And thenne the layd wether
ranne atter hym / And the wulf whiche fuppokd
that it had ben tlie dogge fhote thryes by the
waye for the grete fere that he had/ And ranne
euer as faft as he coude/ and the wether alfo
ranne after hym withoute cefTe/ tyl that he
ranne thurgh a bulihe full of lliarp thornes / the
whiche thornes rente and brake alle the dogges
lliynne/ whiche was on hym/ And as the wulf
loked and fawe behynde hym / beynge moche
doubtous of his dethe/ fawe and perceyued alle
the decepcion and falfliede of the wether/ And
forthwith retorned ageynlte hym/ and demaunded
of hym / what beell arte thow / And the wether
anluerd to hym in this maner / My lord I am a
wether whiche playeth with the/ And the wulf
fayd/ Ha mayfter ought ye to playe with your
mayfter and with your lord/ thow haft made me
fo fore aferd / that by the waye as I raime before
the/ I dyte Ihyte thre grete toordes/ And thene
the wulf ledde hym unto the place where as he
hadihyte/ fayenge thus to hym/ lokehyther/
callelt thow this a playe/ I take hit not for playe/
P'or now I llialle ftiewe to the/ how thow ought-
eft not to playe fo 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
mufle take good hede/ how he playeth with
hym whiche is wyfer/ more fage/ and more
ftronge / than hym felf is /
QUINTUS. 183
C Z\)c ibj fable mnhrti) mrncnon of tlir man/ of
tliE Igon N't of Iu3 fonc
^E tliat reffufeth the good dottryne
^ of liis fader / yf euyl happe cometh
to liym / it is but ryglit / As to vs
J^ij reherccth this fable of a Libourer/
whiche fomtyme lyucd in a deferte
of his ciiltyuynge and laboure / In this deferte
was a lyon/ whiche waited and deftroyed all
the fede/ which euery daye the fayd labourer
fewed/ and alfo this lyon deftroyed his trees/
And by caufe 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 corne he entryed within a nette/
&: was taken / And thenne the good man came
lliyder/ and bete and fmote hym fo wonderly/
that vnnethe he myght fcape fro deth / And by
caufe that the lyon fawe that he myght not
efcape the fubtylyte of the man / he took his
lytyl lyon / and went to dwelle in another
Regyon / and within a lytyl whyle after that
the lyon was wel growen and was fyers k
ftronge
1 84 LIBER
llronge 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 gofi: thyder thow fhalt repente the ther-
fore/ and Ihalt doo lyke a fole And the fone
anfuerd to his fader / Ha by my heed I Ihalle goo
thyder/ and llialle 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. i8$
the man/ to whome he layd in this mancr/
Ha man thow haft done ouer many euyls/
boihe to me and to my Fader/ and in lyke
wyle to oure beeftes/ Wherfore I telle the that
to me thow Ihalt doo Juilyce/ And the man
anfuerd to hyiu/ I promytte and warne tlit-/
that yf thow come nyghe me I ihalle llee with
this greele clubbe/ And after with this knyt" I
Ih.dl tlee the/ And the lyon layd to hyni /
Come thenne bet'ore my fader/ and he as kynge
llialle doo to vs good Jullyce/ And thenne the
man fayd to the lyon/ I am content/ yf that
thow wylt fwere to me/ that thow fhalt not
touche me/ tyll that we ben in the prefence of
thy fader/ And in lyke wyfe I llialle fwere to
the/ that I Ihai go with the vnto the prefence
of thy fader/ And thus the lyon and the man
fwered eche one to other / and wente toward
the grete lyon/ and the man beganne to goo
bv the way where as his cordes and nettes were
drelled/ And as ihey wente/ the lyon lete hym
I'clf falle within a corde/ and by the feet he was
take/ fo tli:it he myghte not tarther goo/ And
by caufe he coude not goo he fayd to the man /
O man I prey the that thow wilt hclpe me/
For I may no more goo/ And the man anlwerd
to hym/ I am fworne to the that I llialle not
touche the vnto the tynie that we ben before thy
fader /
1 86 LIBER
fader / And as the lyon fuppofed to haue vnbound
hym felf for to fcape / he fylle in to another nelte
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/ (I 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 llewe 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
dodryne of theyr faders and moders / ne obeye
to them by no wyfe
QUIiSTUS.
187
C iTfif xhi fnlilf h of t!ic Imnglit nntj of tf]f
fcruaunt/ lljc tof]ic{jc foutJ tlic ifoic/
I Any ben tliat for theyr grete lelyngcs
I'uppofen to put vnder alle the
world / but euer at lall theyr le-
lyngcs ben knowen and many-
felted / as hit appiereth by tiiis
fable of a knyght whiche fomtyme wente with
an archer of his thurgh the lande/ And as they
rode/ they fonde a Fox And the knyght fayd
to the archer in good Ibothe I lee a grete Foxe/
And the archer beganne to faye to his lord / My
lord / merueylle ye therof / I haue ben in a Regyon
where as the Foxes ben as grete as an oxc/ And
the knyght anl'uerd In good Iboihe theyr Ikynnes
were good for to make mantels with / yf fkynners
mvght haue them/ And as they were rydynge /
they telle in many wordes and deuyfes/ And
thenne by caufe the knyght perccyued wcl tiic
Icfynge of his Archer/ he beganne to make
preyers and or)'fons to the goddes/ for to make his
Archer aferd/ And fayd in this manere/ O Jupiter
god almyghty/ CI preye the/ that this daye
thow wylt kepe vs fro all lefynges/ lb that we may
Ijuf
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 foone muft pafle a ryght grete Ryuer / And
that he who on al this daye fhalle haue made ony
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 mufl; pafle / Nay
fayd the knyght/ For hit is wel gretter/ O my
lord I faye bycaufe that the foxe whiche ye fawe
may wel haue fwymmed and pafled ouer this lytyl
water/ And the lord fayd/ I care not therfore/
CAnd 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
QUINTUS. 189
the dyflTymylacion of his archer/ anfwerd not/
And loo they rode fbrlhc To longe that they lond
yet anollier Ryuer And thi-nnc the Archer
dcmaunded of his lord/ Is this the fame hit/
Nay fayd the knyght / but foone we llialle come
therto / O my lord I faye fo by caufe that the
Foxe wlierof I fpak to vow this daye/ was not
gretter than a iheep / C And when they had
ryden vnto euen tyme they fond a grete Ryuer
and of a grete brede/ C And whan tharcher
fawe hit/ he began al to fliake for fere/ and de-
maunded of his lord / My lord is this the Ryuer/
Ye fayd the knyght / O my lord I enfure you on
my feythe/ that the Foxe of the whiche I fpake
to daye/ was not gretter than the Foxe/ whiche
we fawe to day/ wherfore I knowlege and con-
felfe to yow my fynne/ C And thenne the knyght
beganne to fmyle/ and fayd to his Archer in this
manere/ Alfo this Ryuer is no wors than the
other whiche we fawe to fore and haue paiVed
thurgh them/ And thenne the archer had grete
vergoyne and was fliameful / by caufe tliat he
myght no more couere his lefvnge / And ther-
fure hit is fayre and good for to faye euer the
trouihe/ and to be trewe bothe in fpeche and in
dcde / For a Iyer is euer begyled / and his le-
fynge is knowen and manyfelled on hym to his
grete fhame Sc dommage
( Here
I90 LIBER QUINT US.
G ^txc after foIotoEtx iame iFables of Cfope
after tf)c neine tranflacion / tf)£ iDi^ic|e
jfabks bm not founticn ne toreton
in tfje bookcs of t{}e pl)ila=
fopljcr Eomulus
191
C El)c forft fable is of ilic etjif nnb of tijt
rniuu
"One ought to take on liyni lelf to
doo a thynge / whiche is peryllous
withoute he fele hym felf itrong
•^^^^! ynou5 to doo hit/ As reherceth
this Fable/ Of an Egle/ whiche
fleynge took a lambe/ wherof the Rauen hadde
grete enuye whcrlur vpoii another tyme as/ the
layd rauen fawe a grete herd of Iheep / by his
grete enuy &: pryde &: by his grete ouhrage de-
fcended on them/ And by fuciie fachon and
manere fmote a wether that his clowes abode to
the riyes of hit/ In foo moche that he coude
not flee awey / The llieep herd thenne came and
brake and toke his wynges from hym / And after
bare hym to his children to playe them with/
And demaunded of hym/ what byrd he was/
And the Rauen anfuerd to hym / I fuppofed to
haue ben an Egle / And by my ouerwenynge I
wcnde to haue take a lambe/ as the egle dyd/
but now I knowe wel that I am a Rauen/ wher-
torc the leblc ought not in no wyfe to compare
hvm
192
hym felf to the ftronge/ For fomtyme when he
fuppoleth to doo more than he may/ he falleth
in to grate deihonour/ as hit appiereth by this
prefent Fable/ Of a Rauen/ whiche luppolen
to haue ben as lironge as the ejjle
193
( Zhc fcronli jTablf is of [he rglr nnti of ttic
tocfcl
One for what lb euer mvt^ht that
he li.iue / ought not to defpreyfe
the other/ As liit appiereth by
this prefent table of an Egle/
whiche chaced fomtyme after an
hare And by caufe that the hare myght not
refyfte ne withflande ageynll the egle / he de-
maunded ayde and heipe of the wefel/ the whiche
tooke hym in her kepynge/ And by caufe that
the egle fawe the wefel foo lytyl/ he defpreyfed
her/ and before her toke the hare/ wherof the
wefel was wrothe/ And therfore the wefell wente/
and beheld the Egles nell whiche was vpon a
hyghe tree / And whanne Ihe fawe hit / the lytell
wefell clymmed vpon a tree/ and toke and caft
doune to the ground the yonge egles wherfore
they deyde/ And for this caufe was the Egle
moche wrothe and angry / and after wente to the
god Jupiter And prayd liym that lie wold fynde
hym a fure place where as he niyght leye
his egges and his lytyl chykynes/ And Jupiter
graunted hit and gaf hyni fuche a gyfte/ that
whaii
N
194
whan the tyme of childynge fhold come/ that
{he ftiold make her yong Egles within his bofome/
And thenne whanne the wefel knewe this/ (he
gadred and alfembled 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
{hake his bofome / and both the wefel and the
egges of the egle telle doune to the erthe/ And
thus were alle the egges broken and lofl / And
whanne the Egel knewe hit / fhe made auowe /
that llie {hold neuer make none egles/ tyll of
the wefel {he were afluerd / And therfore none
how {Ironge 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
»95
C Clje tligrblf fable is of {\)t iloif nnti of
tl)c flote
^^^'■^^n ^ ^'liiche is wyfe and fagc ought
i} n.'ii M tyrft to loke and behold the ende/
/
or he begynneth the werke or
dede/ as hyer appiereth by this
^ " table/ Of a tbxe & of a gote/
that loiiitynie defcended and wente doune in
to a depe welle / for to drynke. And Whanne
they had wel dronke/ by caufe that thei coude
not come vpward ageyne / the Foxe fayd to the
gote in this maner/ my frend yf thow wylt heipe
me/ we iliall Tone ben bolhe oute of this welle/
For yf thow wylt fette thy two feet ageynfte the
walle/ I llial wel lepe vpon the/ &: vpon thy
homes And iheune I llial lepe oute of this
welle/ C And whanne I ihalle be oute of hit/
thow Ihalt take me by the handes/ and I Ihal
plucke and drawe the oute of the welle/ And
at this requeft the gote/ acorded and anfuerd/
I wylle wel/ And thene the gote lyfte vp his
feet ageynfl the walle/ and the foxe dyd fo
moche by his malyce that he got out of the
welle/ And whan he was oute/ he began to
luke
196
loke on the gote/ whiche was within the welle/
& thenne the gote fayd to hym/ help me now
as thow haft promyfed/ 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 fayre berde / or euer thow
haddeft entryd in to the welle/ thow fholdeft
fyrft haue taken hede/ how thow fholdeft haue
comen oute of hit ageyne /
CAnd 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 Z\)t fourtf)C fnfale is of Hit rattc antj of
tbf rbuiun.
""E whiche is fals of kynde/ & hath
bcgonne to deceyue Ibme other/
L'uer he wyl ufe his craft/ As it
appiereth by this prefent Fable
of a kat whiche fomtyme toke a
chyken/ the whiche he beganne Ilrongly to
blame / for to haue fonde fomme caufe that he
myght ete hit / and fayd to hym in this manere/
Come hyther thou chyken/ thow doll none
other good but crye alle the nyght/ thow
letell not the men Uepe / And thenne the chyken
anfuerd to hym/ I doo hit for theyre grete
prouffite/ And ouer ageyne the catte fayd to
hym/ yet is there wel wors/ For thow arte
an incefte & lechour For thow knowell natu-
relly both thy moder and thy doughter And
thenne the chyken fayd to the cat/ I doo hit
by caufe that my mayfter maye haue egges tor
his etynge/ And that hys mayller for his prou-
tfyte gaf to hym hot he the moder and the
doughter for to muhyplye the egges/ And
thenne the catte fayd to hym/ by my feythe
godfcp
godfep thow haft excufacions ynough / but
neuertheless thow ilialt pafle thurgh my throte/
for I fuppole 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.
199
C <rf)e b fable is of t!)c jFoic nn'b of tf]c buffer.
lEn 01151 not to demaude ne a(ke
help of them that ben more cuf-
tomed to lette than to do good
r proutfit/ as it appereth by this
fable of a fox which for to fcnpe
the peril to be taken wente vpon a thorne
bufllie/ whiche hurted hym fore/ And wep-
ynge fayd to the buflhe/ I am come as to my
refuge vnto the/ and thovv haft hurted me vnto
the dethe/ And thenne the bufhe fayd to hym/
thow haft erred / and wel thou haft begylod
thy felf/ For thow fuppofcft to haue taken me
as thow arte cuftommed to take chekyns and
hennes / C And therfore men ought not to
heipe them whiche ben acuftomed to doo euylle/
but men ouirht rather to lette them.
C 2rf)£ bj fable is of tlpje man anb of tfje qoH of
tj^c irrotJES
l^i^F the euylle manibm 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 oftyme 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 bythelegges/ 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 worfhipped 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 3r[)c bij fable 13 of a fofffjcr
Uile thynges which ben done & made
in theyr tyme & leal'on ben wel
made/ as by this prefent fable it
appereth Ota fyllher whiche Ibm-
tyme touched his bagpype nylie
the Ryuer for to make the fyflhe to daunce/
C And whan he fawe that for none fonge that
he coude pvpe/ the fyflhes wold not daufe/ As
wroth dyd call his neltes in to the Ryuer/ & toke
of fyllhe grete quantite / And whanne he had
drawe oute his nettes oute of the water/ the
fyllhe beganne to lepe and to daufe/ and thenne
he fayd to them / Certaynly hit appiereth now
wel / that ye be euylle beetles / For now whanne
ye be taken/ ye lepe and daunfe/ And whanne
I pyped and played of my mule or bag pype ye
dayned/ ne wold not daunfe/ Therfore hit ap-
piereth wel that the thynges whiche ben made
in feafun/ ben wel made and done by realbn
C El)z £5gl)t fable is of t^e cattc antf of tfjc rat
^E whiche is wyfe/ and that ones
hath ben begyled/ ought not to
trufte more hym that hath begyled
^^jjl'l^^^ 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/ G And whanne the
rats perceyued the grete fyerfnes and crudelyte
of the catte / held a counceylle to gyder where
as they deterrayned of one comyn wylle/ that
they fliold 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 muft 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
of yron whiche was flyked at a balkc/ fcynynge
hyni felt' to be dcde/ And whanne one of the
rats lokynge dounward fawe the katte beganne
to lawhe and fayd to the cat/ O my Frend yf
I fuppoled that tliow were dede/ I ihold guo
doune / but wcl I knowe the fo fals & peruers /
that thow mayft wel haue hanged thy felf/ fayn-
ynge to be dcde / whcrfore I Ihall not goo doune /
And tliert'ore he that hath ben ones begyled by
fomnie other/ ought to kepe hyni wel fro the
fame
204
C E])z ix fable is of tf)E labourer anti of tfje
pgelarge
E whiche is taken with the wicked
and euyll ou3te 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 felauihip / thow haddeft 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 punyffhed as they llialle be Ther-
fore none ought to hold companye with the euylle
with oute he wylle fufFre the punycion of them
whiche ben punyflhed
205
C Z\)£ Unt\) fable is cf tfic c!)ilti / trifiirlic luptc
tljc fijrcp
'E whiche is acaftomed to make lef-
>(] y"o*^s/ how be it that he faye
trouthe/ Yet men byleue hym
not/ As reherceth this fable/ Of
a child whiche fomtymc kepte
Iheep/ the whiche cr}-ed ofte withoute caufe/
fayenge/ Alias for goddes loue focoure yow me/
P'or ihe wulf wylle ete my llieep / And whanne
the labourers that cultyued and ered the erthe
aboute hym / herd his crye / they come to helpe
hym / the whiche came fo many tymes / and fond
nothyng/ And as they fawe that there were no
wulues/ they retorned to theyr labourrage/ And
the child dyd fo many tymes for to playe hym/
CIt happed on a day that the wulf came/ and
the child cryed as he was acuftomed to doo /
And by caufe that the labourers fuppofed / that
hit had not ben trouthe/ abode ftylle at theyr
laboure/ wherfore the wulf dyd ete the fheep/
For men bileue not lyghtly hym/ whiche is
knowen for a Iyer
2o6
C E^t X} faftle is of f^t ante anti at tfje cclutnbe
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 llie 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/ & caft 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 drefl)'d his nettes came
to his foote / and foo fall pryked hit / that fhe
caufed hym to fmyte the erthe with his foote/
and therwithe made foo gret noyfe/ that the douue
herd hit/ wherfore flie 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
207
C iTljc iij fable is of the I5rr nut) of Hupitcr
,^:^iO\v the euyl which men wylihe to
ivrin, other/ cometh to liym whiche
wyilheth hit/ as hit appiereth by
this fable / of a Bee whiche olfred
and gaf to J upyter a pyce of hony /
wherof Jupyter was moche Joyous / And thenne
J upyter fayd to the bee / demaunde of me what
thi)w wylt/ and I ihalie graunte and gyue hit to
the gladly/ And thenne the Bee prayed hym in
this manere/ God almyghty I pray the that thow
wylt gyue to me and graute/ that who fo euer
fhal come for to take awey my hony / yf I pryke
hyni / he may fodenly deye/ And by caufe that
Jupyter loued the humayn lygnage he fayd to
the Bee/ Suliyfe the/ that who fo euer llialle
goo to take tliy hony / yf thow pryke or Itynge
hym/ Incontynent thow flialt deye/ And thus
her prayer was tourned to her grcte dommage/
For men ought not to deinaude of god/ but fuche
thynges that ben good and lionell
2o8
C QTIiE xtij fable is of a carpenter
N as moche as god is more propyce
and benygne to the good and holy /
moche more he punyflheth 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
lot)
mauiui tlie lielpe and ayde of the godcles/ And
thfiine Mercuryappierc'd to tore liym/ and ihewcd
to hym an axe of gold/ and demaunded of hvni
in fuchc manere/ Is the fame hit that thow iiall
lofl/ And he anfuerd to Mercury/ ye fayre fyre
and myghty god the fame is it / And Mercury
feynge the malyce of the vylayne gaf to hyni
neyther the fame ne none other/ and lefte hym
wepynge/ For god whiche is good and Jurt re-
warded the good and trewe in this world / or
eche other after his deferte and punyflheth the
eyylle and Iniulte
G E^t xiiij fabU ts of a -grnQt iijtd anti of i)is
tnotiEr
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 fomrae
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
211
is caufe of my deth For yf flie had wel chaftyled
me/ I had not come to thislliame and vergoyne/
For who loueth wel/ wel he chadyleth / And
therfore chaftyfe wel youre children/ to thende/
that ye f'alle not in to fuche a caas
212
C Cfje lb fable (0 of tfje flee antj of t]}t man.
E that dothe euyl/ how be hit
that the euylle be not grete
men ought not to leue hym
vnpunyfllied / 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 mayll
not hurte me fore / Neuertheless / to the be-
houeth not to prycke me / wherfore thow fhalt
deye / For men ought not to leue none euyll
vnpunyfllied how be hit that hit be not grete.
213
C iCf)t ibi fablf IS of thf iiufbonli ant) of bis
11230 toDUCS.
Oo thynge is werfe to the man than
the woman/ As it appereth by
this fable/ of a man of a meane
age/ whiche tookc two wyues/
that is to wete an old/ cS: one
yong/ whiche were both dwellyng in his hows/
& by caufe that the old defyred to haue his
loue / fhe plucked the blak herys fro his hede
and his berde / by caufe he fliold the more be lyke
her/ And the yonge woman at the other fyde
plucked
214 LIBER
plucked and drewe oute alle the whyte herys/
to the ende / that he fhold 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.
QUI NT us.
215
C ^ht 3ijij fable is of t!ie labourer antJ of bis
cliiltircn.
e thnt laboureth and werketh con-
tynuelly maye not faylle to haue
plente of goodes/ as it appiereth
'^ ?vji by this prel'ent table/ Of a good
man labourer/ whiche all his lyf
liad laliourcd and wrought/ and was ryche/
and whan he ihold deye / he fayd to his chil-
dren/ My children I multe now deye/ and
my trefour I haue lefte in my vyne/ And
after that the good man was dede/ his children
whiche fuppofed 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
honcrer.
C Itjctf fnnoffbfn tbf jFablcs of (!?fcipc
C -llnti after foloturtb i\)t
fables of Huuan
2l6
THE FABLES
C ^\}t fgrft fable is of t^e oltJ tooman antJ of
ti)E taulf
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 wepll ony more /
I thai make the to be ate 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 {hewulf demaunded of hym / why haft thow
not brought to me fome mete/ And the wulf
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
fhalt doo as the fage and wyfe
OF A UIA .V.
217
C QTfjr fcron^ fafalc is of the tortofc anlj of tijc
other borlics
^E that enhauncetli hym felf more
than he oughte to do To hyni
oughte not to come noo good /
As hit appiereth by this prefent
fable/ Of a tortofe/ whiche faid
to the byrdes / yf ye lyft nie vp wel hyghe fro
the ground to the ayer I Ihalle Ihewe 10 yow
grete plente of precius llones/ And the Egle toke
her and bare her fo hyghe/ that Ihe myghte not
fee the erthe/ And the Egle fayd to her Ihewe
me now thefe precius ftones that thow proniyfet
to fhewe to me/ And by caufe that the tortofe
myght not fee in the erthe/ and that the Egle
knewe wel that he was dcceyued / threlted his
clowes in to the tortofes bely/ and kylled hit/
For he that wylle haue and gete worlhip and
glorye may not haue hitwithoute grete labourc/
Therfore hit is better and more fure/ to kcpe
hym lowely than to enhaunce hym fell on hyghe/
and after to deye IhamefuUy and myferably/
C For men fayn comynly/ who fo mounteth
hyher/ than he ihold/ he faileih lower than he
wold
2l8
THE FABLES
C Wcit tfjgrt) fable is of tfje tfao CreuofCES
E whiche will teche and lerne fome
other/ ought firft to corryge &
examyne hym felf / as it appereth
by this fable of a creuyfle / whiche
wold haue chaftyfed her owne
doughter bicaufe that fhe 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 fhalle 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 lliewe good enfample / For grete
fliame is to the do6lour whanne his owne coulpe
or faulte accufeth hym
OF A VIA N.
:i9
C 2r!)C fourtf)E fable is of i\\t nsse / anli of H]c
fkonnr of \\]t iigon
'/^xTV/y^l^"*^ ought not to gloryfye hyni Iclf
v"^ z' of the goodes of other . as recyteth
"^./X^ j^'! this fable of an alfe whiche fom-
^^J^^^\ y tyme fond the fkynne of a lyon /
the whiche he dyd & wered on
hym/ but he coude neuer hyde his eres ther-
with/ &: when he was/ as he fuppofed wel
arayed witli the fayd fkynne/ he ranne in to
tlie torell / And whanne the wyld bcel^es fawc
hym come/ they were fo fcrdfull that they alle
beganne
220 THE FABLES
beganne to flee / For they wend / that it had be
the lyon / And the mayiler 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 ftcynne 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 flialle bete the
therfore / And thenne he toke fro hym the fkynne
of the lyon / and fayd to hym Lyon Ihalt thow be
no more / but an afle fhalt thow euer be / And
his mayfter tooke thenne a ftaf/ andfmotehym/
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 A i'lA N.
C E\)t fa fable is of i\}t froggc anti of t\)t jFoie
"lOne ought to auaunce hym I'elt" to
doo that whichc he he can not
doo / As hit appiereth of a frogge /
whichc lomtyme yllued or came
oute of a dyche/ the whichc
prefumed to haue lepte vpon a hyghe mon-
tayne/ And whanne Ihe was vpon the moun-
tayne/ (he fayd to other beettes/ I am a mayf-
trelVe in medecyn / and canne gyue remedy to
al manere of fekenes by myn arte/ and fubtylyte/
and Ihalle rendre and brynge yow vp ageyne in
good helthe/ wherof fome byleued her/ And
thenne the Foxe whiche perceyued the folylihc
byleue of the beetles/ beganne to lawhe/ and
fayd to them/ poure beeftes/ how may tliis
fowle and venemous beert whiche is feke and
pale of colour render and gyue to yow helthe/
f\)r the leche whiche wylle hele fomme other/
ought fyrlle to hele hym felf/ For many one
counterfayteth the leche/ whiche can not a
word of the fcyence of medecyne / trum the
whiche god prefcruc and kepe vs
222
THE FABLES
G STfje &j fable is of i^z ttoo boggES
E that taketh within hym felf vayne
glorye of that thynge / by the
whiche he fliold 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 fhrewdnefs and
malyce of the dogge that barkyd not he henge
on his nek a belle/ to the ende that men (hold
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 tray tour/ And therfore none oughte to
be Joyeful and gladde of that thynge/ wherof
he
OF AVIAN. 223
he oughte to be trylt and ibrowful / as many foles
done/ whiclie make J<»yc of theyr vyces and
euyll dedes/ for a moche fole were the theef
whiche that men ledde for to be hanged/ and
that he had a cord of gold aboute his neck/ yf
he ihold make Joye therof / how be hit that the
corde were moclie ryche and fayre
224 THE FABLES
C STl^e bij fable is at tfjc camel anti 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 fo 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 A UIA A'.
225
<' iTljr cogiit fnblc is of tijc tino fclatofs
S^^ii^Z^^En ought not to hold felaulhip with
• V^ ■ r-^:^ /I ''}'"! / whiche is acuftomnied to
Wv " .-' hegyle other/ As hit appiereth
0^-iXfcyi ^^ ^^^^ Fable/ Of two felawes
whiche lomtyme held felaulhip
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 boihe Ihould leue other vnto that the
tynie of dethe Ihold come and departe them /
And as they walked in a forelt they mette with
a grete wyld here / & bothe felaws ran lone awey
for fere/ of the whiche the one clymmed/ vpon
a tree/ And whan the other fawe that his felawe
had lefte hym leyd hym felf on the crthe/ and
fayned to be dede/ And Incontynent the here
came for to ete hym / but by caufe the gallaunt
playd wel his game/ the here went forthe his
waye and touched hym not / And thene his felawe
came doun fro the tree whiche fayd to hym / I
pray thee to telle me what the bore fayd to the/
For as me femeth he fpake to the/ and haih
Ihewed
p
226 THE FABLES
(hewed 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 AULAS.
C Cljc ix fable makctfj mtnci'on of tfje ttoo pottcs
He poure ought not to take the
Ryche as his felawe as it ap-
piereth by this fable of two pottcs /
of the whiche the one was coper/
and the other of erthe/ the whiche
pottes dyd mete to gyder within a Ryuer/ C&
by caufe that the erthen pot wente fwyfter than
dyd the coper potte/ the pot of coper fayd to
the pot of erthe/ I praye the that we may goo
to gyder/ And the erthen potte anfuerd and
fayd to the coper pot/ I wylle not go with the/
For it {hold happe to me as it happed to the
glas and of the morter For yf thow Iholdeft
mete with me/ thow Iholdeft breke and putte
me in to pyeces/ C And thertbre the poure is
a fole that compareth and lykeneth hym felf to
the ryche and myghty / For better is to lyue in
pouerte than to deye vylaynoufly and opprellyd of
the ryche
228
THE FABLES
C QTfjc I fable is of tfie Igon antJ of t\)t boole
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 goto 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 ilialle
come that wel I flialle 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 AUIAN.
C ^l)t xi fable 13 of tljc ^pc nntj of I113 foiu
fowler a thyng is to the man / than
with his mouth to preyfehym lelf/
As this fable reherceth to vs/ Of
Jupiter kynge of alle the world
whiche made alle the beeftes and
alle the bvrdes to be airembled to gyder for
to knowe theyr bounte/ and alfo theyr kynd /
Emonge alle the whiche came the Ape/ whiche
prefented his fone to Jupiter/ fayenge thus/
Fayre fyre and myghty god/ loke and lee here
the fairelt Ijeell that euer thow created in this
world/ And Jupiter thenne beganne to lawhe/
and after fayd to liym / thow arte wel a fowlc
beeft to preyfe foo thy felf/ For none oughte
to preyfe hym felf/ but oughte to doo good
and vertuous werkes/ wherof other may preyfe
hym / for it is a lliameful thyng to preyfe hym
felf
230 THE FABLES
C S:f)e lij fable 10 of tfje crane antJ of tlje pcrock
Or what vertue that ony man haih/
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 alfo
fayr fethers / ne foo refplendyffliynge 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 futFyfaunce and to be content of that/ that
he hath/ without auanncynge or prayfynge of
hym felf/ and not to dyfpreyfe none other.
OF AVIAN. 231
C Z\)e liij fable is of tf)c fjimtcr anti of the togre
vyErse is the ftroke of a tonge / than
L/* Yy /^ the lUoke of a fpere as hit ap-
/\ r-^\ piercth by this fable/ Of a hunter/
whiche with his arowes huiied the
wyld beeftes/ in fuche wyfe that
none fcaped fro hym / to the whiche belles a
tygre fyers and hard fayd in this nianere/ Be
not aferd / For I llialle kepe yow well / And as
the Tygre came in to the wode/ the hunter was
hyd witliin a buflhe/ the whiche whan he fawe
palle the tvgre before the buHlie / he ihote at hym
an arowe / and hytte hym on the thye/ wher-
fore the tygre was gretely aballlied And wepynge
and fore fyghynge fayd to the other beeftes/ I
wote not from whens this cometh to me / C And
whanne the foxe fawe hym foo gretely abafllied /
al lawhynge fayd to hym / Ha a tygre / thow arte
fo myghty and fo ftronge/ And thenne the tygre
fayd to hym/ My ftrcngthe auaylled me not at
that tyme/ For none may kepe hym felf fro
treafon And therfore fome fecrete is here / whiche
I knewe not before But notwithflandynge this I
maye wel conceyue / that there is no wors arowe/
ne
2 32 THE FABLES
ne that letteth more the man / than tharowe
whiche is fhotte fro the euyll tongue/ For whanne
lorn peribne profereth or layth fom wordes in a
felaufliip / of fommen a of honeft & good lyf /
alle the fehiufhip 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
ftialle be Incurable / And yf hit were a ftroke of
a fpere/ hit niyght 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 ACIAN.
233
C (Tfjc liifj fable in of \\]t four oicn
^^_^En oughte not to breke his feythe
' l^ ageynlle his good Frend/ ne to
I ' leue his felaulhip/ as hit appiereth
'^ by this fable / of four oxen whiche
to gyder were in a fair medowe /
(I And by caufe that euer they were and kepte
them to gyder / none other beeft durfte not airaylle
tliem/ and alfo the lyon dradde them moche /
the whiche lyon on a daye came to them / And
by his deceyuable wordes thoughte for to begyle
them/ & to rauOhe & take them the better/
maade them to be fepared eche one fro other /
CAnd whanne they were fepered/ the lyon
wente / and toke one of them/ And whan the
lyon wold haue ftrangled hym / the oxe fiyd to
hym/ godfep/ He is a foole whiche byleueth
fals and deceyuable wordes And leuelh the felaw-
ihip of his good frende / For yf we had ben euer
to gyder / thow haddcft not taken me / And
therfore he whiche is/ and llandeth wcl fure /
ought to kepe hym foo that he falle not / For
to whiche is wel / meue not hvni fclf
234
THE FABLES
C €i}t lb faile is of t!)e tufflje/ anti of t^e
aufeuer tree
jOne 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 / CI 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 fliippes 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 bufllie
fayd/ Certaynly my broder yf now thow were
as lytel/ as I am / men fliold not hewe ne fmyte
the doune to the erthe/ And therfore none
oughte to reioyflhe hym felf of his worlhip/
For fuche is now in grete honour and worfhip /
that herafter fhalle falle in to grete vytupere
..fhame and difhonour
OF AVIAN.
C STfjc ibj fafak 13 of the fofffirr/ antj of tf)e
lotul fuffiie
En ought not to leue that thynge
whiche is fure & certayne / for
hope to haue the vncertayn / as
to vs reherceth this fable of a
fylHier whiche with his lyne toke
a lytyll fyllhe whiche fayd to hym / My frend I
pray the/ doo to me none euylle/ ne putte
nie not to dethe/ For now I am nought/ for
to be eten / but wlianne I Ihalle be grete/ yf
thow come ageyne hyther/ of me Ihalt thow
mowe haue grete auaylle/ For thenne I Ihalle
goo with the good whyle/ And the Fyflher
fayd to the fyffhe . Syn I hold the now/ thou
(halt not fcape fro me/ For grete foly hit were
to me for to feke the here another tyme / For
men ought not to lete goo that/ of what they
be fare of/ hopynge to haue afterwards that
that they haue not and whiche is vnccrtayne.
236
THE FABLES
C E^t lijij faile is of pfiebns / of tfje ^aar2ci0us /
nn"Q of t\)z ETiugaus
[]One 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 grate 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 aike /
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 vnto Jupiter/ and told hym the
grete malyce of the enuyous/ whiche was Joye-
ful and ghid of the harme and dommage ot' an
other/ & how he was wel content to liUfre
payne for to haue adommagod fomme other
238
THE FABLES
C Cfje ibfij fable ts of tfje t^cef / anb of tj^e
cljilti inirfje irEpte
J]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-
fyde 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 wyljhe 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 ppireffour of hit.
OF A VIA S\
239
C Eht lii fable 13 of tfic luon nnb of the gott
is wyfe that can kepe hym iVlf
tVuin the wyly and fals / as hit
appcrctli by this fable / Of a lyon /
whiche ones mette with a gote/
whiche was vpon a montayne
And whanne the lyon fawe her/ he fayd to her
in this manere/ For to gyue to her occacion to
come doune fro the hylle/ to thende that he
niyght ete her/ My fuller why comeft thow not
hyder on this fayre and grene medowe for to ete
of thefe fayre herbes or gralVe / And the gote
anfuerd to hym / How be hit / that thow fayft
trouthe/ Neuertheles thow fayft it not/ neyilu-r
for my wele ne for my prouftyte/ but thow fayft
iiit/ by caufe that thow woldeft fayne ete and
deuoure me/ but I trufte not in thy fayre fpeche/
For many tymcs I haue herd faye of my graut
moder/ he that is wcl / meue not hym felf/ For
he whiche is in a place wel fure/ is wel a folc to
go fro hit / and to putte hym fclf in gretedaungcr
and porylle
240
THE FABLES
C 2rf)£ II tMt toas of tfje crofee lii|)icf)e irias a
t|)urft
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 fhe
myght not reche to the water/ flae dyd fyll the
boket ful of fmal ftones / in foo nioche that the
water came vpward / wherof flie 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 N.
241
C E\)t iij fafak is of tlir bolnrne nnti of tlir
ronrjc bolt/
I'^E whiche is of euylle and fhrewd
kyiui / with grete payne he inny
h ym lelt'/ as it appereth by
ible/ Of a vylayne/ whiche
had a yongc bole / the whiche he
myght not bynd / by caufe that euer he fmote
with his homes/ wherfore the vylayne cutte of
liis homes / C But yet whan he wold haue bound
hym / the bole cafted his fute fro hym / in fuche
w yfe that he fufFred noman to come nyghe hym /
And whan the vylayne perceyucd the malvce of
the bole/ he fayd to hym/ I ihalle challyfe the
wel/ For I flialle take the in to the bouchers
handes / And thenne was the bole wel chaftyfed /
C And thus ought men to doo of the euvlle/
curfyd & rebelles/ whiche doo no thynge but
playe with dees and cardes and to rutfule/ Such
folke ought men to put in to the handes of the
boucher for to Icde them to the galhows/ For
better may no man challyfe them/ For with
grete payne may he be chaftyfed / w hiclie tk-eth
alle good werkes oiid alle good teluulliip
242
THE FABLES
C €')z iitj fable is of tl^e btator or palmer antj
of Sature
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
fomlyme 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 monflire 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 his handes
for to chauft'e them / For he was fore cold /
And thenne the wodewofe gaf to hym bote 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 A UIA N. 243
he (lyd hinwe in hit / And the pylgryni fayil tc;
hym / I blowe in hit / for to haue it foniwhat
more cold than hit is/ The wodewofe thenne
fayd to hym / Thy felauihip is not good to me /
by caufe tliat thow berell bothe the tyre and the
water in tliv niouihe/ therfore go hens fro my
pyt and neiicr retorne ageyne/ For the felautliip
of the man whiche hath two tongues is nought/
And the man wiche is wyfe ought to flee the
felaufhip of flaterers/ For by flateryng &: adu-
lacion many haue ben beg)'led and decejmed
244
THE FABLES
C 2rf)e ni'ij fnbic is of tfje axe antj of tfje 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 ftable / and as the oxe
on a tynie 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 muft loue his fubgettys / yf of them
he wylle be loued
OF A VIA .V.
245
C Che iiii:j fable is of tlic goos nnti ol Ijcr loit)
]K that ouer ladeth hym felf/ is
euylle ftrayned / As this fable
fayeth / of a man / whiche had
a goos/ that leyd euery day an
egge of gold / The man of
auaryce or couetoufnes commaunded and bad
to her/ that euery daye Ihe lliold leye two
egges / And flie fayd to hym / Certaynly / my
maylU'r 1 maye not / wherfore the man was
wrothe with her/ and llewe her/ wherfore he
loft that fame grete good/ of the whiche dede
he was moche forowful and wrothe/ how be
it that it was not tyme to fliette the ftable
whan the horfes ben lofte / & gone/ And he
is not wyfe whiche does fiich a thynge/ wherof
he Oialle repente hym after ward/ ne ht-alfo/
whiche doth his owne dommage for to auenge
hym felf on fomme other/ For by caufe that
he fuppofeth to wynne al / he lefeth all that
he hath.
246
THE FABLES
C 2rfje Ufa fa&Ie 10 of tlje ape anb of Ijts ttoo
cfjilliren
E that fomtyme men defpreyfen /
may wel heipe 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 fhe
ape held in her armes empeched her to flee /
flie lete hit falle to the erthe/ And the other
whiche the moder hated held faft and was
faued / the whiche from thens forthon kylled
and embraced his moder/ And And flie 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 laife good
than they whiche ben defpreyfed and hated
OF A UIA .V.
247
C E\)t utij J?nble is of t\)t toontJ ant) of
tl}crtf)cn pot
^^?^^Sje that ouer mochc eiiliauncetli hyin
vl iv>r^ \m '"^l^/ iooner than he wold / he
\Kyi Kj falleth doune/ as hit appereth by
riiy/'iw^ this fable / Of an erthen pot
maker whiclie made a grete pot
of ertiie/ tlie whiche he dyd fette in the fonne/
by caufe that more furely hit ihold haue ben
(Iryed/ Ageynfte the whiche came and blewe a
grete wynd / And whanne the wynd fawe the
potte he demaundcd of hym / who arte thow /
And the pot anfuerd to hym / I am a potte the
beft made that men can fynde/ & none may
lette ne empeche me/ And how fayd tlie
wynde/ thow art yet al lofte / and haft neyther
vertue ne none force/ and by caufe I knowe wel
thy ouer pryde / I ihall breke the/ and putie
the in to pyeces/ to thende/ that thow of lliy
grete pryde mayrt haue knowlege / And therfore
the feble ought to meke and humble hym feif
and obeyc to his lord / and not lo enhance hym
more tlian he ought/ to thende/ lie tallclh nut
from hyhe to lowe
248
THE FABLES OF AVIAN.
C Efje iifatj fable is of i^z toulf anti of tfje lamfte
two euyls men ought euer to
efchewe and flee the worfl: 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 niyght 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 fhalt be
take by them / and Ihalt 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 grettefl: of
bothe /
C "^txz fgngffi)?!! tfje fables of 3luian / SntJ
after follotoen tlje fables of ^Ifance
THE FABLES OF ALFONCE.
249
C Eht forft fable tnaiutfi mcncion of tficifiortn-
cion of fapocncc or tuufctjomc anb of louc
Ilabe of Lucanye fayd to his Tone in
tliis nianer/ My lone beware &
loke that the tbrmyce be not
more prudent or wyler / than
" thy lelt"/ the whiche gadreth &
airembleth to gyder in the Ibmer all that to
her nedeth to haue in the wynter / and beware
that thow llcpe no lenger/ than the Cocke
dot h the whiche watcheth and wakelh atte matyns
tyme/ and that he be not wyfer and more I'age
than thy lelf / the whiche rewleth and gouerneth
wel ix hennes/ but hit futiyfeth wel / that thow
rewle and gouerne one wel/ And alio that the
dogge be not more noble than thy felt" / the
whiche forgeteth neuer the good whiche is done
to hym / but euer he remcnibryth it / C Item my
fone fuppofc it not a lytyll thynge to haue a good
PVend but doubte not to haue a thowfand frendes/
C And whannc A rabe wold deye / he demaunded
of his fone/ My fone how many good trendes
hast thow / And his fone anfwerd to hym / My
fader I haue as I fupp(jfc an hondcrd frendes /
And
2 50 THE FABLES
And the fader anfuerd to hym / beware and loke
wel that thow iuppofe none to be thy frendes
withoute that thow haft affayed & 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 ftialle mowe preue
and eflaye my frend / And his fader fayd to hym
/ goo thou and kylle a calf / and putte it in a fak
al blody / and here 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
whome his frend fayd / retorne ageyne to thy
hows / For yf thow haft done euylle / I wylle
not here the payne for the / For within my hows
thow Ihalt not entre / And thus one after other
he affayed 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. 251
but fewe l)cn in t'ayth or dede / but I lliallc telle
to the what thow Ihalt doo / Goo thou to my
halt" frende / and bere to hym thy calf / and
thow llialt here and Tee what he llialle faye to
the / And whanne the lone came to the half
frende of his tader / he fayd to hym as he dyd
to the otlier / And whanne the half frende vn-
derftode his fayt or dede / he anone toke hyni
fecretely in to his hows / and ledde hym in to
a fure and obfcure place / where he dyd burye
his dede calf / wherof the fone knewe the trouthe
of the half frendes loue / Thenne the fone of
Arabe torned ageyne toward his fader / and told
to hym all that his half frende had done to
hym / And thenne the fader fayd to his fone /
that the philofopher faith that the very and
trewe trend is fond in the xtreme nede / Thenne
allied the fone of his fader / faweft thou neuer
man whiche in his lyf gate a hole frend / &
his fader faid to hym / I fawe ncuer none / but
wel haue I herd it fay / And the fone anfuered /
My fader I praye the that thow wylt reherce hit
to me / to thendc / that by aduenture I maye
gete fuche one / And the fader fayd to hym /
My fone / fom tyme haue I herd of two mar-
chaunts whiche neuer had fene eche other/ tlu-
one was of Egypte / and the other was of Baldak
but they had knowleche eche of other by theyr
leltres/
252 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 fomme 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 sorowfuU 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 rauyfihed by loue/ And
whan his Frend herd thefe wordes/ he came
to hym / and fayd / My frende 1 pray the / that
thou wilt fhewe and telle to me thy sekenes/
And his frend laid 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 nouryfftied for his playfyre/ And whan
the pacyent or feke man fawe her/ he fayd to
his frend / the fame is iTie whiche maye be caufe
of
OF ALFOSCE. 253
of iny lyf or my deth/ the whiche his trend gaf
to hyni for 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 grate Joye/
but within a whyle alter it happed and fortuned
fo tliat this marchaunt of egvpte fylle in pouerte/
and for to haue fomme confolacion and coniforte
he tooke his way toward baldak / and fuppofed
to goo and fee his frend/ And aboute one euen
he arryued to the Cyte/ And for as moche that
he was not well arayed ne clothed/ he had
Ihame by daye ly3t to go in to the hows of his
Frend/ but wente and lodged hym withynne a
Temple nyghe to a Frendes hows
C It happed thenne that on that fame nyght
that he laye there a man llewe another man
before the yate or entre of the fayd Temple /
wherfore the neyghbours were fore troubled /
And thenne all the peple moeued therof came
in to the Temple/ wherin they fond no body
fauf only thegypcyen / the whiche they toke /
and lyke a murderer Interroged hym why he
had llayne that man whiche lay dede before the
portall or gate of the teinple / He thenne feynge
his Infortune and pouerte/ confefled/ that he
had kylled hym / For by caufe of his euyll fortune
he wold rather deye than lyue ony more/ wher-
fore he was had before the Juge/ and was con-
dempncd
2 54 THE FABLES
dempned to be hanged / And whan men ledde
hym toward the galhows / his frend fawe and
knewe hym/ and beganne to wepe fore/ remem-
bryng the bienfayttes 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
lliolddogrete 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 Ihold 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 confefTyd there his fynne /
and adreffed hym felf before the Juftyce and
fayd / My lordes / none of them bothe hath done
the dede / And therfore punyfllie not ye thefe
Innocents / For I allone ought to here 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 Joyoully /
and
OF ALFONCE. 255
and after he gaf to hym bothe gold and fyluer/
And the egypcyen torned ageyne in to his hows/
And whan the fader had fayd and reherced all
this to his fone / his fone fayd to hym / My fader
I knowe now wel that he whiche may gete a
good frende is wel happy/ And with grete labour
as I fuppofe I ihal gete fuche one.
256
THE FABLES
C K\)t itcanti fable is of tlje commsfCon of pccung
or ntoncg
Spaynard arryued fomtyme in to
the lande of egipte and by caufe
that he doubted to be robbed
within the defertys of Arabe/ he
purpofed 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 yf
thou fayeft or fpekeft ony more wordes / I llialle
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 abaffhed of that/ that
ye telle to vs / for he is emonge vs alle reputed
and
or ALFONCE.
2S7
and liolden for a good man and trewe / And
therforc retorne ageyne to liyni / and bv fwelc
wordes telle liym that he wyl rendre to the thy
good ageyne/ tlie whiche thynge he dyd / and
the old man anfuerd to hym more fliarpely and
wonderly than he had done before/ wherot" the
Ipaynard was wonderly wrothe/ And as he de-
parted oute of the old mans hows/ he mette with
an old woman/ the whiche demaunded of hym /
wherfore he was foo troubled and heuy/ And
after that he had told to her the caufe why /
thold woman fayd to hym/ make good chere/
For yf hit is fo as thow fayft/ I Ihalle counceylle
the how thou llialt recouere thy lyluer/ And
thenne he demauded of her/ how hit myght be
done/ And fhe fayd to hym bryng hyther to me
a man of thy country whonie thow trultefl/ and
doo to be mad(5 four layre chelles / and fylle
them alle with ftones / and by thy felawes thow
(halt make them to be borne/ in to his hows/
and to hym they Ihalle fay/ that the marchauts
of fpayne fend them to hym for to kepe furely/
And whan the cheftes ihalle be within his hows/
thow (halt go and demade of hym thy fvluer/
whiche thynge he dyd/ And as the fayd cheftes
were borne within his hows / the fpaynard
wente with them / that bare them / the whiche
ftraungers fayd to the old ma My lord / thefe
fdur
R
258 THE FABLES
four cheftes ben al ful of gold / of fyluer and of
precious ftones / whiche we brynge to yow / as to
the trewell: 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 reilored
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 ALFONCE.
'■S9
C i2rf)c tfjurtJ fable fpcluti) of a fubtolc Iniinr
cion of a fcntrncE ggucn upon a tJcrlu anli
obfruvf caiiff.
^It befelle fomtynie that a good man
labourer wente fro lyf to deth /
the wliiche labourer lefte nothyng
to liis lone / but only a hows /
the whiche fone lyued by the
laboure of his handes pourely / This yong man
had a neyghbour whiche was made ryche
whiche demauded of the fayd yong man yf he
■wold felle his hows / but he wold not felle it /
by caufe that it was come to hym by inherytauce
and by patrymony whertbre the ryche man his
neygbour conuerlyd & was ful oft with hym for
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 of a grete
decepcion & faUhede / &c demauded of the poure
yong man that he wold hyre to hym a parte of
his hows tor to delue & make a celer / the whidie
he (hold hold of liym paycng to hym yerely rent /
& the poure yong man liyrcd it to liym / S: whan
the
26o 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 fhytte 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 fallhede 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 poure 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-
curatour of the poure peple/ &: prayd hym for
charyte /
OF ALFOiSCE. 261
clmryic/ that he wold gyue to hym good couccylle
of his grete nede / & he reherced and told to hyni
al his caufe & Iwore vpon the holy euangely that
he toke none of the ryche mans oylle/ And
thenne the philofopher anfuerd to hyni in this
manere / My fone / haue no fere / for the troiithe
may not faylle/ And the next niorowe after/ the
philofopher wente with the poure man in to
Jngement/ the whiche philofopher was confti-
tued by the kynge for to gyue the Jull fentence
of hit/ And after that the caufe had be wel
dertended and pleted by bothe partyes / the
philofophre fayd / the fame ryche man is of good
renommce ' and I fuppofe not that he demaunded
more than he lliould haue/ And alfo I byleue
not that this poure may be maculed ne gyliy of
the blame/ which he putteth on hym/ but not-
withftondynge for to knowe the trouthe of hit / I
ordeyne and gyue fentence/ that the oylle pure
and clene of the v tonnes whiche are tul to be
mefured / and alfo the lye therof / And after that
the pure and clene oylle of the fyue which been
but half ful to be alfo meafured / and with the lye
thereof/ and that men loke yf the lye of the fyue
Tonnes half ful is egal and lyke to the lye of the
fyue Tonnes/ whiche ben fulle/ And yf hit be
not soo/ that as moche lye be fond within tlie
vellels whiche ben but half full as in tiic other/
he
262 THE FABLES
he llialle thenne be fuffyfauntly &: 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 lliall 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 falfheed
was knowen and manyfefted / For there is no
fynne or myfdede done / but that ones it flialle be
knowen and manyfefted.
OF ALFOSCE.
263
C Z\]z fourUif fviblc mnkctlj mrncion of tf)r Uw-
trnrr giiucix up tf}c pccunu or monrg toljirfje
toas founli.
Ryche man fomtyme wente by a
t '" / ' \ '"^ ^y^^/ -^^^ ^^ h^ walked fro one
N'//;^^V^ lyde to that other/ fylle fro hym
a grete purfe / wherin were a
thoufand Crownes/ the whiche a
poure man fond/ and toke them for to kepe to
his wyf / wherof Ihe was ful gladde/ and fayd/
thanked be god of al the goodes whiche he
fendeth to vs/ yf he fendeth now this grete
fomme kepe we hit wel / And on the next morne
after folowyng/ the Ryche man made to be
cryed thurgh the cyte/ tliat who fomeuer had
fond a thowfand Crownes in a purfe/ he lliold
rellitue/and brynge them to hym ageyne/ and
that he Ihold haue for his reward an honderd of
them/ And after that the poure man had herd
this crye/ he ranne Incontynent to his wyf/ &
fayd to her/ My wyf ' that/ that we haue fond
mull be rendred or yolden ageyne / For hit is
better to haue a C crownes withoute fynne than
a thowfand witli fynne ^ wrongfully/ And how
be
264 THE FABLES
be hit that the woman wold haue refyfted /
Neuertheles in thende Ihe 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 (halt 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
dyfferent 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
difputed/ the philofopher moued with pyte/
called to hym the poure man/ and to hym feyd
in this maner/ Come hyther 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 fliould demaunde more
than
OF ALI'OSCn. 26s
than he ought to doo / he ouglit to be byleued /
And as to the other parte men mufte byleue that
this poure man is of good renomme and knowen
for a trewe man wherfore the philofopher fayd
tothekyiige / Syre I gyiie by my lenience/ that
thow take thcfc thowfand crownes/ and that an
C thow take of them/ the whiche honderd thow
Ihall delyuerc to tliis poure man whiche fond
tliem/ And after whan he that hath loft them
ihall come/ thow reftore them to hym / And yf
it hanpeth that another perfone fynde the thow-
fand & four C crownes/ they flial be rendryd
and taken ageyne to the fame good man whiche
is here prefent whiche fayth that he hath loll
them/ the whiche fentence was moche agreable
and plefaunt to al the companye/ And when the
rj'che man fawe that he was deceyued/ he de-
maunded myferycorde and grace of the kynge
fayenge in this manere / Syre this poure man
that hath fond my purfe / trewely he hath re-
ftored ic to me all that I ou5t to haue / but
certaynly I wold haue deceyued hym/ whcrtore
I praye the that thouwylt haue pyte and myler)'-
cordeonme Andthennethe kynge had niylery-
corde on hym/ And the poure man was wel
contented and payd / and al the malyce ot the
ryche man was knowen and manyfelled
266 THE FABLES
C Wciz & fable is of tfje fcutl^E of tfje t^re felatoes.
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 chauifed/ 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 Ihalle deye for hongre/
wherfore we mufl: fynde the maner and facyone
that we may haue the loof whiche fhall be maad
of alle oure floor/ And therfore they concluded
to gyder and fayd/ whanne the loof flialle be putte
within the ouen we flialle go and lye vs for to
flepe/ and he that flialle dreme beft/ the loof
fliall
or ALFONCE. 267
fliall he his/ And by caufc that we bothe ben
I'ubtyle and wyl'e / he ftialle not mowe dreme
as wel as we Ihalle/ wherof the loot" be ours/
wherot" alle they thre were wel content/ and al
byganne to llepe /
C But whanne the labourer or vylaync knewe
and perceyued all theyre lallace/ and I'awe that
his two t'elawes were a fleep/ he wente and
drewe the Joof oute of the ouen and ete hit/
C And alter he feyned to be a llepe/ and thene
oncot'the burgeys rofevp and fayd to hys felawes/
I haue drcmed a wonder drenie/ For two Angels
haue taken &: borne me with grete Joye before
the dyuyn magefte/ And the other burgeys his
felawe awoke and fayd / Thy dreme is merueyl-
lous and wonderful] / but I fuppofe that the myn
is fayrer / than thyn is / For I haue dremed that
two Angels drewe me on hard ground for lo
lede me in to helle / And after they dyd awake
the vylayne whiche as dredeful fayd/ who is
there/ and they anfuerd/ we be thy felawes/
And he fayd to them / how be ye foo foone
retourned / And they anfwerd to hyni / how
retorned / we departed not yet fro hens / And he
fayd to them by my feythe/ I haue dremed that
the Angels had led one of yow in to paradys or
heuen / and the other in to helle/ wlurtur I
fuppofed ' that ye lliold neucr have comen
ageyne/
268 THE FABLES
ageyne / And therfore I aroos me fro fleep / and
by caufe 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.
or ALFONCE.
2(g
C C!)t faj f -falc IS of the labourrr antj of tlic
nogljtongalc
SOmtyme there was a labourer/
whiche had a gardeyn wel play-
faunt and moche delycious / in to
the whiche he ofte wente for to
take his defporte and playfure/
And on a day at euen when he was wery and
had trauaylled fore/ for to take his recreacion he
cntryd in to his gardyn and fette himfelf doune
vnder a tree/ where as he herd the fonge of a
nyghtyngale/ And for the grete plefyre and Joye
whiche he took therof/ he fought and at the lall
fond the meanes for to take the nyghtyngale/ to
thende/ that yet gretter joye and playfauncc he
myght haue of hit/ And whan the nyghtyn-
gale was take/ he demaunded of the labourer/
wlierfore hall thow take fo grele payne for to
take me/ For wel thow knoweft that of me
thow mayft not haue grete proufFyie/ And the
vylayne anfuerd thus to the nyghtyngale/ I"or to
here the fonge of the I iiaue taken the/ And the
nyghtyngale anfuerd Ccrtaynly in vayne thou
hall payned and laboured/ For/ for no good I
wylle
270 THE FABLES
wylle fynge whyle that I am in pryfon / And
thenne the labourer or vylayne anfuerd / yf thow
fyngefl 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 fettefl.
me for to be rolled / lefle mete llialle 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 proutFyte/ For thre do£lrynes 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 fliall 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 / bleflTyd 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 ALFONCE. 27 1
hit/ he had be nioche ryche/ And tro his handes
I had not leaped / And ihenne the vyhiyne whiche
herd this lunge/ beganne to coniphiyne and to
make grete forowe . and after I'ayd 1 am wel
vnhappy/ that haue U)ll lb fayre a trelour /
whiche 1 had wonne/ and now I haue loft hit/
And the nyghtyngale leyd thenne to the chorle/
iS'ow knowe 1 wel that thow arte a Tool/ For
tliow takeft Ibrowe ot" that wherot" thow iholdell
haue none/ and fone thow haft forgeten my
dodryne/ by caufe that thow wencft tliat within
my bcly Ihold be a precious ftone more of weyght
than I am/ And I told and taught to the/ that
thow llioldelt neuer byleue that thynge/ which
is Impolfyble / And yf that ftone was thyn / why
haft thow loft hit/ And yf thow haft loll hit and
mayft not recouere hit / why takelt thow forowe
for hit/ And thert'ore hit is foly to clialtyfe or to
teche a fole/ whiche neuer byleuelh the lernynge
and dodtryne whiche is gyuen to hym.
272
THE FABLES
C CfjE bfj Cable is of a l^ftfjornctan antj oC a
croirift ftacketi /
Philofopher fayd ones to his fone/
i^::^^//^\ v-»s<i4 that whan he were falle by fortune
S^^T^ii^ \^ in to fomme dommage or perylle/
the fooner that he myght he fhold
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
fhold 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 ihold
take
OF ALFOSCE. 273
take and put on hym a layrc nianti'I and thus
arayed came to the yate/ C And tlicnne whan
the porter byheld hym / he perceyued that he
was goglyed / and fayd to hym pay me of my
dowte, And the goglyed wold paye nought/
whertore he toke from hym his mantel/ And
thenne he Tawe tluit he was erowkbacked and
fayd to hym / thow woldelt not to fore paye a
peny / but now thou Ihalte paye tweyne/ C And
whyle that they ftryued to gydcr/ the hat anil
the bonet fclle from his hede to the erthe/ And
the porter whiche fawe his fcabbed hede/ fayd to
hym/ Now Ihalt thou paye to me thre pens/
and thenne the porter yet ageyne fetted his
handes on hym/ and felte / that liis body was al
fcabbed / And as they were thus wraftlynge to
gyder/ the crowkbacked fylle to the ground/
and hurted hym felf fore on the legge / And the
porter fayd thenne to hym/ Now ilialt thow
paye v pens / For thy body is al counterfayted /
wherfore thow (halt leue here thy mantele/ And
yf thou iuuklctl payd a peny/ thow haddeft gone
on thy waye free and quyte/ wherfore he is wyfe
that payeth that/ that he oweth of ryght / to
thende that therof come not to hym grcttcr
dommage
THE FABLES
C Cfje Efj2f)t fable is of tfje tifcgple/ anti of
ti)£ fljccp /
Difcyple was fomtyme/ whiche
toke his playiyre to reherce and
telle many fables / the whiche
prayd to his mayfter/ that he
wold reherce vnto hym a long
fable / To whome the mayfler anluerd / 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 / CI Somtyme was a kynge whiche
hadde a fabulatour/ the whiche reherced to
hym at euery tyme / that he wold fleep fyue
fables for to reioyflhe 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
ftiorte/ And the kynge thenne fayd to hym/ I
wold
OF ALFOSCE. 275
wold fayne here one wd longe / And tlKime
llialle I Icuc wel the llepe / The fabulatour
thenne rehorccd vnto hym fuche a fable/ Of a
ryche man whiche wente to the market or feyre
for to bye Iheep/ the which man bought a
thowfand llieep/ And as he was retornynge fro
the feyre/ he cam vnto a Ryuer/ and by caufe
of the grete waiues of the water he coude not
parte ouer the br)'dge/ Neuertheles he wente
foo longe to and fro on the Ryuage of the fayd
Ryuer/ that at the laft he fonde a narowe way/
vpon the whiche myght palfe fcant ynough thre
fheep attones / And thus he parted and had ihiin
ouer one after another/ And hyderto reherced
of this fable/ the fabulatour felle on rtepe/ And
anon after the kynge awoke the fabulatour/ and
fayd to hym in tliis manere/ I pray the that
thow wylt make an ende of thy fable/ And the
fabulatour anfuerd to hym in this manere Syre
this Ryuer is rj'ght grete/ and the rtiip is lytyl /
wherfore late the marzhaunt doo pafs ouer his
(heep/ And after I rtialle make an ende of my
fable/ And thenne was the kynge wcl appeafed
and pacyfyed/ C And therfore be thow content
of that I haue reherced vnto the/ For there is
folke fuperrtycious or capaxe/ that they may not
be contented witli t'ewe wordes
276
THE FABLES
C 2rf)e II fable ts of tlje toulf/ of i\)t labourer/
of tl)c foic / ^ of tlje cfjcfe
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 wulf 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 /
0 thow labourer many tymes on this day thow
dydeft gyue to me thyn oxen / and therfore hold
thy promeffe 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
anfuerd/ I Ihalle 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 ALFOSCE. 277
the caufo to be (lifcutod or pleted l)efore tlie
Juge/ And as they were I'echynge a Jiige/ tliey
mette with the foxe/ to wliome they recounted
or toltl alle theyr dyfferent and ftryf/ C Thenne
lliyd the Foxe vnto them/ I Ihalle accorde yow
bothe wel/ and I llialle gyue on your caule or
plee a good lentence/ But I nnill \\->vkc w'uli
eche one of yow bothe a part or allone/ And
they were content / C And the Foxe wente and
told to the labourer/ thow llialt gyue to me a
goodhenne/ And another to my wyf / And I
Ihalle hit foo make/ that thow with alle thyn
oxen flialt frely goo vnto thy hows/ wherof the
labourer was wel content / C And after the
foxe wente and fayd to the wulf / I haue wel
laboured and wrought for the/ For the labourer
Ihall gyue to tlie therfore a grete chefe/ and lete
hym goo home wyth his oxen/ And the wulf
was wel content/
C And after tlie Foxe fiayd to the wulf/ come
thow wyth me/ and I flialle lede the/ where
as the chefe is/ C And thenne he ledde hym
to and fro/ here and there vnto the tyme that
the mone fliyned ful bryghtly/ And that tiu-y
came to a welle/ vpon the whiche the Foxe
lepte/ and fhewed to the wulf the (hadowe of the
mone/ whiche reluced in the well/ & fayd to
hym/ loke now godfep/ how that chefe is tayre/
grete
(^^LrtML^v
278 THE FABLES
grete and brode / 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 flialle goo doune/ And yf thow
niayft not brynge hit with the/ by caufe of his
greteneffe/ I flialle 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
j 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
i hyther and helpe me / For the chefe is fo moche
and foo grete that I maye not here hit vp/ and
tlienne the wulf was aferd of that the Foxe lliold
! ate hit/ entryd \vythynne the other boket/ and
I as fafle as he wente dounward / the Foxe came
I 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
1 whiche is vncertayne/ For many one ben therof
deceyued by the fallheed and decepcion of the
Aduocate and of the Juges
OF ALFOSCE.
'■70
C (Tbf I f'lb'f is of tljc f)uffaonli ant) of tbf
motjcr v^ of f)gs togf
Omtyme was a merchaunt whiche
maryed hyni to a yonge woman /
the whiche had yet her moder on
lyue/ It happed that this Mar-
chaunt wold ones haue gone lom-
where in to ferre country for to by Ibme ware or
marchaundyfe / And as he was goynge / he betoke
his wyf to her moder for to kepe and rewle
her honeltly tyll he come ageyne/ C His wyf
thenne . by the owne confentynge and wylle of
her moder/ enamoured her klf of a ryght gen-
tyl/ fayre and yong man wiiiche fournyflhed to
thappoyntement / And ones as they thre made
good chere the hulbond came ageyne fro the
feyre and knocked at the dore of the hows/
wherfore they were wel abaflhed/ Thenne layd
the old moder thus to them/ haue no fere/ but
doo as I fhalle telle to yow/ and care yow not/
And thenne the fayd to the yonge man / hold
this fwerd/ and goo thow to the yate/ and be-
ware thy felf that thow faye no word to hym /
but lete me doo/ And as the hulbond wold haue
entvrd
2 So THE FABLES
entryd his hows/ and that he fawe the yong
man holdynge a naked fwerd in his handes / lie
was gretely aferd / And thenne the old woman
layd 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 flayne 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 felt not / and thow fhalt
doo as fage and wyfe
OF ALFOSCE. 2S1
C E^e rj fnfalf 15 of an oYb fiarlottc or faalulic
^ Noble man was Ibiutynie / whiche
had a wyf moche challe and was
wonder fayr / This noble man
wold haue go on pylgrimage to
Rome/ and lefte his wyf at home/
by caule that he kncwe her for a chafte and a
good woman / C It happed on a daye as Ihe
wente in to the toun A fayre yonge man was
efpryfed of her loue/ and took on hym hardynes/
and re(]uyred her of loue/ and promyfed to her
many grete yeftes / But llie whiche was good had
leuer deye than to confente her therto/ wherfore
the yonge man deyde almoolle for forowe/ to
the whiche felawe came an old woman / whiche
demaunded of hym the caufe of his fekenelle /
And the yonge man manyfefted or dcfcouered
vnto her alle his courage and herte/ alkynge help
and counceylle of her/ And the old woman
wyly and malycious fayd to hym/ Be thow
gladde and Joyous/ and take good courage/ For
wei I ihallc doo/ and br)-nge aboute thy faytte/
in foo moclie thr)w ihalt haue thy wyll fulfylled/
And after thys the old bawde wcnte to her hows/
and
282 THE FABLES
and maade a lytyl catte which flie hadde at
homme 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/ C And
whanne the Catte fmelled hit/ fhe beganne to
wepe and crye / C 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 / C 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 llie
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 fwere that thou llialt
neuer reherce it to no body / to the whiche pro-
meffe the good and trewe yonge woman accorded
her felf / fuppofyng / that hit had ben all good
and
OF ALFOSCE. 2S3
and fayd / I wyll wcl / And thcnne tlic old
woman fayd to her in this manere / My frend
this fame catte whiche thow I'eelt yonder was
my daughter/ the whiche was wonder fayre
gracious and chalte/ whiche a yonge man loued
moche / and was lb moche elpryled of her lone/
that by caul'e that ihe rett'ufed hym / he deyde tor
her loue / whertore the goddes hauyng pyte on
hym/ haue torned my daughter in to this catte/
And the yonge woman whiche fuppoled that the
old woman had fayd trouthe fayd to her in this
manere/ Alias my fayr moder/ I ne wote what
I Ihalle doo/ For fuche a caas myght wel happe
to me / For in this Towne is a yonge man /
whiche deyeth almoft for the loue of me/ But
for loue of my hulTj^^md / to whome I oughte to
kepe chafiyte/ I haue not wylle graunte hym/
Neuertheles I Ihall doo that/ that thow ihalt
counceylle to me / And thenne the old woman
fayd to her / iVIy frend haue thow pyte on hym
as foone as thow mayft / foo that hit befalle not
to the lyke as it dyd to my doughter/
C The yonge woman tlienne anfwerd to her/
and fayd/ yf he requyre me ony more/ I ihalle
accorde me with hym / And yf he recjuyre me no
more/ yet Ihalle I profere me to hym / C Ami to
thende/ that I offende not the goddes/ I Ihalle
doo and accomplyfllie hit / as foone as I maye/
C ihe
2S4 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 ALFOSCE.
285
t vTljc lij fablf is of a blunt) man anli o(
i)is togf/
Here was fomtyme a blyiid riKin
whiche had a f;iyre wyt/ of tlie
whiche he was moche Jahius / He
kepte her lb that Ihe myght not
goo nowher/ For ewer he liad her
by the hand/ And after that fhe was enamoured
of a gentil felawe/ they coude not fynde the
maner ne no place for to fulfylle theyr wyll / but
nolwithllandyng the woman whiche was fubtyle
and Ingenyous counceylled to her frende that he
lliold come in to her hows / and that he iliold
entre in the gardyn and that there he IhoUl
clymme vpon a pere tree/ And he did as fhe
told hym / and when they had made theyr enier-
pryfe/ the woman came ageyne in to the hows/
and fayd to her hulbond / My frend I praye yow
that ye wylle go in to our gardyn for to defpofe
us a lytel whyle there/ of the whiche prayer the
blynd man was wel content / and fayd to his
wyf / wel my good frend I will wel / lete vs go
thyder/ And as they were vnder the pere tree/
llic f.iyd to licr hulbond / My frentle 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 iiiyd the blynd man / I wylle wel & graut
therto/ And when (lie was vpon the tree/ the
yong man begann to ihake the pere tree at
one lyde / and the yonge woman at the other
fyde/ And And as the blynd man herd thus hard
{hake 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
lyght 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 flialle 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 hulbond/ My frend thow arte wel be-
holden and bounden to me / For by caufe and
for the loue the goddes haue reflored 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 / celfed neuer day ne nyght to pray them /
that theye wold rendre to the thy fyghte/ wher-
fore the goddefTe Venus vyfybly Ihewed her felf
to
OF ALFOSCE. 287
to me/ and fayd / that yf I wold ibnime play-
lyre to the layd yonge man Ihe Ihold reftore to
the thy lyght/ And thus I am caule of it And
thenne the good man fayd to her/ My ryght
dere wyf ^- good frende / I remercye and thanke
yow gretely/ For r^-ght ye haue and 1 grete
wrontre.
THE FABLES
C (Kl^e itfj fable is of i^t STagllcr/ of a fegnge/
ant of ijis feruaunts
P^^^En ought not to doo fome other/
that whiche he wold not that it
were done to hym / As it appiereth
by this prefent 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 fhapynge or fewynge / wher-
fore the kyng commaunded to his ftyward that
the fayd tayllers fliold fare wel/ and haue of the
bell metes and of delycious drynke / C It happed
on a daye that the maylter 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 fly ward fayd to the other/
that they fliold kepe for hym fomme of their
mete/ And thenne the maylter tayller anfuerd/
he muft none haue / For yf he were here / he
fliold
OF ALFONCE. 289
lliold not etc of hit/ For he etc nouer no hony/
And as they had done/ Medius came/ and de-
maunded of his felawes/ why kepte you not
parte of this mete for me/ And the ftyward
anfuerd and fayd to hym / By caufe that thy
mayller layd to me/ that tliow etc neuer no
hony/ no parte of the mete was kepte for the
And Medius anfuerd thenne neuer one word/
but beganne to thynke/ how he myght paye his
mayller/ And on a day as the ftyward was allone
witli Medius/ he dcmaunded of Medius/ yf he
knewe no man that coude werke as wel as his
mayrter/ And Medius fayd nay/ And that it
was grete dommage of a fekenefs that he had/
And the Ityward demaunded what fekenefs hit
was/ And tlienne Medius anfuerd to hym/ My
lord whan he is entryd in to his franfy or
wodenes/ there cometh vpon hym a rage/ And
how Ihalle I knowe hit fayd the ftyward/ Cer-
taynly my lord fayd Medius/ whan ye ftiall fee
that he Ihalle fette at his werke/ and that he
llialle loke here and there / and ftial fmyte vpon
his borde with his fyft/ thene may ye know
that his fekeneffe cometh on hym/ And thene
withoute ye take and bynde hym and alio bete
hym wel/ he ftialle doo grete harme and dom-
mage/ And the ftyward fayd to hym/ Care not
therof my frend/ For wel I Ihalle beware my
felf
T
290 THE FABLES
lelf 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 comynge/ 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
his maners/ and sodenly made hym to be take
and holde by his feruaunts/ And after made
hym to be bond and wel beten/ Thenne was
tlie mayfter tayller al abafftied/and demauded
of them / My lordes wherfor doo ye bete me foo
outrageoufly/ what ofFenfe haue I done/ wher-
fore I muft 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 rygoroufly 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 dydeft 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 ALFOSCE. 291
lawhe/ nnd fayd al that he hadde wcl done/
C And thertbre men ought not to doo to ony
other that thynge wliiche they wylle not that
men dyd to them /
C^crc cnljfn thf fables of !llfonrc
i: Hull fololucu oilja- fabk'j of ^Jogc tfjc jplorciu
ton
292 THE FABLES OF
C 2rf)E forft fable is of tf)£ fubtolcte of ti^e inoman
for to liecEguE \\ti ijiifbonti
»He cautele or falfliede of the woman
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 alfo he
gaf to her all new utenfyles to kepe houlliold /
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 houfhold / wher-
fore he demaunded of his wyf how and in what
maner fhe had foude the facion and the mean
for to haue repayred fo honeftly his hows / And
Ihe anfuerd that it was by the grace of god / And
he
POGE THE FLORENTYN. 293
he anfuerd / BIcfTyd be god of hit / And when he
was witliin the chambre/ he fawe the bedde
rychely couerd / & the walles wel hanged / and
demaunded of his wyf he had done before/ And
llie thenne anfuerd to hym in lykc maner as Ihe
dyd before/ And therfore he thanked god as he
had done to fore / And as he wold fette hym at
his dyner/ there was brought before hym vnto
his wyf a child of thre yere of age/ or there
aboute / wherfore he demaunded of his wyf/
My frend to whome belongeth this fayre child/
And Ihe anfuerd/ My Frend the holy ghooft of
his grace hath fente hit to me/ Thene anfuerd
the merchaunt to his wyf in this manere/ I
rendre not graces ne thankes not to the holy
ghooll 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 wyfe
he medle no more therwith / For fuche thynge
belongeth to me for to doo hit / and not to the
holy ghooft.
294 ^^^ FABLES OF
C 2Eije iaaria fable is of ti)E fcooman anb of
tJ^E gpocrgte
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 felaufliip / 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 fomme poure and Indygent/ Neuertheles
he hath a condycyon within hym felf/ that is to
wete / that he fliold 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 FLORENTYN. 295
moche fairc and of good lyf wttite to ferceli
his lyf fro one dore to another/ And vpon a
day emonge other he wente and fette hym I'elf
vpon a grcte llone before the yate of a wydowe/
whiclie wydowe was acullommed to gyue Iiym
eucr fomwhat/ C And wluui the good woman
knewe that he was at liir tlore ihe dyJ brynge
to hym his porcion as llie was cullommcil tor to
doo/ And as llie gaf to hym the mete Ihe lokcd
on hym / and feyng liyni Too fayre / and wel
made of body/ llie thenne fylled of carnal con-
cupifcence/ and brennynge in the fyre of loue/
requered and Inltantly prayd hym that he wold
retorne thyder within thre dayes/ and promyfeil
to him that Ihe ihold gyue to hym a ryght good
dyner/ And the poure man fayd to her that he
lliold doo foo / and whanne he came ageyne / he
fette hym felf as before / atte dore of the wydowes
hows/ whiche the woman knewe well whanne
he ihold come/ wherfore Ihe came to the yate
and fayd/ Come within good man ' For now we
flialle dyne/ to the whiche prayer the poure
man allented / & entred within the hows/ the
whiche wydowe gaf to hym good mete/ and
good drynke / And whanne they had wel dyned /
the fayd wydowe prelfyd the good man llrongly
and after llie kylled hym / requyrynge hym / that
ihe might liaue the copye of his loue/ And thene
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 fawe that he myght not excufe
hym felf / he fayd to the wydowe in this manere /
My frend fvth that thow delyreft it for to doo
foo moche and loo 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 Ej^c tl^grli fable is of a gonge tooman tof}icl)e
accufEtJ l)£r Ijufbonti of coxilpe or tlantE
[Omitted. Cf. Poggio Facetice 45.]
POGE THE FLORENTYN. 297
C Z-\}t fourtf) fable is of tf)c fjuntonrjc antJ
jjainl^gnrje
^^Oge Florentyn reherceth to vs/ how
ones he was in a felauihip where
men fpak of the fuperflue cure of
them whiche gouerne the dogges
and hawkes/ wherof a mylannoys
named Pauhis beganne to lawhe/ and lawhyng
requyred of Poge that he wold reherce fomme
fable of the fayd hawkes/ And for loue of alle
the felauihip he fayd in thys manere/ Somtyme
was a medecyn whiche was a Mylannoys This
medecyn heled al foles of al maner of foly/ and
how & in what manere he dyd hele them/ I
Ihall 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 brode pytte /
whiche was ful of rtynkynge and Infe6tod water/
And within the fame pytte the fayd medycyn
put the foles after the quantyte of theyr folyfth-
nes / fomme vnto the knes/ and the other vnto
the bely/ And there he bonde them fait at a
port/ but none he putte depper/ than vnto the
I^omack lor double of gretter Iiiconuenicnt / It
happed
293 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 I'pace 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/
lelTe that he fhold 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 abaflhed /
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 FLOKENTYX. 299
wliiclio thou bereft on thy fylle / ami uher to is
it good / and the yong man anluerd to liym / It
is a Iperehawk whiche is good for to take par-
tryches and quaylles/ And yet ageyne the tole
demaunded ot hyni/ My trend what are thoos
tliat tblowe the/ & wherto ben they good/ And
the yonge man anluerd to hym / they be dogges
whiclie are good tor to lerclie and tynde partryches
cSc (juaylles/ And whan they haue reyled tliem/
my I'perehawke taketh them / wherot" procedeth
to me grete Ibhis and phiyl'yre / And the tble
demaunded ageyne / To your aduys tlie takyng
that ye doo by them in a liole yere/ how moche
is hit/ fhalle liit bere to the grete proutiyte/
And the yong man anluerd to hym lour or tyue
crownes or ther aboute/ And no more fayd the
fole/ And to your aduys how moche llialle they
difpende in a yere / And the yong man anluerd
xl or I crownes / C And whanne the fole herd
thefe wordes/ he fayd to the fayd yonge man / O
my frend I pray the that foone thow wylt departe
fro hens/ For yf our fyficien come/ he llialle
putte the within the fayd pytte by caufe that
thow arte a fole/ I was put in it vnto the thyes/
but therin he Ihold putte tlie vnto the chynnc/
for thow doll the grettcll foly that euer 1 herd
fpeke of/ CAnd therfore the lludye of the
huntynge and hawkynge is a llouful cure/ And
none
30O 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 FLORENTYN. 301
C vCfjc b fable is of tfic refotacion of fomme
manftres
T^Oge of I'Morence recyteth how in his
tyme one named Hugh prynce
of the medycyns/ fawe a calte
whiche had two hedes and a
calf whiche alfo had two hedes
And his legges bothe before and behynde were
double/ as they had be Joyned al to gyder/
as many folke fawe/ Jtem about the marches
of ytalye withynne a medowe was fomtyme a
Cowe/ the whiche Cowe maa^i^ and delyuerd
her of a ferpent of wonder and Ryght mcrueyl-
lous gretteneile/ Ryghte hydous and ferdful /
C For fyrfte he hadde the heede gretter than the
hede of a calf/ C Secondly/ he had a necke of
the lengthe of an Alfa/ And his body made after
the lykenelle of a dogge / and his taylle was
wonder grete/ thycke and longe withoute com-
paryfon to ony other .
C And whanne the Cowe fawe that Ihe hadde
maade fuche a byrthe/ And that within her
bely ihe had borne foo ryght horryble a becrte /
Ihe was al ferdful / and lyfte her fclf up / and
fuppofed
302 THE FABLES OF
luppofed 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 Ibuked tylle that he
fond fomme mylke/ (I And whanne the Cowe
myght efcape fro hym / Ihe 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 lyknefle whiche
foloweth /
C Fyrfte he hadde from the nauylle vpward
the fymplytude or lykenefle 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/ C Secondly he
hadde a grete berd / and he hadde two wonder
grete hornys aboue his eres/ C Alfo he 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 I-'LORESTYN. 303
of fyflhes maylcs/ whcrwith he fwynimed/ and
only he hadde but the hede oute of the water/
C It happed thenne as many wymmen bouked
and wellhed at the porte or hauen of the fayd
Ryuer/ that thys horryble and ferdfuU beelte
was/ for lacke and defaulte of mete cam &
fwymmyng toward the fayd wymen / Of the
which he toke one by the liand / and fuppofed
to haue drawe her in to the water/ but Ihe was
ftronge/ and wcl auyfed and refyfted agevnlle
the fayd monftre/ And as Ihe dertended her
felf/ llie beganne to crye with a hyhe voys/ lielp
help/ to the whiche came rennynge fyue wym-
men / whiche by hurlynge and drawynge of
ftones kyld and llewe the layd monftre/ For he
was come to ferre within the fonde/ wherfore he
myght not retorne in the depe water/ And after
whanne he rendryd his fpyryte/ he made a ryght
lytyl crye/ fayenge wo that he was fo deformed
and foo moche cruel / For he was of grete corpu-
lence more than ony man's body/ And yet fayth
Poge in this manere / that he beyng at Ferrare lie
fawe the fayd monftre/ And faith yet/ iliat the
yonge children were cuftomed for to go bathe
and wcllhe them within the fayd Ryuer/ but
they came not all ageyne/ wherfore the wymen
wellhed ne bouked nomore theyr clothes at the
faid porte/ For the folke prefumed and fuppofed
that
304 THE FABLES OF
that the monftre kyld the yonge children / whiche
were drowned / C Jtem alfo within a lytyl whyle
after hit beielle 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 fhewed many-
feftly / Of the whiche child the tydynges came
vnto the perfone of the pope of Rome
POGE THE ELORENTYS.
C ICf)c foithf fable is of tfif parfonc / of ijis
torjge/ 3nt3 of tf)e 15ifftiop
Yluer clothe and caufeth alle tliynge
to be done vnto the halowynge
ageyne of a place whiche is pro-
phane or Interdide/ As ye flialle
niowe here by thys prefente F'ablc /
C Ut" a preelt dwellynge in the countrey whiche
I'omtyme had a dogge/ whiche he loued moche/
the whiche preeft was moche ryche/ The fayd
dogge by procelTe of tyme deyde / & whan he was
dede/ he entered and buryed liit in the chirche
yerd for caufe of the grete loue whiche he loued
hym / it happed thenne on a day his biuliop
knewe hit by thaduertyfement of fomme other/
whcrfore he fente for the fayd preeft/ and fup-
jiofed to haue of hym a grete fomme of gold /
or els he lliold make hym to be ftraytly punylllied/
And thenne he <\'rote a lettre vnto the fayd preeft
of whiche the tenour conteyned only that he
ftiold come and fpeke with hym/ And whan the
preft had redde the lettres/ he vnderltood \\\\
alle the caas/ and prefuppofed or bethought in
his courage/ that he wold haue of hym (bmme
fyluer/
u
3o6 THE FABLES OF
fyluer/ For he knewe wel ynough the condy-
cions of his biflliop/ & forth with he toke his
breuyarye / & an C crownes with hym / the pre-
late beganne to remembre and to (hewe 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 fliold not
be merueylled yf he hath wel defernyd for to be
buryed honeftly andworlhipfuUyamonge the men/
he was al fylled with humayn wytte as wel in his
lyf / as in thartycle of the dethe / And thenne the
biffhop 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 alToylled the preft And
alfo graunted the fayd fepulture / And therfore
fyluer caufeth alle thynge to be graunted or
done.
POGE THE FLORE NTYN.
307
( Z\)t bij fnbic is of i\}t jFoie of Hjc (TorU anti of
t})c togrjcs
"i^-^V^^-Sisj^^lle tlie lallar)' or payment of them
that mokken other is for to be
mocqued at the laft / as hit ap-
piereth by this prefent Fable /of
a Cock whiche fomtyme fawe a
foxe comynge toward hym fore hongry and
famyllhed / whiche Cock fuppofed Wei that he
came not toward hym/ but for to etc fomme
henne/ for whiche caufe the Cock maade al his
hennes to flee vpon a tree / And whan the foxe
beganne tapproche to the faid tree / he began to
crye toward the cock good tydynges good tyd-
ynges/ And after he falewed the cok ryght
rouerently / &: demaunded of hym thus/ O god-
ll'p/what doft thow ther foo hyghe/ And thy
hennes with the/ haft not thow herd the good
tydynges worthy and prouffitable for vs CAnd
ihenne the Cok ful of malyce anfucrd to hym/
Nay veryly godfep / but I praye the/ telle and
rehcrce them vnto vs / Thenne fayd the foxe to
the cok/ Certaynly godfep/ they be the beft
that euer ye herd/ For ye may goo and come/
talke
3oS THE FABLES OF
talke and communyque emong alle beeftes with-
oute ony harme or dommage/ And they fli alle
doo to yow bothe pleafyr and alle feruyfe to
them poiilible/ 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 falfliede 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 llialle 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 Ihoke 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
POGE THE FLORENTYN. 309
thefe two dogges come nerer/ And fayinge tliefe
wordes toke his waye/ & ranne as fart as he
niyght / And thenne the cock demaiinded and
cryed after hym / godfep/ why rennell thow
thus/ yf the kiyd paAe is accorded/ thow ouglitert
not to doubte no thynge Ha a godfep fayd the
Foxe from ferre / I doubte that thefe two dogges
haue not herd the decreet of tlie pees/ And
thus whanne a begyler is bcgyled / he receyued
the fiUary or payement / whiche he ouL,'ht to
haue/ wherfore lete euery man kepe hym fcif
ther fro
"'■•/I'll ^^'Vnimen in Rome/ whiche he
^"^cxi knewe of dyuerfe age and forme/
FJ^^^'^^^^T^^Ogius reherceth that there were two
m .
ik^lOfvi' ^^'hich came to a Curteyzan by
caufe to haue and wynne foniwhat
wvth theyr bodyes/ whome he receyued and
happed tliat lie knewe the fayreft of botlie twyes/
and that other ones/ and foo departed/ And
afterward whanne they Ihold departe/ he gaf to
them a pyece of lynen clotlie/ not decernynge
how moche eche of them Ihold haue to her
parte and porcion / And in the partynge of the
fayd clothe fylle bitwene the wymmen a rtr)'f by
caufe
3IO THE FABLES OF
caule one of them demaunded two partes after
thexygence of her werke/ And that other the
half after theyre perfones / eche of them fliew-
ynge dyuerfly theyr refons / that one fayeng that
Ihe hadde fuffred 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 hulbondes/ 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 cufiomme 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 Ihal be deuyded/ And I
demaunde of dodoures 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 FLORESTYS'. 3'i
with the Hilar for xxv ducattes for to paye forth-
wiili in liatule xv ducattes/ And as for the rell
he Ihold abyde dettour and owe/ And the fellar
was content / and therupon delyuerd the hors and
receyued the xv ducattes/ After this a certayne
terme the fellar demaunded of the byar the
refydue / And he denyed the payment / & had
hvm hold his couenant/ For the byer layd we
were accorded that I Ihold be thy debtour/ And
yf I Ihold fatylfye and paye the I Ihold nomore
be thy dettour/ ct cetera/ and foo he abode
dettour
312 THE FABLES OF
JE telleth alfo that ther was a carryk
of Jene hyred in to frauce for to
make warre ayenft englifflimen /
of the whiche caarrick the patrone
bare in his flield painted an oxe
hede / whiche a noble man of frauce beheld and
fawe / & fayd he wold auenge hym on hym that
bare tho armes / wherapon aroos an altercacion
fo moche / that the frenflliman prouoked the
Janueye to bataylle and fyght therfore/ The
Januey acceptyd the prouocacion/ & came at
the day alfigned in to the felde withoute ony
araye or habyllements of warre / And that other
frenfllie 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 (hold 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 bare is not the hede of an oxe but it is the hede
of a cowe whiche thynge fo fpoken the noble
Frenlihe man was abafflied and fo departed half
mocqued
POGE THE FLORENTYN. 313
Ifo he faith that then was a pliifycyfii
1 d^^ellyng in a Cyte/ whiche was
^^/ -\\^ a grete & a connyng man in that
icycnce/ & he had a leruaut a
yong man whiche made pyllcs
after a certayne forme that he ftiewed to hym /
& whan this yong man/ had dwellid long with
hym/ & coude part^ly make the pylles/ he
departed fro his mayfter / and went in to ftrauge
countre where as he was knowen/ and lete men
there to vnderltonde that he was a connynge
philycyen/ and coude gyue medycynes for al
nianer maladyes and fekenefles/ and myniftyred
alwey his pylles to euery man that came to hym
for ony remedy / And hit was foo that a poure
man of that place where he was came to hym/ and
complayned how he had lofte his alTe/ and prayd
hym to gyue to hym a medycyne for to fynde
his affe ageyne/ And he gaf to hym the fayd
pylles/ & badde hym to receyue and take them /
And he fliold fynde his afle/ And this poure
man dyd foo / and after wente in to the feldes
and paltures to feke and loke after his alfe / And
foo doynge the pylleys wrongth foo in his bely/
that he muft nedes go purge hym/ and went
amonsre
314
THE FABLES OF
amonge the reed and there eafyd hym/ And
anonet here he fonde his afle / 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
afle/ 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 fekenefles / and alfo to fynde afles.
^^^^Here 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 mayftrefle what haue ye
doo / why fayd Ihe / I haue herd fay fayd the
mayde/ that ye be aflured 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 THE FLORENTYN. 315
To moch his other wyf that llie ck-ydc thcrof/
And I am lory therof/ that yf ye lliuld falle in
lyke caas / to whorae the wydowe anfwerd and
Ihyd/ Forfothe I wold be dede/ For thcr is hut
forowe and care in this world/ This was a
curteys excule of a wydowe
Ow thcniic I wylle tynyrihe alle
thefe fables wyth this tale that
fiiloweth whiche a woriliipful
preell and a parfone told me late/
lie layd / that there were duel-
lynge in Oxenford two prelles bothe mayftres of
arte / of whome that one was quyck and coude
puttc hym lelf forth / And that other was a good
fymple preeft / And foo it happed that the
mayrter that was perte and quyck was anone
promoted to a benefyce or tweyne/ and after to
prebendys / and for to be a Dene of a grete
prynces chappel / fuppofynge and wenynge that
his felaw the fymple preeft {hold neuer haue be
promoted but be alwaye an Annuel / or at the
moft a paryflhe preeft / So after longe tyme that
tliis worihipful man this dene came rydynge in
to a good paryllh with a x or xij horfes/ lyke a
prelate/ and came in to the chirche of the fayd
paryllhe/ and fond there this good fymple man
fomlyme
3i6 THE FABLES OF
fomtyme his felawe/ whiche cam and welcomed
hym lowely/ And that other badde hym good
morowe mayfter Johan / and toke hym fleyghtly
by the hand/ and axyd hym where he dwellyd/
And the good man fayd in this paryilh/ how
fayd he/ are ye here a fowle preell or a paryilh
prefte/ nay fyr faid he/ for lack of a better
though I be not able ne worthy I am parfon
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 mayller
fayd he / I pray yow what is this beniyce 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 {hold feme a good benefyce / no For-
fothe fayd he/ Bat I wote wel what it ftialle be
worth to me / Why fayd he / what Ihalle hit be
worth / Forfothe fayd he / yf I doo my trewe
dylygece in the cure of my paryfllies in prechyng
and techynge/ and doo my parte longynge to
my cure / I Ihalle haue heuen therfore / And yf
theyre fowles ben loft or ony of them by my
defawte / I fliall be punyfflied therfore / And
herof am I fure/ And with that word the ryche
dene was abaflhed And thought he Ihold be the
better/
POGE THE FLORENTYX. 317
better/ And lake more hede to liis cures and
benefyces tlian he had done / This was a good
anfwere of a good prcell and an honell /
SntJ lirrc taitb I: foirjffijc H)is booh/ tranriatcti
Si cmpvyntrt fan mc JUlilliam Caiton nt
OTfftmyufur in Uiabbrg / anli fi:nDfCijct)
tiif nuj tiauc of iflarcbc the ocre
of ourc lorD fil €€€€ liiiiiij /
SlntJ tlje forft ucrr of tf)c
tQuc of iiung I\uc|)^
art) ll]f ttjyrtir.
ERRATA.
Those in Gothic are in the original Caxton.
Page.
Line.
6
11
Uccctb/ Ubcunc,
teeth / Thenne.
22
4
auducyte,
aiidacyte.
29
12
giinnes,
gynnes.
35
7
'lygt,
ny3t.
47
12
conenauncce,
conuenaunces.
54
20
double,
double.
53
9
rygte.
ry3te.
74
I
Scvcntb,
vj.
92
8
fircSc,
grete.
102
17
eyylle,
euylle.
103
10
folowith.
folovveth.
105
18
bcaultc,
beaute.
III
IR0 beat) tng.
112
20
enhauced,
enhaunced.
115
16
afo,
alfo.
21
monc,
i'i6
17
tpocvtcs,
ypoerytes.
117
13
VV356C^,
vysyted.
119
2
eyy.le,
euyelle.
120
3
behodeth,
behoueth.
120
12
thyn conuenynt,'
thynconuenyent.
128
22
iif,
yf-
138
I
knygtt,
knyght.
,,
25
fens,
and.
145
5
raynfull,
raynfall.
198
7
thexcafacions,
thexcufacions.
204
15
eyylle.
euylle.
215
15
tban &v^.
then hyt dyd.
221
3
be be, "
he.
232
4
sommen of n,
soni men of a.
234
12
an^ bvlfctb,
oinii and.
238
24
ppsscisour,
poffeffour.
241
21
on&,
and.
246
^7
HnJ Hn^,
And.
,,
22
lasse,
lesse.
247
22
inhance,
enhauce.
248
16
sacrv>fx!C^,
facryfyfed.
251
13
Hrabe,
a Rabe.
266
5
tbe.
thre.
276
3
wgicbe,
whiche.
277
3
0ccb^nge,
seckynge.
286
9
euyelle,
euylle.
313
8
parfjlij,
parfi^tly.
23
wrongtb,
wrought.
GLOSSARY.
abhomynable, 112
adommage, hurt, 237
aguyse, adorit, 3
almesse, a.'nis, 60
ambassade, embassy, 87
ainerous, lazer, 2S0
Annuel {generally Annueler,
cf. Chaucer, Cant. Taks,
12,940), priest who says
masses on the anniversary
of death, 315
aspyed, spied, 61
assoylled, absolved, 306
aswowned, in a swoon, 159
aualed, took ^,316
aubyer, bramble, 234
backe, bat, 70
balkes, ridges in fields, 202,
203
herd, beard, 116
bienfayttes, benefits, 254
boot, bote, bit, 14, 168
bouked, boiled, 303
brente, burnt, 2S4
breste, burst, 61
burgeys, citizen, 266
can, knaiv, 179, 221, 280?
carryk, _f(7/.V^, 312
Caym, Cain, 73
caytyf, cunning, 2 1
cliepe, j^//, 252
commysed, committed, 63
condempned, condemned, 63,
254, 262
cope, canopy, 173
corr)'ged, chastened, 25, 89
counterfayt, deceive, 272, 273
cratchyng, scratching, 310
cr}'mynous, crimina', 63
curtois, courteous, 98
curteys, cunning Ci), 315
Cyrurgcons, surgeons, 99,
157
dagged,ya^^</, 152
dees, (//V^, 241
320
GLOSSARY.
departed, divided, 310
dommage, danger, 85
dommageable, dangerous, 77
doubtou^, doubtful, 67, 120,
181, 188
empeched, prevented, 246,
247
ensample, example, 85
en9,yQwe, purstie, 30
entremete, meddle with, 24,
25, 129
entre, entrance, 253
erys, ^ar^, 186, 220
esprysed, taken, 281, 283
euerychone, <;i/^ry otte, 230
excusations, excuses, 198
facyle, (fajy, 97
fallace, /rfl^co', 267
fayt, deed, 251
flough,y?d?ic/, 132
fiyes,Jleece, 191
force, give no, care not, 1 76
formyce, ant, 55
fyeisie, fierceness, 68
gallaunt, glutton (?), 266
glose, comment, 78
goglyed, goggle-eyed, 273
grate father, grandfather,
128
grynnes, /r^/j', 29
guaryson, £r;<r<', 232
gwerdone, reward, 40
Ha a, /^a / a^/ ^^j^.
habondaunce, abundance, 19
heed, by, i^_y [God's] head,
184
herberowed, harboured, 29
Incontynent, ' immediately,
67, 75, 106, 116, 258
induceth, introduces, 3
iumelle, ^zi'z'w, 302
Janneye, Genoese, 312
Jene, Genoa, 312
kynde, nattire, 98, 105, 125,
218, 224, 272
labourage, labour, 205
large, generous, 166
lawhe, laugh, 38
leneth, supports, 15
lese, /^Jd', 236, 2 38
lesyng, /yzwi--, 1 87, 1 88, 205
\q\.\.q, prevent, 122, 124, 125,
134, 141, 143, 199, 228,
308
longynge, belonging, 316
luste, desire, 40
lygnage, lineage, 207
lyuebode, inheritance, 172,
300
maculed, _fM27/y, 261
marzhaunt, 7nerchant, 275
meane, middle, 213
GLOSSARY.
meke, fo huriihU, 247
molycyn, (/ Jot tor, 66, 99
incuc, tHOVf, 175
megny, men, comptwy, 84,
90, 204
molie, ntoU, 38
moo, mcn'f, 1S4
niowc, way, 240, 267
mulct, mule, 128
mylnii, ^•//<", 8
myscliaunt, mischin'ous, 55,
129
myster, miss (?), 94
n:L\.2.\\, birthday feojt, 1 16
notary, i-/t(n('n, 64
orysons, prayers, 187, 1S8
oultrecuyflaunce, ovenceen-
ing presumption, 52
pactions, agreements, 47
partage, /ar/«crjA//, II
parysshcs, parishioners, 316
payllard, coicani, 25, 54, 57,
68
pleted, pleaded, 261
pourc, rt /'('(J/' wrtw, 261
procurSlour, proctor, 260
liropycc, propitious, 20S
prdvysed, prai-ided, 8
prymtcmps, j/r/«^, IIO
\m\\e,/niit of heech, 173
purvcyc, provide, 143
I^yclarge, magpie, 204
Rabc, raM/, 294, 251
rclccf, leavings, 149
rtluced, J^ow^•, 277
remercye, thanks, 287
rcsplcnrlysshynf^c, bright, 21
retcheth, rtr,i-j, 6, 82
ruffulc, swagger, 241
salcwed, w/m/a/, 117
semblable, ///r, 1 1 2, 208
sewrte, surety, 89
separed, separated, 233
slowful, ungrateful, 206, 299
slowfulness, ingratitude, 64,
206
slyked, cloven, 203
sonde, sound, bay, 303
sowne, sound, 33
slanpe, /c^o/, 16 1
spaehawk, deerha-wk (?), S
sperehawk, sparrowha'ck, 72
subget, subject, 30, 91, 244
subvertysed, subz'erted, 74
sygalle, .?ra.rjA^//Vr, 123
terryer, /(J«>, 152, 154
theefly, //>t<!' « //"</, 81
thradde, /r^i/, 61
thrested, thrusted, 61, 217
tryst, j<7(/, 223
tumbours drums, 95
verqoyne, shame, 52, I42.
189, 211
vergoynou"!, ashamed, 296
X
322
GLOSSARY.
vnnelhe,scarceIy,\^i,iS^,2^o
vnconyng, stlly, 13
vnyed, united, 109
vpperest, uppermost, 67
vpso doun, upside down, 68,
157, 163
vtyle, useful, 15, 76
vytupercd, blamed, 76
wodenes, madness, 222
wood, mad, 120, 242, 154
wod'ivvose, monster, 242, 243
wreton, written, 272
yate, gate, 117, 216, 253,
272, 279, 295
ye, yea, pass.
yeftes, ^;7j, 35, 36, 251
yeue, give, 152
yonglhe, _y(7«//;, 41
BalliiJtiync Press : Edinburgh and London.
I D »ri«fz
?A
3B55
F,5C3
1839
V.2
Aesopus
The fables of Aesop
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
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UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY
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