therwith sayenge thus to hym what auaylleth to the soo long a taylle hit doth but wagge And that whiche letteth the shalle be prouffitable and good for me The foxe said to hym I wold that hit were yet lenger For rather I wold see hit al to fowled and dagged than hit shold bere to yow suche ho nour as to couere thy fowle buttoks therwith And therfore gyue thou not that thynge of whiche thow hast nede of to the ende that afterward thow myster not of hit ¶ The xviij fable si of the Marchaunt and of the asse MAny one ben trauaylled after theyr dethe wherfor men ought not to desyre the dethe As reherceth Esope by this fable Of a marchant whiche ladde an Asse laden vnto the market And for to be the sooner at the market he bete his asse and sore prycked hym wherfor the poure asse wysshed desyred hisowne deth wenyng to hym that after his dethe he shold be in reste And after that he had be wel bete chaced he deyde And his mayster made hym to be flayne and of his skynne he dyd doo make tambours whiche ben â—â—uer bete And thus for what payne that men may haue durynge his lyf he ought not to desyre and wysshe his â—â—the For many one ben whiche haue grete payne in this world -that shall haue a gret ter in the other world For the man hath no reste for the dethe but for his merytes ¶ The xix fable is of the herte and of the oxe ONely for to flee none is assured to scape the daunger whâ—â—rfore he fleeth As thow shalt mowe see by this fable Of a herte whiche ranne byfore the dogges and to th ende that he shold not be take he fledde in to the fyrst toun that he found entryd in to a stable where as many oxen we re to whom he sayd the cause why he was come there prayeng them swetely that they wold saue hym And the oxen sayd thus to hym Allas poure herte thow arte amonge vs euylle adressyd thow sholdest be more surely in the feldes ¶ For yf thow be perceyued or sene of the oxeherd or els of the mayster 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 shalle goo hens and shalle putte my self in to a sure place ¶ And whanne the seruaunts came for to gyue heye to the oxen they dyd cast heye before the oxen and wente ageyne they re waye and sawe not the hert wherof the herte was gretely reioysshed wenynge to haue scaped the perylle of dethe He thenne rendred thanke and graces to the oxen and one of the oxen sayd to hym It is facyle to scape out of the handes of the blynâ—â— but hit is not facyle to scape fro the handes of hym that seeth wel For yf oure mayster come hyther whiche hath more than an honderd eyen Certaynly thow arte deed yf he perceyue the ¶ And yf he see the not certaynly thow arte saued and shalt goo forthe on thy waye surely The maystâ—â—r withyn a short whyle after entryd in to the seabâ—â— And after he commaunded to vysyte and see the hey whiche was before his oxen And hym self went and tasted yf they had ynough of hit And as he tasted thus the heye he felt the hornes of the herte with his hand and to hym self he sayd what is that that I fele here and beynge dredeful called alle his seruauntes and demaunded of the manere how the herte was come thyder And they sayd to hym My lord I knowe nothynge therof And the lord was full gladde and made the herte to be taken and slayne and maade a grete feest for to ha ue ete hym Therfore it happeth oftyme that he whiche supposeth 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 ke pe them self to doo suche dede that they must nedes flee therfore ¶ The xx fable maketh mencion of the fallace of the lyon And of his conuersacion TO conuerse with folke of euylle lyf is a thyng moche peryllous And only to speke with them letteth moch other As this fable reherceth of a lyon ryght strong and ryght myghty the whiche made hym self kynge for to ha ue grete renommee and glorye And fro thenne forthon he beganne to chaunge his condycions and customme shewyng hym self curtois and swore that he shold hurte no bestes but shold kepe them ageynst euery one And of this promesse he repented hym by cause hit is moche dyffycyle and hard to chaunge his owne kynd And therfore whanne he was angry he lad with hym somme smalle beestes in to a secrete place for to ete and deceyue them And demaunded of them yf his mouthe stanke or not And they that sayd that it stanke or not were al saued And alle they the whiche ansuerd not he kylled deuoured them al It happed that he demaunded of the Ape yf his mouthe stanke or not And thape sayd no but that hit smelleth lyke baine And thenne the lyon had shame to slee the ape but he fond a grete falsheed for to put hym to dethe He fayned to be seke and commaunded that al his leches Cyrurgyens shold anone come vnto hym whan they were come he commaunded them to boke his vryne And whan they had sene hitâ—â— they sayd to hym Syre ye shalle soone be hole but ye must ete lyght metes And by cause that ye be kynge alle is at your commaundement And the lyon ansuerd Allas Ryght fayne I wold ete of an Ape Certaynly sayd the me decyn that same is good mete Thenne was the Ape senâ—â—e for And not withstondyng that he worshipfully spak ansuerd to the kynge the kynge made hym to deye and deuoured hym ¶ Therfore hit is peryllous and harmeful to be in the felauship 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 eschewe and flee the felauship of the euyll tyraunts ¶ Here fynysshed the thyrdde booke of the subtyle fables of Esope And begynneth the table of the fourthe booke ¶ The fyrst fable is of the foxe and of the raysyn ¶ The second fable is of the wesel and of the rat ¶ The thyrd fable is of the wulf of the shepherd and of the hunâ—â—er ¶ The fourthe is of the pecok of Iuno the goddesse and of the nyghtyngale ¶ The v fable is of the panthere and of the vylayns ¶ The vj fable is of the bochers and of the whethers ¶ The vij fable is of the fawkener and of the byrdes ¶ The eyght fable is of the trewe man of the man lyer and of the apes ¶ The ix fable is of the hors of the hunter and of the herte ¶ The tenthe fable is of the lyon and
and prouynce and in alle places of hit for to serche somme medycynes prouffitable for yow and to recouere your helthe but nothyng I haue found good for your sekenesse but only the skynne of a foxe fyers and prowde and malycious whiche is to youre body medycynal-but he daygneth not to come hyther to see you But ye shalle calle hym to a counceylle and whanne ye hold hym lete his skynne be taken from hym And thenne lete hym renne where he wylle and that fayr skynne whiche is so holsome ye shalle make hit to be sette and bound vpon your bely And within fewe dayes after hit shalle rendre yow in as good helthe as euerye were ¶ And whanne he had sayd these wordes he departed fro the lyon and toke his leue but neuer he had supposed that the foxe had herd hym but he had For he was within a terryer nyghe by the lodgys of the lyon where he herd alle the proposycion of the wulf to the whiche he dyd put remedye and grete prouysyon For as soone 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 self ¶ And as he supposed after hiâ—â— aduys to â—â—e dâ—â—fowled and dagged ynough came thus aryed in to the pytte of the lyon the whiche he salewed as he oughtâ—â— to haue done to his lord sayenge to hym in this manere Syre kynge god yeue good helthe And the lyon ansuerd to hym God salewe the swete frend come nyghe me and kysse me after I shalle telle to the somme secrete whiche I wylle not that â—â—uery man knowe to whome the foxe sayd in this maner â—â—a a syre kynge be not displeasyd for I am to fowle arayed and al to dagged by cause of the grete way whiche I haue gone sekynge al aboute somme good medycyne for yow Wherfore it behoueth not to me for to be so nyghe your persone For the scenche of the donge myght wel greue yow for the grede sekenesse that ye haue but dere syre yf hit please to the or euer I come nerer to thy Royal mageste I shalle goo bathe me and make me fayre and clene And thenne I shall come ageyne to presente my self byfore thy noble persone And not withstondynge al this also or I goo please the to wete kno we that 〈◊〉 come from alle the contrees here aboute and from alle the Royalmes adiacent to this prouynce for to see yf I 〈◊〉 fynde somme good medycyn dusynge and nedeful to thy sekenesse and for to recouere thy helthe but certaynly I haue souÌ„d no better couÌ„ceylle than the couÌ„ceylle of an auÌ„cyent greke with a grete long berd a man of grete wysedom sage waâ—â— thy to be praysed the whiche sayd to me how in this prouyncâ—◠〈◊〉 a wulf withoute taylle the whiche hath lost 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 noblâ—â— body And whan â—â—e is come dyssymylle and calle hym to counceylle sayenge that it shalle be for his grete worship prouffite as he shal be nyghe vnto how case on hym your armed feet and as swetely as ye maye pulle the skynne fro the body of hym kepe it hoole sauf only that ye shalle leue the heed and the feet And thenne lete hym gone his way to seche his auenture And forthwith whan ye shalle haue that skynne al hote and warme ye shal doo bynd hit al aboute your bely And after that or lytyll tyme be passyd your helthe shalle be restored to yow and ye shal be as hole as euer in your lyf ye were ¶ And thenne the foxe toke his leue of the kynge and departed and wente ageyne in to his ter ryer ¶ Soone after came there the wulf for to see the lyon And Incontynent the lyon called hym to counceylle and cas tynge softly his feet vpon hym dyspoylled the wulf of his skynne sauf the skynne of his hede and of his feet And after the lyon bound it al warme aboute his bely ¶ And the wulf ranne aweye skynles wherfore he had ynough to doo to defende and put from hym the flyes whiche greued hym sore And for the grete distresse that he felte by cause of the flyes that thus ete his flesshe he as wood beganne to renne and pas syd vnder an hylle vpon the whiche the foxe was ¶ And af ter whanne the foxe sawe hym he beganne to crye and calle lawhyng after the wulf and mocked and sayd to hym who arte thow that passest there before with suche a fayre hood on thy heed and with ryght fayr glouues in thyn handes Herke herke what I shalle saye to the whan thow wente camest by the kynges how 's thow were blessyd of the lord whan thow were at the Court thow herkenest and also sayest many good wordes and good talkynge of al the world ¶ And therfore my godsep be it euyl or good thow muste al lete passe and goo and haue pacyence in thyn aduersyte ¶ And thus this fable sheweth vnto vs that yf ony be hurted or dommaged by somme other he must not auenge hym self by his tonge for to make ony treson ne for to say of other ony harme ne open blasphemye For he ought to consydere that who so euer maketh the pytte redy for his broder ofte it happeâ—â—h that he hym self falleth in the same and is beten with the same rodde that he maketh for other ¶ The x fable is of the wulf whiche made a fart IT is folye to wene more than men ought to doo For what someuer a foole thynketh-hit someth to hym that it shalle be As it appiereth by this fable of a wulf whiche somtyme rose erly in a mâ—â—nynge And after that he was rysen vp fro his bedde as he retched hym self made a gre 〈◊〉 â—â—art and beganne to saye in hym self blessyd be god therfore these ben good tydynges this daye I shalle be wel fortunate and happy as myn ers syngeth to me And thenne he departed from his lodgys and biganne to walke and goo as he wente on his way he fonde a saâ—â— ful of talowe whiche a woman had lete falle and with his foote he torned hit vpso doune and sayd to hym I shalle not ete the For thow sholdest hurte my tendre stomak and that more is I shall this day haue better mete and more delycious For well I knowe this by myn erâ—â— whiche dyd synge it to me And sayenge these wordes went his way And anone after he fond a grete pye 〈◊〉 of bakon wel salted the whiche he tourned and retourned vpso doune And whan he had torned and retorned hit longe ynough he sayd I dayne not to ete of this mete by cause that hit shold
the wysedom y t was in Esope but for the lyberte and fredome whiche he demaunded he was woothe and angry And dredyng the tongue of Esope made hym to be put fast in pryson And Esope said to hym This is a fayr promesse of a philosopher thou knowest well how thow promysest to me lyberte And in stede of fredome lyberte I am put in pryson And as Exantus herd hym soo speke he reuoked and â—â—unged his sentence made hym to be delyuerd ¶ And after he sayd to Esope yf thou wylt be putte to thy lyberte hold thy tongue in peas and accuse me nomore And Esope sayd do what pleaseth the For wylt thou or not thou shalt put me to my lyberte ¶ That same tyme be felle a merueyllous dede within the Cyte of Samye For as men playd there the comyn and publyk playes as yet at this tyme is custome to doo in many good Cytees An Egle soden ly flewhe thorugh all the communyte of the peple and toke â—â—ure awey with hym the rynge and the Seal of hym that soueraynly had the myght puyssaunce of al the Cyte And lete it falle in to the pytte of a man whiche was in lyberte For the whiche dede and token alle the peple of Samye was gretely meruaylled And thenne arose a grete rumour thorugh the Cyte among the peple For moche they were doubtuous of som persecucion wyst not what that thyng myght signefye wher fore they were in grete doubte and in grete henynesse And ther for Incontynent they came toward Exantus as to hym whiche they held for the moost sage and wyse man of all the cyte of Samye and demaunded of hym what this meruaylle sygnyfyed and also what thynge myght befalle therof Exantus was ygnoraunt knewe not the signyfycacion of this merueyll wherfore he demaunded of the peple tyme space for to gyue herupon an ansuere Exantus thenne was in grete heuynesse and dolour by cause he wyst not what he shold saye ne ansuere to the peple And Esope whiche sawe hym so heuy and ful of sorowe demaunded of hym and sayd why arte thou soo heuy in thy courage leue sorowe and take with the Ioye and gladnesse gyue to me the charge for to ansuere to the Samyens And to morne thou shalt saye to them suche wordes My lordes of Samye I am no dynyn ne Interpretour of the merueyllous thynges which ben to come Netheles I haue a seruaunt in my how 's whiche as he sayth can telle suche thynges yf it please yow I shalle make hym come befo re yow And theÌ„ne yf by my couÌ„ceyll I satisfye alle the felau ship thou shalt therfore receyue haue worship glorye prouf fyt And yf I can not satisfye them thou shalt be delyuerd of grete Infamye and shame And I shalle be rebuked put to grete shame Thenne Exantus hauynge his trust in the wordes of Esope wente on the morowe in to the grete place of Samye and assembled there the peple of the Cyte and went vp on hyghe where as the Iuge was acustomed to sytte and that whiche he had lerned of his seruaunt Esope he declared there byfore the Samyens the whiche thynges by hym reherced and sayd prayd hym that he wold make his seruaunt to come thyder before them Esope came anone thyder And as he was before all the company alle the peple of the Samyens loked and byheld hym with grete merueyll by cause he was so coâ—â—fayted and crosted of body and sayd loke here â—â—s a fayre persone able to be a sewre dyuyn and wente mocked with hym ¶ And Esope beynge thenne on the hyghest party of asse the place began to make a token or signe wyth his hand vnto the peple of the Samyens to th ende that they shold holde theyr peas and kepe scylence amonge them And sayd do them in this manere My lordes for what cause lawghe yow scorne me of my fygure forme knowe ye not that men must not loke in the face of a maÌ„ to see byhold of what fygure or forme that he is of but only to knowe his wysedom Also men ought not to loke and take hede to the vessel but to suche thyng as is within the vessel For ofte a fowle vessel is full of good wyn And thenne whan the Samyens herd these wordes they sayd to Esope Yf thou canst gyue vs good counceylle for the welthe of alle the comyn peple we al praye the that thou wylt doo it anone And thenne Esope hauynge confydence and trust in his wysedome and scyence sayd thus Nature or kynd of the whiche cometh all good hath this daye set put debute or stryf bitwene the lord the seruaunt for he that shall wynquysshe shal not be paid ne rewarded after his desserte for yf the lord gete the victorye I that am his seruaunt shal haue no lyberte as ryÈt requyreth but I shal be bete and cursed also emprysoned wherfor yf ye wil that I gyue yow good enseygnemeÌ„t of that that ye demauÌ„de aske I requy re you that ye do make me free be put ageyn in to my lyberte to th ende that with trust good coÌ„fydence I may speke to you And I promyt enseure yow that I shal shewe vnto yow the sygnyfycacion and vnderstandynge of this angry or signe thenne they al with an egal wys sayde he axeth thyng resonable Iuste wherfor exaÌ„tus shal make hym to be free as reson is the whiche thyng exantus reffused to doo And the lord of the auctoryte publyke sayd vnto hym Exantus yf thou wylâ—â— not obeye to the peple by the vertue of myn auctoryte I shal take hym out of thy seruytude shal humble thy self in the tem ple of Iunoys ¶ This historye folowyng maketh mencyon hou esope was restitued into his lyberte ANd by cause that exantus was requyred prayd by al his good frendes that he shold restore put esope in to lyberte he said to Esope hou be hit that it is not by my good wyl I gyue the lyberte And anon he thatmade them the cryes and proclamacions wente in to al the places whâ—â— suche cryes were done Exantus the philosopher hath gyuen lyberte to Esope And thus was acoomplysshed that what esope had said wyll ye or wyl you not I shal ones be put in to lyberte And thenne Esope went in to the myddes of alle the folauship and made signe with his hand that euery one shold kepe pees 〈◊〉 scylâ—â—nte And after said to them My lordes of Sa mye the Aygle whiche is kynge aboue al other byrdes As the kynges ben â–ª aboue the peple hath take awey the rynge and scal of your perfect or gouernour This bytokeneth and sygnefyeth that a kynge shalle demaunde axe your lyberte and shal destroye alle your lawes And whan the Samyens herd the wordes they wexed and became al abusshed sore aferd
And anon after came a pursyuaunt or messager whiche brought with hym Royal lettres the whiche demaunded after the 〈◊〉 of the Samyens this messager was brought before the counâ—â—ylle of the towne to whome he presented toke his lâ—â—eÌ„s in the whiche was conteyned that whiche folowed ¶ Cressus kynge of lyndyeâ—â—s To the Senate comyn peple of Samye antynge I commaunde yow that ye doo to me obeyssounce that ye paye to me my trâ—â—butes the whiche thynge yf ye reffuse it to fulfyll do I shall put yow â—â—l to dethe brâ—â—ne your toune the whiche lettres sene redde the samyens were al aâ—â—ssded for drede were enclyned wyllyng to obeye vnto him Neuertheles they wold knowe haue the counâ—â—ylle of esope prâ—â—id hym to saye therof his sentence the which wente sette hym in the syege said to them My lordes of Samye how be 〈◊〉 that I wylle that ye be enclyned to oleye the kyng of lyndye Neuertheles to th ende that I may counceylle yow that whi che is nedeful couenable for the publyke welthe prouffyt I do yow to know that fortune in this mortal lyf sheweth ii thynges two maners of wayes The one is lyberte wherof the begynnynge is bard and dyffyâ—â—yle but th ende of hit is good swete and facyle The other waye is seruytude wherof the begynnynge is facyle but th ende therof is sharp ful bytter and hard And whan the samyens herd these wordes knowynge what it behoueth to the publyk comyn welthe behâ—â—ld took aduys of the sentence of Esope And sayd al to gydre Bycause that we be in lyberte we wylle not be seruaunts to no man And with this ansuere sente ageyne the Messager to Cressus And whan the kyng herd this ansuere he was wroth sorowful gadred al his men of werre and also all the nobles gentyls of his reame made a grete armee for to haue destroyed the Samyens the whiche thyng he myght wel haue brought about had not be his messager whiche sayd to hym Ryght dere Syre my souerayne lord thou mayst not be aueÌ„gyd of the Samyens as longe as they haue Esope with them whiche in al their affayres nede helpeth counceylleth them wherfore hit is necessary that thou sende an ambassade vnto the Samyens that they wyll sende to the Esope that thou shalt pardonne forgyue to them theyr offence For yf thou mayst haue Esope they of Samye ben in thyn hand And the kyng sodenly sent an ambassade to them of Samye the whiche Ambassatours applyqued sette they re wyttes to shewe vnto the Senate of Samye the wylle of their lerd Cressus said that they shold sende Esope to the lord Cressus ¶ And whan Esope vnderstode what the kynge demaunded he said to the Samyens My lordes It pleaseth me wel to go toward the kyng But er I go thyder I wyl telle you a fable ¶ This historye maketh mencion how the wolues sente ambassaâ—â—ours vnto the Sheep IN a tyme whan the bestes coude speke the wolues ma de werre ageynst the shepe And by cause that the shepe myght not kepe them ne hold ageynst the wolues they demaunded helpe of the dogges the whiche fyghtyng for the sheep made the wolues to torne them backward ¶ And by cause the wolues coude ne myght not gete ne haue ony pro ye ne wynne nothynge vpon the sheep for the loue of the dogges that kepte the sheep the wolues sent an Ambassade vnto the sheep for to haue perpetuel pees with them And for to ha ue pees the wolues went and demaunded that for to esche we al suspecion the dogges shold be taken to the wolues or els destroyed for euer And the sheep as fooles and for to haue good pees consented to this demaunde And whan the dogges were slayne the wolues tooke vengeaunce on the sheep as ap pyereth whanne Esope hadde reherced this fable the Samyens determyned in them self that Esope shold not go toward the kyng ¶ This historye couteyneth how Esope obeyed not to the samyens but went toward the kyng ESope obeyed not to the wylle of the Samyens but went with the Ambassade toward the kynge And whan he was come in to the kynges Courte the kyng seynge that Esope was soo gretely disformed and couÌ„terfaite of body he was wrothe and angry with hym self And sayd as by grete merueylle is the same he for the trust of whome they of Samye wylle not obeye to me ¶ Esope thenne sayd Haryght dere syre and kynge magnysyke certaynly I am not come before thy mageste by force but of my good wylle I am comen to the trustynge soo moche of thy benygnyte that thou shalt here what I shaâ—â—e say to the The kynge gafe hym audyence and leue to saye what he wold and thus he sayd that other daye was a man whiche chaced the flyes the whiche man took a nyghtyngale the whiche seyng that he wol de haue kylled her prayd to the fawkoner sayenge I praye the that withoute cause thou wylt not slee me For to no body I doo no harme ne domage For I ete not the corne ne wyth my hornes I hurte no body but gyue solas and Ioye to all them that gone by the way of my songe and boys and in me shalt thou fynde but only the boyce And whan the Faukoner herd these wordes he lete goo her wherfore ryght dere Syre I praye the that withoute cause I whiche am nought and as nothynge thou wylt not slee me For to no body I doo no harme ne also wold I doo And for the debylyte and feblenesse of my body I may nought doo but I can speke and say thynges whiche ben prouffitable to them that ben in the mortal lyf of this present world The kynge was thenne merueylled and moued of pyte and of myserycorde sayd to Esope I gy ue not to the thy lyf but fortune gyueth it to the And yf thou wylt haue ony thynge of me aske hit and hit shall be grauÌ„ ted gyuen to the And Esope sayd Ryght dere Syre only one thynge I demaunde of the that is to wete that thou gyue me the trybutes of the Samyens wel sayd the kynge I am content Thenne kneled Esope and sayd to the kynge Syre I thanke and regracye yow moche And after that he com posed the fables whiche ben wrâ—â—ton in this booke and to the kynge he gaf them And demaunded of hym the lettres of the gyfte for the remyssion of the trybutes of the Samyens the whiche he delyuerd to hym by the kynges commaundement with his good wyl with many other grete yeftes And Eso pe thenne took leue of the kynge and to Samye he retorned ¶ whanne Esope was arryued in to Samye the Samyens receyued hym worshipfully and made grete Ioye of his comynge And Esope commaunded to the peple to be assembled to gyder at a certayne houre in to the comyn place ¶ Thenne wente Esope
alle his frendes holdyng a pyece ful of wyn in his hand shoste for fere of the questions that men asked of hym And Esope sayd to hym My mayster Dyonysyus sayth that the good wyn hath thre vertues The fyrst is Wluptucsyte The second is gladnesse and the thyrd is that it maketh men foolys and oute of theyr wyttes wherfore I praye the lâ—â—te vs drynke Ioyously and make good chere And by cause Exantus was as thenne almoste dronke For he hadde wel dronken sayd to Esope hold thy pees For thou art counceyller of helle And Esope sayd to hym ageyne kepe the wel For yf thou fynde me in helle I shalle auenge me on thy self ANd thenne one of the scosyers sayd seyng that exantus had dronke ynough and was charged of ouer moche wyn sayd to hym My mayster I aske of the yf a man myght drynke alle the see wherfore not sayd Exan tus I my self shalle drynke it wel Thenne sayd ageyne the scolyer And yf thou drynke it not what wylt thou lese and Exantus sayd my how 's I am content sayd the scoler and ageynst hit I shalle leye an honderd crownes And the pactionâ—â— and bargayne thus bytwene them made gaf for gaige or pledge eche of them two theyr signets of gold and thenne wente home ¶ And on the morne as Exantus was rysen vp oute of his bedde and sawe that he had not his rynge on his fyngre he sayd to Esope knowest thou not where my rynge is I wote not sayd Esope but wel I me remembre and knowe for certayne that this daye we shall be put oute of this how 's And why sayd Exantus Esope sayd to hym Remembryst thou not the bâ—â—rgeyne and paction that thou yesterday at euen made And what be they sayd Exantus Thou arte bound to drynke oute al the see and for gage and pledge hast thow lefte thyn rynge of gold ¶ And whanne exantus herd these wordes he was sore abasshed and sayd In what maner shal I drynke oute alle the see this may not be for hit is Impossyble wherfore Esope I pray the to counceylle me yf it pleaseth to the so that I may Wynquysshe or els to brâ—â—ke and sette that bargayn and paction at nought And Esope sayd to hym thou shalt not Wynquysshe but parauenture I shalle make that thou shalt wel breke the paction And the manere of hit said Esope is this that whanne thyn aduersarye shalle requy re the to doo and fulfylle thy promesse thou shalt charge and commaunde to thy seruauntes that they brynge a table and al suche other thynges that ben necessary to it vpon the Ryuage of the see and make the botelers and seruaunts to abyde there with the And before alle the companye thou shalt make a pyece to be wasshen and fylled full of the water of the Sâ—â—e and shall take it in thy hand and praye that the paction may be declared before alle the felauship saye that thou wylt asseure the promesse as wel before drynke as after And thenne thus shalt thou saye to alle the felauship My lordes of Sa mye ye knowe how yesterday at euen I made promesse to dryn ke alle the water of the see but also ye wote wel how many grete floodâ—â—s and Ryuers come and falle in to the See wherfore I demaunde and aske as rayson is that myn aduersary kepe and hold the Ryuers and floodes that they entre not in to the see And thenne I shal drynke al the see And soo the paction shall be broken and vndone ¶ This historye conteyneth how Exantus excused hym from his promesse by the counceylle of Esope EXantus thenne knowynge that the Counceylle of Esope was wel good he was full gladde ¶ His Aduersary thenne came before the Cytezeyns of the Cyte te telle and signefye the pactyon and prayed the Iuge that Exantus shold doo that whiche he hadde promysed to doo ¶ And Exantus commaunded to alle his seruauntes that they sholde bere his bedde his table and alle other thynges that were necessary to hym vpon the Ryuage of the see And thenne before alle the company he made a pye 〈◊〉 to be wasshâ—â—n and fylled it full of the water of the see the whiche he tooke in his hand and sayd to his aduersary Expose we now and telle our paction and bargayn ¶ Exantus thenne torned hym toward the felauship and sayd My lordes of Sampe ye wote wel how many floodes and ryuers entre and come in to the see And yf myn Aduersary wylle â—â—pe and hold them stylle soo that they entre no more in to the see I shal drynke al the water of the see And alle they that were there beganne thenne to saye Exantus sayth wel And thenne the Scoler aduersary to Exantus sayd My mayster thou hast Wynquysshed me wherfore I pray the that oure bar gayne maye be broken And Exantus sayd I am content ¶ And whanne Exantus was tourned ageyne to his hous Esoâ—â—e dyd praye hym sayenge thus My mayster by cause I haue serued and holpen the wel in thyn nede lete me go fâ—â— at my lyberte EXanctus thenne cursed hym sayeng grete hede yet shalt thou not escape free â—â—e go fro me goo thou see behold before the yate yf thou canst aspye two crowes to gyder And thenne thou come ageyne to telle it me For the syght of two crowes one nyghe the other is good fortune but the syght of one allone is euylle fortune And as Esope yssued oute of the how 's he sawe two crowes vpon a tree wherfore de soone tourned ageyne and told it to his Mayster But as Exantus departed oute of the how 's the one flewe awey Thenne sayd he grete hede grete bely where ben the two crowes that thou sawest And Esope sayd thus to hym As I wente to fetche the the one flewgh awey And Exantus sayd croked back and euylle shapen it is euer thus thy manere to mocque me but thus shalle not thow be quyte and commaunded to vndoo his clothes and to bete hym And as men beâ—â— hym Exantus was called to his dysner And thenne Esope sayd Allas how moche myserable I am For I ha ue sene two crowes to gyder am bete And Exantus whiche sawe but one is called to the delyâ—â—es And ther is none to whome the byrdes ben so contrarye as they are to me ¶ And whan exantus herd hym he was moche merueilled of the grete subtylyte of his wytte and commaunded them that bete hym that they shold ceâ—â—se And within a lytel whyle after Exantus sayd to Esope goo thou and dresse vs good metes for our dyner For alle these lordes shalle dyne with me And eso pe wente to the market bought alle that he wold bye And whan it was al redy he brought the metes in to the halle where he found his maystresse lyenge vpon a bedde slepynge he awaked her and sayd Madame yf it please yow ye shal
I ben now of one offyce And the myserable and vnhappy hors was abusshed And for shame loked dounward ansuerd neuer one word for alle his felycite was thenne torned in to aduersyte ¶ And therfore they that ben in felycite oughte not to dysprayse them whiche ben in aduersyte For many one I knewe ryche and myghty whiche are now poure ¶ The iiij fable maketh mencyon of the beestes and of the birdes NOne maye doo no good to two bordes at ones whiche ben coÌ„trary one to that other as sayth to vs this fable that the beestes made grete werre ageynst the byrdes fought euery day to gyder And the backe feryng the wulues And that the beestes shold vaynquysshe and ouercome the byrdes wold haue hold with the beestes and be ageynst the byrdes And whanne the bataylle was ordeyned on bothe sydes the egle beganne to entre in to the batayll of the beestes by suche a strengthe that with the help of the other byrdes he gat the feld and vaynquysshed and ouercame the bestes wherfor the bestes maade pees with the byrdes and were alle of one acord and of one wylle And for the treason that the â—â—acke had made she was condempned to neuer see the day And neuer flee but only by nyght And also she was despoylled of alle her fethers And therfore he that wylle serue two lordes coÌ„ trary one to other may not be good ne trewe And they whiche relynquen and leue theyr owne lordes for to serue another straunger whiche is enemy to theyr lord ben wel worthy to be punysshed For as the Euangely sayth None may serue bothe god and the deuyl ¶ The v fable is of the nyghtyngale and of the sperehawke HE that oppresseth the Innocents shalle haue an euyl ende wherof Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable Of a sperehawk whiche dyd put hym within the nest of a nyghtyngale where he fond the lytyl and yonge byrdes the nyghtyngale came and perceyued hym wherfore she praid the sperehawke sayeng I requyre and praye the as moche as I may that thow haue pyte on my smal byrdes And the sperehawke ansuerd and sayd yf thow wylt that I graunte the thy request thow must synge swetely after my wylle and gree And thenne the nyghtyngale beganne to synge swetely not with the herte but with the threte onely For he was soo fylled of sorowe that otherwyse he myght not doo The sperehawk sayd thenne to the nyghtyngale This songe playseth me not And toke one of the yonge byrdes and deuoured hit And as the sayd sperehawke wold haue deuoured and eten the other came there a hunter whiche dyd caste a grete nette vpon the sperehawke And whanne she wold haue fleen awey he myght not for he was taken And therfore he that doth harme letteth the Innocents is worthy to deye of euylle dethe As Caym dyd whiche slewe his broder Abel ¶ The seuenth fable is of the foxe and of the wulf FOrtune helpeth bothe the good and euylle folke and to alle them whiche she helpeth not she sendeth euylle to them And they that setten alle theyr malyce ageynste fortune ben subuertysed and ouerthrawon by her wherof Esope reherceth suche a fable Of a wulf whiche had assembled to gyter a grete proye or moche mete for to haue lyued more delyaously wherof the foxe had grete enuye and for to haue robbed somme of this good he came vnto the cauerne or hole where as this proye or mete was in and sayd to the wulf My godsep the wulf by cause hit is longe syth I sawe the I am in grete heuynesse and sorowe and also by cause we haue not ben in long tyme gone chaced and gone to gyder ¶ And whan the wulf knewe the malyce of the foxe he sayd to hym thow arte not come hyder for to see me ne how I fare but thou arte come for to robbe and rauysshe my good For the whiche wordes the foxe was moche angry and wente toward a sheepherd to whome he sayd yf thow wylt be auenged of the wulf whiche is enemy of thy heerd or parke on this day I shalle put hym vnder thy handes And the sheepherd ansuerde to the foxe in this manere yf thow doo as thow sayst I shall paye the wel And thenne the foxe shewed to hym the hool wherin the wulf was And the sheepherd Incontynent wente toward the hole and with a spere he kyld the wulf And by this manere the foxe was wel fylled and refresshyd of the good of other but as he retorned homeward he was taken deuoured by somme dogges wherfore he seyd to hym self by cause that ryght euylle I haue done euylle cometh now to me For synne retorneth euer vpon his mayster And he that lyueth but of rauyn and robberye shal at the last be knowen and robbed ¶ The seuenth fable is of the herte and of the hunter MEn preysen somtyme that that shold be blamed vitu pered And ofte men blamen vytuperen that that shold be preysyd as reciteth to vs this fable of a her te To whome it happyd on a tyme that he drank in a fontayn or welle as he dranke he sawe in the water his hede which was horned wherfore he preysed moche his hornes And as he loked on his legges whiche were lene and smal he dispreysed and vytupered them And as he was drynkynge in the fontayne he herd the voys and barkynge of dogges wherfore he wold haue fledde awey in to the forest for to saue hym self but as he sawe the dogges so nyghe hym he wold haue entrid within a busshe but he myght not for his hornes kepte hym withoute And thenne seyng that he myght not escape began to saye within hym self I haue blamed vytupered my legges whiche haue ben to me vtyle and prouffitable and haue preysed my hornes whiche ben now cause of my dethe And therfore men ought to disprayse that thynge whiche is vnprouffitable and preyse that whiche is vtyle and prouffitable And they ought to preyse and loue the chirche and the commaundements of the same the whiche ben moche vtyle prouf fytable And dispreyse and flee al synne and vyce Whiche ben inutyle harmeful and dommageable ¶ The viij fable maketh mencion of Iuno of Menus and of the other wymmen BEfore the goddes and the goddesses men muste euer preyse chastyte for it is a worshipful an honest thyng to a woman to hold hyr contente with a man alone but Menus for her disporte for to dryue aweye the tyme wold Interprete the sayenge of the hennes wherfore she demaunded a henne whiche was in her how 's but at this tyme I shal kepe my tongue and no ferther I shalle speke therof For many wyse men whiche haue sene and redde alle this book vnder standen wel alle the nature of hit And by cause it is lycyte honest And that we alle ben bounden to kepe the ladyes in they re worship and honour also that in
to gnawe me For I telle the that none euyll may hurte ne adommage another as euylle as he Ne none wycked may hurte another wycked ne also the hard ageynst the hard shalle not breke eche other ne two enuyous men shal not both ryde vpon an asse wherfor the myghty and stronge must loue hym whiche is as myghty and as stronge as hym self is ¶ The xiij fable is of the wulues and of the sheep WHanne men haue a good hede and a good defeâ—â—sour or a good Capitayne men oughte not to leue hym for he that leueth hym repenteth hym afterward of hit as to ve reherceth this fable Of the sheep whiche had werre and discencion with the wolues And by cause that the wulues made to stronge werre ageynst the sheep the shepe thenne tooke for theyr help the dogges and the whethers also And thenne was the bataylle of the sheep so grete and so stronge fought so vygorously ageynst the wolues that they put them to flyÈt ¶ And whanne the wolues sawe the strengthe of theyr aduersaryeâ—â— they sent an ambassade toward the sheep for to trete the pees with them the whiche Ambassade sayd to the sheep in this maner yf ye wylle gyue vs the dogges we shalle swere vnto yow oure feythe that we shalle neuer kepe ne hold werre ageynst yow And the sheep ansuerd yf ye wylle gyue vs your fayth we shalle be content And thus they made pees to gyder but the wulues kyld the dogges whiche were capytayns and protectours of the sheep And the dogges dyde but lytyll hurte to the wulues wherfore whanne the lytyl and yong wulues were growen in theyr age they came of eche part and countrey and assembled them to gyder and all of one accord and wylle sayd to they re Auncestres and faders we must ete vp alle the sheep And theyr faders ansuerd thus to them we haue maade pees with them Neuertheles the yonge wolues brake the pees and ranne fyersly vpon the sheep and theyr faders wente after them ¶ And thus by cause that the sheep 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 deuoured of the wulues Therfore hit is good to kepe well his capytayne whiche may at a nede gâ—â—ue socour and helpe For a trewe frend is oftyme better at a nede than a Royalme For yf the sheep had kepte the loue of the dogges the wolues had neuer deuoured them wherfore it is a sure thynge to kepe wel the loue of his protectour and good frende ¶ The xiiij fable is of the man and of the wood HE that gyueth ayde and help to his enemy is cause of his dethe as recyteth this fable of a man whiche made an axe And after that he had made his axe he asked of the trees and sayd ye trees gyue yow to me a handle And the trees were content ¶ And whanne he had maade fast his handle to the axe he began to cutte and throwe doune to the ground alle the trees wherfore the oke and the Asshe sa yd yf we be cutte hit is wel ryght and reason For of oure owne self we ben cut and thrawen doune ¶ And thus hit is not good to put hym self in to the daunger and subiection of his enemye ne to helpe hym for to be adoÌ„maged as thou maist see by this presente fable For men ought not to gyue the staf by whiche they may he beten with ¶ The xv fable is of the wulf and of the dogge LYberte or fredome is a moche sivete thynge as Esope reherceth by this fable of a wulf and of a dogge whi che by aduenture mette to gyder wherfore the wulf demaunded of the dogge wherof arte thow so fatte and so play saunt And the dogge ansuerd to hym I haue wel kepte my lordes how 's haue barked after the theues whiche came in the how 's of my mayster wherfore he and his meyny gyue to me plente of good mete wherof I am fatte and playsaunt and the wulf sayd thenne to hym It is wel sayd my broder Cer taynly syth thow arte so wel atte thyn ease and farest so wel I haue grete desyre to dwelle with the to th ende that thow I make but one dyner wel sayd the dogge come on with me yf thow wylt be as wel at thyn ease 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 so shauen And the dogge ansuerd it is by cause of my grete coler of yron to the whiche dayly I am fasted And at nyght I am vnbound for to kepe the how 's the better Thenne sayd the wulf to the dogge This I myster ne nede not For I that am in lyberte wylle not be put in no subiection And theâ—â—for for to fylle my bely I wylle not be subget yf thou be acustommed for to be bound contynue thow in hit and I shalle lyue as I am wonte and acustomed therfore there is no rychesse gretter than lybete For lyberte is better than alle the gold of the world ¶ The xvj fable maketh mencion of the handes of the feet of the mans bely HOw shalle one do ony good to another the which can doo no good to his owne self As thow mayst see by this fable Of the feet and of the handes whâ—â—che somtyme had grede stryf with the bely sayenge Al that we can or may wynne with grete labour thow etest it all and yet thâ—â—u doost no good wherfore thou shalt no more haue nothynge of vs and we shalle lete the deye for honger And thenne when the bely was empty and sore hongry she beganne to crye 〈◊〉 sayd Allas I deye for hongre gyue me somwhat to ete And the feet and handes sayd thou getest no thynge of vs And by cause that the bely myght haue no mete the conduyts thorugh the whiche the metes passeth bâ—â—me smal and narowe And within fewe dayes after the feete and handes for the feblenes whiche they felte wold thenne haue gyuen mete to the bely but it was to late for the conduits were ioyned to gyder And therfore the lymmes myght doo no good to other that is to wete the bely And he that gouerneth not wel his bely with grete payne he may hold the other lymmes in theyr strengthe and vertue wherfore a seruaunt ought to serue wel his mayster to th ende that his mayster hold and kepe hym honestly and to receyue and haue good reward of hym when his mayster shalle see his feythfulnesse ¶ The xvij fable is of the Ape and of the foxe OF the poure and of the Ryche Esope reherceth suche a fable Of an ape whiche prayd the foxe to gyue hym somme of his grete taylle for to couere his buttoks
the bochers and of the whethers WHanne a lygnage or kynred is indyfferent or indyuysyon not lyghtly they shalle doo ony thynge to theyr salute as reherceth to vs this fable Of a bocher whiche entryd within a stable full of whethers And after as the whethers sawe hym none of them sayd one word And the bocher toke the fyrst that he fonde ¶ Thenne the whethers spake al to gyder and sayd lete hym doo what he wylle And thus the bocher tooke hem all one after another sauf one onely And as he wold haue taken the last the poure wâ—â—ether sayd to hym Iustly I am worthy to be take by caâ—â— se I haue not holpen my felawes For he that wylle not helpe ne comforte other ought not to demaunde or aske helpe ne com forte For vertue whiche is vnyed is better than vertue separate ¶ The seuenth fable is of the fawkoner and of the byrdes THe wyse ought euer to kepe and obserue the good cost ceyll And in no wyse they ought not to doo the contra rye As reherceth to vs this fable Of the byrdes whi che were Ioyeful and gladde as the prymtemps came by cause that theyr nestes were thenne al couerd with leues And Incontynent they beheld and sawe a fawkoner whiche dressyd and leyd his laces and nettes for to take them ¶ And thenne they sayd al to gyder yonder man hath pyte of vs For whanne he beholdeth vs he wepeth ¶ And thenne the pertryche whiche had experymented and assayed all the â—â—ytes of the sayd Fawkoner sayd to them kepe yow alle wel fro that sayd man and flee hyghe in to the ayer For he seketh nothynge but the manere for to take yow For yf he toke yow he shalle ete and deuoure yow or to the markette he shalle bere yow for to be sold And they that byleuyd his couÌ„ ceylle were saued And they that byleuyd it not were taken and lost ¶ And therfore they whiche byleue good counceylle are delyuerd oute of theyr peryls And they whiche byleue it not ben euer in grete daunger IN tyme passyd men preysyd more the folke full of lesynges and falshede than the man full of trouthe the whiche thynge regneth gretely vnto this daye As we may see â–ª by this present fable Of the man of trouthe and of the man lyar whiche wente bothe to gyder thorugh the coun trey And so longe they wente to gyder by theyr Iourneyes that they came in to the pronynce of the apes And the kynge of thapes made them bothe to be taken and brought before hym And he beynge in his Royal mageste where as he satte lyke an Emperour and alle his Apes aboute hym as the subgets ben aboute theyr lord wold haue demaunded and in dede he demaunded to the lyer who am I And the lesynge maker flaterer sayd to hym thow arte emperour and kynge the fay rest creature that is in erthe ¶ And after the kynge demaunded of hym ageyne who ben these whiche ben al aboute me And the lyar ansuerd Syre they ben your knyghtes your subgettes for to kepe your persone and your Royalme And thenne the kynge sayd thow arte a good man I wylle that thow be my grete styward of my houshold and that euery one bere to the honour and reuerence And whan the man of trouthe herd alle this he sayd in hym self yf this man for to haue made lesynges is soo gretely enhaunced thenne by gretter vayson I shalle be more worshipped and enhaunced yf I saye trouthe ¶ And after the kynge wold aske the trewe man and demaunded of hym who am I and alle that ben aboute me And thenne the man of trouthe ansuerd thus to hym thow arte an ape and a beste ryght abhomynable And alle they whiche ben aboute the are lyke and semblable to the ¶ The kynge thenne commaunded that he shold be broken and â—â—oren with teeth and clawes and put alle in to pyeces And therfore it happeth ofte that the lyers and flaterers ben enhauÌ„ ced and the men of trouthe ben set alowe and put a back For oftyme for to saye trouthe men lese they re lyues the whiche thynge is ageynst Iustyce and equyte ¶ The ix fable is of the hors of the hunter and of the hert NOne ought to put hym self in subiection for to auenge hym on other For better is not to submytte hym self than after to be submytted as reherced to vs this fable Of an hors whiche had enuye ouer an herte by cause the herte was fayrer than he and the hors by enuye went vnto an hunter to whome he sayd in this manere yf thow wylt byleue me we shalle this day take a good proye â—â—epe vpon my â—â—k and take thy swerd and we shalle chace the herte and thow shalt hytte hym with thy swerd and kylle hym and shalt take hym and thenne his flesshe thow mayst â—â—e and his skynne thow mayst selle ¶ And thenne the hunter moued by auaryce demaunded of the hors thynkest thow by thy feythe that we maye take the herte of whome thow spekest to me of ¶ And the hors answerd thus Suffyse the For ther to I shalle put al my dylygence and alle my strengthe lepe vpon me and doo after my counceylle ¶ And thenne the Hunter â—â—epte forthwith vpon the hors backe And the hors beganne to renne after the herte And whanne the herte sawe hym come he fled And by cause that the hert ranne faster than the hors dyd he soaped fro them and saued hym ¶ And thenne when the hors sawe and felte hym moche wery and that he myght no more renne he sayd to the hunter in this maner alyght fro my back For I may bere the no more and haue myst of my proye Thenne said the hunter to the hors Syth thow arte entryd in to my handes yet shalt not thow escape thus fro me thow hast the brydel in thy mouthe wherby thow mayst be kepte stylle and arrested And thow wylt lepe the sadell shalle saue me And yf thow wylt caste thy feet fro the I haue good spores for to constrayne and make the goo whether thow wylt or not where as I wylle haue the and And therfore kepe the wel that thow shewest not thy self rebelle vnto me ¶ Therfore it is not good to put and submytte hym self vnder the hand of other wenynge therby to be auen ged of hym ageynste whome men haue enuye For who submytteth hym self vnder the myght of other he byndeth hym self to hym ¶ The tenthe fable is of the asse and of the lyon THe grete callers by theyr hyghe and lowd crye suppo sen to make folke aferd as recyteth this fable Of an asse whiche somtyme mette with a lyon to the whiche the asse sayd lete vs clymme vpon the montayne and I shall shewe to the how the beestes ben aferd of me and the lyon beganne to smyle and he ansuerd to the asse Goo we my broder And whan they were
he was soo troubled and heuy And after that he had told to her the cause why thold woman sayd to hym make good chere For yf hit be so as thow sayst I shalle counceylle the how thow shalt recouere thy syluer And thenne he demauÌ„ded of her how hit myght be done And she sayd to hym bâ—â—yng hyther to me a man of thy countrey whome thow trustest and doo to be made four fayr chestes and fylle them alle with stones and by thy felawes thow shalt make them to be borne in to his how 's and to hym they shalle say that the marchauÌ„ts of spayne send them to hym for to be kepte surely And whan the chestes shalte be within his how 's thow shalt go and demaÌ„ de of hym thy syluer whiche thynge he dyd And as the sayd chestes were borne within his how 's the spaynard wente with them that bare them the whiche straungers sayd to the old maÌ„ My lord these four chestes ben al ful of gold of syluer and oâ—â— precious stones whiche we brynge to yow as to the trewest man and feythful that we knowe for to stepe them surely by cause that we fere and doubte the theues whiche ben within the desert After the whiche wordes sayd came he whiche the old woman had counceylled and demaunded of hym his syluer And by cause that the old man doubted that the spaynard wold haue dispreysed hym he sayd thus to hym Thow arte welcome I merueylled how thow taryest soo longe for to come And Incontynent he restored to hym his syluer And thus by the counceylle of the woman whiche he gretely thanked he had his good ageyn and retourned ageyne in to his countrey ¶ The thyrd fable speketh of a subtyle Inuencion of a sentence gyuen vpon a derke and obscure cause HIt befelle somtyme that a good man labourer wente fro lyf to deth the whiche labourer lefte nothyng to his sone but only a how 's the whiche sone lyued by the 〈◊〉 of his handes pourely This yong man had a neyghâ—â—ur whiche was moche ryche whiche demauÌ„ded of the sayd yong man yf he wold selle his how 's but he wold not selle it by cau se that it was come to hym by enherytauÌ„ce and by patrymony wherfore the ryche man his neyÈbour connersyd was fuloft 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 bithouÈt hym self of a gre te deceâ—â—on falshede demauÌ„ded of the poure yong man that he wold hyre to hym a parte of his how 's for to delue make a celer the whiche he shold hold of hym payeng to hym yerely rent the poure yonge man hyred it to hym whan the celer was made the ryche man did do bryng therin x toÌ„nes of oylle of the which the v were ful of oylle the other v were but half ful dyd do make a grete pytte in the erthe dyd do put the fyue tonnes whiche were half ful in hit the other fyue aboâ—â—e them And thenne he shytte the dore of the celer and delyuerd 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 falshede of his neyghboure wherfore he was contente to kepe the keye And within a why le after as the oylle became dere the ryche man came to the pou re and asked of hym his good and the yong man tooke to hym the keye this Ryche man thenne sold his oylle to the marchauntes and warauntysed eche tonne al ful And when the marchauntes mesured theyr oylle they fond but fyue of the x tonnes full wherof the ryche man demaunded of the pou re yonge man resticucion and for to haue his how 's he maade hym to come before the Iuge ¶ And whanne the poure man was before the Iuge he demaunded terme and space for to answere For hym thought and semed that he had kepte wel his oylle and the Iuge gaf and grauÌ„ted to hym day of aduys theÌ„ne he went to a philosophre whiche was procuratour of the poure peple prayd hym for charyte that he wold gyue to hym good couÌ„ceylle at his grete nede he reherced and told to hym al his cause swore vpon the holy euangely that he to ke none of the ryche mans oylle And thenne the philosopher ansuerd to hym in this manere My sone haue no fere for the trouthe may not faylle And the next morowe after the philo sopher wente with the poure man in to Iugement the whiche Philosopher was constitued by the kynge for to gyue the Iust sentence of hit And after that the cause had be wel deffended and pleted of bothe partyes the philosophre sayd the same ryche man is of good renommee and I suppose not that he demaunded more than he shold haue And also I byleue not that this poure may be maculed ne gylty of the blame which he putteth on hym but notwithstondynge for to knowe the trouthe of hit I ordeyne and gyue sentence that the oylle pu re and clene of the v tonnes whiche are ful to be mesured and also the lye therof And after that the pure and clene oylle of the fyue tonnes whiche ben but half ful to be also mesured with the lye therof 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 momoche lye be fond within the vessels whiche ben but half full as in the other he shalle thenne be suffysauntly ryghtwysly 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 shall be condempned and of this sentence the poure was contente the trouthe was knowen wherfore the poure man went quyte and the ryche was condempned For his grete malyce and falsheed was knowen and manyfested For there is no synne or mysdede done but that ones it shalle be knowen and ma nyfested ¶ The fourthe fable maketh mencion of the sentence gyuen vp the pecuny or money whiche was found A Ryche man somtyme wente by a Cyte And as he wal ked fro one syde to that other fylle fro hym a grete purse wherin were a thowsand crownes the whiche a poure man fond and toke them for to kepe to his wyf wherof she was ful gladde and sayd thanked be god of al the goodes whiche he sendeth to vs yf he sendeth now this grete somme kepe we hit wel And on the next mâ—â—ne after folowyng the Ryche man made to be cryed thurgh the Cyte that who someuer had fond a thowsand Crownes in a purse he shold restitue and brynge them to hym ageyne and that he shold haue for his reward an honderd of them And after that the poure man
rosted lesse mete shalle be thenne made of me And therfor neyther boylled ne rosted shalle not be thy grete bely fylled of me but yf thow lete me flee ħit shalle be to the a grete good and prouffyte For thre doctrynes I shall teche the whiche thow shalt loue better than thre fat kyne And thine the labourer lete the nyghtyngale flee And whan he was oute of his handes and that he was vpon a tree he sayd to the vylayne in this maner My Frend I haue promysed to the that I shall gyue to the thre doctrynes wherof the fyrst is this that thow byleue no thynge whiche is Impossyble The second is that thow kepe wel that thyn is And the thyrd is that thow take no sorowe of the thynge lost whiche may not be recouerd And soone after the nyghtgngale beganne to synge in his songe sayd thus blessyd be god whiche hath delyuerd me oute of the handes of this vylayne or chorle whiche hath not knowen sene ne touched the precious dyamond whiche I haue within my bely For yf he had foūde hit he had be moche ryche And fro his handes I had not scaped And thenne the vylayne whiche herd this songe beganne to complayne and to make grete sorowe and after sayd I am wel vnhappy that haue lost so fayre a tresour whiche I had wonne and now I haue lost hit And the nyghtyngale seyd thenne to the chorle Now knowe I wel that thow arte a fool For thow takest sorowe of that wherof thow sholdest haue none and sone thow hast forgeten my doctryne by cause that thow wenest that with in my bely shold be a precious stone more of weyght than I am And I told and taught to the that thow sholdest neuer byleue that thynge whiche is Impossyble And yf that stone was thyn why hast thow lost ħit And yf thow 〈◊〉 lost ħit and mayst not recouere hit why takest thow sorowe for hit And therfore hit is foly to chastyse or to teche a fole whiche neuer byleueth the lernynge and doctryne whiche is gyuen to hym ¶ The vij fable is of a Rethorycian and of a crowkbacked A Philosopher sayd ones to his sone that whan he were falle by fortune in to somme dommage or perylle the sooner that he myght he shold delyuere hym of hit to th ende that afterward he shold no more be vexed ne greued of hit As ħit appiereth by this fable of a rethoryque man or fayr speker whiche ones demaunded of a kynge that of alle them whiche shold entre in to the Cyte hauynge somme faulte of kynde on theyr bodyes as crouked or counterfayted 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 sealed and wreton vnder his sygnet And thus he kepte hym styll at the yate And of euery lame scabbed of alle suche that had ony counterfaytour on theyr bodyes he tooke a peny ¶ It happed thēne on a day that a croukbacked and counterfayted man wold haue entryd within the Cyte withoute gyuynge of ony peny and bethought hym self that he shold take and put on hym a fayre mantel and thus arayed came to the yate ¶ And thenne whan the porter byheld hym he perceyued that he was goglyed and sayd to hym pay me of my dowte And the goglyed wold paye nought wher fore he toke from hym his mantel And thenne he sawe that he was crowkbacked and sayd to hym thow woldest not tofore paye a peny but now thow shalt paye tweyne ¶ And whyle that they stryued to gyder the hat and the bonet folle from his hede to the erthe And the porter whiche sawe his scabbed hede sayd to hym now shalt thow paye to me thre pens And thenne the porter yet ageyne setted his handes on hym and felte that his body was al scabbed And as they were thus wrastlynge to gyder the crowkbacked fylle to the ground and hurted hym self sore on the legge And the porter sayd thenne to hym Now shalt thow paye v pens For thy body is al counter fayted wherfore thow shalt leue here thy mantell And yf thou haddest payd a peny thow haddest gone on thy waye free and quyte wherfore he is wyse that payeth that that he oweth of ryght to then de that therof come not to hym gretter dommage ¶ The eyght fable is of the discyple And of the sheep A Discyple was somtyme whiche toke his playsyre to reherce and telle many fables the whiche prayd to his mayster that he wold reherce vnto hym a long fable To whome the mayster ansuerd kepe and beware wel that hit happe not to vs as it happed to a kyng and to his fabulatour And the discyple ansuerd My mayster I pray the to telle to me how it befelle And thenne the mayster sayd to his discyple ¶ Somtyme was a kynge whiche hadde a fabulatour the whiche reherced to hym at euery tyme that he wold sleep fyue fables for to reioysshe the kynge and for to make hym falle in to a slepe It bifelle thenne on a daye that the kynge was moche sorowful and so heuy that he coude in no wyse falle a sle pe And after that the sayd fabulatour had told and reherced his fyue fables the kynge desyred to here more And thenne the sayd fabulatour recyted vnto hym thre fables wel shorte And the kynge thenne sayd to hym I wold fayne here one wel longe And thenne shalle I loue wel the slepe The fabulatour thenne reherced vnto hym suche a fable Of a ryche man whiche wente to the market or feyre for to bye sheep the which man bought a thowsand sheep And as he was retornynge fro the feyre he cain vnto a Ryuer and by cause of the grete wawes of the water he coude not passe ouer the brydge Neuerthe les he wente soo longe to and fro on the Ryuage of the sayd Ryuer that at the last he fonde a narowe way vpon the whiche myght passe scant ynough thre sheep attones And thus he passed and had them ouer one after another And hyderto reherced of this fable the fabulatour felle on slepe And anon after the kynge awoke the fabulatour and sayd to hym in this manere I pray the that thow wylt make an ende of thy fable And the fabulatour ansuerd to hym in this manere Syre this Ryuer is ryght grete and the ship is lytyll wherfore late the marthaunt doo passe ouer his sheep And after I shalle make an ende of my fable And thenne was the kynge wel appeased and pacyfyed ¶ And therfore be thow content of that I haue reherced vnto the For there is folke so superstycious or capaxe that they may not be contented with fewe wordes ¶ The ix fable is of the wulf of the labourer of the foxe of the chese SOmtyme was a labourer wgiche vnnethe myght gouerne and lede his oxen by cause that they smote
Vexe ne lette in no wyse ony other be it neuer soo lytyll a beest For the whiche good tydynges I praye the that thow wylt come doune to th ende that we may goo and synge Te deum laudamus for Ioye And the Cok whiche knewe wel the fallaces or falshede of the foxe ansuerd to hym in this manere Certaynly my broder and my good Frend thow hast brought to me ryght good tydynges wherof more than C tymes I shalle thanke the And sayenge these wordes the Cock lyfte vp his neck and his feet and loked ferre fro hym And the foxe sayd to hym what godsep where aboute lokest thow And the Cok ansuerd to hym Certaynly my broder I see two dogges strongly and lyghtly rennynge hytherward with open mouthes whiche as I suppose come for to brynge to vs the tydynges whiche thou hast told to vs And thenne the Foxe whiche shoke for fere of the two dogges sayd to the Cock god be with yow my frend It is tyme that I departe fro hens or these two dogges come â—â—rer And sayenge these wordes toke his waye ranne as fast as he myght And thenne the cock demaunded and cryed after hym godsep why rennest thow thus yf the sayd pacâ—â— is accorded thow oughtest not to doubte no thynge Ha a godsep sayd the Foxe from ferre I doubte that these two dogges haue not herd the decreâ—â— of the pees And thus whanne a begyler is begyled he receyued the sallary or payement whiche he ought to haue wherfore lete euery man kepe hym self ther fro POgius reherceth that there were two wymmen in Rome whiche he knewe of dyuerse age and forme which came to a Curteyzan by cause to haue and wynne som what wyth theyr bodyes whome he receyued and happed that be knewe the fayrest of bothe twyes and that other one 's and soo departed And afterward whanne they shold departe he gaf to them a pyece of lynen clothe not decernynge how moche eche of them shold haue to her parte and porcion And in the partynge of the sayd clothe fylle bitwene the wymmen a stryf by cause one of them demaunded two partes after thexygence of her werke And that other the half after they re persones eche of them shewynge dyuersly theyr resons that one sayeng that she hadde suffred hym twyes to doo his pleasyr and that other pretended that she was redy and in her was no defawte And soo fro wordes they came to strokes and cratchyng with naylys and drawynge theyr here in so moche that theyr neygh bours came to this batayll for to departe them And also their owne and propre husbondes not knowynge the cause of theyr stryf and debate eche of them defendynge his wyues cause And fro the fyghtynge of the wymmen hit aroos and came to theyr husbondes with buffettis and castynge of stones soo longe that men ranne bytwene them And after the customme of Rome bothe the husbondes were brought to pryson berynge enemyte eche to other knowe no thynge the cause wherfore The sayd cloth is sette in the handes of the wymen secretely yet not departed but is secretely argued amonge the wymmen in what wyse that this mater shal be deuyded And I demaunde of doctours what the lawe is of it ¶ He sayth also that a Marchaunt of Florence bonght an hors of a man and made his couenaunt with the sellar for xxv du cattes for to paye forthwith in hande xv ducattes And as for the rest he shold abyde dettour and owe And the sellar was content and therupon delyuerd the hors and receyued the xv ducattes After this a certayne terme the sellar demaunded of the byar the resydue And he denyed the payment had hym hold his couenaunt For the byer sayd we were accorded that I shold be thy debtour And yf I shold satysfye paye the I shold nomore be thy dettour et 〈◊〉 and soo he abode dettour HE telleth also that ther was a carryk of Iene hyred in to frauÌ„ce for to make warre ayenst englissħmen of the whiche â—â—arrik the patrone bare in his sheld painted an oxe hede whiche a noble man of frauÌ„ce beheld sawe sayd he wold auenge hym on hym that bare tho armes wherupon aroos an altercacion so moche that the frensshman prouoked the Iaâ—â—eye to bataylle and fyght therfore The Ianuey acceptyd the prouocacion came at the day assigned in to the felde withoute ony araye or habyllements of warre And that other frensshe man came in moche noble apparayll in to the feld that was ordeyned theÌ„ne the patrone of the carrik said wher fore iâ—â— it that we two shold this day fyght make bataill fore I saye said that other that thyn armes ben myn bylonged to me to fore that thow haddest them Thenne the Ianuey said It is no nede to make ony bataylle therfore For the armes that I bere is not the hede of an oxe but it is the hede of a cowe whiche thynge so spoken the noble Frensshe man was abasshed and so departed half mocqued ALso he saith that ther was a phisycyen dwellyng in a Cyte whiche was a grete a connyng man in that sey enâ—â— he had a seruauÌ„t a yong man whiche made pyl les after a certayne forme that he shewed to hym whan this yong man had dwellid long with hym coude parfÈtly make the pyllys he departed fro his mayster and went in to strauÌ„ ge countre where as he was knowen and lete men there to Vn derstonde that he was a connynge phisycyen and coude gyue medycynes for al maner maladyes ond sekenesses and mynystred alwey his pylles to euery man that came to hym for ony remedy And hit was soo that a poure man of that place where he was came to hym and complayned how he had loste his asse and prayd hym to gyue to hym a medycyne for to fynde his asse ageyne And he gaf to hym the sayd pyllys â—â—dde hym to receyue and take them And he shold fynde ħis asse And this poure man dyd soo and after wente in to the feldes and pastures to seke and loke after his asse and soo doynge the pyllys wronght soo in his bely that he must nedes go purge hym and went amonge the reed and there easyd hym And anone there he fonde his asse wherof he beyng moche Ioyeful ranne in to the toune and told and proclamed that by the medecyn that he had receyued of the phisycyen he had found his asse whiche thynge knowen alle the symple peple reputed hym for a moche connynge man whiche coude no thynge doo but make pyllys And thus many fooles are ofte taken for wyse and connynge Foâ—â— he was reputed to hele all maner sekenesses and also to fynde asses THere was in a certayne towne a wydower wowed a wydowe for to haue and wedde her to his wyf and at the last they were agreed and sured to gyder ¶ And whan a yonge woman beynge seruaunt with the wydowe herd therof she came to her maystresse and sayd to her Allas maystresse what haue ye doo why sayd she I haue herd say sayd the mayde that ye be assured and shalle wedde suche a man And what thenne sayd the wydowe Allas sayd the mayde I am sory foryow by cause I haue herd saye that he is a peryllous man For he laye so ofte and knewe so moch his other wyf that she deyde therof And I am sory therof that yf ye shold falle in lyke caas to whome the wydowe answerd and sayd Forsothe I wold be dede For ther is but sorowe and care in this world This was a curteys excuse of a wydowe NOw thenne I wylle fynysshe alle these fables wyth this tale that foloweth whiche a worsħipful preest and a parsone told me late he sayd that there were duellynge in Oxenford two prestes bothe maystres of arte of who me that one was quyck and coude putte hym self forth And that other was a good symple preest And soo it happed that the mayster that was perte and quyck was anone promoted to a benefyce or tweyne and after to prebendys and for to be a Dene of a grete prynces chappel supposynge and wenynge that his felaw the symple preest shold neuer haue be promoted but be alwey an Annuel or at the most a parysshe preest So after longe tyme that this worshipful man this dene came rydynge in to a good paryssh with a x or xij horses lyke a prelate and came in to the chirche of the sayd parysshe and fond there this good symple man somtyme his felawe whiche caâ—â— and welcomed hym lowely And that other badde hym good morowe mayster Iohan and toke hym sleyghtly by the hand and axyd hym where he dwellyd And the good man sayd in this paryssh how sayd he are ye here a sowle preest or a paryssh preste nay syr said he for lack of a better though I be not able ne worthy I am parson and curate of this parysshe and thenne that other aualed his bonet and said mayster parson I praye yow to be not displeasyd I had supposed ye had not â—â—e bene fyeed But mayster sayd he I pray yow what is this benefyce worth to yow a yere Forsothe sayd the good symple man I wote neuer for I make neuer accomptes therof how wel I haue had hit four or fyue yere And knowe ye not sa id he what it is worth it shold seme a good benefyce No forsothe sayd he but I wote wel what it shalle be worth to me why sayd he what shalle hit be worth Forsothe sayd he yf I doo my trewe dylygeÌ„ce in the cure of my paryssheÌ„s in prechyng and techynge and doo my parte longynge to my cure I shalle haue heuen therfore And yf they re sowles ben lost or ony of them by my defawte I shall be punysshed therfore And herof am I sure And with that word the ryche dene was abussded And thought he shold be the better and take more hede to his â—â—res and benefyces than he had done This was a good answere of a good preest and an honest And here with I fynysshe this book translated emprynted by me William Caxton at wesemynstre in thabbey And fynysshed the xxvj daye of Marche the yere of oure lord M CCCC lxxxiiij And the fyrst yere of the regne of kyng Rychard the thyrdde