Apollo to them to satisfy their desires he gaue them free libertie to desire vppon this condition that what soeuer the one required the other shuld receiue double The couetous man was long in doute bycause he thought nothing was ynough at length he asked no small thyng hys companyon receyued double so muche The Enuious man requested one of his owne eyes to be put out greately reioycing that his fellow shoulde lose bothe Mor. Couetousnesse neuer sayth ho as for Enuie nothing is more mad which wisheth him selfe mischief to hurte another withall 153 Of the Wolfe and the Asse THe Wolfe and the Asse were sawyers togither but the Asse wrought aboue and the Wolfe beneath who sought occasion to slea his fellowe wherfore he sayd Ah wretched Asse why doest thou cast dust into myne eyes Forsooth quod he I doo not but rule it after my knowledge if it please thee to sawe aboue I will beneath Tushe quod the Wolfe I sée what thou dost if thou cast any more into my eyes I will plucke oute thine when he had thus saide the Wolfe blew harde that the dust might flie vp in to his felows eyes but the timber staying it it fell into his owne wherewith béeing sore troubled he sware that he would ouerthrow the porters but sodeinly it fell and killed the Wolfe Mor. Mischief commonly lighteth vpon the pate of the Author 154 Of the Lyon and the Wolfe THe Lyon béeing stricken in age fell sicke and laye in his denne all beastes saue onely the Foxe came to visite theyr Kyng Wherevppon the Wolfe hauyng oportunitie accused the Foxe vnto the Lyon as one that sette naught by hym béeing theyr Lorde for whiche cause hée came not to sée him By chaunce the Foxe came in and hearde the latter ende of the Wolues tale Then the Lyon roared ageynste the Foxe who incontinent crauyng space too make aunswere sayde which of all those that are here present hath done so muche good as I which haue trauayled farre and néere to seeke a remedie for thée of the physition which I haue lerned Then the Lion commaunding him foorth with to tel the medicine he sayde The Wolues skin being yet alyue to be plucked from his backe and put warme about thée is the medicine and onely remedy As the wolfe lay along the Fox laughed at him saying It becommeth not thee to prouoke thy lord to wrath but to fauour and good will Mor. Hée whiche continually diggeth pits at length turneth him selfe therein 155 Of the Harte and the Oxen. A Harte being pursued of a Hunter ran into an Oxe stall praying the Oxen to hide him in their rack they tolde him that there was no safe harboring for both their maister and his seruants woulde come thither He answered that he was safe inough so that they woulde not bewray him the seruāt came in mistrusting nothing to be hid in the hey departed the Hart was excedingly glad and feared nothing Then one of the Oxen older and wiser than the rest sayd to him It is an easy matter to deceiue him that is as blinde as a Mole but if thou escape our maister which hath an hundred eyes I will warrant thée Streight after came in the maister to redresse his seruāts negligence looked rounde aboute and groping in the rack felt the horns of the Hart cryed out for his seruantes who straight way came tooke the beast and slue him Mor. When one is in perill it is harde to fynde a place to hyde him in eyther it is that Fortune tosseth the oppressed or that being afrayd and vncertaine what to doe thorough follie they betray them selues 156 Of the Cock and the Cat. A Cat sometyme being hungry came to deuoure a Cock whome bycause shée had no iust cause to hurt layd to his charge his great noise that he was wont to make bycause that with his shrill crowing he did let men of their rest in the night the Cock replied that he was therof giltlesse séeing by that meanes he raised vp men to theyr dayly trauell It is but lost labor sayd the Cat to pleade thus for thou treadest thy mother neither art thou so content but thou medlest with thy sister the Cock being readie to purge him selfe of that fault the Cat waxed more eger against him saying thou striuest against the streame for this daye I will bee thy préest Mor. If any man would beat a dogge he shall soone fynde a staffe The euill man by hooke or by crooke if he list will throw thee downe 157 Of the Countryman and the Serpent AS a Countryman walked aboute his grounds he found a Serpēt in the snow nigh deade with colde whiche hée pitying much brought home and layde him by the fires syde The Serpent by reason of the fire came again to his strēgth and venim coulde no longer endure the heate but filled all the Cottage with his hyssing The Countryman gotte vp a stake and ranne at hym wherwith he stroke him and then tooke him vp for that displeasure saying Wylt thou thus recompence my curtesy Goest thou aboute to destroy him that saued thy lyfe Mor. It chanceth often if a man saue a théefe from the gallowes hée will soonest séeke his death and on whom men bestowe moste labour of him they shall reape least good 158 Of a Seruant which cast his Masters Asse from a Rock A Certeine Husbādmans Seruāt threw downe his maisters Asse hedlong from an high Rock that hée might not dayly bee forced to driue him too and fro but hée told his maister that hée fell down him selfe wherefore his maister dydde cause hym to beare all thyngs on his shoulders which the Asse was woont before to carrie The which thyng the euill seruant markyng sayd I was not well aduised when I slue my innocent fellow which eased mée of so great trauaile I am thus worthily serued Mor. Whyles fooles would auoyde any euill they fall into woorse 159 Of the Bat the Bramble and the Cormoraunt THe Bat the Bramble and the Cormorant entred fréendship togither and determined to liue lyke merchants whervppon the Bat borowed money and shipped it the Bramble toke garmentes and the Cormorant Brasse and sailed together It chanced a greate storme too aryse that the ship was drowned and all their goods lost and they escaped to lande since which time the Cormorant sitteth on the sea shore to sée if the sea will caste vp the Brasse any where The Bat fearing his creditours sheweth not his head by day light but goth to feede by nyght And the Bramble doeth catche hold of the garments of such as are passers by séekyng if hée can fynde hys owne Mor. Wherevnto wée doo apply our selues in tyme to come wée followe the same 160 Of the Worme THe Worme that lurketh in the durte went abrode vpon lande and said to all beasts that shée was as learned a phisitian for medicines as euer was Poeen phisitian to the Gods Why quod the
mutuall fighting Mor. The hatred whiche we beare to straungers are woont to set at one the debate betweene neighbours 217 Of the Countryman and the Horse A Countryman draue by the way a spare Horse and an Asse sore laden wyth packs the Asse being weary with trauayling prayed the Horse if he would saue his lyfe to ease him somewhat of his burthen the Horse thoughte skorne and denyed his helpe It hapned as they trauayled on in their iorney y t the Asse being ouerladen fel vnder his burthen dyed then his master layde al y e asses burthen eke the skin vpon the horse wherwithall his backe began to crack Ah wretch y t I am sayd the Horse I am thus iustly serued bycause lately I refused to help the poore laboring Asse Mor. We must help oure frends that are in miserie for part of our rising our country claimeth and part our friends 218 Of a Fox that fell into a Well A Foxe being falne in to a Well and at the poynt to be drowned besought the Wolfe which was on the welles brink to cast downe a rope and helpe him vp The Wolfe sayd How fellest thou in here Ah quod the Foxe this is no time to tell thée but when thou hast drawne me out I wil shew thée all things in order Mor. Men in danger had néed of present help not spend the tyme in ydle talke 219 Of a Pig and his fathers will A Pig wept muche for the death of his parents but when he had red his will and founde that a greate heape of Acornes and many bushels of meale were left him he held his peace and being asked why hée wept no more answered The meale and the Acornes haue stopped vp my mouth Mor. A greate heritage causeth the heyres quickely to leaue theyr mourning 220 Of the Cockatrice and Seawolf THe Cockatrice on a time went to the sea side in the clothing of a Monke and called to him the Wolf saying O brother since thou wast marked with the signe of the crosse thou art become a perfecte Christian I pray thee therefore come vnto mee and instruct me in the faith of Christe that I may be baptized and therby escape euerlasting iudgement and haue fruition of eternall ioye The Wolf fishe marking him well and knowing what he was sayde O thou Hipocrite a coule maketh not a Frier thy wordes are full of wickednesse and craft neyther entendest thou to be baptized of me but rather thou wouldst begyle and poyson mée therfore I wil not heare thée and forth with he swam away and left him all ashamed Mor. Beware of those which come in shéeps clothing outwardly but in wardly are rauening wolues 221 Of the Wolf and the Dog A Wolf met a dog by chaunce very early going through a Wood whō he curteously saluted being very glad of his cōming at length he asked him by what meanes he was in so good lyking he aunswered that his maister loued him dearly for whē he fawned on him he stroked him and fed him with meate frō his table and that he neuer slept by daylight moreouer time would not serue to tell how muche I am made off by all the seruauntes Mary sayd the Wolfe thou arte happie in déede which hast so good and so louing a maister if I might dwell with him I would think my selfe the happiest of all liuing beastes The Dog perceyuing the Wolf very desirous to chaunge his accustomed trade of liuing promised his help to bring it to passe that he might be retayned to his maister so that he were content to become tamer to liue in bondage The Wolfe was content and it pleased him well to walke towarde the Towne By the way they had very pleasaunt talke but when it waxed light day the Wolfe perceyued the Dogs necke worne bare wherevppon he asked him what ment this barenesse of his neck he aunswered the cause is that when I was fierce I barked at my friends as well as my fees and sometime did byte them wherewithall my Maister not well pleased did beate me often forbidding me to assaulte any saue a théefe or a Wolfe and by this meanes I am tamer and cary the mark in remembraunce of my fiercenesse the Wolfe hearing him say so told him he would not bye his Lords loue so deare saying farewel therfore for I esteeme my libertie far better than this bondage Mor. Better is a drie morsell in a lowe house where a man is ruler than in the kings pallace to fare delicatly and to be in seruitude for libertie in the courte hath no place 222 Of a Lynnet A Certē Linnet was kept vp daintily by a rich man who much delighted in his singing It happened in time of dearth that many poore birds came to y e Linnet asked his almes but nothing would he giue thē saue of the fragments broken meate that was lefte whiche he cared not for but the birds reioysing therof eate it vp swéetely Mor. It is an yll dish which a man wil refuse when he is hungry 223 Of a Mule A Mule being fat and pricked with prouender cryed aloude and sayde My Father is a swift running horse and I am altogither like him but once when he shold néedes runne and in running stayed he straight way remembred that he was an Asses foale Mor. Though time bring a man to promotion yet ought he not to forget his estate for this life is vnstable 224 Of a King and Apes A Certein King of Egipt appointed Apes to be taught to daunce whiche as no beast is of liker fauoure to a man so none counterfaiteth better or willinglier a man in his dooings They hauing learned very quickly the arte of dauncing on a daye appointed they beganne to daunce and were clad with the richest purple Their dauncing delighted the companie a long time vntill a merie conceyted fellow cast down amongst them nuts whiche he priuily had caried in his bosome the Apes had no sooner seene the nuts but forgetting y e daūce became as they were afore time of dauncers Apes byting and tearing their clothes in pieces fighting togither for the nuts not without great laughter of y e beholders Mor. The giftes of Fortune chaunge not a mans disposition 225 Of Oxen. A Heardman entred the stable and saw the Oxen skipping for ioy he therefore axed them the cause of their ioy they answered Our hope is to spende this daye in the goodly leasues Why quod hée What thing hath brought you to this hope We dreamed sayd they it should be so Ah quod hée giue no credit to such dreames whiche ye are like to finde vntrue for I dreamed that ye should ploughe to daye and mens dreames are wont to be truer thā beastes Mor. Nothing is so soone begyled as the hope of men 226 Of a Hogge A Hog was blamed of a shéep that he yelded no profit to his Maister of whome he was so diligently fed séeing they gaue
and ioyne me some penance But they sayd what haste thou done thou thefe Mary fye on thée by thy meanes that seruant had such hurte of his féete that we thinke he is dead thereof whereby thy soule is damned and therefore thy bodye ought not to escape scotte frée then they killed and deuoured him Morall The mighty and riche men in lyke maner do pardon one another but to the poore they are harde harted and inexorable 2 Of the Spider and the Gowte A Spider nigh wéeried with continuall laboure ceassed of hys woorke walked abroade for disport whom the Goute met and accompanied as fast as he could though it were with muche payne when that dayes iourney was nigh at a pointe they approched neere to a little town called Tuche where they determined to séeke fit lodging for their purpose The Spider tooke litle héede but turned into the house of an excéeding riche man where on euery side he set vp his streamers Thē were straight at hande those lyke Diuels in a playe which cast downe his webs and as fast as he set them vp in any parte of the house they were swept downe he coulde not worke so closely but it was founde out such was his miserie that in a house of so much wealth and abundance he only wanted and was thrust downe But the Goute went like a begger whiche caused him to be the longer without lodging at length he gotte him to the cottage of a poore man where when he had layde him downe to reste it is not to be tolde what miserie he endured his supper was coorse bread and a Cup of cold water to drinke when he was drye hys bed to resté hys wéerie bones vppon was a harde boorde strewed without either boughs or grasse but thinly with a litle strawe I need not shewe how ill agréed so harde a bed and so rude an hoste to so tender limbes and to his skin as soft as silke When the day starre was scarse risen the Goute and the Spider mette againe Then the Spider first declared his nights yll reste and how ofte he shifted his place somtime vpbraiding the Maister with too much nicenesse sometyme with the double diligēce of the swéepers Ah quod the Goute the pouertie of myne hoste is incredible for if I had leisure I could shew thee spots both black and blew that my bed as harde as the Adamant hath imprinted in my softe skin Then they tooke counsaile thus once agayn That the Spider should goo to the poore mans cottage and the Goute to the riche mans house wherevnto they bothe agréed When it waxed darke they came neere to a Citie and the Goute remembring well hys appointment faire and softly went into an excéeding riche mans house where he hid him self whom when the Maister had scarse sée ne Iesu GOD w t what harty good will what kindnesse and with what names dyd he entertayne him straightway he was layde vppon beds of Doune hys bolsters stuffed with soft partriche feathers I will not speake of the wynes as swéete darke wynes wynes of Lesbus and Campania birdes that féede on grapes phesants and partie coloured birds to conclude there was no kinde of pleasure that his fantasie lacked The Spider went into a poore mans cottage and began hys webs on euery side from wall to wall he hanged them vp he followed his businesse with hande féete he brake it downe and sette it vp agayne and that he beganne he ended and to tel you at a woorde he was Lorde and King alone crafte and pollicie he feared none for his building was so high that he was without the reche of a broome Not long after the Gowte spake with the Spider to whom he magnified his pleasures hys happinesse and riches The Spider lykewise wonderfully praysed hys kingdome and libertie in building They concluded therfore that whyther so euer they iourneyd the Gowte should lodge at the riche mans house and the Spider at the poore mans cottage Mor. Some sorte of men spéede better in some place than others and rich mens houses are a mansion place for disseases but where least riches are there is most libertie 3 Of an Asse the Trumpeter and a Hare the Messanger THe Lyon King of foure féeted beastes hauing warre with the Foules sette his armie in aray ready to ioyne battaill with them whom the Beare asked what furderance the sluggish Asse or the fearefull Hare would be to winne the fielde bycause he sawe them amongst the other Souldiours He aunswered hym The Asse with the sounde of hys Trumpette shall encourage the Souldiours to fighte and the Hare bycause of hys swiftnesse shall be a Messanger Mor. None is so vile but he is good for some thing 4 Of an old man A Certen deuoute man counsailled an olde man to leaue of the luftes of the fleshe wherevnto he hadde bene outrageously gyuen He aunswered him Holly Father I will obey your reuerende and holesome preceptes for I perceyue that Venerie doth much hurte me neyther am I able to followe that trade any longer Mor. Many abstayne from vyces wherein they are nooseled not for the loue of God or goodnesse but bycause of infirmitie and feare of punishment 5 Of the Shepherd and the Sea AS a shéepherd kept his flocke néere the Sea side and saw it calme he desired to be a Marchant venturer wherevppon he solde his shéepe and bought Dates and wayed his Anker It happened that a sodayne tempeste arose and that the shippe was in daunger of drowning so that they were fayne to lighten it of all the burden scarse able to escape emptie Shortly after as one passed by on the Sea shore for then by chaunce it was calme he maruelled to sée it so still wherevpon he said The Sea longeth againe for Dates and therfore it is so calme Mor. Miserie maketh a man warier 6 Of an Heremité and a Souldiour A Certen Heremite being a man of godly liuing exhorted a Souldiour to leaue of the warfare in this world which waye very few withoute offending God and hurte of their soule do walke in and to gyue him selfe to quietnesse and prepare for his soules health I will Father quod the Souldier do as ye will me but truthe is that in these dayes Souldiours maye neyther demaunde their wages though it be very small ne yet take any praie Mor. Many for sake their wicked lyuing bycause they can vse it no lōger 7 Of the Foxe and the Bramble AS a Foxe climbed a hedge hys féete slipped who as he was falling caught holde on a bramble to staye hym wherefore when he hadde torne hys féete with the prickes thereof being in payne he sayd to the Bramble woo is me for I came to thée for helpe who haste hurte mée worse not so quod the Briar thou wast deceyued for I catche euery thing and thinkest thou to lay holde on me Mor. Some are so foolishe as to require ayde of
those whiche naturally are bent to hurte 8 Of a Wagtayle and a Phesant THe Wagtayle wente to the Phesant and sayd Ah wretche why doest thou not wype thyne eyes but lettest them coÌ„tinually stande with water the stenche of thyne eyes make thée lothesome The Phesant herewith being wrothe aunswered How darest thou check me which art so vyle an outcaste Thy tayle hath the palsy and art thou busie to note my fault Go mende thy owne first and then mayst thou better heale me The Wagtayle hearing this departed ashamed Mor. Hée that will condemne an other must first be cleare him selfe 9 Of the Mise and the Frogs THe Mise on a tyme contended with the Frogs for the kingdome of the Marshes wherevppon they proclamed open warre The battaill being ioyned at the first onset they behaued themselues so valiauntly that the victorie was doutful The wyly Mouse lurking in the grasse priuilie as it were oute of an Ambushement assauted the Frogge But the frog being of strength more puissaunt incourage and leaping more valiaunt with open warre prouoked hys enimie Their speares were bulrushes It happened as they were fighting that a kight espied them a farre of who incontinently made spéede vnto them but these noble warriours being earnest in fighting nothing regarding themselues were snatched vp and torne in pieces by the Kight Mor. The lyke happeneth to seditious Citizens whiche being inflamed with the greedie lustes of bearing rule whiles they stryue eyther with other who shal be hed officer do hazard their goods and commonly their liues 10 Of the beastes and the birds THere was sometyme a battaille betwene the beastes and the birds the victorie was vncertain for both hoped wel yet much feare and daunger was on eyther party The Batte thinking the birds to be the weaker side left their companie and tooke parte with their enimies The birds by the conducting and gouernement of the Egle wonne the fielde The Batte was condemned for a runawaye and banished the companie of all birds and that from thenceforth he shoulde neuer flye by day lighte and this was the onely cause that the Battes flie but by night Mor. He that will not take parte of the sowre shall not taste of that which is sweete 11 Of the Pecocke and the Nightingale THe Pecocke complayned to Iuno Sister and wyfe to Iupiter bycause the Nightingale song so swéete and she hirselfe for hir horsenesse was a bywoorde to all men To whome Iuno sayde Euery one hath his propre gifte of GOD The Nightingale in singing but thou in colours of feathers passest all other birdes euery man muste be contente with hys estate Mor. What God sendeth receyue it thankfully neyther seeke thou further for God doth nothing vnaduisedly 12 Of a yong man that song at the buriall of hys mother A Certen man wepte and lamented for his wyfe being caried to burying but hys sonne did sing whom his Father rebuked as he had ben madde that he would sing when hys mother went to buriall whereas he oughte with him to be heauy and lamente Why Father quod he if thou haue hyred these Priestes to sing why arte thou angry with mée that sing for nothing That is no parte of thy office sayd his Father but belongeth to the Priest Mor. All things are not séemely for all men 13 Of Heauen and Earth ON a tyme Heauen poured on Earthe many stormes lightning and thundring wherewith he oppressed it But she being angry called the Aire to hir and sayd Brother I praye thée meddle not betwixt Heauen and me for I meane to ouerthrowe him bycause he hath wrought me such iniurie that I would fayne by all meanes be reuenged Ah sister quod the Aire do not so but pacifie thy wrath for though that HeaueÌ„ haue vexed thée now you shal an other time be mery togyther Yet Earth being impatient woulde not yelde but armed him selfe and began too warre with heauen The aire beholding that sent such a darke miste y t the earthe coulde not discerne where heauen was This darknesse continued so long betwene heauen and earth till the earthes fury was past after which time the aire sent oute his windes whiche draue away the mist Mor. All men ought to quenche fire and not to kindle it 14 Of a Lyon in loue with a Countreymans daughter A Lyon enamoured with a Countrey-mans daughter desired hir greatly whervpon he requested hir father to giue hir to him in mariage What quod the man should I mary my daughter to a beaste Then the Lyon frowned grinded his téeth at him wherewith the countreyman being afraid went from his former talke sayd I would gladly match grée that as I occupie the daye so thou maist runne thy race in the night Let vs obey oure Creator and be not lofty ouer me but suffer mée to gyue light in the daye and to preserue the good creatures of the Lorde The Moone herewith beyng more vexed departed in a chafe and called to hir the starres of whiche she gathered a great armie and beganne battaile with the Sunne against whom she shot hir arrowes and endeuored with hir dartes to stryke him But the Sunne beâ—â—â— aboue hir and at the vauntage came downe and with a swoorde deuided the Moone in two threw down the starres saying In lyke maner I will vse thée as often as thou arte rounde whereof as reporte goeth it came to passe that the Moone continueth not alwayes full and that the starres do vse to fall The Moone therfore hauing the ouerthrowe was ashamed and sayde Better it is when I am full to be deuided than altogyther to be abolished Mor. Lykewyse many proude persons would be Rulers alone and can not abyde to haue any their better or lyke to them 17 Of the Spyder and the Swallowe A Spider offended with the Swallow bycause she deuoured the flies which were his meate hanged vp hys webbes afore the hole from whence the Swallowe should flie to take hir The Swallow flew forth and caried away y e webbe with the weauer Then the Spider hanging in the aire and perceyuing his death to be at hande sayde Iustly haue I thys deserued which did thinke to catch great birds when without great labor I could scarse get the smallest thing that flieth Mor. Attempt nothing aboue thy capacitie 18 Of a Dogge and a Wolfe AS a Dogge slept in a court before the house of hys maister a Wolfe came sodenly and caught hym whome as he would haue killed the Dogge besought saying Good maister spare me nowe bycause I am leane thinne as thou séest but if thou wilt tary there shall be within these fewe dayes a great mariage kept at my Lordes where I will so fill me and make me so fat that then I shall doe thée more good The Wolfe crediting his wordes let him goo Shortly after the Wolfe came and founde the dog sléeping vpon the house toppe to whom he called as he
stoode beneath willing him to performe his promisse Nay verily quod the Dog but if from henceforth thou finde me sléeping without doores tary not at all vpon hope of any mariage Mor The burnt hand euer after feareth the fire 19 Of the Asse and the Foxe AN Asse put on a Lyons skinne and walked abroade putting all other beastes in feare who on a tyme séeing a Fox endeuoured to make him also afrayed But hée for by chaunce he heard him braye sayd to him Thou knowest well that I would haue trembled at thée if I had not heard thy braying Mor. Some vnlearned men whiche outwardly beare coūtenance through their babling are reproued 20 Of the Egle and the Pye THe Pye sometyme desired the Egle to make him one of his friends of hys housholde bycause the beauty of hys body deserued it and also the redinesse of his speach to do messages I woulde so doo sayd the Egle but I feare least that which I speak within doores thou wouldest preache it abroad on the house tops Mor. Keepe no bablers nor teltales in thy house 21 Of a Nightingale fearing the Kite A Nightingale espying a Kyte flying abroad in the aire making a great crying was sore afrayde to whome the Tyrustie sayde Feare not sister for this preparation to fight these threatnings will light at length eyther on a little mouse or a chicken we must take héede of the Hanke whose gripes we shal first féele ere we heare his voyce Mor. Quiet and close men are more to be dreaded than threatners great pratlers 22 Of a Countreyman that would passe ouer a Ryuer A Coūtryman ready to passe a streame which by chaunce was sodenly rysen with late rayne that fell sought the shallow When he had assayed that parte of the Riuer which was calmest he founde it déeper than he supposed agayn where it was roughest there he foūd it shallowest than he bethought hym whyther he might committe hys life to the calmest place of the water or to the roughest Mor. Dread those lesse whiche are full of wordes and threatnings than those that say nothing 23 Of a Harte and a Vyne A Hart escaping the hunters lay hidde vnder a vine When they were a litle past hir she supposing she lay safe began to féede on the vine leaues Which being stirred the Hunters returned and iudging as it was in déede some beaste to lurke vnder the leaues they with their arrowes slew the harte who as she lay a dying sayd thus Rightly am I serued for I ought not to haue hurte that which saued me Mor. They which do any wrong to their benefactors are punished of god 23 Of a man bitten with a Dog A Certen man being bitten by a Dog wente aboute séeking for helpe At length one met hym who as soone as he vnderstood what he would sayde to him If thou wouldest be healed thou shalt néed no surgion only let y e dog which bit thée licke the bloud from thy sore for better remedie than this can not be founde The other smyling at him sayd If I do so I shall be bitten of Dogs dayly more and more Mor. Naughty men hauing receyued good turnes are the sooner ready to render displeasure 24 Of an Asse that serued an vnkinde Maister AN Asse serued a certen man many yeares in which time he neuer offended him It happened afterwarde being heauy laden that he stumbled in a rough way and fell vnder hys burthen Then his cruell Maister bette him sore and in spite of his harte forced him to ryse calling him a slouthfull and sluggish beast but this poore wretch thought thus with him selfe Miserable is my estate which haue happened to so vnkinde a Maister for though I haue serued him a long time without displeasing him yet doth he not forgyue me this one faulte in recompēce of the good seruice that I haue done him Mor. This Fable is against those which forgette the benefites that they haue receyued and greuously punishe the least offence of their benefactors toward them done 25 Of the Mouse that set the Kight at libertie A Mouse espied the Kight taken in a Foulers grin on whom he toke compassion though he were hys moste enimie and gnewe the knots in pieces and set him at libertie The Kight remembring the good turn no lōger than it was in doing When he perceyued him selfe loose layd holde on the poore Mouse and with his talents tore him in pieces Mor. Wicked men in like manner are wont to recompence theyr benefactors 26 Of a Husbandman pricked by a Bee A Husbandman being stoong by a Bée maruelled that oute of the selfe same mouth so swéete iuyce procéeded and so grieuous a sting The Bée aunswered the more beneficiall I am y e more I hate them which do me wrong Mor. The more good men doo the lesse iniurie they endure 27 Of the tree Abrotanum and the Hare THe propertie of Abrotanum is to drawe oute any thing that sticketh fast with the helpe of Auxangia Wherfore on a tyme came a Hare halting to him for a thorne which stuck in his foote and sayde O Phisitian both of body and soule take pitie on me and helpe me and forthwith shewed his right foote This trée being moued with compassion put him selfe vpon the wounde brought oute the thorne and healed it Wherfore the Hare remembring thys benefite caried dayly a flaggō of water on his shoulders and watered the roote of the trée wherby he caused it to continue fresh and gréene Mor. Let vs alwayes gladly serue our benefactors 28 Of the Crowe and the Dog AS the Crowe was offering sacrifice to Minerua she bad the Dog to hir good cheare but he aunswered hir Why doest thou bestowe sacrifice to no purpose For the Goddesse so hateth thée that she suffereth thée to haue no credit in any diuination To whome the Crowe sayd for that cause the more do I sacrifice vnto hir that I might get hir fauour agayne Mor. Many for aduauntage feare not to benefite their enimies 29 Of a Hunter and a Partriche A Hunter hadde caught a Partriche whiche as hée would haue killed she besought him pardon for hir lyfe to set hir at libertie promising to bring to hys net many Partriches The Fouler answered hir redily agayn saying I think that nowe thou arte more woorthy of death bicause thou hast giuen thy woord to betray thy friend Mor. He whiche goeth about by deceyt to vndoo his friend runneth headlong into miserie 30 Of the Dolphin and the Eele A Certeyne Dolphin finding an Eele in the sea pursued after hir whome when he had often caught but could not holde bycause of hir slippernesse he was wonderfull sory But the Eele being disposed to mock him and therby to escape spake craftely to the Dolphin I am sorie for thée that thou art too muche wéeryed and gréeued with swimming after mée but thy labor is lost for in the déepe waters thou
gate and bade him come in Then the Countryman turned to the Kid and sayde I thank thée my little Kid for thou art the cause that I come in so lightly Mor. Nothing is so hard but with gifts it is mollifyed 195 Of Iupiter WHat tyme as Iupiter made a feast at a mariage al beasts brought in their presents euery one after his habilitie among whom the Serpent was with a rose in his mouthe whiche he offered Iupiter seeing him sayde aloude euery mans beneuolence I williugly accept but thine in no wise I will receiue Mor. The wise man may well gesse that the wicked offer nothing without a crafty pretence 195 Of Flies FLies flew into a hole ful of honie wherof they did eate their féete stucke fast therein that they coulde not escape who being nigh choaked sayde Ah wretches which for a little meate doe perishe Mor. Gluttonie is the cause of muche euill to many 196 Of Landbirds and Waterfoules THe Birds of the lande were offended that the Waterfoules did féede both on water and on lande whervpon they sente for them and after communication hadde they gaue thē warnyng to medle no more vpon lande vpon payn of their liues Dere sisters quod they this talke lyketh not vs very well neuerthelesse if ye will vouchesafe to take parte with vs our hearts shal be much lightened and we the better contented to obey your request The Birds of the lande by reason of theyr gluttonie desiryng to eate of the meate in the water flew altogither with them into the water but bicause they coulde not swimme they were in great hazard of drowning wherfore they besoughte them to take pitie on them the Waterfoules being mercyfull tooke them vp on their backes and brought them to lande for whiche déede the Landbirdes gaue vnto the Waterfoules frée libertie to feede bothe on the water and on the lande Mor. Gluttonous persons thynke all too little that goeth besides their owne mouth 197 Of the Egle and the Rauen. AN Egle came down from an high rock and light on a lambs back which thing the Rauen séeing desired to counterfet him in his dooings and discēded vppon a Ram where bicause his claws stuck fast he was caught and cast out to play withall Mor. Let no man account of himselfe by an other mans manhod but by his own power Cut thy cote after thy cloth 198 Of two Yong men TWo yong mē came into a Cookes shop as though they woulde haue boughte meate the Cooke béeing occupied the one stole a péece of meate out of the basket and gaue it his felow to hide vnder his garmēt the Cooke perceiuing y ◠a péece of flesh was gone accused them bothe of theft then hée that tooke it swore by Iupiter he had it not the other that had it swore that he tooke it not wel quod the Cooke the théefe I know not but he that you haue sworne by bothe sawe and knoweth the théefe Mor. If we haue ought offended men know it not streight way but God that rideth on the heauens and beholdeth the depthes of the sea séeth al things if men would remember this they woulde offende lesse 199 Of Money SOmetyme Money being demaunded of vertue why she rather went to the euill than the good aunswered bycause good men brought vp in thy schoole neuer learned too lye and for swere and to occupy vsurie and to robbe others for these things are wont to draw me vnto them forsooth quod vertue I had rather that my scholers lyued in pouertie than they shoulde defile them selues with these vices for both of them haue a short ende the good leauing euerlastyng glorie vpon earth flie vp to the kingdome of heauen but the euill with slaunder ynough leauing their riches shal go downe to the bottome of Hell Mor. Gather riches after no yll way for it will not only bring in this lyfe an euill reporte but also after death perpetuall torment 200 Of the Thorne and the wilde Gote A Wild Gote somtime came to a Thorn which was new sprong vp whereof he fed him selfe ful Not long after the Gote remembring the good taste of the Thorne returned vnto it mynding to féede thereof as before but the Thornes being hardned stoocke fast as shée would haue swallowed them in hir throte the roofe of hir mouth The Gote with payne thus vexed spake opprobriously ageynst the Thorne saying Ah wretche thy beginning was good but now thou hast little vauntaged me Mor. Many men likewise begin wel but their end is yll whereby they bring the curse vpon them 201 Of a Gote and a Vine THe Vine sayd to the Gote thou hurtest me by shearing my leaues thou knowest I am no grasse but though thou doo me this harme I will prouide great plentie of Wyne to sacrifice thée to the Gods Mor. Commonly a man helpeth hym to whome he would do some mischiefe 202 Of the Ant. AN Ant being thirstie came to a wel to drinke wherin by mischaunce he fell whiche a Doue far off espying cast downe a bough from an high tree and holpe him the Ant clymed vp theron escaped Immediatly after a Fowler set vp his nettes to catche the Doue then the Ant for to recompence his benefactoure came softely stealyng on the Fowler and bit his foote wherby the Doue flew away Mor. We must requite a good turne with the like 203 Of a Gardiner A Gardiner taking a Mole wold haue kil led bir to whome she saide I pray thée good maister kill not me thy poore seruant which haue so faire a skin and doth digge vp thy gardins for nothing Ah quod the Gardiner thou shalt not pacifie me with these flattering words bycause that in digging vp my gardins ageinst my will as thou sayest thou rootest vp al the herbes to feed thy self to bring me to beggers state Mor. In all things the good will of men is to be marked 204 Of Mise that would hang a bell aboute a Cats neck THe Mise assembled together and tooke counsel by what policie or cunning they might escape the Cats wyles then one which in age and experiēce passed the rest sayd I haue found a way which shall saue vs harmlesse from so greate dangers if yée will be ruled by mee lette vs hang a Bell aboute hir necke by the sounde whereof wée shal know and perceyue the comming of the Catte then all with one voyce commended his counsel as good and sayde they must so doe Then an other elder than the rest starte vp commaunding silence and sayde I also allowe this opinion but who will be so hardie that dare hang the Bell about the Catts neck but when euery one refused to do it their talke was in vaine Mor. Many cōmend those things that ought to be done but few are founde to execute the same 205 Of Fishers ON a tyme Fishers drew their nets out of the sea whiche they perceiuing to be heauie reioyced
asked him whether he shold driue the flyes from him No quod he these are full with my bloud and can little trouble me but if thou shouldest driue them away other hūger sterued flies will occupie their roomes and sucke out all the bloud that is left within me Mor. Olde Magistrates must remayne in their office 273 Of an Asse AN Asse bare great malice to a Hogge which dwelt with his maister bicause he did nothing yet was fed with diuers kindes of meates and became dayly fatter but he him selfe continually drudging dyd fare hardly whereby he was so leane that he could scarse goe But at length when he sawe his fellow caried to the Butchers to be killed for mans meate he somewhat reuiued and sayd Ah this is the end that mē take such paynes in féeding a Hog O how far better is it to be an Asse than a Hog Mor. We ought not to enuie those whom we thinke happy whereas that cloked felicitie to many is cause of miserie 274 Of a yong man A Certein yong man whiche should marie a Wife being demaunded whyther he would haue hir turned him to his friēds and neyghboures present saying Why stand ye lyke dumbe men why doe ye not praye God to helpe mée this day for if we praye God helpe them that nyse where no daunger is how much more ought ye now to praye for mée to whome so great daunger is at hand Mor. They whiche marie enter into great daunger 275 Of Iupiter IVpiter celebrating a mariage receyued all beasts vnto the feaste only y e Snayle made slow hast the cause whereof he maruelling at asked him why he came not to the feast he answered My house is deare to mee and excellent whereat Iupiter béeing angry gaue sentence that he shoulde cary his house about him Mor. Some men had rather liue hardly at home than daintily abroade 276 Of a Foxe and a Weasel THe Foxe had so long tyme fasted without getting any maner of praye that he looked very leane and thin and by chaunce crept through a narrow hole into a vault of corne where when hee had well fed hée assayed to go foorth ageine but his belly being ful let him the Wesill séeing him a far off struggling to get out coūselled him if he would get out to come as fresh and fasting as he went in This fable reherseth Horace thus Sometyme did passe a narrow hole a hungrie Foxe and thin To come vnto a vaulte of wheate where easly he got in And being full coulde not repasse to whome a Weasill spake Come fastyng foorth as in thou wentst this way needes must thou take 277 Of an Apple tree AN Apple trée mocked y e Oliue trée that he bare small beries seing she brought foorth so great Aples that hir boughs could hardly bear thē sodainly ther arose a wind and all the Apples almost bycause of their weyghte and vyolence of the tempest fell downe and hir boughes were broken but the Oliue trée stoode whole then sayd shée to hir self how far better had it bin for mée to haue borne lesser frute Mor. Wée oughte to be contente with small things seyng abundance of riches can not bée enioyed without great danger 278 Of the Flye and the Ant. THe Flie striued with the Ant about his nobility the Fly alleaged that she was of a noble bloud and that she flyed dwelts in Kings pallaces fared deyntily there vnto idelly atchieuing and the Ant to be base born to créepe on the earth to liue in holes to gnaw on corne and to drink water The Ant replied that she was no base born yet contented with hir birthe the Flie to be a vagabund hir selfe none she tasted of corne and running water the Fly of bakemeats and swéete wine and she got not hir liuing ydelly but with trauaile furthermore the Ant to be always merry in safetie beloued of all men beside that an example of labor the Flie to be in danger hatred and spited of all men yea a figure of slouthfulnesse the Ant to be mindefull of Winter and to lay vp this prouision the Fly to liue from day to day and in the winter to be hungry or else die for hunger Mor. A meane life quietly out of checking is better thā a delicate life in much trouble 279 Of a Husbandman and his Dogs A Husbandman wintered in the Countrey a good many dayes at length he began to want his necessary things Firste he began to kill his shéepe after his gotes last of all his Oxen to kéepe life and soule togither bicause he was nighe pyned with hunger The Dogs séeing that determined to saue their lyues by running away for they supposed in that he spared not his oxē whiche for husbandry he occupied that he would serue them with the like sause Mor. Take héede in what house thou serue for hyre some maisters are moste vncurteous whiche in their rage care not what mischief or displeasure they doo to their seruaunts 280 Of the Lampurne and the Crocodile THe Lampurne on a tyme finding the broude of a Crocodile killed them all departed When the Crocodile returned found hir yong ones dead she was out of measure sory and desired by all meanes possible to reuenge their death wherevpon she went armed to deuoure the Lampurn but on a tyme shée found a cruell serpent and venomous and she supposed it to be the Lampurn whō she assayled saying Ah wretche nowe canst thou not escape thou hast without cause slayn my sonnes therfore now I wil dispatch thée the snake aunswered take héede of me for I am no Lāpurne but a venomous Viper Ah quod the Crocodile thou canst not deceyue mée for thou art no Snake but a Lampurn and altogither like to one and therefore I will kill thée but as she went to slaye him the serpent prepared him selfe byt hir and also poysoned hir Mor. No man ought to fight with him whom he knoweth not 281 Of a Lyon and a Mouse IT happened that a Lyon wearied with running and heate of the weather layde him downe to rest in the shadowe vnder the gréene trées who being sodenly waked with a flocke of Mise that ran ouer his backe caught one amongst the rest Thys poore prisoner besoughte him earnestly to set hym at libertie saying that he was altogither vnworthy to stirre him to anger The Lyon considering it wold be no commendation for him to slay so small a beast let him go frée Not long after it chaunced as the Lyon ran through the thick wood he fell into a net well might he roare but escape he coulde not This Mouse hearyng the Lyon so lamentably roaryng streighte way knewe his voyce and crepte in at the holes of the earth and diligently sought for the knots of the snare which hauing foūd he gnew in pieces by whiche meanes the Lyon escaped out of the net Mor. Mighty men must vse mercy for Fortune changing as the wynde euen the stoutest
I am slow and toothlesse I am put back but if thou were a good master for my good déeds that I haue done thou wouldest cherishe me in my age Mor. A good turn once past is soone forgotten if it be to come it is not much regarded if there bée any profit presently it is well remembred 325 Of a Man which plucked vp a Hedge A Certeine man rayled ageinst a hedge wherewith his vyne was enclosed bycause it was barren which he cut vp cast away as a thing vnprofitable Then the Vyne lying opē made common both for men cattaile was wasted by euery body The Lord of the Vine seing this blamed hym selfe of follie seyng so foolishly he had remoued the hedge y t preserued his grapes Mor. They whiche preserue thinges though they séeme ydle do no lesse than they whiche haue gathered them togyther with their trauaile 326 Of the Asse and the Lyon THe Cock sometyme fed with an Asse to whō as the Lion was cōming y e Cocke crowed out aloude and the Lion straightway fled for men saye he is afeard at the crowyng of a Cocke The Asse supposing that he ranne away bicause of hym went streyght after the Lyon whome when hée had so farre pursued that they were without the hearing of the Cocks crowing the Lion returned and deuoured him who as he was dying cryed out Ah wretche and madde body that I am for I am borne of none that were warriors and wherefore haue I rushed into the hoste Mr. Many men assaile their enimies which vpon set purpose do humble them selues by the whyche meanes they are slayne 327 Of Cocks AS two Cocks fought together for the Hens the one put the other to flyghte which hid him selfe in a darke corner But the cōqueror flew vp to an high wall wher he stoode and crowed aloude forth with an Egle flewe at hym and caught hym since which time he that hid himself did treade the Hens without feare Mor. God withstandeth the proude but on y t lowly he poureth his goodnesse 328 Of the Horse and the Asse SOmetyme a Horsse decked wyth fayre trappers and a sadle greatly neyghing ran thorough a hygh way whose running an Asse laden by chaunce dyd let he all raging and chewyng his bit for anger sayd Ah lither lurdeyn why withstandest thou the Horse Giue place or I will tread thée downe the Asse durste not once bray but quietly auoyded It happened as the Horse ran his race his hoofe brake who then being paste running or making any shewe was spoyled of his ornamentes and after solde to a Tanner The Asse séeing him coming with a Tanner sayde vnto him What good sir how hapneth this kynde of wéede where is thy gilt saddle thy studded trappers and glittering brydle Thus it is fit my friende to happen to euery one that is proude Mor. Many men in their prosperity are so puft vp with pride that they clean forget them selues and al modestie but for their presumption they soone suffer aduersitie 329 Of a Crane A Crane séeing an Egle flying vp as high as the sunne and to behold it perfectly he sayd to himself I am as faire and great as the Egle I will therefore flie vp to the Sun and looke vppon it as stedfastly as the Egle and after I shal be estéemed as highly as she but as he mounted vp toward the starres his strengthe was gone thorough wearinesse neyther could he flie vp to the Sun yet such was his pride that he would not come downe but began to mount vpward still But being thus combred that be neither coulde stay himselfe neither flie to the sunne he fell downe Mor. Who so clymbeth higher than he should falleth lower than he would 330 Of Iupiter and the Rauen. ON a tyme Iupiter myndyng too create a king of the foules appoynted a day of assemblie to the ende that hée whiche was comliest shold be appoynted king The Rauen hearing therof and knowing his owne deformitie gathered together diuers feathers and decked himself that he was goodlyest of all When the day appoynted was come the foules assembled together then Iupiter would haue made the Rauen king bycause of his gaynesse whereat the other disdayning plucked euery one his feathers from him whereof he being spoiled was a Rauen as before time Mor. He that hangeth on another mans sléeue if he chaunce to fall from him all the world shall know what he is 331 Of a Flea and a Lyon THe Flea came to the Lyon and sayde Neyther feare I thée neither arte thou stronger than I but I pray thée what is thy strength thou scratchest with thy nayles and with thy téethe thou bytest so doeth a woman fyghting wyth hir husband but in strength I farre excéede thée and if thou wilt let vs go fight The Trumpet being blowen the Flea stucke faste aboute his nosethrills byting but the Lyon with hys owne nayles tore him selfe til he was chafed The Flea hauing ouercome the Lion sounded the Trumpet and reioyced but as he flew away he was entangled in a Copweb and being redy to be deuoured he lamented that hée stroue with the greatest beasts now to bée kild by a vile Spyder Mor. This fable is ageinst those which vanquishe greate men and are vanquished by meane persons 332 Of the Pecock and the Chough WHen the birds woulde make them a king y e Pecock prayd them to choose him for his beautie when they so mynded the Chough began to say if in thy raigne y e Egle pursue vs how wilt thou help vs Mor. Princes must be chosen not onely for their beautie but also for their strength and wisedome 333 Of a Man and a Dog A Certein man had prepared a supper to whiche hée badde certein of his friends whose Dog likewise desired another Dog saying Friend come and suppe with mée Which Dog being come in at the doores séeing such great chéere toward reioyced greatly and sayd to him self Oh what ioye hath hapned mée of late for I shall fill my belly so full that I shall not be hungry to morrow and as he wagged his tayle for ioye bicause he trusted in hys friende the Cooke seing him thus do caught him by the legs and cast him out of the window whē the Dog was fallen he rose vp quickly and ran howling away As he went a dog met him and asked him what good chéere he had to supper the dogge aunswered I was so out of measure dronk that I knew not the way whereout I came Mor. We must not trust to those which promise vs a good turne of an other mans gifte 333 Of a Heardman AS a Heardman kept a Heard of Buls he lost a Calf whom in euery desert he sought a long tyme but when he could not finde him he prayed to Iupiter promising if he would shewe hym the Théefe whiche stole his Calfe to offer a Gote in sacrifice to him It hapned as he walked in a