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
a churle and forgetfull of all his benefites that he would run away from him which loued him so and fed him whome he neuer bound nor bet Ah sir sayd the dog that your seruant doth at your commaundement I count it done by you Mor. Those are euill doers whiche are causers of euill 52 Of the Turtle A Certen Turtle being a widowe lyued in great heauinesse for the death of hir mate but she remayned chast whō other birds pitying desired hir to abyde with them where vnto at length she consented They made hir the beste chéere they could but she séeing their abhomination and whoordom forsooke them and led the rest of hir lyfe in chast widowhed Mor. Who protesteth chastitie must set his mynde on no worldly affaires 53 Of a scolding Woman A Certein man had a scold to his wife whiche alwayes brauled with him what soeuer he did whiche the more hée bet hir the more fierce shée was When he saw that stripes would not preuayle he attempted an other way for as often as shée chid he played on a payre of Bagpypes wherof he had no skill When hée had so done she was more fierce but at lengthe he continuing his playing shée daunced for anger in the end she stroke the Bagpype out of his hād But he tooke it agayne and played wherwith shée being chafed ran oute of the doores saying that shée woulde not endure his wickednesse and dronkennesse The next day she began hir scolding afreshe but hir husband played as he was wont Then the womā declared that she was ouercome and left of hir cursing promising hir hushand to become most gentle vnto him so that he woulde lay away his Bagpype Mor. Malaperte women by dyuers wayes must be charmed 54 Of two Haukes and a Quayle TWoo haukes being confederate togither cōdescēded to deuide their praie equally When they hunted on a tyme they caught a Quayle from hir nest too whom they sayd Choose whether we shal eat thée alone or else bring vs to thy nest that wée may eate thy yong ones wyth thée The Quayle aunswered I am in trouble on euery side and what I shall doo I can not tell it is better to fall into theyr handes alone than to dye with my yong ones but before they killed hir she sayd Better it is to suffer a little harme than a woorse Mor. Of two euills the least is to chosen 55 Of the Wolfe and the Crane THe Wolfe sometyme hadde killed a sheepe which as hée gréedely deuoured by chaūce the bones stuck fast in his throate hée trauayled far and néere séeking for help but founde none for all mē iudged hym well serued for his greedynesse At length by fayre flattring words and greater promyses hée allured the Crane too thrust his long neck intoo his throate and to plucke out the bone that stucke fast When the Crane had so done he required a rewarde But the Wolfe laughed him to scorn saying Be packing thou patch canst thou not be cōtent with thy lyfe thou arte bounde to thanke mee therfore for had I list I might haue bitten off thy necke Mor. All is lost that is put in a riuen dishe 56 Of the Fisher and the litle fishe A Fisher cast his hookes into the water bayted wyth fleshe wherewith he caught a litle fish the prisoner besoughte him to release him now being so little and too lette hym growe bygger that héereafter hée might haue the more commoditie of him Nay sayde the Fisher I will not bye the pigge in the poke for I vse too take what presently I can get Mor. Leaue not the bird in the hand for that in the bushe 58 Of a Foxe that woulde kill a Henne sittyng THe For being entred a countreymās house found a Henne sitting on Egs in the nest whiche besought him saying I pray thée kill me not now being leane tary a while till my chickens be hatched which thou mayst eat without any tooth-ake being yong Ah quod he I were not woorthy too be called a For if now being hungry I would forsake my praie that is redy vpon hope of chickens which are not yet oute of the shell I haue strong téeth which are able to grynd the hardest fleshe that is And when he had so sayd he deuoured the Henne Mor. He is not wise which vpon vncertayn hope of greater things wyll let go that which he hath presently 58 Of the Frogs and their King THe Frogs being frée besought Iupiter too giue them a kyng hée laughed at theyr foolish petition neuerthelesse they continued theyr instante sute so long that at the length they forced hym therevnto He cast them down a beame which with the fall thereof made a great noyse in the water The Frogs being afrayde hild their peace and did homage to their king and approched by litle and litle nerer vntoo him At length they boldly hopped vp and downe on him and thus their foolish kyng became a laughing stock vnto them Then called they on Iupiter ageyne desiring of him a valiant king-He sent them the Storke who walked lyke a stoute champion through the Marshes killing and deuouring as many Froggs as he met At euen when the Stork was gone too rest they came foorth of their holes hoarsly crying but to a deade man for Iupiter his wil was seing they were not content with a mercifull kyng that they should be oppressed with a tyrant Mor. The like hapneth too the common people which hauing a merciful and gentle Prince iudge hym a dastard and slouthful and pray that they may haue a stoute prince Ageyne hauing a valiant Prince they dispraise his crueltie praysing the others clemency Eyther it is that wée are not cōtented with things present or that is true seldome commeth the better 59 Of the Colyer and the Fuller A Colyer sometime desired a Fuller to dwell with hym in house togyther Nay sayd the Fuller this neyther pleaseth me nor yet is for my profite For I feare greately least that whiche I make cleane thou shouldest raye as blacke as a coale Mor. Wée are héereby warned too kéepe company with those that be of a perfect honest lyfe and to shunne the felowship of leude men as a noysome plague 60 Of a Shepherd which kept a Wolf amongest his Dogges A Shepherd finding a Wolues whelp brought him home and kept him among his doggs that were a sauegarde for the shepe which being well growne began to kil shéepe and to teach the dogs to eate with him whiche thing the shepherd marking killed the Wolf but yet he could not make the dogs leaue killing of shéepe Then sayd the shepherd worthily am I thus serued bycause I put a Wolfe amongst the Dogs whiche hath taught them too kill sheepe Mor. The fellowship of euill men corrupteth good manners 61 Of the Rauen and Wolues A Rauen sometyme folowed Wolues ouer manye high hills wherfore hée required to be part taker of theyr praie bycause he
whereof they perceyued to bée that the Belly hauing receyued y e meate did equally parte it to euery member whervpon they became friends agayne Mor. Great things by discorde decaye but small things by concorde are of force 123 Of the Frog and the Crab. A Frogge séeing a Crab swimming by the water side sayd What is he so ylfauoured and foule that dare trouble my water séeing I am mightie and strong I will put him to flight When he had so sayd he lept vpon the Crab saying why wast not thou ashamed O wretch to enter into my resting place Didst not thou blush being so foule and so black to defile the cleare water The Crab as his maner is began to go backe and sayde I pray thée sister say not so for I would be at one with thée therfore come not thus vpon mée The Frog séeing him go back supposed that he did it for feare of him whereby he waxed more fierse against him saying Drawe not back thou filth for thou maist not escape this day will I giue thy flesh to the fish and incontinent he skipped vpō him to kill him The Crab séeing the present daunger turned about and with his clawes byt the Frog tore him in pieces Mor. Euery man as much as in him lieth let him studie to auoyde warre and discord 124 Of a Leopard and an Vnicorne fighting with a Dragon THe Leopard sometime fought with y e Dragon against whome bycause he could not preuayle he besought the Vnicorne to ayde him and sayd Thou art a goodly beast expert in fighting valiaūt wherfore I pray thée helpe me The Vnicorne hearing this commendatiō of himself aunswered Thou sayst truthe for I haue skill in fighting and therfore I wil valiauntly defende thée for when y e Dragon shall open his mouthe I will thrust him into the throte with my horne Whē they were both come to the Dragon the Leopard gaue the onset trusting to the strength of the Vnicorne but the Dragō fought with them spit fire at them The Vnicorne séeing him open his mouth ran hastely to thrust him through but he cast his head at one side whereby y e Vnicorne missing him smot his horne fast into the ground and died Mor. Hée that wil fight for another séeketh his owne destruction 125 Of the enuious Dog and the Oxe A Dogge lay sléeping in a racke full of hey thyther came an Oxe to féede The Dog séeing him comming barked for bad him To whom the Oxe sayd the Diuell choke thée with this thy despite which neyther canst eate hey thy self nor yet will suffer me Mor. Many are of that disposition y t they will grudge others that whiche they for lacke of wit can not attayne vnto 126 Of a yong Man A Certen yong Man espied an old man going crooked like a bent bow whom he asked if he would sell a bowe Haste thou quod hée any néede to loose thy money If thou liue til my age nature shal giue thée a bowe without money Mor. The faultes of age are not to be laughed at bicause no man if he liue can escape it 127 Of a Countryman and Peares A Certein gluttonous man tooke hys iourney to go to a Wedding wherevnto he was biddē By the way he found an heape of peares but none of them he touched albeit he was excéeding hungry which in cōtempt he made water on for he thought scorne of such meate going to so good cheare But as he passed on his way he came to a streame lately risen with rayne whiche without daunger of his life he could not passe ouer therefore he returned home againe and by the way he was so hungry bicause of his lōg fasting that if he had not eatē the peares that he pissed on séeing there was nothing else he had famished Mor. Despise nothing for what is so vile or base that will not at one time or another serue for some purpose 128 Of a man that refused Clysters A Certen rich German fell sick to whō came many Phisitians to cure him for to hony come flies by heapes amōgst whome one helde opinion that he must take a Clyster if he woulde récouer hys health The pacient hearing this bicause hée had neuer taken any such medicine was wood angrie and commaunded all y e Phisitians to be put out of doores saying that they were mad whiche would minister to his tayle when his head aked Mor. All holsome things seeme tedious to them which neuer assayed thē 129 Of a Deceyuer A Certein poore man being sick vowed to the Gods if he might recouer hys health an hundred Oxen in sacrifice the Gods bicause they would trie him made him whole When he was well bicause he had no Oxen he made an hundred Oxē of paste which on the Altar he sacrifised The Gods meaning to punish him therfore appeared to him in a dreame sayd Go to the sea shore in such a place there thou shalt find an hūdred talents of gold This fellow when he awaked reioysing greatly went to the place y t was shewed him and sought for it where he was takē by Pirates whome he prayed for his liberty promising thē a M. talents of gold but to him they gaue no credit but caried him away and solde him for a M. Grotes Mor. God hateth dissemblers lyers 130 Of a Cat and Mise A Cat hearing that there were many Mise in a certein house came thither of which those that she caught she deuoured The Mise séeing them selues dayly diminished agréed togither to come down no more least they should al be destroied for if the Cat come not hither sayd they we shall be safe The Cat perceyuing the Mise descended not thought by deceyt to take them and climbed vp on a beame wheron she hanged hir self fayning to be dead whom one of the Mise as he looked downward espied and sayd to him verily my friende though I knewe thou were dead yet would I not come downe Mor. A wise man once deceyued through the falshood of a wicked man will neuer after credite hys dissimulation 131 Of the Wolf and the Sheepe A Wolfe being bitten by Dogs and euill entreated laye prostrate along he lacking meate espied a shéep whome he desired to bring him some of the running water to drink saying If thou wilt giue me drink I will prouide meate my self she aunswered if I giue thée drink thou wilt eate mée Mor. This Fable is against an euil body whiche by dissimulation lyeth in wayte 132 Of the sicke Asse THe report was that the Asse lay sick nigh at the point of death there came both the Wolues and Dogges to visite him and demaunded of his Sonne howe his Father dyd he aunswered looking through the chinkes of the doore better than ye would Mor. This Fable speaketh of them that fayne to take heauily the death of other where as they wishe them dead long before 133 Of a Foxe A Foxe came into
payne 250 Of a Husbandman and a Poet. A Certen Husbandman came to a Poet whose groundes he tilled whome bycause he found alone sitting amongst his books asked him by what meanes he could liue so solitarie Mary quod he I was not alone afore thou camest here Mor. Learned men which dayly are in company of such as they are be neuer alone but when they are amongest the vnlearned 251 Of a Rich man vnlearned and a Poore man learned A Certein man being rich but vnlerned mocked a learned mā which was poore bicause that he hymself with his owne trauaile hadde gathered muche goodes but he which was so learned was in great penurie No maruaile quod hée bycause thou haste studied to gather Riches but I haue endeuored to get lerning which doth farre excell riches Hereupon there fel a contention betwéene the riche man and the learned whither lerning or riches were more excellent which coulde not be ended seyng both had many fauorers but the rich man had most At length by this meanes it was knowne that learning excelled riches thorough ciuile discord being bothe compelled to liue in banishment when they could cary nothing a waye with them of their substance they went away into an other citie where the learned man was hyred to teach for a great stipende and had in honour and estimation but he which was rich through pouertie being fayne to beg his bread from doore to doore confessed that in his opinion he had erred Mor. The gifts of Fortune bycause they passe too and fro are farre subiect to the gifts of the mynde whiche are proper and euerlasting 252 Of a Parat A Parat dwelling in a kings court was asked of other birds why shée was so highly estemed Who aunswered bycause I haue learned to speake as a man Mor. Wée must learne good and liberall sciences if we wil be had in honour and estimation 253 Of the Pike and the Tenche AS a certein Fisher angled he so bayted his hooks that the Fishes could not perceiue them whiche the Pyke the Tenche séeing were very desyrous of it but the Pyke being subtil sayd to the Tench This This Bayte séemeth to be good and delicate yet I think it is layd to deceyue fishes withall therfore let vs forsake it least we perishe through the lustes of gluttonie In fayth quod the Tenche it were a folly to leaue so good a morsel for feare of nothing I will first trie it and make mery with it and looke thou what will hap As he swallowed the Bayte he felt the deceyte of the hooke and wold fayne haue retired but the Fisher first plucked him vp then the Pyke swam away and sayd Lette vs learne by our fellowes mischance least we perishe Mor. Happy is hée whom other mens harmes do make to beware 254 Of a Mermayd and a Lechour A Certen shamelesse and lecherous person sayling on y e sea espied a most beautifull Mermayde after whome he lusted so much that he prouoked hir to lecherie but she did sing much swéeter and prepared hir selfe to beguyle thys Marchaunt saying as I perceyue thou louest mée but if thou wilt haue thy pleasure of me come into the water and it shall be at thy commaundement This fellow was so enflamed w t lust that he cleane forgot his owne estate and therefore skipped into the Sea to hir She séeing that left him in great daunger and swam away Mor. This Fable willeth vncleane men to beware that they likewise perish not through the beautie of a womā 255 Of a Ielous man A Certeyn Ielous man maried a Wife whom he knew vnhonest wherevpon he deliuered hir to a trusty friend of his to keepe promising him a great reward if he kept hir so safely that by no meanes the bonde of wedlocke were broken When he had tried hir a fewe dayes and perceyued that she might hardly be kept safe bycause through hir subtiltie he was night ouercome went to hir husbande and told him that he would not take so great charge vpon him séeing that Argus himselfe with an hūdred eyes were not able to kéepe hir by cōstraint he sayd moreouer if he might be put to choyse he had rather by the space of one whole yeare dayly carry into the fieldes a sackefull of fleas and turne them all to grasse and bring them home agayne at euening thā one day too haue the charge of a leude woman Mor. No kéeper be he neuer so diligent can kéepe safely a wanton mynion 256 Of a Liberall man A Frank and Liberall man toward all mē trauailing far fel amōgst théeues who standing about him and ready to slay him one of them cried out kill not this man which hath much holpen me for somtime he did not only receiue me gētly into his house but also norished me being sick and caused a phisitian too looke vnto me with which woords his felowes relenting suffted him to depart vnhurt Mor. As far as we may we shoulde do good to all men 257 Of a Couetous man A Very harde head bought a riche farme and plentifull whiche was set withal kinde of Trées that bare fruite which yelded to the former lord greate abundance of frute although it were vnfensed and common for all trauailers the new lord supposing that if it were dressed better and looked too it would beare fruite more aboundantly tooke great paynes about it and inclosed it with thicke hedges and walles appointed kéepers to watch it but it being so diligently tended yelded litle encrease Then God being asked wherof this came aunswered thus Thou art the cause of so great euill bicause thou kéepest on euery side the fields fenced with hedges strong walles sometime I gaue great encrease bicause many required much but now séeing it serueth thee alone why doest thou aske so much Mor. God gyueth plenty to a liberall man bycause he might supplie the necessitie of many 258 Of the Dog and the Lyon A Dog by chaunce met with a Lyon to whom he sayd meryly what wandrest thou O miser through woods and deserts nighe pined for hunger Marke how fatte and trim I am I neuer take payns for it but get it ydelly Truthe it is sayd y e Lyō that thou farest well yet thou O foole art in bondage serue thou which canst serue for I am frée and will not serue Mor. In euery thing liberty farre excelleth 259 Of the Lynnet and the Boy A Bey asked a Linnet in whome he had a singular delight and had fedde hym fat with good meate why he would not returne into the cage whence he went out Bycause quod hee I might féede at my owne pleasure not at thine Mor. Libertie is to be prefered aboue all dainties 260 Of a Foxe and a Crocodile THe Foxe and the Crocodile dyd stryue about their Nobilitie The Crocodile layd for him selfe many proud things concerning the worthinesse of his auncesters that they had prices in games Whereat the Foxe laughed saying
groue of Okes he found that his calf was deuoured by the Lion whereat trembling for feare he cast vp his handes to heauen and sayd God lupiter I promised to giue thée a kid if I found y e Théefe now if I escape his hands I wil vndertake to giue thée a Bul. Mor. This Fable is against vnluckie men that lacking ought praye to finde it whiche hauing founde they séeke to auoyde 334 Of the Lyon and the Foxe WHat time the Lion fell sick al beasts came to visite him only the Fox stacked his comming to whome the Lion sent his Ambassadours to summon him to appere before him bicause his only presence would much delight the king besides that suspicion of daunger there is none firste bicause the Lion is his chiefest friend therfore desireth greatly to speake with him againe he lay sore sick so as if he ment to hurte him he hadde no force thereto The Fox wrote again wishing recouerie of his health for which he woulde praye vnto the Gods but in no wise he would come to sée him for he was afrayde of the foote steps whiche all looked toward his Denne but none backward by which it was euidēt y e many beasts came in but none returned The aunswer of the crafty Fox vnto the Lion sent Which in his Den lay very sick to shew is my intent Bycause the tract of many beasts I finde to enter there But none of them returns agayne which giues me cause of feare Mor. Take héed how thou trustest promises whiche except thou doo thou shalt oft be beguyled for of words déedes a man may first coniecture after iudge 335 Of a man created Cardinall A Certein merry conceyted fellowe hearing his friend to be created Cardinal came to gréete him for his promotion he lofty swelling with pride coūterfayting that he knewe not his olde friende asked who he was the other being ready in his merry aunswer sayde I pitie thée and others that come to suche promotion for as soone as ye haue got suche honours ye léese so your sight feeling and other senses that ye cleane forget your old friendes Mor. Some being promoted to dignitie despise their old acquaintaunce 336 Of the Foxe and the Gote THe Foxe and the Gote beyng bothe thirsty descended into a Well to drink after they hadde bothe dronk their fill the Gote looked round about to get out to whō the Foxe sayd Be of good chere for I haue found a shift to help vs both out for if thou wilt stand vpright leane on thy forféete and pitch thy hornes fast to the Wall that I may climbe vp on thy backe when I haue got foorth I will also drawe thee foorth The Gote with all his harte followed his aduise When the Fox therby had skipped out of the well he lested about the brinks thereof reioysing much for whiche he blamed the Fox that hée broken promis with him Nay quod the Foxe if thou hadst as much witte as thou hast haires in thy beard thou wouldest not haue gone downe into the Well before thou haddest well pondered how to come out Mor. Wise men will firste for sée the ende of a thing and after enterprise it 337 Of Field Mise A Flocke of Fielde Mise appointed to gnawe downe an oke full of mast that they might haue their meate the redier so as they neede not so oft runne vp and down for it Then one wiser than the rest forbad thē saying If we destroye our nourisher who shall giue foode to vs and our seede in time to come Mor. A wyse man ought not onely to beholde things present but also things to come 338 Of a Flea AS a Flea was byting a mā he was taken who asked what he was seeing he fed of him aunswered he was of that kind of beastes which as nature ordeyned liued by that meanes praying him not to kill him bycause he could not do muche harme whereat the man laughed saying I will therfore the sooner kil thée bicause it is not lawfull to hurt any eyther muche or litle Mor. We must not fauour the wicked whither their trespas be small or great 339 Of the Sheepe and the Shepherd A Shéepe sometime rayled on the Shepherd bicause he could not be cōtēt with the milke that she gaue him for his foode his sōnes but he did fliece him of his wooll The shepherd offēded with this talke lead hir Lambe to the slaughter What quod the shéepe canst thou doo me any worse villanie Yea quod the sheperd that I can for I may slaye thée and cast thee out to be torne in pieces by Wolues Dogs then the sheepe durst not mutter being afrayd of some further inconuenience Mor. We ought not to be angry with God if he suffer our goods and our children to be taken frō vs séeing he is able more gréeuously to punishe bothe the quicke and the dead 340 Of Frogs TWo Frogs fed in the marishes it hapned that Sommer that the water dried vp wherevpon they forsoke it and sought another at length they found a déepe well which when they hadde seene the one sayd to the other Lette vs goe downe into this Well Nay soft quod his fellowe howe shall we get vp again if the water be dried vp here Mor. We ought to enterprise nothing vnaduisedly 341 Of a Fisher A Certein Fisher being but a noouice in that arte tooke his pypes and his nets and went to the Sea and standing on a rocke played first with his pype supposing that by his swéete melodie the fishes would daunce but when he had long tryed y t way and could not prosper he layde downe his pype and tooke vp his net which he cast into the Sea wherin he drewe many fishes When he had emptied his nette and sawe them skipping he sayd Oh wicked Creatures when I piped ye would not daunce now that I haue left off ye begin to skip Mor. This fable is against those which do any thing without aduisement and out of tyme. 342 Of the Ape and the Foxe IN the assemblie of brute beastes the Ape daunced for which he was created King The Foxe enuying him brought him to a place where he had espied fleshe in a snare to whom he shewed that he hadde founde a treasure which he coulde not haue bycause by the lawe it is the kings right willing him to take it bycause he was king The Ape went rashly in and forthwith was caught in the snare Then he accused the Foxe of treason toward his person Why quod the Foxe shalt thou be King ouer beastes which art so mad Mor. Hée which goeth rashly to worke falleth hastely into misfortune 343 Of a Doue A Doue being very thirsty espied in a certeine place a pot of water painted which he supposing to be verely flew with great force and vnawares dashed against the table wherewith she brake hir wings fell to the grounde and was caught vp by one