Robert Henryson's The morall fabillis of Esope the Phrygian

The taill of the wolf, that gat the nekhering, throw the wrinkis of the foxe, that begylit the cadgear

Qwhylum thair wynnit in ane wildernes, Line 1944 As myne authour expreslie can declair Line 1945 Ane reuand volff, that leuit vpon purches, Line 1946 On bestiall, and maid him weill to fair. Line 1947 Wes nane sa big about him he wald spair, Line 1948 And he war hungrie, outher for fauour, or feid, Line 1949 Bot in his breith he weryit thame to deid. Line 1950

Swa happinnit him in waithing as he went, Line 1951 To meit ane foxe in middis off the way. Line 1952 He him foirsaw, and fenzeit to be schent, Line 1953 And with ane bek, he bad the volff gude day, Line 1954 Welcum to me quod he thow russell gray. Line 1955 Syne loutit doun, and tuke him be the hand. Line 1956 Ryse vp lowrence, i leif the for to stand. Line 1957

Quhair hes thow bene this sesoun fra my sicht? Line 1958 Thow sall beir office, and my stewart be. Line 1959 For thow can knap doun caponis on the nicht, Line 1960 And lourand law thow can gar hennis de. Line 1961 Schir said the foxe that ganis not for me. Line 1962 And i am rad, gif thay me se on far, Line 1963 That at my figure, beist and bird will skar. Line 1964

Na quod the volff thow can in couert creip Line 1965 Vpon thy wame, and hint thame be the heid. Line 1966 And mak ane suddand schow vpon ane scheip, Line 1967 Syne with thy wappinnis wirrie him to deid. Line 1968 Schir said the foxe ze knaw my roib is reid. Line 1969 And thairfoir thair will na beist abyde me, Line 1970 Thocht i wald be sa fals as for to hyde me. Line 1971

Zis quod the volff throw buskis and throw brais Line 1972 Law can thow lour, to come to thy intent. Line 1973 Schir said the foxe ze wait weill how it gais, Line 1974 Ane lang space fra thame thay will feill my sent. Line 1975 Than will thay schaip, suppois thay suld be schent. Line 1976 And i am schamefull for to cum behind thame, Line 1977 In to the feild thocht i suld sleipand find thame. Line 1978

Na quod the volff thow can cum on the wind, Line 1979 For euerie wrink forsuith thow hes ane wyle. Line 1980 Schir said the foxe that beist ze mycht call blind Line 1981 That micht not eschaip than fra me ane myle. Line 1982 How micht i ane off thame that wyis begyle? Line 1983 My tippit twa eiris, and my twa gray ene, Line 1984 Garris me be kend, quhair i wes neuer sene. Line 1985

Than said the volff lowrence, i heir the le, Line 1986 And castys for perrellis thy ginnes to defend. Line 1987 Bot all thy sonzeis sall not auaill the, Line 1988 About the busk with wayis thocht thow wend. Line 1989 Falset will failze ay at the latter end: Line 1990 To bow at bidding, and byde not quhill thow brest, Line 1991 Thairfoir i giff the counsall for the best. Line 1992

Schir said the foxe it is lentring ze se, Line 1993 I can nocht fische, for weiting off my feit, Line 1994 To tak ane banestikill, thocht we baith suld de. Line 1995 I haue nane vther craft to win my meit. Line 1996 Bot wer it pasche, that men suld pultrie eit Line 1997 As kiddis, lambis, or caponis in to ply. Line 1998 To beir zour office than wald i not set by. Line 1999

Than said the volff in wraith wenis thou with wylis, Line 2000 And with thy mony mowis me to mat. Line 2001 It is ane auld dog, doutles that thow begylis: Line 2002 Thow wenis to drau the stra befoir the cat. Line 2003 Schir said the foxe god wait, i mene not that, Line 2004 For and i did, it wer weill worth that ze, Line 2005 In ane rude raip had tyit me till ane tre. Line 2006

Bot nou i se, he is ane fule perfay, Line 2007 That with his maister fallis in ressoning. Line 2008 I did bot till assay quhat ze wald say, Line 2009 God wait my mynd wes on ane vther thing. Line 2010 I sall fulfill in all thing zour bidding, Line 2011 Quhat euer ze charge on nichtis or on dayis. Line 2012 Weill quod the volff i heir weill quhat thou sayis. Line 2013

Bot zit i will, thow mak to me ane aith, Line 2014 For to be leill attour all leuand leid. Line 2015 Schir said the foxe that ane word maks me wraith Line 2016 For nou i se, ze haue me at ane dreid. Line 2017 Zit sall i sweir, suppois it be nocht neid. Line 2018 Be iuppiter, and on pane off my heid, Line 2019 I sall be treu to zou, quhill i be deid. Line 2020

With that ane cadgear, with capill, and with creillis Line 2021 Come carpand furth: than lawrence culd him spy? Line 2022 The foxe the flewer off the fresche hering feillis, Line 2023 And to the volff he roundis priuely. Line 2024 Schir, zone ar hering the cadgear caryis by. Line 2025 Thairfoir i reid, that we se for sum wayis, Line 2026 To get sum fische aganis thir fasting dayis. Line 2027

Sen i am stewart, i wald we had sum stuff, Line 2028 And ze ar siluer seik, i wait richt weill. Line 2029 Thocht we wald thig, zone verray churlische chuff, Line 2030 He will not giff vs ane hering off his creill, Line 2031 Befoir zone churle on kneis thocht we wald kneill. Line 2032 Bot zit i trou alsone that ze sall se, Line 2033 Giff i can craft, to bleir zone carlis ee. Line 2034

Schir, ane thing is, and we get off zone pelff Line 2035 Ze man tak trauell, and mak vs sum supple. Line 2036 For he that will not laubour, and help him selff, Line 2037 In to thir dayis he is not worth ane fle. Line 2038 I think to work als besie as ane be. Line 2039 And ze sall follou ane lytill efterwart, Line 2040 And gadder hering, for that sall be zour part. Line 2041

With that he kest ane cumpas far about, Line 2042 And straucht him doun in middis off the way, Line 2043 As he wer deid, he fenzeit him but dout. Line 2044 And than vpon lenth vnliklie lay, Line 2045 The quhyte he turnit vp, off his ene tuay. Line 2046 His toung out hang ane handbreid off his heid. Line 2047 And still he lay, als straucht as he wer deid. Line 2048

The cadgear fand the foxe, and he wes fane, Line 2049 And till him self, thus softlie can he say. Line 2050 At the nixt bait in faith ze sall be flane, Line 2051 And off zour skyn i sall mak mittenis tway. Line 2052 He lap full lichtlie about him quhair he lay, Line 2053 And all the trace he trippit on his tais, Line 2054 As he had hard ane pyper play he gais. Line 2055

Heir lyis the deuyll quod he deid in ane dyke. Line 2056 Sic ane selcouth sau i not this seuin zeir. Line 2057 I trou ze haue bene tussillit with sum tyke, Line 2058 That garris zou ly sa still withoutin steir. Line 2059 Schir foxe, in faith ze ar deir welcum heir. Line 2060 It is sum wyfis malisone, i trow, Line 2061 For pultrie pyking that lychtit hes on zow. Line 2062

Thair sall na pedder, for purs, nor zit for glufis, Line 2063 Nor zit for poyntis pyke zour pellet fra me. Line 2064 I sall off it mak mittenis to my lufis, Line 2065 Till hald my handis hait quhair euer i be. Line 2066 Till flanderis sall it neuer saill the se. Line 2067 With that in hy, he hint him be the heillis, Line 2068 And with ane swak he swang him on the creillis. Line 2069

Syne be the heid the hors in hy hes hint. Line 2070 The fraudfull foxe thairto gude tent hes tane. Line 2071 And with his teith the stoppell or he stint, Line 2072 Pullit out, and syne the hering ane, and ane, Line 2073 Out off the creillis he swakkit doun gude wane. Line 2074 The volff wes war, and gadderit spedilie. Line 2075 The cadgear sang, huntis vp, vp vpon hie. Line 2076

Zit at ane burne the cadgear lukit about. Line 2077 With that the foxe lap quyte the creillis fray. Line 2078 The cadgear wald haue raucht the foxe ane rout. Line 2079 Bot all for nocht, he wan his hoill that day. Line 2080 Than with ane schout, thus can the cadgear say. Line 2081 Abyde and thou ane nekhering sall haif, Line 2082 Is worth my capill, creillis, and all the laif. Line 2083

Now quod the foxe i schreu me, and we meit. Line 2084 I hard quhat thou hecht to do with my skyn. Line 2085 Thy handis sall neuer in thay mittinnis tak heit, Line 2086 And thou wer hangit carll, and all thy kyn. Line 2087 Do furth thy mercat, at me thou sall nocht wyn, Line 2088 And sell thy hering thou hes thair, till hie price Line 2089 Ellis thow sall wyn nocht on thy merchandice. Line 2090

The cadgear trimmillit for teyne quhair that he stude. Line 2091 It is weill worthie quod he i want zone tyke, Line 2092 That had nocht in my hand sa mekill gude, Line 2093 As staff, or sting, zone truker for to stryke. Line 2094 With that lychtlie he lap out ouer ane dyke. Line 2095 And snakkit doun ane staff, for he wes tene. Line 2096 That heuie wes, and off the holyne grene. Line 2097

With that the foxe vnto the volff could wend. Line 2098 And fand him be the hering, quhair he lyis. Line 2099 Schir said he than maid i not fair defend. Line 2100 Ane wicht man wantit neuer, and he wer wyis. Line 2101 Ane hardie hart is hard for to suppryis. Line 2102 Than said the volff thow art ane berne full bald. Line 2103 And wyse at will, in gude tyme be it tald. Line 2104

Bot quhat wes zone the carll cryit on hie, Line 2105 And schuke his hand, quod he hes thou no feill? Line 2106 Schir said the foxe that i can tell trewlie. Line 2107 He said, the nekhering wes in till the creill. Line 2108 Kennis thou that hering: ze schir, i ken it weill. Line 2109 And at the creill mouth i had it thryis but dout. Line 2110 The wecht off it neir tit my tuskis out. Line 2111

Now suithlie schir, micht we that hering fang, Line 2112 It wald be fische to vs thir fourtie dayis. Line 2113 Than said the volff nou god nor that i hang, Line 2114 Bot to be thair, i wald gif all my clays. Line 2115 To se gif that my wappinnis mycht it rais. Line 2116 Schir said the foxe god wait, i wischit zou oft, Line 2117 Quhen that my pith micht not beir it on loft. Line 2118

It is ane syde off salmond, as it wair, Line 2119 And callour, pypand lyke ane pertrik ee. Line 2120 It is worth all the hering ze haue thair. Line 2121 Ze and we had it swa, is it worth sic thre. Line 2122 Than said the volff quhat counsell geuis thou me? Line 2123 Schir said the foxe wirk efter my deuyis, Line 2124 And ze sall haue it, and tak zou na suppryis. Line 2125

First, ze man cast ane cumpas far about. Line 2126 Syne straucht zou doun in middis off the way. Line 2127 Baith heid, and feit, and taill ze man streik out. Line 2128 Hing furth zour toung, and clois weill zour ene tway. Line 2129 Syne se zour heid on ane hard place ze lay. Line 2130 And dout not for na perrell may appeir, Line 2131 Bot hald zou clois, quhen that the carll cummis neir. Line 2132

And thocht ze se ane staf, haue ze na dout. Line 2133 Bot hald zou wonder still in to that steid. Line 2134 And luke zour ene be clois, as thay wer out. Line 2135 And se that ze schrink nouther fute, nor heid, Line 2136 Than will the cadgear carll trou ze be deid, Line 2137 And in till haist will hint zou be the heillis, Line 2138 As he did me, and swak zou on his creillis. Line 2139

Now quod the volff i sweir the be my thrift, Line 2140 I trou zone cadgear carll dow not me beir. Line 2141 Schir said the foxe on loft he will zou lift, Line 2142 Vpon his creillis and do him lytill deir. Line 2143 Bot ane thing dar i suithlie to zou sweir, Line 2144 Get ze that hering sicker in sum place, Line 2145 Ze sall not fair in fisching mair quhill pasche. Line 2146

I sall say in principio vpon zow, Line 2147 And crose zour corps, from the top, to tay. Line 2148 Wend quhen ze will, i dar be warrand now, Line 2149 That ze sall de na suddand deith this day. Line 2150 With that the volff gird vp sone, and to gay, Line 2151 And caist ane cumpas about the cadgear far, Line 2152 Syne raucht him in the gait, or he come nar. Line 2153

He laid his halfheid sicker, hard, and sad. Line 2154 Syne straucht his four feit fra him, and his heid. Line 2155 And hang his toung furth as the foxe him bad. Line 2156 Als styll he lay, as he wer verray deid. Line 2157 Rakkand na thing off the carlis fauour nor feid. Line 2158 Bot euer vpon the nekhering he thinkis, Line 2159 And quyte forzettis the foxe, and all his wrinkis. Line 2160

With that the cadgear als wraith as ony wind, Line 2161 Come rydand on the laid, for it wes licht. Line 2162 Thinkand ay on the foxe that wes behind, Line 2163 Vpon quhat wyse, reuenge him best he micht. Line 2164 And at the last, of the volff gat ane sicht, Line 2165 Quhair he in lenth lay streikit in the gait. Line 2166 Bot giff he lichtit doun, or nocht, god wait. Line 2167

Softlie he said, i wes begylit anis, Line 2168 Be i begylit twyis, i schrew vs baith. Line 2169 That euill bat it sall licht vpon thy banis, Line 2170 He suld haue had, that hes done me the skaith. Line 2171 On hicht he houit the staf for he wes wraith. Line 2172 And hit him with sic will vpon the heid, Line 2173 Quhill neir he swonit, and swelt in to that steid. Line 2174

Thre battis he bure, or he his feit micht find. Line 2175 Bot zit the volff wes wicht, and wan away. Line 2176 He mycht not se, he wes sa verray blind. Line 2177 Nor wit reddilie quhether it wes nicht or day. Line 2178 The foxe beheld that seruice quhair he lay, Line 2179 And leuch on loft, quhen he the volff sa seis, Line 2180 Baith deif, and dosinnit, fall swonand on his kneis. Line 2181

He that of ressoun can not be content, Line 2182 Bot couetis all, is abill all to tyne. Line 2183 The foxe, quhen that he saw the volff wes schent, Line 2184 Said to him self, thir hering sall be myne. Line 2185 I le, or ellis he wes efterwart fyne, Line 2186 That fand sic wayis his maister for to greif, Line 2187 With all the fische thus lowrence tuke his leif. Line 2188

The volff wes neir weill dungin to the deid, Line 2189 That vneith with his lyfe away he wan. Line 2190 For with the bastoun weill brokin wes his heid. Line 2191 The foxe in to his den sone drew him than, Line 2192 That had betraisit his maister, and the man. Line 2193 The ane, wantit the hering off his creillis. Line 2194 The vtheris blude wes rynnand ouer his heillis. Line 2195

Moralitas

This taill is myngit with moralitie, Line 2196 As i sall schaw sumquhat, or that i ceis. Line 2197 The foxe, vnto the warld may likkinnit be. Line 2198 The reuand wolf, vnto ane man but leis. Line 2199 The cadgear deith, quhome vnder all man preis, Line 2200 That euer tuke lyfe, throw cours of kynd man dee. Line 2201 As man, and beist, and fische in to the see. Line 2202

The warld ze wait, is stewart to the man. Line 2203 Quhilk makis man to haif na mynd of deid. Line 2204 Bot settis for winning all the craftis thay can. Line 2205 The hering, i likkin vnto the gold sa reid, Line 2206 Quhilk gart the wolf, in perrell put his heid. Line 2207 Richt swa the gold garris landis and cieteis, Line 2208 With weir, be waistit daylie as men seis. Line 2209

And as the foxe, with dissimulance and gyle, Line 2210 Gart the wolf wene to haif worschip for euer. Line 2211 Richt swa, this warld with vane glore for ane quhyle, Line 2212 Flatteris with folk, as thay suld failze neuer. Line 2213 Zit suddandlie men seis it oft disseuer Line 2214 With thame, that trowis oft to fill the sek. Line 2215 Deith cummis behind, and nippis thame be the nek, Line 2216

The micht of gold makis mony men sa blind Line 2217 That settis on auarice thair felicitie. Line 2218 That thay forzet the cadgear cummis behind, Line 2219 To stryke thame of, quhat stait sa euer thay be. Line 2220 Quhat is mair dirk, than blind prosperitie? Line 2221 Quhairfoir, i counsell mychtie men to haif mynd, Line 2222 Of the nekhering interpreit in this kynd. Line 2223