Robert Henryson's The morall fabillis of Esope the Phrygian

The taill of the lyoun & the mous

Prologue

In middis of iune, that ioly sweit seasoun, Line 1314 Quhen that fair phebus with his bemis bricht, Line 1315 Had dryit vp the dew fra daill and doun, Line 1316 And all the land maid with his lemis licht. Line 1317 In ane mornyng betuix mid day and nicht, Line 1318 I rais and put all sleuth, and sleip asyde. Line 1319 And to ane wod i went allone but gyde Line 1320

Sweit wes the smell off flouris quhyte and reid. Line 1321 The noyes off birdis richt delitious Line 1322 The bewis braid blomit abone my heid, Line 1323 The ground growand with gresis gratious. Line 1324 Off all plesance, that place wes plenteous, Line 1325 With sweit odouris, and birdis harmony, Line 1326 The morning myld, my mirth wes mair for thy. Line 1327

The rosis reid arrayit rone and ryce, Line 1328 The prymeros, and the purpour viola. Line 1329 To heir it wes ane poynt off paradice, Line 1330 Sic mirth the mauis, and the merle couth ma. Line 1331 The blossummis blythe brak vp on bank and bra, Line 1332 The smell off herbis and the fowlis cry, Line 1333 Contending quha suld haue the victory. Line 1334

Me to conserue than fra the sonis heit, Line 1335 Vnder the schaddow off ane hawthorne grene, Line 1336 I lenit doun amang the flouris sweit, Line 1337 Syne maid a cors and closit baith my ene. Line 1338 On sleip i fell amang thir bewis bene. Line 1339 And in my dreme, me thocht come throw the schaw, Line 1340 The fairest man that euer befoir i saw. Line 1341

His gowne wes off ane claith, als quhyte as milk. Line 1342 His chymmeris wes off chambelate purpour broun. Line 1343 His hude off scarlet, bordowrit weill with silk, Line 1344 On hekillit wyis vntill his girdill doun. Line 1345 His bonat round, and off the auld fassoun. Line 1346 His heid wes quhyte, his ene wes grit and gray, Line 1347 With lokker hair, quhilk ouer his schulderis lay. Line 1348

Ane roll off paper in his hand he bair. Line 1349 Ane swannis pen stikand vnder his eir. Line 1350 Ane inkhorne, with ane prettie gilt pennair, Line 1351 Ane bag off silk, all at his belt he weir Line 1352 Thus wes he gudelie grathit in his geir, Line 1353 Off stature large, and with ane feirfull face. Line 1354 Euin quhair i lay he come ane sturdie pace. Line 1355

And said, god speid my sone: and i wes fane Line 1356 Off that couth word, and off his cumpany. Line 1357 With reuerence i salusit him agane, Line 1358 Welcome father: and he sat doun me by. Line 1359 Displeis zow not my gude maister, thocht i. Line 1360 Demand zour birth, zour facultye, and name, Line 1361 Quhy ze come heir, or quhair ze dwell at hame? Line 1362

My sone said he i am off gentill blude. Line 1363 My natall land is rome withoutin nay. Line 1364 And in that towne first to the sculis i zude, Line 1365 In ciuile law studyit full mony ane day. Line 1366 And now my winning is in heuin for ay. Line 1367 Esope i hecht, my writing and my werk, Line 1368 Is couth and kend to mony cunning clerk. Line 1369

O maister esope poet lawriate, Line 1370 God wait ze ar full deir welcum to me. Line 1371 Ar ze not he that all thir fabillis wrate, Line 1372 Quhilk in effect suppois thay fenzeit be, Line 1373 Ar full off prudence and moralitie? Line 1374 Fair sone said he i am the samin man. Line 1375 God wait gif that my hert wes merie than. Line 1376

I said, esope my maister venerabill, Line 1377 I zow beseik hartlie for cheritie, Line 1378 Ze wald dedene to tell ane prettie fabill, Line 1379 Concludand with ane gude moralitie. Line 1380 Schaikand his heid, he said, my sone lat be, Line 1381 For quhat is it worth to tell ane fenzeit taill, Line 1382 Quhen haly preiching may na thing auaill? Line 1383

Now in this warld me think richt few or nane, Line 1384 To goddis word that hes deuotioun. Line 1385 The eir is deif, the hart is hard as stane. Line 1386 Now oppin sin without correctioun. Line 1387 The e inclynand to the eirth ay doun. Line 1388 Sa roustit is the warld with canker blak, Line 1389 That now my taillis may lytill succour mak. Line 1390

Zit gentill schir said i for my requeist, Line 1391 Not to displeis zour fatherheid, i pray, Line 1392 Vnder the figure off ane brutall beist, Line 1393 Ane morall fabill ze wald denze to say. Line 1394 Quha wait, nor i may leir and beir away Line 1395 Sum thing thairby heirefter may auaill? Line 1396 I grant quod he and thus begouth ane taill. Line 1397

Prologue

Ane lyoun at his pray wery foirrun, Line 1398 To recreat his limmis and to rest, Line 1399 Beikand his breist, and belly at the sun, Line 1400 Vnder ane tre lay in the fair forest. Line 1401 Swa come ane trip off myis out off thair nest, Line 1402 Richt tait and trig, all dansand in ane gyis, Line 1403 And ouer the lyoun lansit twyis, or thryis. Line 1404

He lay so still, the myis wes not effeird, Line 1405 Bot to and fro out ouer him tuke thair trace. Line 1406 Sum tirlit at the campis off his beird, Line 1407 Sum spairit not to claw him on the face, Line 1408 Merie and glaid, thus dansit thay ane space, Line 1409 Till at the last, the nobill lyoun woke, Line 1410 And with his pow, the maister mous he tuke. Line 1411

Scho gaue ane cry, and all the laif agast, Line 1412 Thair dansing left, and hid thame sone alquhair Line 1413 Scho that wes tane, cryit and weipit fast. Line 1414 And said allace oftymes that scho come thair. Line 1415 Now am i tane ane wofull presonair Line 1416 And for my gilt traistis incontinent, Line 1417 Off lyfe and deith, to thoill the iugement. Line 1418

Than spak the lyoun to that cairfull mous. Line 1419 Thow catiue wretche, and vile vnworthie thing, Line 1420 Ouer malapart, and eik presumpteous Line 1421 Thow wes, to mak out ouer me thy tripping. Line 1422 Knew thow not weill, i wes baith lord and king. Line 1423 Off beistis all. zes quod the mous i knaw. Line 1424 Bot i misknew, because ze lay so law. Line 1425

Lord, i beseik thy kinglie royaltie, Line 1426 Heir quhat i say, and tak in patience. Line 1427 Considder first my simple pouertie, Line 1428 And syne thy mychtie hie magnyfycence. Line 1429 Se als how thingis done off neglygence, Line 1430 Nouther off malice, nor of prodissioun, Line 1431 Erer suld haue grace and remissioun. Line 1432

We wer repleit, and had grit aboundance, Line 1433 Off alkin thingis, sic as to vs effeird. Line 1434 The sweit sesoun prouokit vs to dance, Line 1435 And mak sic mirth as nature to vs leird. Line 1436 Ze lay so still, and law vpon the eird, Line 1437 That be my sawll, we weind ze had bene deid. Line 1438 Elles wald we not haue dancit ouer zour heid. Line 1439

Thy fals excuse, the lyoun said agane, Line 1440 Sall not auaill ane myte i vnderta. Line 1441 I put the cace, i had bene deid, or slane, Line 1442 And syne my skyn bene stoppit full off stra. Line 1443 Thocht thow had found my figure lyand swa, Line 1444 Because it bare the prent off my persoun, Line 1445 Thow suld for feir on kneis haue fallin doun. Line 1446

For thy trespas thow can mak na defence, Line 1447 My nobill persoun thus to vilipend. Line 1448 Off thy feiris, nor thy awin negligence, Line 1449 For to excuse thow can na cause pretend. Line 1450 Thairfoir thow suffer sall ane schamefull end, Line 1451 And deith, sic as to tressoun is decreit, Line 1452 Onto the gallous harlit be the feit. Line 1453

A mercie lord, at thy gentrice i ase, Line 1454 As thow art king off beistis coronate, Line 1455 Sober thy wraith, and let thi yre ouerpas, Line 1456 And mak thy mynd to mercy inclynate. Line 1457 I grant offence is done to thyne estate, Line 1458 Quhairfoir i worthie am to suffer deid, Line 1459 Bot gif thy kinglie mercie reik remeid. Line 1460

In euerie iuge mercy and reuth suld be, Line 1461 As assessouris, and collaterall. Line 1462 Without mercie iustice is crueltie, Line 1463 As said is in the lawis spirituall. Line 1464 Quhen rigour sittis in the tribunall, Line 1465 The equitie off law quha may sustene? Line 1466 Richt few or nane but mercie gang betwene. Line 1467

Alswa ze knaw the honour triumphall, Line 1468 Off all victour, vpon the strenth dependis Line 1469 Off his compair, quhilk manlie in battell, Line 1470 Throw ieopardie of weir lang defendis. Line 1471 Quhat pryce or louing quhen the battell endis, Line 1472 Is said off him, that ouercummis ane man, Line 1473 Him to defend quhilk nouther may, nor can Line 1474

Ane thowsand myis to kill, and eik deuoir, Line 1475 Is lytill manheid to ane strang lyoun. Line 1476 Full lytill worschip haue ze wyn thairfoir, Line 1477 To qwhais strenth is na comparisoun: Line 1478 It will degraid sum part off zour renoun, Line 1479 To sla ane mous, quhilk may mak na defence, Line 1480 Bot askand mercie at zour excellence. Line 1481

Also it semis not zour celsitude, Line 1482 Quhilk vsis daylie meittis delitious, Line 1483 To fyle zour teith, or lippis with my blude, Line 1484 Quhilk to zour stomok is contagious. Line 1485 Vnhailsum meit is of ane sarie mous, Line 1486 And that namelie vntill ane strang lyoun, Line 1487 Vont till be fed with gentill vennesoun. Line 1488

My lyfe is lytill worth, my deith is les. Line 1489 Yit and i leif, i may peradventure Line 1490 Supple zour hienes beand in distres, Line 1491 For oft is sene, ane man off small stature, Line 1492 Reskewit hes ane lord off hie honour, Line 1493 Keipit that wes in poynt to be ouerthrawin. Line 1494 Throw misfortoun sic cace may be zour awin. Line 1495

Quhen this wes said, the lyoun his language Line 1496 Paissit, and thocht according to ressoun. Line 1497 And gart mercie his cruell ire asswage, Line 1498 And to the mous grantit remissioun. Line 1499 Oppinnit his pow, and scho on kneis fell doun, Line 1500 And baith hir handis vnto the heuin vpheild, Line 1501 Cryand, almichty god mot zow forzeild. Line 1502

Quhen scho wes gone, the lyoun held to hunt, Line 1503 For he had nocht, bot leuit on his pray Line 1504 And slew baith tayme and wyld, as he wes wont, Line 1505 And in the cuntrie maid ane grit deray. Line 1506 Till at the last, the pepill fand the way, Line 1507 This cruell lyoun how that thay mycht tak. Line 1508 Off hempyn cordis strang nettis couth thay mak. Line 1509

And in ane rod, quhair he wes wont to ryn, Line 1510 With raipis rude fra tre to tre it band. Line 1511 Syne kest ane range on raw the wod within, Line 1512 With hornis blast, and kennettis fast calland. Line 1513 The lyoun fled, and throw the ron rynnand, Line 1514 Fell in the net, and hankit fute and heid, Line 1515 For all his strenth he couth mak na remeid. Line 1516

Welterand about with hiddeous rummissing, Line 1517 Quhyle to, quhyle fra, quhill he mycht succour get. Line 1518 Bot all in vane, it vailzeit him na thing. Line 1519 The mair he flang, the faster wes he knet, Line 1520 The raipis rude wes sa about him plet, Line 1521 On euerilk syde, that succour saw he nane, Line 1522 Bot styll lyand, thus murnand maid his mane. Line 1523

O lamit lyoun liggand heir sa law, Line 1524 Quhair is the mycht off thy magnyfycence? Line 1525 Off quhome all brutall beist in eird stude aw, Line 1526 And dred to luke vpon thy excellence. Line 1527 But hoip, or help, but succour, or defence, Line 1528 In bandis strang heir man i ly allace Line 1529 Till i be slane, i se nane vther grace. Line 1530

Thair is na wy that will my harmis wreik, Line 1531 Nor creature do confort to my croun. Line 1532 Quha sall me bute? quha sall my bandis breik? Line 1533 Quha sall me put fra pane off this presoun? Line 1534 Be he had maid this lamentatioun, Line 1535 Throw auenture, the lytill mous come neir, Line 1536

And off the lyoun hard the pietuous beir. Line 1537 And suddanlie it come in till hir mynd, Line 1538 That it suld be the lyoun did hir grace, Line 1539 And said, now wer i fals, and richt vnkynd, Line 1540 Bot gif i quit sumpart thy gentilnes, Line 1541 Thow did to me: and on with that scho gais, Line 1542 To hir fellowis and on thame fast can cry. Line 1543 Cum help, cum help, and thay come all in hy. Line 1544

Lo quod the mous this is the samin lyoun, Line 1545 That grantit grace to me, quhen i wes tane. Line 1546 And now is fast heir bundin in presoun, Line 1547 Brekand his hart, with sair murning and mane. Line 1548 Bot we him help off souccour wait he nane. Line 1549 Cum help to quyte ane gude turne for ane vther. Line 1550 Go lous him sone, and thay said ze gude brother. Line 1551

Thay tuke na knyfe, thair teith wes scharpe anewch: Line 1552 To se that sicht, forsuith it wes grit wounder, Line 1553 How that thay ran amang the rapis tewch, Line 1554 Befoir, behind, sum zeid abone, sum vnder. Line 1555 And schuir the raipis off the mastis in schunder. Line 1556 Syne bad him ryse, and he start vp anone, Line 1557 And thankit thame, syne on his way is gone. Line 1558

Now is the lyoun fre off all danger, Line 1559 Lows and delyuerit to his libertie, Line 1560 Be lytill beistis off ane small power. Line 1561 As ze haue hard, because he had pietie. Line 1562 Quod i maister is thair ane moralitie Line 1563 In this fabill? zea sone he said richt gude. Line 1564 I pray zow schir quod i ze wald conclude. Line 1565

Moralitas

As i suppois, this mychtie gay lyoun, Line 1566 May signifie ane prince, or empriour. Line 1567 Ane potestate, or zit ane king with croun, Line 1568 Quhilk suld be walkrife gyde, and gouernour, Line 1569 Of his pepill and takis na labour Line 1570 To reule, and steir, the land, and iustice keip, Line 1571 Bot lyis still in lustis, sleuth, and sleip. Line 1572

The fair forest with leuis lowne and le, Line 1573 With foulis sang, and flouris ferlie sweit, Line 1574 Is bot the warld, and his prosperitie, Line 1575 As fals plesance myngit with cair repleit. Line 1576 Richt as the rois, with froist, and wynter weit Line 1577 Faidis, swa dois the warld, and thame desauis, Line 1578 Quhilk in thair lustis maist confidence hauis. Line 1579

Thir lytill myis, ar bot the commountie, Line 1580 Wantoun, vnwyse, without correctioun. Line 1581 Thair lordis, and princis quhen that thay se, Line 1582 Of iustice mak nane executioun, Line 1583 Thay dreid na thing to mak rebellioun, Line 1584 And disobey: for quhy thay stand nane aw, Line 1585 That garris thame thair soueranis to misknaw. Line 1586

Be this fabill, ze lordis of prudence, Line 1587 May considder the vertew of pietie. Line 1588 And to remit sumtyme ane grit offence, Line 1589 And mitigate with mercy crueltie. Line 1590 Oftymis is sene ane man of small degre, Line 1591 Hes quit ane commoun baith for gude and ill. Line 1592 As lord hes done rigour, or grace him till. Line 1593

Quha wait how sone ane lord of grit renoun, Line 1594 Rolland in wardlie lust, and vane plesance, Line 1595 May be ouerthrawin, destroyit, and put doun, Line 1596 Throw fals fortoun? quhilk of all variance Line 1597 Is haill maistres, and leidar of the dance Line 1598 Till iniust men, and blindis thame so soir. Line 1599 That thay na perrell can prouyde befoir. Line 1600

Thir rurall men, that stentit hes the net, Line 1601 In quhilk the lyoun suddandlie wes tane: Line 1602 Waittit alway amendis for to get. Line 1603 For hurt men wrytis in the marbill stane Line 1604 Mair till expound, as now i lett allane. Line 1605 Bot king and lord may weill wit quhat i mene: Line 1606 Figure heirof oftymis hes bene sene. Line 1607

Quhen this wes said quod esope my fair child, Line 1608 Perswaid the kirkmen ythandly to pray, Line 1609 That tressoun of this cuntrie be exyld, Line 1610 And iustice regne, and lordis keip thair fay Line 1611 Vnto thair souerane lord baith nycht and day. Line 1612 And with that word he vanist, and i woke. Line 1613 Syne throw the schaw my iourney hamewart tuke. Line 1614