Here begynneth the book of the subtyl historyes and fables of Esope whiche were translated out of Frensshe in to Englysshe by wylliam Caxton at westmynstre in the yere of oure Lorde M. CCCC. lxxxiij

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¶ This historye maketh mencion / how Esope demaunded the lyghtest burthen / but to theyr semyng he took the heuyest / whi∣che was atte last the lyghtest / and so begyled his felawes

THenne his felaws said to hym / chese whiche thow wyl bere And Esope beholdyng all the burthene the fardels sacks / and panyers / And took a panyer full of brede / For whiche two of the berers were redy for to haue borne / and sa∣yd / now take me this panyer here / And thenne they sayd / he was the most foole of them / by cause he asked the lyghtest / and chese the heuyest / And soo he tooke the panyer of brede / and wente forthe to fore alle his felawes / whiche whanne his fela∣wes beheld and sawe / they all sa••••den that theyr mayster had not lost his money / For he was strong and myght bere yet an

heuyer burthen / And thus they mocqued hym / ¶ And alwey Esope was at the lodgynge to fore his felawes / And whan they were aryued at their lodgynge / theyr mayster made them to reste / And commaunded Esope to brynge forth brede for to ete / & so he took brede out of his panyer / that his panyer was half empty / And thenne whanne they had eten / ••••he of them took his burthen / And Esope bare lasse than he dyd / And cam to his lodgynge to fore his felawes / And at souper he gaf to them so moche brede / that his panyer was al wyde and empty And on the morne in this wyse he took his panyer / and went to fore his felaws so ferre that they knewe hym not a ryght / so that one demaunded / who is he / that goth so ferre to fore ve / And another sayd / It is the cou••••d and counterfayted ••••se / whiche by his subtylyte hath deceyued ve / that ••••re the burthens not consumed by the waye / but he hath wyded hys burthen / And is more wyly than we be / And thenne after they came to Ephese / And the marchaunt ladde his marchaū∣dyse to the market / and also his seruauntes for to selle / whiche were named Gramaticus / Sal••••s and Esope / And a Mar∣chaunt sayd to hym / yt thow wylt selle thy seruauntes at a resonable 〈◊〉〈◊〉 / th•••• is a philosopher named Exanctus / to whom mo••••▪ pe•••• goo to lerne at a place called Somnon / lede thy seruaunts thyder / And that philosopher wylle bye them / and the mayster and owner of them dyd do well awye Grama∣ticus and Saltis with newe Rowe / and ladde them thyder for to selle / but by cause Esope was foule and lothely / he was clad with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 / and was sette bytwene the other two / whiche were fayr / playsaunt / and welfarynge men / But alle they that beheld Esope were abasshed by cause of his deformy∣te / sayenge / fro whens cometh this monstre / or who hath brouʒt hym hyder to mocque vs / And by cause that they so wondred on Esope / Esope loked al ouerthwartly on them boldly /