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

¶ And after foloweth the table of the fables of Auyan

• ¶ The fyrst fable is of the wulf and of the old woman
• ¶ The second fable is of the Tortose and of the byrdes
• ¶ The thyrd fable is of the two creuyses
• ¶ The fourth fable is of the asse / & of the skynne of the lyon
• ¶ The v fable is of the frogges and of the Foxe
• ¶ The vij fable is of the camel and of Iupiter
• ¶ The eyght fable is of the two felawes
• ¶ The ix fable is of the two postes
• ¶ The x fable is of the bole / of the lyon and of the gote
• ¶ The xj fable is of the Ape and of his child
• ¶ The xij fable is of the crane and of the pecost
• ¶ The xiij fable is of the hunter and of the tygre
• ¶ The xiiij fable is of the four oxen
• ¶ The xv fable is of the busshe and of the tree
• ¶ The xvj Fable is of the fyssher and of the lytyl fysshe
• ¶ The xvij fable is of phebus / of the Auarycious / and of the enuyous
• ¶ The xviij fable is of the theef & of the child whiche wepte
• ¶ The xix fable is of the lyon and of the gote
• ¶ The xx fable is of the crowe whiche had thurst
• ¶ The xxj fable is of a vylayne / and of a yonge bole
• ¶ The xxij fable is of a pylgrym and of the satyre
• ¶ The xxiij fable is of an oxe and of the ratte
• ¶ The xxiiij fable is of the ghees and of her lord
• ¶ The xxv fable maketh mencion of the ape and of his two children
• ¶ The xxvi fable is of the wynd and of the potte
• ¶ The xxvij fable is of the wulf and of the cheuerel or lytil goot

¶ The fyrst fable is of the old woman and of the wulf

MEn ought not to byleue on al maner spyrytes / As reherceth this fable of an old woman / which said to her child bicause that it wept / certeynly if thou wepst ony

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more / I shal make the to be ete of the wulf / & the wulf heryng this old woman / abode styll to fore the yate / & supposed to haue eten the old womans child / & by cause that the wulf had soo longe taryed there that he was hongry / he retorned and went ageyne in to the wood / And the shewulf demaunded of hym / why hast thow not brought to me some mete / And the wulf ansuerd / by cause / that the old woman hath begyled me / the whiche had promysed to me to gyue to me her child for to ha∣ue ete hym / And at the laste I hadde hit not / And therfore men ought in no wyse to truste the woman / And he is wel a fole that setteth his hope and truste in a woman / And ther∣fore truste them not / and thow shalt doo as the sage and wyse

¶ The second fable is of the tortose and of the other byrdes

HE that enhaunceth hym self more than he oughte to do To hym oughte not to come noo good / As hit appiereth by this present fable / Of a tortose / whiche said

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to the byrdes / yf ye lyft me vp wel hyghe fro the ground to the ayer I shalle shewe to yow grete plente of precious stones / And the Egle toke her and bare her so hyghe / that she myghte not see the erthe / And the Egle sayd to her shewe me now the∣se precious stones that thow promysest to shewe to me / And by cause that the tortose myght not see in the erthe / and that the Egle knewe wel that he was deceyued / thrested his clowes in to the tortoses bely / and kylled hit / For he that wylle haue and gete worship and glorye may not haue hit withoute gre∣te laboure / Therfore hit is better and more sure / to kepe hym lowely than to enhaunce hym self on hyghe / and after to deye shamefully and myserably / ¶ For men sayn comynly / who so mounteth hyher / than he shold / he falleth lower than he wold

¶ The thyrd fable is of the two Creuysses

HE whiche wyll teche and lerne some other / ought first to corryge & examyne hym self / as it appereth by this fable of a creuysse / whiche wold hauec hastysed her owne doughter bicause that she wente not wel ryght /

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And sayd to her in this manere / My doughter / hit pleaseth me not that thow goost thus backward / For euylle myght wel therof come to the / And thenne the doughter sayd to her moder My moder I shalle go ryght and forward with a good will but ye must goo before for to shewe to me the waye / But the moder coude none other wyse goo / than after her kynd / wher∣fore her doughter sayd vnto her / My moder fyrst lerne your self for to goo ryght and forward / and thenne ye shalle teche me And therfore he that wylle teche other / ought to shewe good ensample / For grete shame is to the doctour whanne his owne coulpe or faulte accuseth hym

¶ The fourthe fable is of the asse / and of the skynne of the Lyon

NOne ought not to gloryfye hym self of the goodes of other as recyteth this fable of an asse whiche som ty∣me fo nd the skynne of a lyon / the whiche he dyd & wered on hym / but he coude neuer hyde his eres therwith / & when he was / as he supposed wel arayed with the sayd skynne / he

[illustration]

ranne in to the forest / And whanne the wyld 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saw•••• hym come / they were so ferdfull that they alle beganne to flee / For they wend / that it had be the lyon / And the mayster of the asse ser••••d and soughte his asse in euery place al aboute And as he had soughte longe / he thougiht that he wold go in to the forest for to see yf his asse were there / And as soone as he was entryd in to the forest / he mette with his asse arayed as before is sayd / but his mayster whiche had soughte hym ••••onge sawe his erys / wherfore he knewe hym wel / and anon•••• toke hym / and sayd in this manere / Ha a mayster asse / ar•••• thow c••••othed with the skynne of the lyon / thow makest the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stes to be aferd / but yf they knewe the / as wel as I do / then shold haue no fere of the / but I ensure the / that wel I shall▪ bete the therfore / And thenne he toke fro hym the skynne of the lyon / and sayd to hym Lyon shalt thow be no more / but an asse shalt thow euer be / And his mayster tooke thenne a staf / and smote hym / soo that euer after he remembryd hym wel of hit / And therfore he whiche auaunceth hym self of other mennes goodes is a very foole / For as men sayn comynly /

he is not wel arayed nor wel appoynted / whiche is clothed with others gowne / ne also it is not honeste to make large ••••onges of other mennes leder

¶ The v fable is of the frogge and of the Foxe

[illustration]

NOne ought to auaunce hym self to doo that whiche he be can not doo / As hit appiereth of a frogge / whiche somtyme yssued or came oute of a dyche / the whiche presumed to haue lepte vpon a hyghe montayne / And whanne she was vpon the montayne / she sayd to other beestes / I am a maystresse in medecyn / and canne gyue remedy to al manere of sekenes by myn arte / and subtylyte / and shalle rendre and brynge yow vp ageyne in good helthe / wherof somme byleued her / And thenne the Foxe whiche perceyued the folysshe by∣leue of the beestes / beganne to lawhe / and sayd to them / poure beestes / how may this fowle and venemous beest whiche is se∣ke and pale of colour rendre and gyue to yow helthe / For the leche whiche wylle hele somme other / ought fyrste to hele hym

self / For many one counterfayteth the leche / whiche can not a word of the scyence of medecyne / from the whiche god preser∣ue and kepe vs

¶ The vj fable is of the two dogges

[illustration]

HE that taketh within hym self vayne glorye of that thynge / by the whiche he shold humble hym self is a very fole / as hit appereth by this fable / of a fader of famylle / whiche had two dogges / of the whiche the one with∣oute ony barkyng bote the folke / & the other dyd barke & bote not / And whan the fader of famyll perceyued the shrewdnes and malyce of the dogge that barkyd not he henge on his nest a belle / to the ende that men shold beware of hym / wherfore the dogge was ouer prowd and fyers / and beganne to dyspreyse alle the other dogges / of the whiche one of the moost aun••••en▪ sayd to hym in his manere / O fole beest / now perceyue I 〈◊〉〈◊〉

thy foly and grete wodenesse to suppose / that this belle is gy∣uen to the for thyn owne deserte and meryte / but certaynly hit is not soo / For hit is taken to the for thy demerytes / and by cause of thy shrewdnesse / and grete treason / for to shewe / that thow arte fals and traytour / And therfore none oughte to be Ioyeful and gladd of that thynge / wherof he oughte to be tryst and sorowful / as many foles done / whiche make Ioye of theyr vyces and euyll dedes / for a moche fole were the theef whiche that men ledde for to be hanged / and that he had a cord of gold aboute his neck / yf he shold make Ioye therof / how be hit that the corde were moche ryche and fayre

¶ The vij Fable is of the camel and of Iupiter

[illustration]

EWery creature ought to be content of that / that god hath gyuen to hym withoute to take thenherytaunce of other / As reherceth this fable Of a camel whiche som tyme complayned hym to Iupiter of that the other beestes

mocqued hym / by cause that he was not of so grete beaute / as they were of / wherfore to Iupiter Instantly he prayd in suche maner as foloweth / Fayr syre and god / I requyre and pra∣ye that thou wylt gyue to me hornes / to thende that I maye be nomore mocqued / Iupiter thenne beganne to lawhe / and in stede of hornes / he took fro hym his erys / and sayd / thow hast more good than hit behoueth to the to haue / And by cause that thow demaundest that / whiche thow oughtest not to haue I haue take fro the that whiche of ryght and kynd thou ouʒ∣test to haue / For none ought not to desyre more than he ought to haue / to the ende that he lese not that whiche he hath /

¶ The eyght fable is of the two felawes.

[illustration]

MEn ought not to hold felauship with hym / whiche is acustommed to begyle other / As hit appiereth by thys Fable / Of two felawes whiche somtyme held felau∣ship to eche other for to goo bothe by montaynes and valeyes /

And for to make better theyre vyage / they were sworne eche one to the other / that none of them bothe shold leue other vnto that the tyme of dethe shold come and departe them / And as they walked in a forest they mette with a grete wyld bere / & bothe felaws ran sone awey for fere / of the whiche the one clym med vpon a tree / And whan the other sawe that his felawe had lefte hym leyd hym self on the erthe / and fayned to be de∣de / And Incontynent the bere came for to ete hym / but by cau se the gallaunt playd wel his game / the bere went forthe his waye and touched hym not / And thēne his felawe came doun fro the tree whiche sayd to hym / I pray the to telle me what the b••••re sayd to the / For as me semeth he spake to the / and hath shewed to the grete sygne or token of loue / And thenne his felawe sayd to hym / He taught to me many fayre secretes / but emonge alle other thynges he sayd to me / that I shold ne uer trust hym who ones hath deceyued me

¶ The ix fable maketh mencion of the two pottes

[illustration]

THe poure ought not to take the Ryche as his felawe As it appiereth by this fable of two pottes / of the whi∣che the one was coper / and the other of erthe / the whi∣che pottes dyd mete to gyder within a Ryuer / ¶ & by cause that the erthen pot wente swyfter than dyd the coper potte / the pot of coper sayd to the pot of erthe / I praye the that we may goo to gyder / And the erthen potte ansuerd and sayd to the coper pot / I wylle not go with the / For it shold happe to me as it happed to the glas and of the morter For yf thow shol dest mete with me / thow sholdest breke and putte me in to pye ces / ¶ And therfore the poure is a fole that compa∣reth and lykeneth hym self to the ryche and myghty / For better is to lyue in pouerte than to deye vylaynsly and be oppressyd of the ryche

¶ The x fable is of the lyon and of the boole

[illustration]

IT is not alweye tyme to auenge hym self of his ene∣mye / As it appiereth by this fable of a bole / whiche somtyme fledde before a lyon / And as the bole wold entre within a cauerne for to saue hym / a gote wente ageynste hym for to kepe and lette hym that he shold not entre in it / to whome the bole sayd / It is not tyme now to auenge me on the / for the lyon that chaseth me / but the tyme shalle come that wel I shalle fynde the / For men ought not to doo to hym self dommage for to be auengyd of his enemy / but oughte to loke tyme and place couenable for to doo hit

¶ The xj fable is of the ape and of his sone

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NO fowler a thyng is to the man / than with his mouth to preyse hym self / As this fable reherceth to vs / Of Iupiter kynge of alle the world / whiche maade alle the beestes and alle the byrdes to be assembled to gyder for to knowe theyr lounte / and also theyr kynd / Emonge alle the

whiche came the Ape / whiche presented his sone to Iupiter / sa yenge thus / Fayre syre and myghty god / loke and see here the fairest beest that euer thow createst in this world / And Iupi ter thenne beganne to lawhe / and after sayd to hym / thow arte wel a fowle beest to preyse soo thy self / For none oughte to preyse hym self / but oughte to doo good and vertuons wer kes / wherof other may preyse hym / for it is a shameful thyng to preyse hym self

¶ The xij fable is of the crane and of the pecok

[illustration]

FOr what vertue that ony man hath / none oughte to preyse hym self / As hit appiereth by this fable / Of a pecok / whiche somtyme made a dyner to a crane / And And whanne they had eten and dronken ynough / they had grete wordes to gyder / wherfore the pecok sayd to the crane / Thow hast not so fayre a forme ne so fayre a fygure as I ha∣ue / ne also fayr fe hers / ne soo resplendysshynge as I haue / To whome the crane ansuerd / and sayd / It is trouthe / Ne∣uertheles thow hast not one good / ne one fo fayre a vertue as

I haue / For how be hit that I haue not so fayre fethers as thow hast / yet can I flee better than thy self dost / For with thy fayre fethers thou must euer abyde on the erthe / And I may flee where someuer hit pleaseth me / And thus euerycho∣ne ought to haue suffysaunce and to be content of that / that he hath / without auanncyuge or praysynge of hym self / and not to dyspreyse none other

¶ The xiij fable is of the hunter and of the tygre

[illustration]

WErse is the stroke of a toncte / than the stroke of a spe∣re as hit appiereth by this fable / Of a hunter / whiche with his arowes hurtrd the wyld beestes / in suche wyse that none scoped fro hym / to the whiche bestes a tygre fy∣ers and hardy sayd in this manere / Be not aferd / For I shalle kepe yow wel / And as the Tygre came in to the wode / the hunter was hyd within a busshe / the whiche whan he sawe

passe the tygre before the busshe / he shote at hym an arowe / and hytte hym on the thye / wherfore the tygre was gretely abasshed And wepynge and sore syghynge sayd to the other beestes / I wote not from whens this cometh to me / ¶ And whanne the foxe sawe hym sooo gretely abasshed / al lawhynge sayd to hym / Ha a tygre / thow arte so myghty and so stronge / And thenne the tygre sayd to hym / My strengthe auaylled me not at that tyme / For none may kepe hym self fro treason And therfore some secrete is here / whiche I knewe not before But notwithstandynge this I maye wel conceyue / that there is no wors arowe / ne that letteth more the man / than tharowe whiche is shotte fro the euyll tongue / For whanne som persone profereth or sayth som wordes in a felauship / of sommen a of honest & good lyf / alle the felauship supposeth that that whi che this euylle tongue hath sayd be trewe / be hit trewe or not / how be it that it be but lesynge / but notwithstondynge the go∣od man shalle euer be wounded of that same arowe / whiche wound shalle be Incurable / And yf hit / were a stroke of a spere / hit myght be by the Cyrurgyen heled / but the stroke of an euylle tongue may not be heled / by cause that Incontynent as the word is profered or sayd / he that hath sayd hit / is no more mayster of hit / And for this cause the stroke of a tongue is Incurable and withoute guaryson

¶ The xiiij fable is of the four oxen

MEn oughte not to breke his feythe ageynste his good Frend / ne to leue his felauship / as hit appiereth by this fable / of four oxen whiche to gyder were in a fair medowe / ¶ And by cause that euer they were and kept them to gyder / none other beest durste not assaylle them / and also the lyon dradde them moche / the whiche lyon on a daye came to them / And by his deceyuable wordes thoughte for to begyle them / & to rauysshe & take them the better / maade them to be separed eche one fro other / ¶ And whanne they were

[illustration]

〈◊〉〈◊〉 / the lyon wente / and tooke one of them / And whan ••••he lyon wold haue strangled hym / the oxe sayd to hym / god∣se•••• / He is a foole / whiche byleueth fals and deceyuable wordes And leueth the felawship of his good frende / For yf we had ••••en euer to gyder / thow haddest not taken me / And therfore he whiche is / and standeth wel sure / ought to kepe hym soo that he fulle not / For he whiche is wel / meue not hym self

¶ The xv fable is of the busshe / and of the aubyer tr••••e

NOne for his beaute ought not to dispreyse some other / For somtyme suche one is fayre that soone wexeth lo∣thely and fowle / and to hyghe falleth vnto lowe / as it apperyth by this fable / Of a fayr tree / whiche mocqued and scorned a lytyl busshe / and sayd / ¶ Seest thow not / my fayre fourme and my fayre fygure / And that of me men

[illustration]

and byldeth fayre edefyces as palays and castellis / galeyes & other shippes for to saylle on the see / And as he auaunced & preysed hym self thus / came there a labourer with his axe for to hewe and smyte hym to the ground / And as the labourer smote vpon the fayr tree / the busshe sayd / Certaynly my broder yf now thow were as lytel / as I am / men shold not hewe ne smyte the doune to the erthe / And therfore none oughte to reioysshe hym self of his worship / For suche is now in grete honour and worship / that herafter shalle falle in to grete vy∣tupere shame and dishonour

¶ The xvj fable is of the fyssher and of the lytyl fysshe

MEn ought not to leue that thynge whiche is sure & cer tayne for hope to haue the vncertayn / as to vs reher∣ceth this fable of a fyssher whiche with his lyne toke a lytyll

[illustration]

fysshe whiche sayd to hym / My frend I pray the / doo to me none euylle / ne putte me not to dethe / For now I am nought / for to be eten / but whanne I shalle be grete / yf thow come a∣geyne hyther / of me shalt thow mowe haue grete auaylle / For thenne I shalle goo with the a good whyle / And the Fyssher sayd to the fysshe. Syn I hold the now / thou shalt not scape fro me / For grete foly hit were to me for to seke the here ano∣ther tyme / For men ought not to lete goo that / of what they be sure of / hopynge to haue afterward that that they haue not and whiche is vncertayne

¶ The xvij fable is of Phebus / of the Auarycious / and of the enuyous

NOne oughte to doo harme 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dommage to somme other for to receyue or doo his owne dommage / As hit appereth by this fable / Of Iupiter whiche sent phebus in to ther••••he for to haue al the knowlege of the thouʒt of me••••

[illustration]

¶ This phebus thenne mette with two men / of whiche the one was moche enuyous / And the other ryght couetous / Phebus demaunded of them what theyr thought was / We thynke said they to demaunde and aske of the grete yeftes / To the which Phebus ansuerd / Now demaunde what ye wylle / For al that that ye shalle demaunde of me / I shalle graunte hit / And of that / that the fyrst of yow shalle aske / the second shal haue the dowble parte / or as moche more ageyne / And thenne the aua∣rycious sayd / I wyl that my felawe aske what he wyll fyrst wherof the enuyous was wel content / whiche sayd to P••••ebus Fayre syre I praye the that I maye lese one of myn eyen / to thende that my felawe may lese al bothe his eyen / wherfor phe∣bus beganne to lawhe whiche departed and wente ageyne vn to Iupiter / and told hym the grete malyce of the enuyous / whiche was Ioyeful and glad of the harme and dommage of an other / & how he was wel content to suffre payne for to haue a dommaged somme other

[illustration]

The xviij fable is of the theef / and of the child whiche wepte

HE is a fole that putteth his good in Ieopardy to lese it for to gete & haue som others good / as it appereth by this fable of a theef whiche fond a child wepyuge be syde a welle / of whom the theef vyde aske why he wepte / & the child answerd to hym I wepe / by cause that I haue lete falle within this welle a boket of gold / & thenne the theef toke of his clothes / & sette them on the ground and wente doune in to the welle / And as be was doune the child toke his gowne & lefte hym within the welle / And thus for couetyse to wynne / he lost his gowne / For suche supposen to wynne somtyme whi∣che losen / And therfore none ought to wysshe that / that he hath not / to thende that he leseth not that / that he hath / For of the thynge wrongfully and euylle goten / the thyrd heyre shalle neuer be possessour of hit

[illustration]

¶ The xix fable is of the lyon and of the gote

HE is wyse that can kepe hym self from the wyly and fals / as hit appereth by this fable / Of a lyon / whiche ones mette with a gote / whiche was vpon a montayne And whanne the lyon sawe her / he sayd to her in this manere / for to gyue to her occacion to come doune fro the hylle / to thende that he myght ete her / My suster why comest thow not hyder on this fayre and grene medowe for to ete of these fayre herbes or grasse / And the gote ansuerd to hym / How be hit / that thow sayst trouthe / Neuertheles thow sayst it not / neyther for my we le ne for my prouffyte / but thow sayst hit / by cause that thow woldest fayne ete and deuoure me / but I truste not in thy fayre speche / For many tymes I haue herd saye of my graūt moder / he that is wel / meue not hym self / For he whiche is in a place wel sure / is wel a fole to go fro hit / and to putte hym self in grete daunger and perylle

¶ The xx fable was of the crowe whiche was a thurst

[illustration]

BEtter is crafte and subtylyte than force / As reherceth to vs this fable / Of a crowe whiche vpon a day came for to drynke oute of a boket / and by cause that she myght not reche to the water / she dyd fyll the boket ful of smal stones / in soo moche that the water came vpward / wherof she dranke thenne at her wylle / and playsyre / And therfore hit appiereth wel / that wytte or sapyence is a moche fayr vertue For by sapyence or wytte / thow shalt mowe resyste to all faultes /

¶ The xxj fable is of the vylayne and of the yonge bole /

HE whiche is of euylle and shrewd kynde / with grete payne he may chasty hym self / as it appereth by this fable / Of a vylayne / whiche had a yonge bole / the whi che he myght not bynd / by cause that euer he smote with his hornes / wherfor the vylayne cutte of his hornes / ¶ But yet whan he wold haue bound hym / the bole casted his feete fro hym / in suche wyse that he suffred noman to come nyghe hym /

[illustration]

And whan the vylayne perceyued the malyce of the bole / he sayd to hym / I shalle chastyse the wel / For I shalle take the in to the bouchers handes / And thenne was the bole wel chas∣tysed / ¶ And thus ought men to doo of the euylle / cursyd & rebelles / whiche doo no thynge but playe with dees and cardes and to ruffule / Suche folke ought men to put in to the handes of the boucher for to lede them to the galhows / For better may no man chastyse them / For with grete payne may he be chasty∣sed / whiche fleeth alle good werkes ond alle good felauship

¶ The xxij fable is of the viator or palmer and of Satyre

MEn ought to beware & kepe hym self from hym whiche bereth both fyre & water / as reherceth to vs this Fable Of a pylgrym / whiche somtyme walked in the wyn∣ter / and wente thurgh a grete forest / ¶ And by cause that the snowe had couerd al the wayes / he wist ne knewe not whyther

he wente / ageynste the whiche came a wodewose named Satyre by cause he sawe hym a cold / whiche approched to the pylgrym and brought hym in to his pytte / And whan the pylgrym sawe hym / he hadde grete drede by cause that a wodewose is a monstre lyke to the man / as hit appiereth by his fygure / ¶ And as the wodewose or Satyre ledde the pylgrym in to his pytte / the pylgrym dyd blowe within his handes for to chaus∣fe them / For he was sore acold / And thenne the wodewose gaf to hym hote water to drynke / ¶ And whan the pylgrym wold haue dronken hit / he beganne to blowe in hit / And the wedewose demaunded of hym / why he dyd blowe hit / And the pylgrym sayd to hym / I blowe in hit / for to haue it somwhat more cold than hit is / The wodewose thenne sayd to hym / Thy felauship is not good to me / by cause that thow wrest bothe the fyre and the water in thy mouthe / therfore go hens fro my pyt and neuer retorne ageyne / For the felauship of the man whi∣che hath two tongues is nought / And the man whiche is wy∣se ought to flee the felauship of flaterers / For by flateryng & adulacion many haue ben begyled and deceyued

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¶ The xxiij fable is of the oxe and of the rat

THe lordes ought to loue theyr subgettis / For he whiche is hated of his tenaunts and subgets / is not lord of his land / as hit appereth by this Fable / Of an oxe / whiche somtyme was within a stable / and as the oxe on a ty∣me wold haue slepte fayne / a rat came / whiche bote the oxe by the thyes / And as the oxe wold haue smyten hym / he ran awaye in to his hole / And thenne the oxe beganne to menace the rat / And the ratte sayd to hym / I am not aferd of the For al be hit that I am lytyl / I may lette and empeche the / And yf thow arte grete / thy parentes ben cause therof and not thy self / And therfore the stronge ought not to dispreyse the feble / vnt ought to loue hym as the chyef or hede ought to loue his lymmes / For he that loueth not / oughte not to be loued / And therfore the lord must loue his subgettys / yf of them he wylle be loued

¶ The xxiiij fable is of the goos and of her lord

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HE that ouer ladeth hym self / is euylle strayned / As this fable sayth / of a man / whiche had a goos / that leyd euery day an egge of gold / The man of auaryce or couetousnes commaunded and bad to her / that euery daye she shold leye two egges / And she sayd to hym / Certaynly / my mayster I maye not / wherfore the man was wrothe with her / and slewe her / wherfore he lost that same grete good / of the whiche dede he was moche sorowful and wrothe / how be it that it was not tyme to shetle the stable whan the horses ben loste / & none / And he is not wyse / whiche dothe suche a thynge / wherof he shalle repente hym afterward / ne healso / whiche doth his owne dommage for to auenge hym self on somme other / For by cause that he supposeth to wynne al / he leseth all that he hath

¶ The xxv fable is of the ape and of his two children

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HE that somtyme men dispreysen / may wel helpe somme other / as hit appereth by this Fable of an Ape / whiche had two children / of the whiche he hated the one / & lo¦ued the other / whiche he toke in his armes / and with hym fled before the dogges / And whanne the other sawe / that his mo∣der lefte hym behynde / he ranne and lepte on her back / And by cause that the lytyl ape whiche the she ape held in her armes em¦peched her to flee / she lete hit falle to the erthe / And the other whiche the moder hated held fast and was saued / the whi∣che from thens forthon kyssed and embraced his moder / And And she thenne beganne to loue hym / wherfore many tymes it happeth / that that thynge whiche is dispreysed / is better than that thynge whiche is loued and preysed / For somtyme the children whiche ben preysed and loued / done lasse good than they whiche ben dispreysed and hated

¶ The xxvj Fable is of the wynd and of therthen pot

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