The morall fabillis of Esope the phrygian, compylit in eloquent, and ornate Scottis meter, be Maister Robert Henrisone, scholemaister of Dunfermeling

MORALITAS.

LO worthie fol•• Esope that Nobill Clerk, Ane Poet worthie to be Lawreat. Quhen that he waiki•• from mair autētik werk, With vther ma, this ••oirsaid Fabill wrait. Quhilk at this tyme may weill be applicat, To gude morall edificatioun, Haif••lid ane sentence, according to ressoun.

This Carll, and Bond of gentrice spolia••, Sawand this ca••f, thir small birdis to s••a•• It is the Feind, quhilk ••ra the Angelike stait Exylit is, as ••••••s Apostata. Quhilk ••a•• and nicht wery is not for to ga, Sawa••d poysoun in mony wicki•• thocht, In ma••nis Sa••ll, quhilk Christ full deir hes ••och••••

And quhen•• the Saull, as s••id in to the el•••• Geuis consent vnto de••e••••io••••, The w••ckit th•••••••• b••ginn•••• fo•• to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, In deidlie sin, quhilk is dampna••••ou••. Ressoun is blindit with ••••fectio••••. And carnall lust growis full grene and gay•• Throw cons••et••••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from day to day••

Proceding fur•••• be vse 〈…〉〈…〉, The si•• r••ipis, and ••••hame is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on syde. The 〈…〉〈…〉 and ••ude••

And vnder plesance preuilie dois hyde. Syne on the feild he sawis ca••f full wyde, Quhilk is bot tume and verray vanitie, Of fleschlie lust, and vaine prosperitie.

¶Thir hungrie birdis, wretchis we may calf, Ay scraipand in this warldis plesance. Gredie to gadder gudis temporall, Quhilk as the calf, ar tume without substance. Lytill of auaill, and full of variance. Lyke to the mow, befoir the face of wind Quhiskis away, and makis wretchis blind.

This Swallow quhilk eschaipit is the snair. The halie Preicheour weill may signifie. Exhortand folk to walk, and ay be war Fra Nettis of our wickit enemie. Quha fleipis not, bot euer is reddie, Quhen wretchis in this warld calf dois ••••ra••p, To draw his Net, that thay may not eschasp.

Allace quhat cair, quhat weiping is and wo, Quhen Saull and bodie departit ar in twane•• The bodie to the worn••i•• Keiching go: The Saull to Fyre to euerlestand 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Quhat help is ••ha•• this ••••lf, thir gu••i•• vane•• Quhen thow art put in Luciferis b••g, And brocht to hel••, and hangit be the crag.

Thir 〈…〉〈…〉 This sarle calf 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to vnderstand: Beistis, 〈…〉〈…〉, For in this 〈…〉〈…〉 Is na man w••ir 〈…〉〈…〉

His lyfe will lest, ••or how that he sall end: Efter his deith nor quhidder he sall wend.

¶Pray we thairfoir quhill we ar in this lyfe, For four thingis: the first, fra sin remufe. The secund is, fra all weir and stryfe, The thrid is, perfite cheritie and lufe. The feird thing is, and maist for our behufe, That is in blis with Angellis to be fallow. And thus endis the preiching of the Swallow.