A Schole of wise conceytes wherein as euery conceyte hath wit, so the most haue much mirth : set forth in common places by order of the alphabet / translated out of diuers Greeke and Latine wryters by Thomas Blage ...

¶〈…〉〈…〉¦nance of the VVolfe, the Foxe, and the Asse.

Abuse of the simple.

THe Wolfe, the Foxe, and the Asse sometime iournied togither towards Rome, to obtayne remission of their sinnes: In the way (bycause they thought the Pope would be otherwise occupied, that he might not intende them) they agréed to be shriuen one of an other, and to suffer penance at their discretion. The Wolfe therefore made hys confession to the Foxe in this maner: That he saw a Sow which had .xij. Pigges, the which walked alone in the fields, walowing in fatnes, and suffred hir Pigges at home to starue: wher∣fore he deuoured the sow, bicause of hir heinous offence in forsaking hir yong ones: and after, be∣ing moued to pitie, he killed also the pigs, to rid them out of their paine, and ate them vp: This he tolde with teares, desiring to knowe what pe∣nance he should do therefore. In fayth (quod the Foxe) thy fault is not great, say once a Pater no∣ster, and then thou shalt be pardoned. Straight after, the Foxe began his confession thus: A coū∣tryman had a Cocke of the game, which bet and vanquished al other cocks néere about, who with

his shrill crowing, troubled in euery quarter, not onely the hole, but also the sicke persons, es∣pecially those which hadde the headake, whose pride I could not well away with: as I founde him therefore on a time abroade with the hens, I caught him, and caried him away to my hole, where I deuoured him: for whiche déede the Hens kackled against me, and troubled me with their crying: I therefore to reuenge the iniurie done vnto me, tore many of them in péeces and ate them: herein I confesse that I offended, ther∣fore I require pardon. Herevnto the Wolfe sayd: Thou diddest wel in qualifying the noyse and pride of the Cocke and Hens, and therefore it is but a small fault, yet will I ioyne thée this penance, That the thrée frydaies following thou eate no fleshe, if thou canst get none: for I will shew thée as much fauour as thou diddest to me. Wel now Syr said they to the Asse, let vs heare thy confession, who beganne thus: My moyling and drudging which I endure, is not vnknowen to you my Lords, as in carying of corne sackes, stone, woode and water, yet once I offended, whereof I repente me full ofte: For a ser∣uaunt of my Lordes, appoynted ruler ouer me, béeing once a colde, a strawe appeared oute of hys shoo, which I snatched away from hym, whereby he tooke greate harme and colde of his

féete. Therfore bée mercifull vnto me, and ioyne me some penance. But they sayde, what haste thou done thou théefe? Mary fye on thée, by thy meanes that seruaunt had such hurt of his féete, that wée thinke he is dead thereof, whereby thy soule is damned, and therefore thy body oughte not to escape scotte frée: then they killed and de∣uoured him.

MOR. The mightie and ryche men in lyke maner doo pardon one another, but to the poore they are harde harted and inexorable.

Abundance somtime perillous.

4 Of the Spider, and the Goute.

A Spider nighe wéeried with continuall la∣bour, ceassed off hys woorke and walked abroade for disporte: whome the Goute mette, and accompanyed as faste as he coulde, thoughe it were with muche payne: when that dayes iourney was nighe at a poynte, they ap∣proched néere to a lyttle Towne called T••che, where they determined to séeke fitte logding for their purpose. The Spider tooke little héede but turned into the house of an excéeding ryche man, where on euery side he sette vp his streamers. Then were straight at hande, those like Diuels in a play, which cast downe his webbes, and as faste as he set them vp in any part of the house,

they were swept downe: he could not worke so closely, but it was founde out: suche was his mi∣serie, that in a house of so muche wealth and abundaunce, he onely wanted and was thrust downe. But the Goute wente lyke a begger, (which caused him to be the longer without lod∣ging) at length he gotte him to the cottage of a poore man, where when he had laide him downe to rest, it is not to be tolde what miserie he en∣dured: his supper was coorse bread, and a Cup of colde water to drinke, when he was dry: his bed to rest his wéerie bones vppon, was a harde boorde strewed without either boughs or grasse, but thinly with a little strawe. I néed not shew, howe ill agréed so harde a bedde and so rude an hoste, to so tender limbes, and to his skin as soft as silke. When the day starre was scarse risen, the Goute and the Spider mette agayne. Then the Spider first declared his nightes ill rest, and how oft he shifted his place: sometime vpbray∣ding the Maister with too muche nicenesse, some∣time with the double diligence of the swéepers. Ah (quod the Goute) the pouertie of mine hoste is incredible: for if I had leisure, I could shewe thée spottes blacke and blew, that my bedde as hard as the Adamant, hath imprinted in my soft skin. Then they tooke counsel thus once agayne, That the Spider should goe to the poore mans

cottage, and the Goute to the riche mans house, where vnto they bothe agréed. When it waxed darke, they came néere to a Citie, and the Goute remembring well his appoyntment, faire and softely went into an excéeding rich mans house, where he hid him selfe: whom when the Mai∣ster had scarse séene, Iesu God with what harty good wil, what kindnesse, and with what names dyd he entertayne him: strayghtway he was layde vppon beds of Doune, his bolsters stuf∣fed with soft Partrich feathers. I wil not speake of the wines, as swéete and darke wines, wines of Lesbus and Campania, birdes that féede on grapes, Phesants, and party coloured birdes: to conclude, there was no kinde of pleasure that his fantasie lacked. The Spider wente into a poore mans cottage and began his webs on eue∣ry side, from wall to wall he hanged them vp, he followed his businesse with hande and féete, he brake it downe and set it vp agayne, and that he began he ended: and to tell you at a worde, he was Lorde and King alone, crafte and polli∣cie he feared none, for his buylding was so high, that he was without the reache of a broome. Not long after the Goute spake with the Spider, to whom he magnified his plesures, his happinesse and riches: The Spider likewise wonderfully praysed his kingdome and libertie in buylding:

They concluded therefore, that whyther so euer they iorneyed, the Goute should lodge at the rich mans house, and the Spider at the poore mans cottage.

MOR. Some sorte of men spéede better in some place than others, and riche mens houses are a mansion place for disseases: but where least riches are, there is most libertie.

Abiectes.

3 Of an Asse, the Trumpeter, and a Hare, the Messanger.

THe Lyon king of foure footed beastes, hauing war with the Foules, set his armie in aray, ready to ioyne battel with them: whō the Beare asked what furderaunce the sluggish Asse, or the fearful Hare would be, to win the field, bicause he sawe them amongst the other souldiours. He answered him: The Asse with the sounde of his Trumpet, shall encourage the Souldiours to fight: and the Hare, bycause of his swiftenesse, shall be a Messanger.

MOR. None is so vile, but good for some thing.

Abstinence.

4 Of an olde man.

A Certaine deuout man counselled an old man to leaue off the lustes of the flesh, whervnto he had bene outragiously giuen. He aunswered hym: Holly Father, I will obey your reuerend

and holesome preceptes, for I perceiue that Ve∣nerie doth muche hurte me, neither am I able to follow that trade any longer.

MOR. Many abstayne from vyces, wherein they are nooseled, not for the loue of God or goodnesse, but bicause of infirmitie, and feare of punishment.

Agreement perforce.

5 Of an Hermite and a Souldiour.

A Certayne Heremite, béeing a man of godly liuing, exhorted a Souldiour to leaue of the warfare in this worlde, which waye very few without offending God and hurte of their soule, doo walke in, and to giue him selfe to qui∣etnesse, and prepare for his soules health. I will Father (quod the Souldier) doo as ye wil me, but truthe is, that in these dayes Souldiours may neither demaunde their wages, though it be ve∣ry small, ne yet take any pray.

MOR. Many forsake their wicked liuing, by∣cause they can vse it no longer.

Ayde.

6 Of the Foxe and the Bramble.

AS a Foxe clymbed a hedge, hys féete slip∣ped, who (as he was fallyng) caught holde on a Bramble to staye hym: wherefore when he hadde torne his féete with the prickes therof, béeing in payne, he sayd to the Bramble:

woe is me, for I came to thée for helpe, who hast hurt me worse: not so (quod the Briar) thou wast deceiued, for I catche euery thing, and thinkest thou to lay holde on me?

MOR. Some are so foolish as to require aide of those which naturally are bent to hurt.

Ambition.

7 Of the Mise and the Frogs.

THe Mise on a time cōtended with the Frogs for the kingdome of the Marshes, wherupon they proclaimed open warre. The battell being ioyned, at the first onset they behaued thēselues so valiantly, that the victorie was doutfull. The wily Mouse lurking in the grasse, priuilie as it were out of an ambushment, assauted the Frog. But the Frog being of strength more puissant, in courage and leaping more valiant, with open warre prouoked his enimie: Their speares were bulrushes. It hapned, as they were fighting, that a kight espied them a farre off, who incontinent∣ly made spéede vnto them: but these noble war∣riours, being earnest in fighting, and nothing regarding themselues, were snatched vp, and torne in pieces by the Kight.

MOR. The lyke happeneth to seditious Citi∣zens, which being inflamed with the gréedy lusts of bearing rule, whiles they striue either with other, who shall be head officer, do hazarde theyr goods, and commonly their liues.

Ambodexter.

8 Of the beastes and the birdes.

THere was sometime a battaile betwéene the beasts and the birds, the victorie was vncer∣taine, for both hoped wel, yet much feare and dā∣ger was on either partie. The Bat thinking the birds to be the weaker side, left their companie, & tooke part with their enimies. The birdes by the conducting and gouernment of the Egle wonne the fielde. The Batte was condemned for a run∣away, and banished the companie of all birdes, and that from thenceforthe he should neuer flie by day light, and this was the only cause, that the Battes flie but by nighte.

MOR. He that will not take part of the soure, shall not taste of that which is swéete.

All things as God will.

9 Of the Pecocke and the Nightingale.

THe Pecocke complained to Iuno, Sister and wife to Iupiter, bicause the Nightingale song so swéete, and shée hirselfe for hir horsenesse, was a byword to all men. To whome Iuno said: Eue∣ry one hath his propre gifte of God: The Nigh∣tingal in singing, but thou in colours of feathers passest all other birdes, euery man must be con∣tent with his estate.

MOR. What God sendeth, receiue it thanke∣fully, neither séeke thou further, for god doth no∣thing vnaduisedly.

All things not decent.

10 Of a yong man that song at the bu∣riall of hys mother.

A Certayne man wepte and lamented for his wife beeing caried to burying, but his sonne did sing: whom his Father rebuked, as he had bene madde that he would sing when hys mother went to buriall, wheras he ought with him to be heauy and lament. Why Father (quod he) if thou haue hyred these Priests to sing, why arte thou angry with mée that sing for nothing? That is no parte of thy office sayd his Father, but belongeth to the Priest.

MOR. All things are not séemely for all men.

Armed alwayes.

••1 Of a Lyon in loue with a Coun∣treymans daughter.

A Lyon enamoured with a Countreymans daughter, desired hir greatly, wherevppon he requested hir father to giue hir to him in mariage. What (quod the man) should I marry my daughter to a beast? Then the Lyon frow∣ned and grinded his téeth at him, wherewith the countreyman béeing afrayde, went from his for∣mer talke, and sayde: I woulde gladly matche my daughter with thee, so that thy téeth were oute, and thy nayles off, bycause the mayde standeth in doubte thereof. The Lyon béeyng inflamed with loue, did so, and then required the

mayde of him. The Countreyman séeing hym lacke his teeth and hooues, tooke vp a club wher∣with he diuers times basted him, and chased him from his house.

MOR He that yéeldeth him selfe to his eni∣mies, is soone dispatched.

Arrogancie.

12 Of a Goorde and a Pinetree.

A Goord sometime was sowen néere to a Pine∣trée, which for greatnesse of body and breadth of boughes, passed. It happened that this Goord (by muche rayne and temperature of weather) grewe very rankely, and extended his boughes loftily: He sprong vp aboute the Pinetree and wrapped him about his boughes and leaues, cra∣king that he had greter leaues, hanging floures, great fruite and freshe. At length he was so puft with pride, that he durst speake thus to the pine∣trée: Séest thou not (quod hée howe farre my leaues excéede thyne, and howe in flourishing I passe thée, and am nowe, euen in thy toppe? The Pinetrée, in wysedome and strengthe excellyng, nothyng woondered at the loftynesse of the Goorde, but thus aunswered and sayde vnto hym: I haue a long tyme wyntered and sommered héere, and haue passed through the pykes, and yet remayne as sounde as a bell, but thou in thy firste flourishing, what tyme thy

leaues shall fall, thy courage will be calmed, and all thy force in the dust.

MOR. In prosperitie we ought not to be lofty.

Attempt not aboue thy capacitie.

13 Of the Spider and the Swallowe.

A Spider offended with the swallow, bicause shée deuoured the flies which wer his meat, hanged vp his webbes afore the hole, (from whence the Swallowe should flie) to take hir. The Swallowe flew forth and caryed away the webbe with the weauer. Then the Spider han∣ging in the aire, and perceiuing his deathe to be at hand, said: Iustly haue I this deserued, which did thinke to catche great birdes, when wythout great labor I coulde scarse get the smallest thing that flyeth.

MOR. Attempt nothing aboue thy capacitie.

Attendance.

14 Of a Dogge and a Wolfe.

AS a Dog slept in a court before the house of his Mayster, a Wolfe came sodainely and caught him: whome, as he would haue kil∣led, the Dogge besought, saying: Good maister spare me now bicause I am leane and thinne as thou séest, but if thou wilte tarrie, there shall be within these fewe dayes a great mariage kept at my Lordes, where I will so fill me and make me so fatte, that then I shall doe thée more good.

The Wolfe crediting his wordes, let him goe. Shortly after the wolfe came and found the dog sléeping vpon the house top, to whome he called as he stode beneathe, willing him to perfourme his promis: Nay verily (quod the Dogge) but if from henceforth thou finde me sléeping without doores, tary not at al, vpon hope of any Mariage.

MOR. The burnt hand euer after feareth the fire.

Bablers.

15 Of the Asse and the Foxe.

AN Asse put on a Lyons skin and walked a∣brode, putting all other beasts in feare, who on a time séeing a Fox, endeuoured to make him also afraide. But hée (for by chance he heard him bray) said to him: Thou knowest well that I would haue trembled at thée, if I had not herd thy braying.

MOR. Some vnlearned men which outward∣ly beare countenance, through their babling are reproued.

16 Of the Egle and the Pie.

THe Pie sometime desired the Egle, to make him one of his frends of his houshold, bicause the beautie of his body deserued it, and also the redinesse of his speache to doe messages: I would so doe, said the Egle, but I feare least that which I speake within doores, thou wouldest preache it

abroade on the house tops.

MOR. Kepe no bablers nor teltales in thy house.

17 Of a Countreyman that would passe ouer a Ryuer.

A Countrey man ready to passe a streame, which by chaunce was sodenly rysen, wyth late rayne that fell, sought the shallowe. When he had assayed that part of the Riuer which was calmest, he founde it déeper than he supposed: a∣gayne, where it was roughest, there he found it shallowest: then he bethought him whyther he might commit his life to the calmest place of the water, or to the roughest.

MOR. Dreade those lesse whiche are full of woordes and threatnings, than those that say nothing.

Benefactors.

18 Of a Hart and a Vine.

A Harte escaping the Hunters, lay hid vnder a Vyne. When they were a little past hir, she supposing she lay safe, began to féede on she vine leaues, which béeing stirred, the Hun∣ters returned: and iudging (as it was in déede) some beast to lurke vnder the leaues, they wyth their arrowes slew the harte: who as she lay a dying, sayde thus: Rightly am I serued, for I ought not to haue hurt that which saued me.

MOR. They which doo any wrong to their be∣nefactors, are punished of God.

Benefites ill rewarded.

19 Of an Asse that serued an vnkind Master.

AN Asse serued a certayne man many yeres, in whiche tyme he neuer offended hym. It happened afterwarde, béeing heauy laden, that he stumbled in a rough way, and fell vnder his burthen. Then his cruell maister bet hym sore, and in spite of his harte forced hym to rise, calling him a slouthful & sluggish beast: but this poore wretch thought thus with him selfe: Mise∣rable is my estate, which haue hapned to so vn∣kind a maister, for though I haue serued him a long time without displeasing him, yet dothe he not forgiue me this one fault, in recompence of the good seruice I haue done him.

MOR. This Fable is agaynst those, whiche forget the benefites that they haue receiued, and gréeuously punish the least offence of their bene∣factors toward them done.

Benefites.

20 Of a Husbandman pricked by a Bee.

A Husbandman being stong by a Bée, maruel∣led that out of the selfe same mouth so swéete iuyce proceded, and so gréeuous a sting. The Bee aunswered, the more beneficiall I am, the more I hate them that doo me wrong.

MOR. The more good men doo, the lesse iniu∣rie they endure.

21 Of the tree Abrotanum, and the Hare.

THe propertie of Abrotanum, is to drawe out any thing that sticketh fast, with the helpe of Auxangia. Wherefore on a time came a Hare halting to him, for a thorne which stucke in his foote, and sayde: O Physitian both of body and soule, take pitie on me and helpe me, and forth∣with shewed his right foote. This trée being mo∣ued with compassion, putte himselfe vppon the wounde, brought out the thorne, and healed it. Wherfore the Hare remembring this benefite, caried daily a flaggon of water on his shoulders, and watered the roote of the trée, wherby he cau∣sed it to continue fresh and gréene.

MOR. Let vs alwayes gladly serue our be∣nefactors.

Benefites for aduauntage.

22 Of the Crow and the Dogge.

AS the Crow was offering sacrifice to M••∣nerua, she bad the Dog to hir▪ good cheare, but he aunswered hir: Why doest thou be∣stowe sacrifice to no purpose? For the Goddesse so hateth thée, that she suffereth thée to haue no credite in any diuination. To whom the Crowe sayd, for that cause the more doo I sacrifice vnto hir, that I might get hir fauour agayne.

MOR. Many for aduauntage, feare not to be∣••efite their enimies.

Betraying.

23 Of a Hunter, and a Partriche,

A Hunter had caught a Partriche, which as he would haue killed, she besought him par∣don for hir life, and to set hir at libertie, promising to bring to his net many Partriches: The Fouler answered hir readily agayne, say∣ing: I thinke that now thou art more worthy of death: bicause thou hast giuen thy worde to betray thy friende.

MOR. He which goeth about by deceite to vn∣doo his friend, runneth headlong into miserie.

Beware of enemies.

24 Of the Dolphin and the Eele.

A Certayne Dolphin finding an Eele in the sea, pursued after hir, whome when he had often caught, but could not holde, bicause of hir slipperinesse, he was wonderfull sory. But the Eele béeing disposed to mocke him, and thereby to escape, spake craftily to the Dolphin: I am sorie for thée, that thou arte too muche wéeried and gréeued with swimming after me, but thy labour is loste: for in the deepe waters thou shalt neuer take me, but goe with me into the mudde, and thou shalte haue me at thy pleasure. The foolishe Dolphin béeing in a chafe, and also gréedie of hys pray, began to swim after hir: in∣tending vtterly to destroy hir: when the Ele had

led the Dolphin into shallow places she wound hir selfe into the mud, and sayd: Come vp to me, for I shal be staied by the rootes of herbs, & thou shalt haue thy desire of me. The Dolphin gaue a skip to catche the Eele, but shée skipte into the mud, and shée stacke faste on dry grounde: In the meane time came a Fisher, and strake hym through, wherof he dyed.

MOR. He that goeth with his Foe, it is no maruell if he fall.

25 Of a Lyonesse and the Foxe.

THe Fox oftentimes vpbrayded the Lyonesse that she had but one whelpe at a time, truth it is (quod she) but then that is a Lyon.

MOR. Beautie consisteth not in plentie, but in vertue.

Boasters.

26 Of an Astronomer and a Traueler.

A Certayne Astronomer diligently vewing the starres, vnwittingly fel into a wel, but a Trauailer by chaunce comming by, & sée∣ing him sighing, sayde: Doest not thou sée the earth, which gauest thy minde vpwarde?

MOR. Many boast that they know of things to come, not knowing what presently happeneth.

27 Of Scholers.

A Certayne Whéele wright had bene often de∣luded by Schollers, which wer vagabunds,

which came to him for almes, saying they had great skill in Magike, and that they coulde doo many things: of which number, there came one a begging to his doore, in the name of a Maister of the seuen lyberall Artes, to whom he sayde: My friende, were not you héere the laste yere? No (quod the Scholer:) depart therfore (quod he) and come no more héere, for I will giue thée nothing. The Scholer was offended, and as∣ked why he spake in the singuler number to him, béeing a Maister of the seuen liberal Artes, and a Magitian. He aunswered: I know much more than thou doest: for with one handie craft labour I fynde me, my wyfe and children, but thou with thy seuen Artes canst not fynde thy self, but goest a begging. Wherfore thou ough∣test to reuerence me, and not I thée. When hée had so sayde, the Scholer departed, well mocked.

MOR. It is a folly to boaste of any tytle, where as knowledge wanteth of that which is professed.

28 Of a Boaster.

A Certayne ragged and yl fauoured man came into a Lauerne, and bycause he was light∣•••• regarded, beganne to boast of his nobilitie, ••••at he descended of an auncient house, to whom ••••e aunswered: Auaunte knaue with thy nobi∣litie,

our Millers Asse is more noble than thou, for he goeth with a man wayting on him, but thou goest without.

29 Of a Boaster.

A Certayne man, who hauing traueled farre, returned into his countrey, and made great vauntes of his manly actes that he had done in many places, especially y^t he had daūced a daūce at Rhodes, that none of that place could: for proofe whereof, he sayde, that he had to witnesse them which were there present, to whom one of them that stoode by, aunswered: Sir, if this be true, what néedeth witnesse, there stands Rhod••••, and there is thy daunce.

MOR. All talke is superfluous, excepte we haue present proofe.

30 Of the Mole.

THe Mole a blinde brast, sayde sometime to hir mother: I sée a Mulbery trée, and streight after, I smell a great sauour of Frankinsence: but the thirde time she sayde, I heare the noyse of the fall of an yron pellet: hir mother answe∣red: As farre as I perceiue, thou lackest not onely thy sighte, but also thy smelling and hearing.

MOR. Some brag they can doo things impos∣sible, and in the least are reproued.

Boasting.

31 Of the birth of Hilles.

THe talke was sometime that the Hilles dyd trauell, whereof men hearing, came thither, and stoode gaping about, wayting for some mon∣struous thing, not without greate feare. At length the hilles were deliuered, and broughte foorth a Mouse: wherat there fell such a laugh∣ter amongest them, that they were ready to sowne.

MOR. Crakers will promise greate matters, but scarse perfourme the least.

32 Of the Frog and the Foxe.

A Frog came foorthe of the Marishes into the wood amongest wylde beastes, and sayde, she was well seene in Phisike, and that hir cun∣ning was as good as Hipocrates, or Galenes: all beastes gaue credite, onely the Fox mocked hir, saying: shall she be counted skilfull in Phisike, whose lippes be so pale? Let hir first heale hir selfe. And thus the Foxe mocked hir. For the mouth of a Frog is of a skie colour.

MOR. It is méere folly to professe that wher∣of thou hast no skill.

33 Of a Pecocke spoyled of his feathers by a Souldiour.

A Pecocke boasted to a Souldiour that had decked his hatte with Estrich feathers, that

she had much fayrer feathers: and to verifie hir saying, shée spreade abroade hir tayle: The Souldiour therewith béeing enamored, caughte and spoyled hir, wherwith to decke his helmet: Then the Pecocke sayde to hir selfe: wo is me wretch and foole, to shew so precious a thing to a spoyler, which I ought to haue kept close.

MOR. By boasting of precious things many are stirred to become theeues.

Boldnesse.

34 Of the Kidde and the Wolfe.

AS a Kid looked out of a window, he espied a wolfe passing by, vpon whom he railed: Ah vngracious person sayde the wolfe, it is not thou that tauntest me, but thy safe holde.

35 Of the Sunne and the Northeast winde.

SOmetyme the Sunne and the Northeaste wynde contended, who was the stronger, wherevpon they agréed to proue their strength on a wayfaring man, that he mighte haue the victorie which caused him to cast away his wal∣let. Firste the Northeast wynde with sharpe stormes & bitter blastes assayed him: He stayed not a whit therefore, but as he wente he wrap∣ped his clothes double about hym: When the Sunne was come to his course, by litle and litle in spreading his beames, he calmed the wynde, then was this man in suche a heate & swet, that

he puffed and blowed excéedingly, and at length by the outragiousnesse thereof, béeing faynt, he coulde go no further, but got him into the coole shadow, casting away his wallet, and sate hym downe vnder a thicke woode: by which euident token the Sunne was conqueror.

MOR. Looke afore thou leape, for thoughe thou be strong, yet perhaps another is stronger than thou, if not stronger, yet craftier, with hys pollicie to giue thée the foyle.

36 Of a Foxe, and women eating of a Henne.

THe Foxe passing by a farme house, espied a great route of women eating Hens sump∣tuously prepared, but (God wot) there was no talke amongst them, to whom she sayde: what crying and barking of Dogges woulde be after me, if I should doo as ye doo? Thou wicked beast (quod an old woman) we eate that is our own, but thou stealest from others.

MOR. We may not be so bolde with other mens goods, as the right owners.

37 Of a Dog and Wolues.

A Great barking Dogge was a sore enimie to the Wolues, for when they woulde haue entred the Citie, he kepte them out: wherefore they also hated the Dog, whō they would fayne haue killed. At length they sent two Ambassa∣dours to the Dog, desiring him to come abroade

into the fields, and they would make him their king, bicause he was mightie and valiaunt. The foolish Curre consented, and wente with them, whom they brought safely to the other wolues that tare him in péeces.

MOR. Hée that will be hardy, let him kéepe him selfe in a sure defence.

Bragging.

38 Of the Pecocke and the Crane.

THe Pecocke and the Crane sometime sup∣ped togither, and amongst other talke, the Pecocke bragged much of his fayre tayle, despising the Crane: he graunted that she was a fayre birde in that poynt, yet was he able with his stoute flying, to enter amongst the cloudes, when she could scarse flye to the house toppe.

MOR. Let not one thinke scorne of another, euery one hath his proper gifte and vertue: for he that wanteth thy qualitie, perhaps hath that which thou lackest.

Brawling women.

39 Of a Knight that had a brawling wyfe.

THere dwelt a Knight at Florence, descended of a noble bloud, which had a waywarde and brauling wife, that dayly wente to hir ghostly Father, to whome she complayned of hir hus∣bandes demeanure: for which he much blamed the knight. It happened not long after, that she

desired hir ghostly father to set hir and hir hus∣band at quiet, whervpon he called him to shrift, saying, that if he came, he doubted not but to make them Prendes agayne. The Knight agrée∣ing, the other required him to make declaration of his faults. In fayth (quod the Knight) it shall not néede, for I know that my wyfe hath often tolde thée al that euer I did, yea and more too.

Brute beastes kinder than men.

40 Of Arion and the Dolphin.

ARion was an auncient man, and came of a noble linage: he could sing to the harpe: he was borne in the Citie of Methimne, in the Isle of Leshos, whom Periander king of Corinthe loued for his cunnings sake, from whom he de∣parted to see the famous countrey of Sicilie and Italie When he was come thither, and had wel delighted the eares, and contented the mynds of moste men in those partes, he gayned greatly, and liued in pleasure and loue of all men. After∣warde hauing gathered much substance, he min∣ded to returne to Corinth, whervpon he hyred a Corinthian ship and mariners of that coast, by∣cause he hoped to finde frendship at their hands. The Corinthians receyued him, and launched into the déepe, who béeing gréedy of thys great pray of money, tooke counsell to kill Arion. He vnderstanding of his destruction, gaue them all

the money that he had, praying them only to saue his life. But being past hope and sore afrayde, he requested that before his deathe, he might put on his apparel and take his Harpe and sing a mour∣ning song to comfort his hart withall: The Ma∣riners (though they were hard harted and cruel) desiring to heare him, graunted his petition. He being clad as he was accustomed, standing in the hinder part of the shippe, song with a loud voyce, the song called Orithium. In the end of his song, as he stoode with his Harpe and in his clothes, he cast himselfe into the Sea. The shipmen nothing douting but y^t he was drouned, kept on their voi∣age. But a straunge and wonderful thing happe∣ned, for a Dolphin sodainly swam by and recey∣ued him, caryed him on his backe aboue the wa∣ter, and brought him safe and sound to Tenarus, in the lande of Laconia: from whence Arion went straight to Corinthe, and shewed him selfe to King Periander, and how he was caryed of the Dolphin, declaring all that happened. The King little beléeued this, but commaunded him safely to be kept, till the truthe were tried. The Mari∣ners were sought for, (and Arion sent out of the way) who being brought before the King, he de∣maunded of them (making no semblante that he hadde knowledge of Arion) whither they hearde any thing of hym in the parties whence they

came: They aunswered, that when they set foorth he was in Italie, and liued well there, and was highly estéemed in the Cities: and also was excée∣ding riche. Whiles they thus spake, in came A∣rion with his Harpe, hauing on the same apparel wherewith he lept into the Sea, whereby the shipmen being amazed, and pricked in conscience could not denie it.

MOR. In brute beasts we shall somtime finde more friendship, than in couetous menne, which care for nothing but riches, neither haue any sparke of humanitie, but the only Phisnomie.

Busie bodies.

41 Of a Kid and a Wolfe.

A Kidde straying from the flocke, and béeing pursued by a Wolfe, turned backe to hym and sayde: O Wolfe, bicause I am persua∣ded that thou shalt eate me, play first on thy pipe that I may daunce, least I die in sorowe: As the Wolfe was playing and the Kid dauncing, the dogges heard it and chased the Wolfe: who sayd to the Kid: I haue well deserued this, for I ought not being a Cooke, to counterfet a Minstrel.

MOR. They which regard not that wherunto they are naturally inclined, but assay that which to others belongeth, fall into aduersitie.

42 Of the Crab and the Foxe.

A Crab fishe came foorth of the sea and fed, the Foxe béeing hungry and séeing him, caught him: who béeing ready to be deuoured, sayde: I am well serued, which béeing a fishe of the sea, would liue on lande.

MOR. Those men are iustly miserable, that forsaking their proper science, doo meddle with that, which becommeth them not.

43 Of the Apple tree, and the pomgranate tree.

THe Pomgranate and the Apple trée conten∣ded aboute their beautie: When they had continued long in strife togither, a bush, which was their neighbour, often hearing them, at length sayd: It is time frends to be at one.

MOR. The vylest persons sometyme wyll meddle in their betters matters.

Causers of euill.

44 Of a Dog and his Maister.

A Certayne man had a Dog whom he always fed with his owne handes, bicause he should loue him the more, and when he was bound he loosed him: But yet he cōmanded his seruant to tye him vp, & beat him, to the end the dog might perceiue he loued him, & that his seruant did not. The dogge taking it gréeuously to be dayly tyed and beaten, ranne away Whom when his mai∣ster rebuked as a churle, and forgetfull of al his

benefites, that he would runne away from hym which loued him so, and fed him, whom he neuer bound nor ••ette. Ah sir (sayde the Dogge) that your seruant dothe at your commaundement, I count it done by you.

MOR. Those are euill doers, which are cau∣sers of euill.

Chastitie.

45 Of the Turtle.

A Certayne Turtle béeing a widdow, liued in great heauynesse for the death of hir mate, but she remayned chaste: whom other birds pitying desired hir to abide with them, whervnto at length she consented: They made hir the best chéere they coulde, but she séeing their abhomi∣nation and whordome, forsooke them, and led the rest of hir life in chast widowhed.

MOR. Who protesteth chastitie, must set his minde on no worldly affayres.

A charme for Scoldes.

46 Of a scolding Woman.

A Certayne man had a scold to his wife, which alwayes brauled with him, what soeuer he dyd, which the more he bette hir, the more fierce she was When he saw that stripes would not preuayle, he attempted an other way, for as often as she chidde, he played on a payre of Bag•• pypes, whereof he had no skill. When he had s••

done, she was more fierce: but at length he conti∣nuing his playing, shee daunced for anger, and in the ende shée stroke the Bagpipe out of his hand. But he toke it againe, and played, wherwith shee being chafed, ranne out of the doores, saying, that shée would not endure his wickednesse and dron∣kennesse. The next day shée began hir scolding a freshe, but hir husband played as he was wonte. Then the woman declared that shée was ouer∣come, and lefte of hir curssing, promising hir hus∣band to become most gentle vnto him, so that he would lay away his Bagpipe.

MOR. Malaperte women by diuers wayes must be charmed.

Churle.

47 Of the Wolfe and the Crane.

THe Wolfe sometime had killed a Shéepe, which as he greedely deuoured, by chaunce the bones stuck fast in his throte: he trauai∣••ed farre and neare, séeking for helpe but founde ••one, for all men iudged him well serued for his ••réedinesse. At length by faire flattering wordes, ••nd greater promisses, he allured the Crane to ••hruste his long necke into his throate, and to ••lucke out the bone that stucke faste. When the ••rane had so done, he required a rewarde: But ••he wolfe laughed him to scorne, saying: Be pac∣••ing thou patche, canst thou not be contente with

thy life, thou art bound to thanke me therfore: for had I list, I might haue bitten off thy necke.

MOR. All is lost that is put in a riuen dishe.

Certentie.

48 Of the Fisher and the litle Fishe.

A Fisher cast his hookes into the water baited with fleshe, wherwith he caught a litle fish, the prisoner besought him to release him, now being so little, and to let him growe bigger, that héereafter hée might haue the more commo∣ditie of him: Nay sayde the Fisher, I wil not bie the pigge in the poke, for I vse to take what pre∣sently I can get.

MOR. Leaue not the bird in the hande, for that in the bushe.

49 Of a Foxe that would kill a Henne sitting.

THe Fox being entred a countreymans house, founde a Henne sitting on Egges in the nest, which besoughte him, saying: I pray thée kill me not nowe being leane, tary a while till my chic∣kens be hatched, which thou maiste eate with∣oute any tootheake being yong: Ah (quod he) I were not woorthy to be called a Foxe, if nowe being hungrie, I would forsake my praie that is ready, vppon hope of Chickens which are not yet oute of the shell: I haue strong téethe, which are

able to grind the hardest flesh that is. And when he had so sayde, he deuoured the Henne.

MOR He is not wise, which vpon vncertayne hope of greater things, will let go that which he hath presently.

Common people.

50 Of the Frogs and their King.

THe Frogs beeing frée, besought Iupiter to giue them a kyng, he laughed at their foo∣lish petition, neuerthelesse they continued their instant sute so long, that at the length they forced him therevnto. He caste them downe a beame, which with the fall thereof made a great noyse in the water. The Frogs béeing afrayde helde their peace, and did homage to their king, and approched by little & little néerer vnto him. At length they boldly hopped vp and downe on him: and thus their foolish king became a laugh∣ing stocke vnto thē. Then called they on Iupiter agayne, desiring of him a valiaunt king. He sent thē the Storke, who walked like a stoute cham∣pion through the Marshes, killing & deuouring as many Frogs as he met. At euen when the Storke was gone to reste, they came foorthe of their holes, hoarsly crying, but to a dead man, for Iupiter his will was, séeing they were not content with a mercyfull kyng, that they should be oppressed with a tyrant.

MOR. The like happeneth to the common people, which hauing a merciful & gentle prince, iudge him a dastard and slouthful, and pray that they may haue a stoute prince. Agayne hauing a valiaunt prince, they disprayse hys crueltie, praysing the others clemencie. Either it is, that we are not contented with things present, or that is true, seldome commeth the better.

Company.

51 Of the Collier and the Fuller.

A Colyer sometime desired a Fuller to dwell with hym in house togither: Nay (sayd the Fuller) this neither pleaseth me, nor yet is for my profite. For I feare greatly least that which I make cleane, thou shouldest ray as blacke as a coale.

MOR. Wée are hereby warned to kéepe company with those that be of a perfecte honest lyfe, and to shunne the felowship of leude men, as a noysome plague.

52 Of the Rauen and Wolues.

A Rauen sometyme followed Wolues ouer many highe hilles, wherfore he required to be partaker of their pray, bicause he had so far followed them, neither had left their companie. The Wolues made light of him, bicause he fol∣lowed not thē, but their pray, & in that he would as soone deuoure the hearts of Wolues, if they

••hould be slayne, as of any other beast.

MOR. We must always marke not that we ••oo, but of what mynd we are in dooing.

Concorde.

53 Of the father and his sonnes.

A Husbandeman had many yong men to hys sonnes, which were alwayes at variaunce, whom he diligently endeuored to vnite in loue togither, and bycause he would playnly open to them the inconueniences of their discorde, hee brought a bundle of smal stickes, which he com∣maunded them to bynde with a little corde, and then to breake it in péeces: they béeing but yong and weake, dyd their good will to breake it, but coulde not preuayle: Then their father loosed it, and gaue euery of them a little rodde therof, which euery one according to his strength dyd easily breake: and foorthwith he sayde to them: Sonnes, if yée would agree, and sticke thus one to an other, no man were able to vanquish you: but if yée be eyger to hurte and pursue one an other with mortall hatred, yée shall soone bée a pray for your enimie.

MOR. By concorde smal things encrease. By discorde great things waste and consume.

54 Of Bulles and a Lyon.

THere were foure Bulles whiche agréed to sticke one to another aswell in wealth as in

woe, whome the Lyon perceiued séeding togi∣ther, and therefore was afrayde to assayle them thoughe he were very hungrie: but in the ende he deuysed by some craftie way to seuer them: whom after they wer parted, he soone tore them in péeces.

MOR. Nothing is surer than concord, and dis∣corde maketh the mightie weake.

Consenting perforce.

55 Of a Lyon which begged of the Wolfe parte of hys pray.

THe Wolfe and the Foxe entered felowship, and went a hunting, to whom, as they were deuiding the Hart which they had taken, the Li∣on came by chaunce, & chalenged the third parte of the pray, bycause he was king of foure footed beastes: but the Wolfe denied it: then the Ly∣on béeing angry, layde holde on the wolfe with his clawes, and plucked the skin cleane from his head, and made it redde, wherby the wolfe esca∣ped scarse with his life. After the Lion turned to the Foxe, and sayde: What sayest thou? For∣sooth my lorde the king (quod he) I graunt not only the third part, but also the whole Hart vn∣to you: What (quod the Lion) hathe any body taught thee to answere so wisely: Yea sir (sayd the Foxe) the redde hatte which you put on my fellow the Wolfe hath taught me.

MOR. Better it is sometime to graunt a part than to léese the whole.

Content in thy state.

56 Of a Snayle and the Eagle.

THe Snayle béeing offended that he continu∣ally abode in moyst and low places, desired the Egle, (of whom he had heard, that she flew so highe, that she mighte beholde the greatest parte of the Earth on euery side) to cary him vp on highe, wherby he might at once beholde both Hilles and Valleys, the Fieldes and the Sea. Which thing when the Egle had quickly done, she cast him downe, wherby he fell on y^e ground, and was dashed in péeces.

MOR. Let no man exalt himselfe higher than his state and nature doth require.

57 Of the Hare and the Foxe.

THe Hare and the Foxe made their petitions to Iupiter, the one desired swiftnesse to hys subtilitie, the other subtilitie to his swiftnesse: Iupiter aunswered them: In the beginning of the world wée gaue euery beast his proper gift bountifully: now if one shoulde haue had all, other had ben wronged.

MOR. God hath bestowed his giftes so indif∣ferently vpon euery man, that we oughte with our state to be satisfied.

Contention with superiours.

58 Of the Elme and the Osier.

THere sprong vp an Elme in the banke of a Riuer, which mocked an Osier that grew nexte him, for his weakenesse, bycause that with the least beating of the water he moued, but of his owne strength and stoutnesse he boa∣sted excéedingly, and how that he had continued there many yeres, not able to be shaken by the violence of the water. It hapned on a tyme, that by force of the waues he was broken downe, and caryed away by the streame: Then the O∣sier mocked him, saying: Whither away neigh∣bour, wilte thou nowe forsake me? Where is nowe thy strength become?

MOR. Those men are wyser that giue place to their betters, than they that doo contende and haue a foule ouerthrowe.

59 Of the Harte and the Wolfe.

A Hart sometime accused a Shéepe before the Wolfe, that he ought him a bushel of wheat: The shéepe in very déede knew nothing of this, yet for feare of the Wolfe, promised payment. A day was set, which béeing come, the Hart put the Shéepe in remembraunce thereof, she deny∣ed it, excusing that promise to be made for feare of the Wolues presence. Forced promises are not to be kept.

MOR. It is a clause of the lawe, force muste haue the repulse by force. But thereof commeth a new sentence: It is lawfull to pay craft with the lyke.

60 Of a Feller of Woode.

AS a Woodseller was cutting woode néere a ryuer side, he lost his axe, who béeing vncer∣tayne what to doe, sate hym downe on the ry∣uers banke and wepte. But Mercurius vnder∣standing the cause, and moued with pitie, dyued vnder the water, broughte vp a golden Axe, and asked him, if that were it which he lost: He de∣nyed it to bée his: then he dyued agayne, and brought vp one of Siluer, the which he refused to bée hys: then he dyued the thirde tyme, and tooke vp his Axe, whiche he acknowledged to be hys which he lost. Mercurius perceiuing him to bée a iuste man and a true, gaue them all vn∣to hym, who foorthwith came to hys fellowes, and shewed them what hadde happened vnto hym. One of them bycause hée woulde also trys it, came to the Ryuer, and caste in hys Axe wil∣lingly: then satte hym downe and wepte. Vn∣to whome when Mercurius had appeared, and vnderstoode the cause, he lykewyse dyued, and brought vp a golden Axe, which he asked, if he had loste: He reioycing, did affirme it to be his. Whose impudent & manifest falshoode Mercurie

perceiuing, neither gaue him the golden Axe, nor his owne.

MOR. How much God loueth the righteous, so muche he hateth the vnrighteous.

61 Of the Cocke and the Foxe.

THE Foxe béeing sometyme very hungry, thought by suttletie to gette his pray amon∣gest the Hennes, which by the conduction of the Cocke were flowne into a hygher trée than he coulde clymbe: wherevppon he came to the Cocke, whome he gently saluted, and sayde: What makest thou so high? Hast thou not heard the newes of late, whiche are so good for vs? Verily (quod the Cocke) I heard nothing: but I pray thée what are they? The Foxe sayde: I am come hyther to make thée priuie of oure ioye: For there was lately a generall Coun∣sell helde of all Beastes, wherein was con∣cluded a continuall peace betwéene all Beastes: so that nowe wythoute any manner of feare, molestation, or laying awayte of any, euery one may walke where as hée lyste in safetie and quietnesse, therefore come downe and lette vs kéepe holy thys day. The Cocke per∣ceyuing the subtiltie and craft of the Foxe, sayd to him: Thy tydings are very good, which also I do lyke well: and foorthwith he stretched out hys necke, and looked a farre off, as thoughe he

sawe some straunge thing, whom the Foxe as∣ked, what he espied? The Cocke aunswered, I sée two Dogges comming amayne with open mouth: the Foxe therewith quaking for feare, bad them Adieu, for time it is for me to be gone, and foorthwith tooke him to his féete: What sir (quod the Cocke) whither runnest thou? what fearest thou? thou néedest doubt nothing, if this peace be concluded: verily (quod the Foxe) I can not tell whether these Dogges haue heard of this decrée or not. Whereby one crafte was payde with the like.

62 Of a deceiuer.

THere was a certayne man who sowed leade and other trifles in a peece of lether, as thou∣ghe it had bene some Iewell, and in the sighte of a riche marchaunt and other men, he priuily threw it to the ground, & after tooke it vp agayn, inquiring if any had lost it: This rich mā béeing couetous, came & affirmed it to be his: to whom the Deceiuer sayde: Is it a precious thing as it séemeth? The Marchaunte auouched it to bée. Mary (quod the other) thou shalte not haue it it againe except thou giue me ten crownes for a rewarde, which he willingly gaue, & foorthwith departed and opened the leather, but he percei∣uing it to be a small trifle, went to the deceiuer, alleaging that he was beguyled, wherefore he

threatned to hang him, excepte he restored the .x. Crownes. Why (quod the deceiuer) didste thou craftely & falsely say it was thine? and he caught holde on his hande, and would haue brought him before the Maior to trie their honestie, but the marchant plucked backe his hand and ran away.

63 Of a Fox caught by a Dog, whiles she fained hir selfe deade.

A Foxe counterfeyting that shée was deade, to the ende to entrap the birdes which shoulde come to hir as to a dead carcase, being walowed in durte, did lie with hir face vpwarde in a fielde, wayting for Choughs and Rauens, and such like gréedy birdes, which shée would deuoure. It hap∣ned a dog to come by, which snatched at hir, and with his téeth tore hir. Whereat shée saide: I am worthily serued, for whiles I endeuor subtilly to catch birds, my selfe am caught by an other.

MOR. They which lie in waite for other, ought not to be gréeued if they be entrapped them selues.

64 Of a Boy and a Theefe.

A Boy sate wéeping on the brinke of a Well, whom a Théefe demaunded the cause there∣of. Mary (quod he) as I drewe water my roape brake, and a pot of gold is falne in. This théefe be∣léeuing him, put of his clothes, & lept into the wel to séeke it: which, bicause he founde not, he came

vp again, where he could neither sée the Boy nor his cote, for the Boy was gone with it.

MOR. He that vseth deceit, somtime is deceiued.

65 Of a Thrushe.

THe Thrushe made his vaunts that he hadde won the friendship of the Swallow, to whom his mother sayde: Thou arte a foole sonne, if thou thinke to liue with hir, séeing either of you desi∣reth contrary places, for shée abideth in hotte pla∣ces, but thou in colde.

MOR. Make not those thy friendes, whose li∣uing disagréeth from thine.

66 Of the Aire and the Winde.

THe Aire on a time cited the winde before the Iudge and maker of all things, and sayde: O Lord of all things, beholde and take pitie of me, yée haue placed me Princelike inough, for which I giue you thanks, bicause ye haue appointed me to be the life of all liuing things, but heerein I was deceiued, for this Winde dothe make me so colde and intemperate, therefore I say to him, if he presume from hencefoorth to blowe vpon me, I will choke him: to whome the Creator saide: Aire thou sayest ill, though the winde make thée colde and tosse thée, yet he maketh thée holesome and temperate. If the winde blewe not on thée, thou shouldest be corrupt, lothsome, infected and hated of all men: wherfore thou oughtest to loue

him which preserueth thy health, wherewith the Aire was at one with the Winde.

MOR We ought to loue, and paciently suffer them which correct vs.

Couetousnesse.

67 Of a Trauailer.

A Waifaring man hauing trauailed farre, vo∣wed, if he founde any thing to offer the halfe thereof to Mercurius. He found a bag full of Almondes and Dates, which he tooke and ease: but the Date stones and shelles of the Almonds he layde vppon an Altare, saying: Thou haste O Mercurie, my vowe, for with thée I partake both the outside and the inside of that I founde.

MOR. The Fable is againste couetous men, which for couetousnesse deceiued the Gods.

68 Of a Woman and a Hen.

A Certen Widowe had a Henne, which day by day laide an egge, shée supposing, if shée gaue hir more Barley, that shee wold lay twise a day, did so: but the Henne being fatte, coulde not lay once a day.

MOR. Sometime they loose the present com∣moditie, which through couetousnesse séeke after more.

69 Of a couetous man.

A Couetous man hauing solde all his goodes, made a wedge of golde, which in a certaine place he buryed togither with his soule & minde,

to which he daily went to sée it: One of the work men watching him on a time, & perceiuing what was done, digged vp the wedge and caryed it a∣way: afterwarde he came, who séeing the place emptie, began to lament and plucke him selfe by the haire. When one saw him thus wéeping, and vnderstoode the cause therof, he sayde: Friend be not sory, for hauing golde, thou hadste it not, take therfore a stone, and hide it for thy gold: and sup∣pose that it is golde, and it shall be all one to thée, for as I perceiue, when it was golde, thou didste not occupie it.

MOR. It auaileth nothing to be endued with possessions, except we haue the vse thereof.

70 Of the Dog and the shadowe.

AS a Dog by chaunce swam ouer the riuer, he caryed in his iawes a péece of flesh. The Sun then shining, as commonly it happeneth, the sha∣dowe therof appeared in the water: which when he had séene, supposing it to be another piece of flesh, snatched gréedely therat, and so lost that he had in his iawes. The Dog being stroken at the hart, both with the losse of his fleshe, and also of his foolishe hope, barked thus in his language: Ah wretche, which lackedst a measure in thy grée;edie desire. Thou hadst inough and too muche, hadste thou not doted, nowe through thy follie thou hast nothing left thée.

MOR We are warned of modestie and wise∣dome,

in desiring and eschuing of things, and to vse a meane in our desires.

71 Of a couetous Ambassadoure.

A Certen couetous man being sent ambassador for his countrey to another Citie, there were straight at hande trumpetters to welcome him, and to delight•• his eares with musicke, hoping thereby to fill their purses with money. He sente them woord, it was nowe no time to play, bicause his hart was heauie for the death of his mother: the Trumpetters deceiued of their purpose, de∣parted sorowing. Then a frend of his hearing of his sorowe, came to sée and comfort him, and as∣ked him, how long it was since his mother died? Fortie yeares (quod he,) then his friend vnder∣standing the wilie deceite of the Ambassadoure, laughed excéedingly.

MOR. This Fable belongeth to couetous men, which studie all the wayes to the woode to saue their money.

72 Of a Couetous man dying.

AS a couetous man lay a dying, and vnderstood that at lengthe he should cary nothing with him, he turned him to his friendes and neighbors whome he sawe present, and sayd: Learne of me, which al my life time haue endeuoured to gather goods, that yée trauaile not too muche to heape vp riches: for of so many Acres of lande, of so muche

precious apparell which with so great sweating, I haue gotte, I shall haue but a hole of fiue foote, and one shéete, wherewith being dead, I shall be couered.

MOR. It is a foolishe and miserable thing to bestowe so muche laboure in gathering of goods, which (whether we will or not) we must quick∣ly leaue.

92 Of a couetous man that eate withered Apples.

A Couetous man hadde gathered many Apples and faire, suche as the Poets reporte to haue bin in the Gardins of Alcinous and the Hesperi∣ans: which he did so spare, that he durst eat none, except they began to perishe. His sonne being ve∣ry liberall, broughte his fellowes very often into the Apple loftes, saying: Take of these what yée wil, but touche not them that are perished, for my father wil haue them serued always after meat, which thing they willingly obeyed.

MOR. Nothing is more miserable than a coue∣tous man which kéepeth for others that which God hath lent him to vse.

Couetous Prelates.

73 Of a lester and a Bishop.

A Certen Iester came in the Calendes of Ia∣nuarie to a Bishop, who was very rich, but couetous: Of whome he begged a piece of

golde for a Newe yeares gift. This Prelate said that he was madde, in that he supposed to haue so much mony giuen him for a new yeres gift. Thē the fellowe begged a piece of siluer, but he saide that was too much. Again, he required of him the least coine of Brasse: but when he could not ob∣taine that, he sayd: I pray thée yet (reuerende fa∣ther) at the leaste, bestowe thy blissing on me in¦stead of a present. Then said the Bishop: Knéele downe sonne that I may blisse thée. Nay, then (quod hée) I care not for your blissing, if it be so good cheape, for if it had bene worthe a farthing, you would not haue graunted it to me.

MOR This is against Bishops and Priestes, which sette more by riches than all holy miste∣ries of the Church.

74 Of a Priest which buryed his Dog.

A Countrey Prieste dwelling in Tuscia, who was very rich, had a little Dogge whome he bearely loued: which, when it dyed, he buryed in the Churchyarde. Whereof the Byshoppe of that Diocesse being aduertysed, and being co∣uetous, supposyng thereby to gette some great summe of money, there vppon hée summoned the Prieste to appeare before hym. He know∣inge well the pretence of the Byshoppe, tooke wyth hym fiftye pieces of Golde, and came to

the Bishop, who laid sore to his charge the bury∣ing of his Dogge, for which he commaunded him to prisone. The Priest (as he was riche) so being wittie withall, humbly answered him, saying: Reuerend Father, if your holynesse vnderstoode the singuler wisedome of my Dogge, yee woulde nothing maruell that he was buried amongste men: For his wit passed mannes reason, as well in his life time as at the hour of his death. What is this (quod the Bishop) that thou sayst? Forsoth (quod the Priest) he made a Will at his latter end, and knowing your necessitie, he bequeathed you fiftie pieces of golde, which I haue broughte with me. The Bishop, when he had receiued the money (being well pleased) sent away the Priest vnpunished.

Counsell.

75 Of the Owle.

SOmetime the most part of birds went to the Owle, and desired hir no longer to abyde in holes of houses, but rather in the boughes of trées where is swéeter singing. And incontinent∣ly they shewed hir a yong Oke newe sprong vp, smal and tender, where shée might sit very softly, and build hir nest: shée would not agrée thereto, but gaue them counsell not to credite the yong plant, for it would beare in time to come, birde∣lime, which would be their destruction. They be∣ing

a light kinde of birds and often flitting, despi∣sed the good counsell of the Owle: but when the Oke was growen, it was brode & full of boughs: then the Birdes togither did flie amongste the boughes, there they tooke their pleasure, hopped vp and downe, played and song togither. In the meane time the Oke broughte forthe Birdlime. Then the small birdes all too late repented, that they refused that holsome counsell: and this is the cause (men say) why al birds, assone as they sée y^e Owle, come clustering about hir, folow hir, sitte about hir and flie with hir, for they remembring that counsell, accounte hir wise, and come aboute hir by flockes, that they might learne wisedome and knowledge of hir.

MOR Despise not the counsell of him that gi∣ueth it a right.

Counsell for priuate gaine.

76 Of a Foxe.

A Foxe being caught in a snare, when shée had escaped with hir taile cutte off, was asha∣med of hir life, wherevppon shée pretended to persuade other Foxes thereto, so as by a com∣mon mischéefe shée might couer hir owne shame: When shée had assembled them all togither, shée counselled them to cutte off their tailes, allea∣ging that they were not onely vncomely, but al∣so a superfluous burthen: One of the Foxes aun∣swered

hir: Truely sister, if this thing were not onely for thy profite, thou wouldest not counsell vs thereto.

MOR Wicked menne giue counsell to theyr neighboures for no good will, but for theyr owne aduantage.

Craftie men.

77 Of the Lyon and the Gote.

A Lion by chaunce espied a Gote vpon an high rocke, whome he counselled rather to come downe and féede in the gréene medow: so would I sayd the gote, if thou were thence, for thou gée∣uest me counsel, not for my pleasure, but to slake thy hunger.

MOR. Credit not euery mannes talke, for some counsel not to profit thée, but themselues.

Craftie men.

78 Of a Fox taken by a Countryman.

A Foxe being taken by a countryman, of whose Hennes he had killed many, with flattering woords besought him to set him at libertie, swea∣ring deuoutly that thencefoorthe he would neuer doe him harme. The Countryman answered, I would willingly forgiue thée, and let thée go safe and sounde, but that I knowe thée to be craftie, and a promisse breaker, and I certenly knowe, that thou canst not hinder me being deade, but I mistrust thée being aliue.

MOR. We muste giue no credite to false and craftie men.

Craf••e of women.

79 Of a Woman that would die for hir Husband.

A Certaine chast Matrone that loued hir hus∣bande wel, was grieued at the heart for the sickenesse of him, wéeping and mourning muche: and bicause hir heartie good will mighte appeare the more, shée besought deathe, if néedes he would haue hir Husbande, rather too take hir and to excuse him: whiles shée thus spake, shée es∣pied death with his lothsome lookes approching, wherewith shee being agaste, and already repen∣ting, said: I am not that body which thou séekest, he lieth in the bed whome thou cammest to slea.

MOR. No man loueth his friend so well, but he loueth him selfe better: Neare is my coate, but nearer is my skin.

Crueltie requited.

80 Of a Lyon being olde.

THer was a Lion which in his youth through his fiercenesse had purchased the displeasure of many: whereof in his olde age he recey∣ued iust punishment. Euery beast in recompence of theyr hurte requited his quarell: The Bore wyth hys Tuske, the Bull strake him wyth hys bornes, and especially the Asse, béeing in∣flamed to caste off the name of a cowarde) wyth

chiding and kicking, couragiously did beate him. The Lion then wayling lamentably said: Those whome sometime I haue hurte, paye me againe with the same measure, and not without a cause: Againe, those to whome sometime I haue done good, requite not nowe my goodnesse, but rather vniustly are my foes: great was my follie when I made so many my enemies, but greater, in that I trusted false friendes.

MOR. When thou art in prosperous estate, be not loftie nor fierce, if fortune once frowne or looke awry, they whom thou hast hurte, shall re∣uenge their quarell: if thou haue fréends, put a difference betwéene them, some are fréends not to thée, but to thy table, and to thy fortune, which as the wynd▪ turneth, will turne, and happie shalt thou be if they be not thy foes. As Ouid complay∣neth not without cause.

VVhen prosprous vvindes did driue my sailes, of Frendes I had good store, But all vvere gone, vvhen raging Seas by blustring vvindes did rore.

Courage.

81 Of the Hares and the Frogs.

IT hapned that Hares hearing a straunge roa∣ring in the woode, all trembling began swiftly to runne away: In running they stayed at a marishe, being in dout what to doe, séeing danger

on euery side: and to encrease their feare, they es∣pied Frogs there drowned. Then one wiser than the rest, sayd: Wherfore are we so fondly afraid? Lette vs take a good harte, for swiftnesse in run∣ning we lacke not, but onely a couragious sto∣macke, as for this hurly burly we néed not feare, but set it lighte.

MOR. In all things take a good hart: strength without courage is but dead: for the chéefe heade of strength is hardinesse.

Cursing.

82 Of the Bee and Iupiter.

THe Bée which as men thinke, was the first maker of Waxe, came sometime to sacrifice to the Gods, whose oblation to Iupiter, was a house of Honey, wherewith Iupiter reioysing, commaunded hir petition whatsoeuer it were, to be graunted. Then the Bée asked thus: moste puissant God of all Gods, I beséeche thée graunt to thy handmaide, that who so euer commeth to the hiue, to steale away hir Honey, may forthe∣with die as I haue pricked him. Iupiter being a∣bashed at hir request, bicause he loued mankinde farre aboue all other, at lengthe sayde to hir: Be thou contente if thou sting him that steateth thy hony, that thou maiste leese thy sting and forthe∣with die, and that in thy sting thy life may lie.

MOR. We curse our enemies, but it common∣ly

lighteth on our owne heades.

Daunger.

83 Of a Hart and a Lyon.

A Harte escaping Hunters, entred a caue, where he chaunced on a Lyon, by whome he was taken: As he was dying, he sayde: Woe is me, that fléeing from men, haue hapned on the cruellest of all beastes.

MOR. Many men auoiding smal dangers, run into great.

84 Of the Towne Dogs.

A Great route of Towne dogges coursed sore a Countrey dogge which ran away, and durste not resist: at the last he turned again, and shewed his téethe to them, then they all stoode still, and durst not come néere him, where as the Captaine generall of the hoste was present, who turned to his souldiers, and sayd: Felowes, this sight war∣neth vs not to flée, seeing we sée more daunger to them that run away, than to those that resist.

Dealing.

85 Of two Pots.

TWo Pottes stoode togither on a banke, the one was of earth, the other of Brasse, which bothe were sodeinly caughte by the force of the streames, the earthen Pot fearing to be bro∣ken went swiftliest, whom the Brasen pot com∣forted,

willing him to feare nothing: for he could take héede inough, that they should not knocke to∣gither. Nay (sayd the other) I know wel inough, whether the Riuer beate thée againste me, or me againste thée, I shall be in hazarde on euery side. Therfore haue I determined to kéepe no compa∣nie with thée.

MOR. Better it is to deale with thy fellowe, than with thy better, for the mightier man can sooner hurt thée, than thou him.

Death.

86 Of the Swanne singing at the poynt of death.

A Swanne being néere at the poynt of death, was asked of the Storke, why he soong swe∣ter, being nigh his deathe, (which all other beastes doe so much hate) than in all his life time before, séeing at that time he ought to be sorie: the Swanne aunswered: Bycause from hencefoorthe I shal not be troubled with séeking for meat, ne∣ther shall I néede to feare the Foulers ginne.

MOR. We are warned héereby not to feare death, being by that berefte from all miseries.

87 Of an Olde man which set trees.

A Man of very olde age, was mocked of a yong man, bicause he plāted trées, wherof he shuld neuer sée fruite: The olde man aunswered: Ney∣ther thou perhappes shalte gather fruite of those

which thou goest about to sette. Shortly after the yong man fell oute of a trée, which he climbed to gather heries, and brake his necke.

MOR. Death spareth no age.

Deceite.

88 Of the Dog and the Cocke.

THe Dogge and the Cocke entred friendship and iorneyd togither: whē night drue néere, the Cocke flew vp into a trée, and rested, but the dogge slept at the roote of the hollowe trée. It hapned that the Cocke, as he was wonte, crowed in the night season, whome the Fox hearing, ran towarde him, and as he stoode on the grounde, he prayed the Cocke to come downe, bycause he greatly desired to embrace so trimme a singing bird: the Cocke bad him that he should first wake the porter, which slept at the roote of the trée, and that when he had opened he would come downe: as the Foxe soughte meanes too call him vp, the Dog starte vp and tore him in pieces.

MOR. Wise men wil by pollicie send their e∣nimies to mightier than themselues.

Deceitfull persons.

89 Of a Frier, a Layman and the Wolfe.

A Certaine religions man of the order of S. Anthonie, begged of a Husbandman a porti∣on of corne, for which he promised to war∣rant all that he had, especially that his shéepe that

yere shoulde be safe. The countreyman giuing credite to his promises, lette his shéepe stray a∣brode where they list, wherof the greatest num∣ber a Wolfe destroyed: the Farmer therewith chafing, when the next yere the gatherer came for corne, did not onely deny him his almes, but also blamed him for his foolish promises. Why what is the matter (quod he?) The other aun∣swered, his shéepe were destroyed by the wolfe. What the Wolfe? (sayde he) surely that is a naughty beast, trust him not, but beware of him: for he would not onely deceiue S. Anthony but also Chryst him selfe, if he could. It is therefore follie to credit those whose mark that they shoote at is onely to deceiue.

Deserts rewarded.

90 Of a Parate.

A Parate béeing brought out of the East parts into the West, where no suche Birdes are wont to bréede, maruelled that he was more e∣stéemed there, than in his natiue countrey: for he was kept in a Cage of yuorie wrought with Siluer wyre, fed with most swéete meat, which thing happened not to other birdes of the West partes, which in beautie and speaking as farre excelled. Then the Turtle béeing shut vp in the same cage, sayde: this is not maruell worthy, for no man in his owne countrey is rewarded

as he deserueth.

Desire of new things.

91 Of an Asse

SOmtime an Asse serued a Gardener, of whose crueltie he complayned to Iupiter, beséechyng hym to haue a new maister. Iupiter graunted hys request, and put hym to a Tyler, whom by∣cause he laded him with much heauier burdens, he mislyked: He therefore prayed Iupiter yet once agayne, to shift hys seruice from hym to a gentler Maister. The God smyled at hys folly, yet the Asse continued so long an earnest suter, that he forced hym thereto. Then he serued a Curryer, whose trade when the Asse had well perceiued, he repented, saying: Ah wretch that I am, which can be contented with no maister, for now I haue got suche a one, which as I sup∣pose, will also curry my skinne.

MOR. Things present we neuer allow, but séeke for new.

Dyet.

92 Of a Pacient and a Physitian.

A Physitian tooke vpon him to cure a Pacient, who at length dyed: then sayde he to the Pa∣cients kinsfolke: this man cast him selfe away for lacke of good dyet.

MOR. He that vseth quaffing and liueth inor∣dinately, shall neuer be olde, or else shall haue a

very shorte lyfe.

Dignitie.

93 Of an Asse carying an Image.

AN Asse caryed an Image of siluer on hys shoulders, which euery one that met it, dyd worship: wherwith beeing insolent, he would no longer be an Asse: then was it tolde him that he was no God, but caryed an Idoll.

MOR. They that are placed in dignitie ought to know that they are men.

94 Of the Frog and the Crab.

A Frogge séeing a Crabbe swimming by the water side, sayd: What is he so ill fauoured and foule, that dare trouble my water? séeing I am mightie and strong, I will put him to flight. When he had so sayd, he lepte vppon the Crab, saying: why wast not thou ashamed O wretch, to enter into my resting place? Dyddest not thou blush béeing so foule and so blacke, to defile the cleare water? The Crab, as his maner is, began to go backe and sayde: I pray thée sister say not so, for I would be at one with thée, ther∣fore come not thus vppon me. The Frog séeing him go back, supposed that he did it for feare of him, wherby he waxed more fierce agaynst him, saying: Drawe not backe thou filthe, for thou mayest not escape, this day will I giue thy flesh to the fish, & incontinent he skipped vpon him to

kill him. The Crab séeing the present daunger turned about, and with his clawes byt the Frog and tore him in péeces.

MOR. Euery man, as muche as in him lieth, let him studie to auoyde warre and discorde.

95 Of a Leoparde and an Vnicorne fighting with a Dragon.

THe Leopard sometime fought with a Dra∣gon, agaynst whom (bicause he could not pre∣uayle) he besought the Vnicorne to ayde him, and sayd: Thou art a godly beast, expert in figh∣ting and valiaunt, wherefore I pray thée helpe me. The Vnicorne hearing this commendation of him selfe, answered: Thou sayest truth, for I haue skill in fighting, and therfore I will valy∣auntly defende thée, for when the Dragon shall open his mouth, I wil thrust him into the throte with my horne. When they were both come to the Dragon, the Leoparde gaue the onset, tru∣sting to the strength of the Vnicorne, but the Dragon fought with them and spit fire at them. The Vnicorne séeing him open his mouth, ran hastely to thrust him through, but he caste hys heade at one ••••de, whereby the Vnicorne mis∣sing him, smote his horne faste into the ground and dyed.

MOR He that will fight for another, séeketh his owne destruction.

Despite.

96 Of the enuious Dogge and the Oxe.

A Dogge lay sléeping in a racke full of hey, thyther came an Oxe to féede. The Dogge séeing him comming, barked & forbad him. To whom the Oxe sayd: the Diuell choke thée with this thy despite, which neither canst eate hey thy selfe, nor yet will suffer me.

MOR Many are of that disposition, that they will grudge others that, which they for lacke of wit can not attayne vnto.

Despise nothing. 97 Of a yong man.

A Certayne yong man espied an olde man goo∣ing crooked like a bent bow, whom he asked if he woulde sell a bowe? Haste thou (quod he) any néede to loose thy money? If thou liue till my age, nature shal giue thée a bow without money.

MOR. The faults of age are not to be laughed at, bicause no man, if he liue, can escape it.

98 Of a Countreyman and Peares.

A Certayne gluttonous man tooke his iourney to goe to a wedding wherevnto he was bid∣den. By the way he founde an heape of peares, but none of them he touched, albeit he was excée∣ding hungry, which in contempt he made water on, for he thought scorne of such meate, gooing to so good chéere. But as he passed on his way, he

came to a streame lately risen with rayne, whi∣che without daunger of life he coulde not passe ouer, therefore he returned home agayne: and by the way he was so hungry (bycause of his long fasting) that if he had not eaten the peares that he pissed on, séeing there was nothing else, he had famyshed.

MOR. Despise nothing, for what is so vyle or base, that will not at one time or another serue for some purpose?

Dispraysers of Phisike.

99 Of a man that refused Clysters.

A Certen rich German fell sick, to whom came many Phisitians to cure hym, (for to hony come flyes by heapes) amongst whom one helde opinion that he muste take a Clyster, if he would recouer his health: the Pacient hearing this (bicause he had neuer taken any such medi∣cine) was wood angry, and commaunded all the Phisitians to be put out of doores, saying that they were mad, which woulde minister to hys tayle, when hys head aked.

MOR. All holsome things séeme tedious to them which neueh assayed them.

Dissemblers.

100 Of a Deceiuer.

A Certeine poore man béeing sick, vowed to the Gods, if he might recouer his health, an hun∣dred

Oxen in sacrifice: the Gods (bicause they would try him) made him whole. When he was well, bycause he had no Oxen, he made an hun∣dred Oxen of paste, which on the Altar he sacri∣ficed. The Gods meaning to punish him there∣fore, appeared to him in a dreame, and sayd: Go to the sea shore in suche a place and there thou shalt finde an hundred talents of golde. This fellow when he awaked, reioysing gretly, went to the place that was shewed him and sought for it, where he was taken by Pirates, whome he prayed for his libertie, promising them a M. talents of golde, but to him they gaue no credit, but caried him away & sold him for a M. grotes.

MOR. God hateth dissemblers and lyers.

Dissimulation.

101 Of a Cat and Myse.

A Cat hearing that there were many Mise in a certayne house, came thyther: of whych, those that she caught she deuoured: The Myse séeing them selues dayly diminished, agréed to∣gither to come down no more, least they should all be destroyed: for if the Cat come not hither (sayd they) we shall be safe. The Cat perceiuing the mise descended not, thought by deceit to take them, and climbed vp on a beame, whereon she hanged hir self, fayning to be dead, whom one of the Mise, as he looked downward espied, & sayde

to him: verily my frende, though I knewe thou were dead, yet would I not come downe.

MOR. A wise man once deceiued through the falshode of a wicked man, will neuer after cre∣dite his dissimulation.

102 Of the Wolfe and the Sheepe.

A Wolfe béeing bitten by Dogges, and euill entreated, lay prostrate along: he lackyng meate, espied a Shéepe, whome he desired to bring him some of the running water to drinke, saying: If thou wilt giue me drinke, I wil pro∣uide meate my selfe: she aunswered: if I giue thée drinke, thou wilt eate me.

MOR. This Fable is agaynst an euill body, which by dissimulation lyeth in wayte.

103 Of the sicke Asse.

THe reporte was, that the Asse lay sicke, nigh at the poynte of death, there came bothe the wolues & Dogs to visite him, and demaunded of his Sonne, how hys Father dyd, he answered (looking through the chinkes of the doore) better than ye would.

MOR. This Fable speaketh of them that faine to take heauily the death of other, where as they wishe them dead long before.

140 Of a Foxe.

A Foxe came into a Vyneyard where he espied fayre clusters of Grapes which were rype,

of them fayne would he eate, and bycause they were past his reach, he thought to find some shift to gette them: but perceiuing his labour to be lost, and that by no meanes he could satisfie hys desire, he turned his sorowe into ioy, saying: Those Clusters be yet to soure to eate, for they would set my téeth on edge.

MOR. It is wisdome to dissēble that he careth not for that which he knoweth he can not get.

105 Of a man that would kill a Hogge.

IT was a custome in a certaine Citie of Picene in Italie, that he which killed a Hog in Win∣ter, should bid hys neighbours to supper. Now there was one which minded to kill a Hog, but lothe he was to bée at any charges, wherevpon he asked the aduise of his Godfather, howe he might thifte off the expences. Tell abroad (quod he) to morrow, that this night there was a Hog stollen from thée. It happened the same nyght, (he nothing mistrusting it) that one verily con∣ueyed a Hogge from him. In the morning when he rose, he looked for his hogges, wherof missing one, he went incontinent to his Godfather, and cryed aloude, that one of his Hogges were stol∣len. Well doone (quod he) thou playest the wise fellow, for so I taught thée to speake: the other swore by all the Gods he did not lye. I conne thée thanke (sayd his Godfather) thou followest

wel my coūsel. The other for al that did sweare and stare the more that it was true. Thou art to be commended (quod he) for I forewarned thée so to say, & my counsell was good. The other sée∣ing him selfe thus flouted, departed heauily.

Disobedience.

106 Of the Egle that cited all maner of birdes.

THe Egle called togither all maner of wylde∣foule: which béeing assembled, as he correc∣ted certayne faultes, there came Hunters which set abroade their nets to catch the birds. The E∣gle séeing the present daunger, made proclama∣tion by his criers, that al should folow the baner of the Egle, and flie with hir, if they would es∣cape: then as many as flewe with hir escaped, but some gluttonous & disobedient, who behol∣ding the pray & coueting it, flew into the nettes, wherin being entangled, they cried piteously.

MOR. Hee that wyll not obey, falleth into mischiefe.

Double tonged.

107 Of a Satyre and a wayfaring man.

A Satyr, which in olde time was counted God of the woods, walking abroade, found a way∣faring man couered with snow and nighe dead with cold: on whom taking pitie, he brought him into his den, and made a fire & cherished him. It hapned that the Satyr espied him breathing on

his hands, wherof demaunding the cause, he an∣swered: to heate his hands. And being set down to meate, the traueler blowed on fryed barley that was on his trencher. He asked agayn, why he did so? to coole it (quod he.) Then the Satyr draue him out of his denne, and told him that he wold harbor none that had so variable a mouth.

MOR Deale not with that man, which hath a double hart, or is vnstable in his words.

Doubt the worst.

108 Of a Pye and a Cuckowe.

A Pie espying a Cuckow lurking amongst the boughes of a trée, supposed it to be a Hauke, wherwith being moued, flew away: which thing other Birds néere at hande beholding, mocked the Pie, that in stead of a Hauke, she flew from the Cuckow, she answered: I had rather be moc∣ked of you, than my friends should wepe for me,

MOR. It is better to minister occasion for our foes to laugh at, than our friends to wéepe at.

Dredfulnesse.

109 Of a Serpent.

A Serpent béeing troden vpon by many, made his moane to Iupiter, but he sayd to him: If thou hadst stinged him which first kicked thée, the next would neuer haue attempted it.

MOR. They which withstande their assaul∣ters, become a terror to others.

Dread without neede.

110 Of the rule of women of their husbands.

A Certaine man caried aboute throughe the whole worlde a payre of bootes, whiche he would giue that man who feared not hys wife. He could finde none a great while, whych would take them. But at length a countreyman receiued them, to whom he sayde: Soft let me put them in thy bosome and wype them. But the countreymā (bicause his shirt was new & white) said: I dare not lest my wife taūt me for blacking my shirt: then he toke away the bootes & bet him therwith, saying: Get thée hence in the Diuels name, bicause thou dreadest thy wife for a little trifle, y^u didst meane to deceiue me of my bootes, and he straightway departed. But I thinke he hath not yet bestowed them iustly of any man.

Dronkennesse.

111 Of a woman.

A Certen woman had a dronkard to hir husbād, from which vice (bicause she would rid him) she vsed this policie: She watched him when he was dronken heauy asléepe, and like a dead man without féeling, & tooke him on hir shoulders, ca∣ried him into the churchyard, laid him in a graue and departed. When she supposed that he was sober, she knocked at the heade of the tombe, who asked who knocketh at the doore: hys wife

aunswered, I am here, and haue brought meate for the dead. Ah (quod he) bring me rather some drink than meat, thou doest trouble me in spea∣king of meat & no drink. The good womā stroke hir breast & sayd, woe is me wretch, for my craft will doo no good: thou my husbande art nothing mended, but become worse, so that this disease hath got an habite in thée.

MOR. We must not continue in euill déedes, for custome sometime creepeth on a man.

Dulspirited.

112 Of the Bore and the Countreyman.

THere was a Bore which routed vp the corne, whose eare a countreyman cut off. It chaun∣ced he came the seconde time, then he cut off his other eare. When he came yet againe, he caught him & caried him into the citie & gaue it his At∣torney to make mery withal. At the feast when he was brokē vp, his hart was not found. Then his maister was wroth with the cooke therfore. Sir (quod the countreyman) it is no maruel that his hart is not here, for I think the foolish Bore had no hart, for if he had had any, he woulde not haue come so oft into my corn to his cost. Thē al the gests laughest excéedingly at his foolishnesse.

MOR. Many liue so without spirite or bolde∣nesse, that it is doubtefull whether they haue a harte or not.

Education of youth.

113 Of a Gnat.

A Gnat in the Winter season, supposing that he should die for hunger and colde, came to a Hyue of Bées, of whome he desired meate and lodging, promising (if they would graūt it him) to teach their children the arte of Musike. Then one of the Bées answered: I had rather my chil∣dren learned some trade which can kéepe them from hunger and colde.

MOR. We are warned to bring vp our chil∣dren in those sciences, wherby they may be able to get their liuing.

Enimie.

114 Of a Norisher of Bees.

A Certen man, when the Owner was absent, came to the place where hony was made, & stole away an hony combe: the owner at his re∣turne séeing the hyues emptie, stoode vp & sought if ought were left. The Bées returning fro fée∣ding, and finding him there, pricked him wyth their stings, and handled him very ill. Then he sayd to them: O vyle beasts, which haue let es∣cape vnhurte him which hath stollen your hony∣combs, and strike me which take care ouer you.

MOR. Some men through follie can not be∣ware of their enimies, and dryue backe their friends, as such that lay awayte to deceiue.

115 Of many creeping Wormes and Beastes.

MAny créeping beastes sat sunning, amongst whom the cockatrice was, who cried aloud, Who so dare fight with me, let him come foorth. The Snayle came foorthe to sighte with hir: as they were togither striuing, the Cockatrice would haue byt the Snayle, and poysoned hym, but he drew his head into his shel that she could not touch him, afterward y^e Snayle came foorth and byt the serpent, wherby she was ouercome. Not long after, she béeing agayne encoraged, ex∣cused hir selfe, that she was not valiantly ouer∣throwen: wherfore she sayd: If there were any other warrior amongst them, she would reuēge hir self, and make him run away. The Hedgehog hearing this came foorth, who was full of pric∣kles, whō the Serpent assaulted, but the Hedge∣hog, pricked hir sore, and wounded hir, whereof she was ashamed: but a Frog willing to be re∣uenged of the Serpente, went on hir, & would haue slaine hir, but she though wearie, hardened hir heart, and tooke the Frog, and deuoured him.

MOR. He is a foole which béeing vnarmed, wil assault his enimie.

116 Of the Kings fisher.

THe kings fisher is a solitary bird, always li∣uing in the sea, which as is sayd, taketh héede of mens huntings, & therefore buyldeth hir nest

vpon the rocks in the sea, who on a time béeing ready to breede, did make hir nest: As she was gone out to hir pastime, it chaunced the sea to arise (béeing stirred with a boysterous winde) aboue hir nest, which béeing drowned, hir yong ones perished. She at hir returne, séeing what had happened, sayde: Wo is me wretch, which fearing to be betrayed on lande, haue runne to this which is more deceitfull.

MOR. Some men taking héede of their foes, doo vnwittingly happen vppon friends who are much crueller than their enimies.

117 Of the Henne and the Foxe.

A Foxe entred into a pultrie house, where he saw a Hen on hir nest béeing sicke, whom he asked, how she did: Ah (quod the Hen) I should do much better (sister) were thou gone.

MOR. The presence of our enimies dothe muche hurt vs.

118 Of two enimies.

TWo men hating one another deadly, sayled togither in one ship, whereof the one sate in the foreparte of the ship, the other in the hinder part therof, sodenly there arose a tempest, which put the ship in hazard: thē he that sate in y^e sterne asked the maister which part of the ship should first be drouned, the sterne (quod he) thē he said: My death shall nothing gréene me, if I may sée

mine enimie die before me.

MOR. Many men care not what harme they haue, so that they may sée their ennimies before them hurte.

119 Of the Crow and the Rauen.

THe Crowe enuied the Rauen, bicause by him men tooke diuination, for which he was sup∣posed to forshew things to come: wherupon espy∣ing trauailers by, she flew vp into a trée, where shée stoode and cried like a Rauen: They at hir crying turning aside and wondring, at the laste vnderstanding the truthe, one of them sayde: Let vs be going fellowes, it was the Crow that cry∣ed, and shée hathe no soothsaying.

MOR. Those men which striue with their bet∣ters, besides that they are neuer able too matche them, deserue to be laughed at.

Enuie.

120 Of the Wolfe and the Fox.

THe Wolfe hauing much prouision of meat, liued at ease, to whome the Foxe came and demaunded the cause of his ease: the Wolfe perceiuing that he enuied his good fare, fained sicknesse to be the cause therof, and he prayed the Foxe, to beséeche the Gods for his healthe: The Foxe being grieued that his purpose woulde not prosper, went to a Shepeherd, and willed him to go to the Wolues den, where sodainly he might

take his enimie that liued void of care: the shep∣herde assaulted the Wolfe, & slue him, the Fox possessed his denne with al the good chéere, but he enioyed it no long time, for the same shepeherde caught him likewise.

MOR. Enuie is a lothseome thing, & hée that is y^e cause thereof cōmonly maketh a rod for him selfe. Horace in his .1. boke of Epistles writeth.

The enuious man doth grudge to see his neighbors goodes arise, The Sicil tyrants coulde not vvell a greater plage deuise.

121 Of the Couetous man and the Enuious.

TWoo men made their prayer to Iupiter, a Couetous man and an enuious, who sent A∣pollo to them to satisfy their desires, he gaue thē free libertie to desire, vppon this condition, that what soeuer the one required, the other shoulde receiue duble. The couetous man was long in doute: bycause he thought nothing was ynough: at length he asked no smal thing, his companion receyued double so muche. The Enuious man requested one of his owne eyes to be put out, gretly reioycing that his fellow shuld lose both.

MOR. Couetousnesse neuer sayth ho: as for Enuie, nothing is more madde, which wisheth him selfe mischief to hurte an other withall.

122 Of the Wolfe and the Asse.

THe Wolfe and the Asse were sawyers toge∣ther, but the Asse wrought aboue, & the wolf beneath, who sought occasion to slea his fellowe, wherfore he sayd: Ah wretched Asse, why doest y^• cast dust into myne eyes? Forsooth (quod he) I do not, but rule it after my knowledge: if it please thee to sawe aboue, I wil beneath. Tushe (quoth the Wolfe) I sée what thou dost, if thou cast any more into my eys I wil plucke out thine: when he had thus said the Wolfe blew harde, that the dust might flie vp into his fellowes eyes, but the timber staying it, it fell into his owne: where∣with being sore troubled, he sware, that he wold ouerthrow the porters, but sodeynly it fell, and kylled the the Wolfe.

MOR. Mischief commonly lighteth vpon the pate of the Author.

123 Of the Lyon and the Wolfe.

THe Lyon béeing stricken in age fel sicke, and laye in his denne, all beastes saue onely the Fox came to visite their King: Wherevpon the Wolfe hauing oportunitie, accused the Fox vn∣to the Lion, as one that set naught by him being their Lorde, for whiche cause he came not to sée him. By chaunce the Foxe came in, and hearde the latter ende of the Wolues tale. Then the Lion roared against the Foxe, who incontinent crauing space to make answere, said: which of all those that are héere present, hathe done so muche

good as I, which haue trauailed farre and néere to séeke a remedie for thée of the Phisitian, which I haue learned: Then the Lion commaunding him foorthwith to tel the medicine, he sayde: The Wolues skin being yet aliue, to be plucked from his backe and put warme aboute thée, is the me∣dicine and only remedy. As the wolfe lay along, the Fox laughed at him, saying: It becommeth not thée to prouoke thy Lord to wrathe, but to fa∣uoure and good will.

MOR. He which continually diggeth pittes, at length turneth him selfe therein.

Euill men.

124 Of the Cocke and the Cat.

A Catte sometime being hungry, came to de∣uoure a Cocke, whome bicause shée had no iust cause to hurt, laid to his charge his great notse that he was wonte to make, bicause that with his shrill crowing, he did lette men of theyr rest in the night: the Cocke replied that he was thereof giltlesse, séeing by that meanes he raised vp men to their daily trauell: It is but lost labor (said the Cat) to plead thus: for thou treadest thy mother, neither art thou so cōtent, but thou med∣lest with thy sister: the Cocke being ready to purge him self of that fault, the Cat waxed more eger against him, saying: thou striuest against the streame, for this day I wil be thy priest.

MOR. If any man would beat a dogge, he shall soone finde a staffe. The euill man by hooke or by crooke, if he list, will throw thée downe.

Euill for good.

125 Of the Countryman, and the Serpent.

AS a Countrimā walked about his grounds, he found a Serpent in the snowe nigh deade with colde, which he pitying much, brought home, and laid him by the fires side. The serpent by reason of the fire come againe to his strength and venime, could no longer endure the heat, but filled all the cottage with his hissing. The Coun∣tryman gotte vp a stake, and ran at him, where∣with he stroke him, and then tooke him vp for that displeasure, saying: Wilt thou thus recom∣pence my curtesie? Goest thou about to destroy him that saued thy life?

MOR. It chanceth often, if a man saue a théefe from the gallowes, he wil soonest séeke his death, and on whome men bestowe moste labor, of him they shall reape least good.

From euill to worse.

126 Of a Seruant which cast his Masters Asse from a Rocke.

A Certaine husbandmannes Seruant, threw downe his maisters Asse headlong from an high Rocke, that he might not daily be for∣ced to driue him too and fro, but he tolde his mai∣ster,

that he fell downe himselfe: wherefore his maister dyd cause him to beare all things on his shoulders, whiche the Asse was woonte before to carrie. The which thing the euill seruant mar∣king, saide: I was not well aduised when I slue my innocent fellow, which eased mee of so great trauaile, I am thus worthily serued.

MOR. Whyles fooles would auoyde any euil, they fall into woorse.

Exercise.

127 Of the Bat, the Bramble, and the Cormorant.

THe Bat, the Bramble, and the Cormoraunte entred fréendship togither, and determined to liue lyke marchants, whervppon the Bat boro∣wed money, and shipped it, the Bramble toke garmentes, & the Cormorant Brasse, and sailed together. It chaunced a greate storme to aryse, that the ship was drowned, & al their goodes lost, and they escaped to lande: since which time the Cormorante sitteth on the sea shore, to sée if the sea will cast vp the Brasse any where. The Bat fearing his creditours, sheweth not his head by day lighte, but goeth to féede by nyghte. And the Bramble dothe catche holde of the garments of suche as are passers by, séeking if hée can fynde his owne.

MOR. Whereunto wée do apply our selues, in tyme to come we followe the same.

Experience.

128 Of the Worme.

THe Worme that lurketh in the durt, went abrode vpon lande, and sayde to al beastes, that she was as learned a phisitiā for medi∣cines as euer was Poeen phisitian to the Gods: Why (quoth the Foxe) canst thou cure others, and canst not heale thy selfe of thy lamenesse?

MOR. All talke is in vaine, except experience haue ben had before.

129 Of Cockels.

A Countreymans son rosted Cockles, whome as he hearde hissing, he sayde: O euil beastes which when your housen be burnte do sing.

MOR. Al things done out of due order, are to be discommended.

Falshod in fellowship.

130 Of the Asse and the Fox.

THe Asse and the Foxe béeing entred fréend∣ship: went forthe a hunting, whome a Lion meeting, the Foxe séeing the present daun∣ger, wente to the Lion & promised to deliuer the Asse into his hands, so that she might scape scot∣frée: the Lyon agréed: then she led the Asse, and caused him to be trapped in a net: but the Lyon séeing him so fast, that he might not escape, firste layde holde on the Foxe, and after he serued the Asse likewise.

MOR. They which betray their fellowes vn∣doo them selues vnawares.

False witnesse.

131 Of the Dogge and the Asse.

A Bandog (which is able to vanquish not on∣ly Wolues, but also Beares) did iourneye a long way with an Asse which caryed a sacke full of bread. As they went on their way, a tempest arose, then the Asse hapned on a medow, where with good grasse he filled his belly full: but the Dog desired the Asse to giue him a little péece of bread least he sterued: he not only denyed him that, but also scottingly counselled him to féed on grasse with him. In the meane time the Asse es∣pying the Wolfe comming, besoughte the dogge to aide him. Nay (quod he) thou didst counsell me to féed on grasse to slake my hunger, so I will thée to defende thy selfe with thy iron heeles a∣gainst the Wolfe.

MOR. They which aide not them which néede helpe, are wont to be destitute of the succoure of others in the time of néede.

Faultes punished.

132 Of a wicked man and the Diuel.

A Wicked man hauing committed many hey∣nous offences, for which he was often appre∣hended and committed to prison, where he was kept very straightly, besought the helpe of a Di∣uel, which often had aided and deliuered him out of trouble. At lengthe he was taken againe, who

(as he wonted) required succoure of the Diuell: who came to him, carying a gret bundel of shoos on his shoulders and saide, friende, I can helpe thée no longer, for I haue trotted to so manye places for thy deliueraunce, that I haue worne out all these shooes, and I haue no money left me to bye any more, wherefore thou muste néedes peryshe.

MOR. Let vs not beléeue alwayes to scape scotfrée with our faultes.

Familiaritie.

133 Of a Camell.

WHat time the Camel was first séene, he was much dreaded, and bycause of hys hugenesse, men fled from him. But in processe of time, his tamenesse being knowen, they tooke a good hart & came to him: afterward vnderstanding the beastes courage, they so farre forthe despised hym, that they put a bytte in hys mouth, and deliuered him to be driuen by boyes.

MOR. Custome and dayly companie, make terrible things to be little set by.

134 Of the Foxe and the Lyon.

THere was a Foxe which had not ben vsed to the sight of the Lion, whome when he sawe by chaunce once or twise, he quaked for feare & fled away: As he met him the third time, he stood nothing in doubt, but approched & saluted him.

MOR. Familiar conuersation maketh men bolde, euen with those whom they were afrayde afore to looke on.

Feare.

135 Of the Egle

THe Egle for his beautie preferred him self before all other birdes, which thing all dyd affirme that it was true, but the pecock said to him self: the feathers make thée not beautiful, but thy bill and thy talandes, bicause none of vs dare contende with thée aboute their beautie for feare of them.

MOR. Myghtier mens affaires are praysed of many, more for feare than truth.

136 Of a Dog fearing the Rayne.

A Certein Dog as ofte as it rayned, durste not come foorth of the house, and béeing demaun∣ded of an other Dog why he did so, aunswered: bicause somtime I was scalded wyth hot water.

MOR. They which haue tasted of great euils. are afrayde of the smallest.

137 Of a Cock.

A Cock béeing taken by a Foxe, escaped from him very hardely. Not long after, he sawe a Foxes skin, wherewith being sore afraide, ran a∣way, whom other birdes mocked that he was a∣fraid of nothing. Ah (quod he) if ye had ben in the Foxes gripes as I haue ben, ye would be afrayd

of hys foote steps, how much more his skyn.

MOR. They which haue escaped great daun∣gers, dread the least.

Flatterie.

138 Of a sick man and a Phisitian.

A Sick man being demaunded of the Phisitiā how he did, aunswered: that he sweete more than needed. Wel (quod the Phisitian) that is good. The second time being asked, how he did said: I shiuer and quake sore: that is good (quod y^e other.) The third time he demaunded his paci∣ent as before, who aunswered, that he hadde the dropsy: that is also good sayde the Phisitian. Thē one of the houhold asked him how he did: in faith (quod he) through so many good thyngs I perish.

MOR. We ought chiefly to abhor them which only speake to delight the eare.

Fellowship of Women.

139 Of a man and his two wiues.

A Certain man of middle age being daintily brought vp, whose hair was half black halfe gray, maried two wiues at once in y^e spring time whereof the one was yong, the other old, which both dwelled togither in one house: the elder bi∣cause she wold alure him only to loue hir, dayly kemmed his head, & plucked out the black hairs. The yonger likewise (bicause she would entise him to hir, from the olde womans companie)

plucked out his white haires. At length betwéen them, they had plucked off so much haire, that he became balde and a common mocking stocke.

MOR. Nothing is better for olde men, than to leaue the companie of women, especially those that be yong, excepte he wil be cloyed.

Flying of daunger.

140 Of a Souldiour.

A Certein Souldiour being bidden of his fel∣lowes, to helpe them at a certeine Citie of Italie, whiche fell awaye from the king of Fraunce, aunswered them: If the right Lorde of the soyle shall besiege the Citie, who shall bring vs helpe? They sayde: The king of Fraunce. Then the Souldioure climed vp on a Tombe & cryed thrice with loud voyce, O king of Fraunce, but when no answere was giuen him, he turned to them that bad him, saying: I wil not come thi∣ther, when he that should help me can not heare me requiring ayde. The other whiche wente thi∣ther, were besieged of the Lorde of the towne, which being woon, they were taken and killed.

MOR. They are fooles which like Harebrains put them selues in daunger.

Fellowship.

141 Of Trauailers.

TWo men iourneid together, wherof the one founde an Axe, the other warned him that he shuld not saie, I haue found, but we haue

founde. Straight after, as they came togither to those which had lost it, he which had the Axe, fol∣lowing his fellowe whych iourneyed with him, sayd: we are vndone, nay (quoth the other) saye I am vndone not wée: for when thou foundest the Axe, thou didst saye, I haue founde, not wée.

MOR. They which were no partners in pros∣peritie, are no sure fréendes in miserie.

Fighting.

142 Of the Lyon and a Beare.

A Lion and a Beare hauing got a Hindcalfe did fight together for him. When they had long fought and were giddy & wearie, they laye downe to rest. But the Foxe went aboute them, and séeing them layde flat with the Hind∣calfe in the midst, ran betwene them and tooke away the Calfe, they might sée him, but culd not arise, wherefore they sayde: what fooles are wée to labor for the Foxe?

MOR. Fooles laye the pooles, but wise men haue the fishes.

Follie.

143 Of a rich man and his seruaunt.

A Riche man had a dulhead to his seruaunt, whome hee vsed to call the kyng of fooles: He being often offended with his wordes, thought he would be euen with his maister, and on a time he turned agayne to him and sayde: I

wold I were King of fooles, then in al the world there were no greter kingdome than mine, yea and thou also shouldest bée in subiection to mee.

MOR. All things are full of follie.

Fooles.

144 Of a woman that bet hir Husband.

A Certen Woman of a manly courage, had shrewdly beaten hir husband, which was a coward and dolte, bicause the Kight had stollen one of the chikens, which she going forth lefte him to tende: wherefore when his Wife was absent agayn, he tyed al the chickens to one thréed, and kept them more diligently, least the Kight should snatche any of them which he was put in trust to kéepe: but the Kight comming so∣denly, caughte one in his clawes, whiche as hée woulde haue caried away, he drew vp al the rest togither into the Aire. This wretched husbande remembring that for one chicken lost he was yll handled of his wife, was afrayd of more mischief to come, and thought it therfore better to die thā to trye hys wiues fury againe. Now this wittie woman had put certen figs into a little pot, wel dressed wyth hony and swéet spices, whereof she warned hir wise husbande, whose lickerousnesse she feared, that he should not tast thereof, bicause present poyson was in them. Hir husband wil∣ling to die, dyd▪ eate vp al the figs, supposing that

to be the best way to die and to escape his wiues anger. When the woman came home & knewe that the Kight had snatched away al hir chickēs, she tooke vp a staffe and determined to beate hir husband, bicause he kepte the chickens so yll: to whome hir foolish husband said: I praye thée wife beate me not nowe béeing readye to die, for I haue eaten vp all the poyson in the glasse, to pu∣nishe my selfe for my faulte. Then the woman turning hir anger into laughter, forgaue hir hus∣bande, which for kéeping hir chickens yll, other∣wise contented hir.

MOR Ther is no fit remedie against fooles.

145 Of Fishers.

SOmtime Fishers went a fishing: wherwith beeing weary and had caught nothing, they were very sorie and minded to depart, forth∣with a Tuny béeing chased by an other greate fishe, skipped into their boate, whom they tooke and departed merily.

MOR. Fortune commonly giueth that, which by cunning can not be got.

Fortune frowneth on the poore.

146 Of a rich man and a poore.

A Certein man béeing maruellous weary of the greate abundance of hys ryches, offe∣red a begger an .100. crowns if he would go to Fortune (which dwelt in y^e furthest partes of

the worlde) and beséeche hir in his name to bestowe no more goods vppon him. The poore man being agast bicause of the trauail of so long a iourney, refused at the firste, but afterwarde changing his mynde, & promising that he would goe, the ryche man saide he woulde gyue but .90. The poore man supposing it to be a small re∣warde for so great paynes, first would not agrée therevnto, but after requiring .90. the riche man could hardly be persuaded to giue him .80. The begger refusing that summe, and after requiring it, the other rebated alwayes ten from the num∣ber which he offred, til it came but to ten pieces. At length y^e begger, which refused .100. Crowns, being forced by pouertie, tooke the .10. Crownes, and wente vnto Fortune, whome with manye praiers he besought to giue no more goods to the rich man, but rather that she would be bountiful to him, whiche from his tender age had lyued in continuall pouertie, whom fortune aunswered: I haue determined to double yea & treble y^e riche mans goods which sente thée, wh••ther he will or not, but thée will I make to lyue continually in pouertie: besides that, thou shouldest neuer haue had the .10. Crowns which thou receyuedst, had I not ben very fast asléepe.

MOR. Againste a miserable person Fortune always frowneth, but to a fortunate person shée

is continually beneficial euen against his wil.

Friendes.

147 Of a Phisitian.

A Phisitian hauing the cure of a sicke man, whose chaunce was to die, sayde to them whiche caried the corps, this man if he had refrayned wine and taken clisters, had bin aliue at this day: then one of them that were by aun∣swered: Sir your aduise should haue ben shewed when it mighte haue done good, and not nowe when it is to late to call him back.

MOR. Friends should helpe in time of néede.

148 Of the Countryman and the Mouse.

THere was a Countryman very poore, but yet so merie conceyted, that in his moste miserie he forgot not his naturall pleasauntnesse. It happened that his ferme house by chaunce was set on fire, which burned so sore, y^t he mistrusted the quenching, which wyth heauye chéere he be∣held. In y^e mean time he espied a Mouse running out of the ferme, which made hast to escape bur∣ning. The Countriman forgetting his losse, ran after the mouse, & caught him, slong him into the midst of the fire, saying: Thou vnthākful beast, in tyme of my prosperytie thou dwelledst wyth me, nowe bicause Fortune is chaunged, thou hast lefte my house.

MOR. Those are no true fréends which cleaue to thée like a burre in thy felicitie, but in aduer∣sitie swiftly run away.

149 Of the Lion and the Hogge.

THe Lion intended to gette him a companion, whervpō many beasts desired to be matched with him, yea and instantly required it, but hée set light by them, & chose only the Hog into hys fellowship, whereof being demaunded the cause, answered, this beast is so faithfull that he neuer forsaketh his friends or fellowes in the greatest daunger that can be.

MOR. Wée séeke the friendship of those men which in time of néed cleaue to vs, and not those which giue vs the slippe.

Friendship fayned.

150 Of the Dog that deuoured the shepe.

A Certen shepherd gaue his Dog charge ouer his shéepe to looke to them, for whiche he fed him with the best meate. Neuerthelesse the Dog often killed a shéepe & deuoured him, which when the shepheard had espyed, caught the Dog and wold haue kylled him. Why (quod the dog) wouldest thou destroy me? I am one of thy hous∣hold, slay the wolfe rather which continually ly∣eth in waite to destroy thy sheep. Nay (quod the shepheard) I thinke thée ratherworthy of death than the Wolfe, for hée is myne open enimie,

but thou vnder the colour of friendship, dost dai∣ly decrease my flocke.

MOR. They are more greuously to be puni∣shed whiche vnder the pretence of friendship do hurt vs, than those whiche shewe them selues to be our open enimies.

Gayne.

151 Of the Larke.

A Lark being caught in a net, wept and said: Woe is mée wretch and vnhappy birde, for I haue taken frō no man either gold, siluer, or any other thing, but for a grain of corne I die.

MOR. This fable is against those which for a trifling gayne put them selues in daunger.

152 Of a wilde Asse.

A Wild Asse seing a tame Asse in a fūny place, wēt to him & accoūted him blissed, bicause he had good féeding & was in good liking: afterward seing him beare burthens, & the horsekéeper fol∣low, striking him with a staffe, he sayd, I thinke thee nowe no more happie, for I sée that with much sorrow thou enioyest this felicitie.

MOR Gaine ful of miserie and daunger, is not to be followed.

Giftes.

153 Of a Countryman and a Counseller.

A Certeine Countryman béeing in lawe vp to the eares, came to a Counseller, to the ende that by hys helpe he might wynde him selfe

oute of the lawe. But his Counseller béeing otherwise occupied, sente him worde that he had no leysure to talke with him now, praying him to returne an other time. The Countreyman accounting him for his sure friende, came often, but could not speake with him. At length he re∣turned againe and broughte with him a yong sucking Kidde and fatte, with whiche he stoode at the Lawyers gate, and often plucked him to make him bleate: the Porter (whom his maister commaunded to open the gates to them that brought presentes) hearing the voyce of the Kid, streight way opened the gate, and had him come in: Then the Countryman turned to the Kyd, & sayde: I thanke thée my little Kyd, for thou arte the cause that I come in so lightly.

MOR. Nothing is so harde but with giftes it is mollifyed.

154 Of Iupiter.

WHat tyme that Iupiter made a feast at a maryage, all beastes brought in their pre∣sents, euery one after his abilitie, among whom the Serpēt was with a rose in his mouth, which he offered: Iupiter séeing him, sayd aloude, euery mans beneuolence I willingly accept, but thine in no wise I will receyue.

MOR The wise man may well gesse that the wicked offer nothing without a craftie pretence.

Gluttonie.

155 Of Flies.

FLies flew into a hole ful of hony, wherof they did eate: their féete stuck fast therin, that they could not escape, who being nyghe choaked, sayde: Ah wretches, whiche for a little meat doe peryshe.

MOR. Gluttonye is the cause of muche euyll to many.

Glorying.

156 Of the Egle and the Rauen.

AN Egle came down from an high rock and light one a Lambes back, whiche thing the Rauen séeing, desired to counterfet him in hys dooings, and discended vppon a Ram, where bicause he stuck faste, he was caught and cast out to play withall.

MOR. Let no man account of himselfe by an other mans manhoode, but by hys owne power. Cut thy rote after thy cloth.

God knoweth all.

157 Of two yong men.

TWo yong men came into a Cookes shoppe as though they woulde haue bought meate, the Cooke béeing occupied, the one stole a péece of meate out of the basket, and gaue it hys felow to hide vnder his garment: the Cooke per∣ceiuing that a péece of fleshe was gone, accused

them both of theft: then he that tooke it, swore by Iupiter, he had it not: the other that had it, swore that he tooke it not. Well (quod the Cooke) the théefe I know not, but he that you haue sworne by, both sawe and knoweth the théefe.

MOR. If we haue ought offended, men know it not straight way, but God that rideth on the heauens & beholdeth the depthes of the sea, seeth al things: if men woulde remember this, they woulde offend lesse.

Goodes euill gotten.

158 Of Mony.

SOmtime Money béeing demaūded of vertue, why she rather went to the euil thā the good, aunswered: bicause good men brought vp in thy schoole neuer learned to lye and forswere, & to occupie vsurie, & to rob others, for these things are woont to draw me vnto them: forsooth (quod vertue) I had rather that my scholers lyued in pouertie, than they should defile thē selues with these vices, for both of them haue a short ende: y^e good leauing euerlasting glorie vpon earth, flie vp to the kingdome of heauen: but the euill with slaunder ynough, leauing their riches, shall goe downe to the bottome of Hell.

MOR. Gather riches after no yll way, for it will not onely bring in this lyfe an euill report, but also after death perpetuall torment.

159 Of a Gote and a Vine.

THe Vine saide to the Gote, thou hurtest me by shering my leaues: thou knowest I am no grasse, but though thou do me this harme, I wil prouide great plentie of Wyne to sacrifice thée to the Gods.

MOR. Commonly a man helpeth him, to whome he would do some mischiefe.

Good turnes.

160 Of the Ant.

AN Ant being thirstie cam to a wel to drink, wherin by mischaunce he fel, which a Doue a far off espying, caste downe a bough from an high trée, and holpe him: the Ant clymed vp theron, and escaped. Immediatly after, a Fouler set vp his nets to catche the Doue: then the Ant for to recompence his benefactoure, came softely stealing on the Fouler, & bit his foote, whereby the Doue flew away.

MOR. We must requite a good turn with y^e like.

Great talkers.

161 Of Mise that Would hang a bell about a Ca••s neck.

THe Mise assembled together & tooke counsel by what policy or cūning they might escape y^e cats wiles: thē one which in age & experi∣ence passed the rest, saide: I haue founde a waye whiche shall saue vs harmelesse from so great

dangers, if yée will be ruled by mée: let vs hang a Bell about hir necke, by the sounde whereof, wée shall know and perceyue the comming of the Catte: then all with one voyce commended his counsell as good, and sayde, they must so doe. Then an other elder than the rest start vp, com∣maunding silence, and sayde: I also allowe thys opynion, but who will be so hardie, that dare hang the Bell about the Catts necke? but when euery one refused to doe it, their talke was in vayne.

MOR. Many cōmend those things that ought to be don, but few are found to execute the same.

Griefe for sodaine chaunce.

162 Of Fishers

ON a tyme Fishers drewe their nets out of the sea, which they perceiuing to be heauie, reioyced gretly, supposing they had a great multitude of Fishes, but whē they drew the net to land and found a great stone but few Fishes, they waxed heauie, not for the smal number, but bicause it fel otherwise out than they iudged: thē one of the company being an aūcient man said: let vs not be grieued, for sorowe waiteth vppon pleasure, & therfore we ought to be sory in some thing, bicause we reioyced so much before.

MOR. We ought not to be greued, being de∣feated of our purpose.

Hastinesse.

163 Of the Wolfe and the Sow.

AS a Sow was ready to farrow, the Wolf came vnto hir, promysing to be safegard to hir yong Pigs: she answered, of thy seruice I haue no néede, but if thou wilt be accounted religious, or shew mée any pleasure, I pray thée depart further from mée, for with thyne absence thy seruice shall stande mée in better stéede than with thy presence.

MOR. All men deserue no credit in al things: for many promise their endeuor not for thy sake, but for their owne commoditie.

164 Of a Cat.

A Certein man had a great Chéese in a coffer, which a Mouse hadde tasted, therefore by the counsel of a friend of his, he shut in the Cat ther, which after she had killed the Mouse, deuoured the whole Chéese.

MOR. Those ought to be no kepers, whiche can no lesse hurt vs than our enimies.

Hastie credit.

165 Of a Man that would try his Wyues mynde.

A Certein crafty man desirous to vnderstande his wiues mynd, bicause she had often sayde that so derely she loued him y^t if shée myght wish shée wold redéeme his life with hir death, he wil∣lingly

let fal vpō both their féete a burning stick. Then the woman béeing in payne, and forget∣ting the loue she bare to hir husbande, did shake off the burning stick from hir féete onely.

MOR. Credite not women when they saye they loue their husbands better than them∣selues.

166 Of the Cock and the Capon.

A Cock & a Capon dwelled together in a poul∣try house, but the cock was lord of the Hens, and the Capon fed amongst them: It happened y^t a Foxe caught this Cock, and deuoured him, and his comb he touched not, but kept it safe & brou∣ght it to the Capon, saying: O brother capon, thy fellow is dead, wherfore I haue brought thée his combe euen for pure loue which I beare to thée, now if it please thée to come down, I wil crown thée, that thou mayst take the regiment of the hens as the cock did: the Capon being ambitious and gréedie of promotion, flew downe from hys roost, and came to the Fox, who reioycing therof, caught the Capon incontinent, and killed him.

MOR. Take hede howe thou credit al men.

167 Of the Fouler and the Larke.

A Fowler set his nettes for birdes, whome the Larke a far off espying, asked him what hée did, he aunswered, that he built a Citie, then he went a good way back, and hid himself: the larke

crediting his words came to the net & was takē: to it the Fouler ran, to whom the Larke sayde: Friend if thou build such a Citie, thou shalt find fewe dwellers therin.

MOR. Houses and Cities then chiefly become desolate, when the Rulers are busy bodies.

Hast maketh wast.

168 Of Goose.

THere was a Goose which day by day laide a golden Egge: hir maister desirous in al the hast to be rich, killed the Goose, hoping that ther was some hidden treasure within hir: and then finding hir emptie, the wretch was amazed and after mourned and sighed, that he had loste both his hope and substance.

MOR. We must measure our affections and that we be not to hastie, for hast maketh wast, & he that al would haue, somtime looseth all.

Harlots.

169 Of a vvoman and hir Louer.

A Lewd woman wepte bitterly for hir louer ready to departe from hir, whome she had nere polled of al that he had: whervpon hir neyghbour demaunded the cause why she wepte so comfortlesse, forsooth (quod shée) his departing doth not greue me, but the cloke which I lefte him to put on.

MOR. Harlots loue not their louers, but their Money.

Hatred.

170 Of a Serpent and a Husbandman.

A Serpent lurking in y^e entry of a husband∣mans house, slue his boy, for whome his pa∣rents mourned much, but his father for so∣row tooke an axe, went out and would haue kil∣led the Serpent, y^e husbandman séeing him looke vp, made hast to strike him, but he missed him, for he stroke the mouth of his hole: whē the ser∣pent was gon in and the husbandman thynking that he had forgot the wrong, he came and sette bread and salte before the hole, but the Serpent softely hissing, saide: Hereafter neyther trust or friendship shal be betwéene vs as long as I sée a stone and thou thy sonnes graue.

MOR. None forgetteth hatred or vengeaunce as long as he séeth the cause of his gréefe.

171 Of a man and a woman twice maried.

A Certein man hauing buried his wife, whiche he loued well, and maried a widowe whiche dayly laide in his dish the manlynesse of hir for∣mer husband: he bicause he would be euen with hir, dasht in hir téeth his other wiues honest be∣hauiour and chaft lyuing. It hapned on a time, when she was angry, a begger came to the doore and asked their almes, to whom she gaue a péece of Capon which she for hir owne supper and hir husbands boyled, saying: I giue thée this for the

soule of my first husband: Hir good man hearing that, called the poore man and gaue him the rest of the Capō, saying: I giue thée this for the soule of my wife that is dead: by which means either spyting other, at length hadde nothing for their supper.

MOR. We must not fight with those that can reuenge their quarell.

Helpe in neede.

172 Of the Countryman and the Horse.

A Coūtrymā draue by the way a spare horse, and an Asse sore laden with packs, the Asse béeing weary with trauayling, prayed the Horse if he would saue his life, to ease him som∣what of his burthen, the Horse thought skorne & denied his helpe: It hapned as they trauayled on in their iourney, the Asse being ouerladen, fel vnder his burthen & dyed, then his maister layd all the Asses burthen and eke the skin vpon the horse, wherewithal his back began to crack: Ah wretch y^t I am, sayd the Horse, I am thus iustly serued, bicause that lately I refused to helpe the poore laboring Asse.

MOR. Wee must helpe our friends that are in miserie, for parte of our rising our country claymeth, and part our friendes.

Heritage.

173 Of a Pig and his fathers wil.

A Pig wept bitterly for y^e deth of his parents, but whē he had red his wil and found that a great heap of Acornes & many bushels of meale were left him, he held his peace: and being asked why he wept no more, answered: y^e meale and the Acornes hath stopped my mouth.

MOR A great heritage causeth the heirs quick∣ly to leaue their mourning.

Hipocrisie.

174 Of the Cockatrice and Seawolfe.

THe Cockatrice on a time went to y^e sea side in the clothing of a Monke, & called to him the Wolfe, saying: O brother, since thou wast marked with the signe of the crosse, thou art become a perfect Christian, I pray thée ther∣fore come vnto mee, and instruct me in the fayth of Christ, that I may be baptized, & thereby es∣cape euerlasting iudgement, and haue fruition of eternall ioye. The Wolfe fishe marking hym well and knowing what he was, sayde: O thou hipocrite, a coule maketh not a frier, thy wordes are full of wickednesse and craft, neyther inten∣dest thou to be baptized of me, but rather thou wouldest beguyle & poyson mée: therefore I will not heare thée, and foorthwith hée swam away, & left him all ashamed.

MOR. Beware of those which come in shéepes clothing outwardly, but inwardly are rauening Wolues.

Hunger.

175 Of a Lynnet.

A Certayne Linnet was kept vp daintily by a rich man, who much delighted in his sing∣ing. It happened in time of dearth, that ma∣ny poore birds came to the Linnet and asked his almes, but nothing would he giue them, saue of the fragments and broken meate that was lefte, which he cared not for, but the birdes reioysing thereof, eate it vp swéetly.

MOR. It is an yll dysh, which a man will re∣fuse when he is hungry.

Honor.

176 Of a Mule.

A Mule being fat and pricked with prouēder, cryed aloude and sayd: My father is a swifte running horse, & I am altogether like him, but once when he should néedes run, and in run∣ning stayed, he straight way remembred that hée was an Asses foale.

MOR. Though time bring a man to promoti∣on, yet ought he not to forget his estate, for thys lyfe is vnstable.

177 Of a king and Apes.

A Certaine King of Aegipt appoynted Apes to be taught to daunce, whiche as no beast is of liker fauoure to a man, so none counterfayteth

better or willinglier a mā in his dooings. They hauing learned very quickly the art of daūcing, on a daye appoynted they began to daunce, and were clad in the richest purple. Their dauncing delighted the cōpanie a long time, vntil a merye conceited fellow cast down amongst them nuts, which he priuily hadde caried in his bosome: the Apes had no soner séene the nuts, but forgetting the daunce, became as they were afore time, of dauncers, Apes, byting and tearing their clothes in pieces, and fighting together for their nuts, not without great laughter of the beholders.

MOR. The giftes of Fortune chaunge not a mans disposition.

Hope.

178 Of Oxen.

A Heardman entred the stable and sawe the Oxen skipping for ioy, he therefore asked them the cause of their ioy, they answered: Our hope is to spend this day in the good leysnes Why (quod he) what thing hath brought you to this hope? We dreamed said they, it should be so: Ah (quod hée) giue no credit to such dreames, which you are like to find vntrue, for I dreamed that yée should plough to day, and mens dreams are wont to be truer than beastes.

MOR. Nothing is so soone begyled, as the hope of men.

179 Of a Hogge.

A Hogge was blamed of a shéepe that he yelded no profit to his master, of whom he was so di∣gently fed: séeing they gaue him milk, wooll, and lambes. He answered: when I am dead my fruit commeth in, for he feedeth me for a purpose.

MOR None wil take paines without hope of reward.

180 Of a man which hid a treasure.

A Certein rich man hid a treasure in the wood, whereof none knewe but hys Godfather, whō he greatly trusted. But when he came with in fewe dayes after to sée it: he found that it was digged vp and caried away: he therfore iudged (as it was in déede) that his Godfather had takē it away: he went & spake with him, saying: God∣father, I will also hide a 1000. crownes more wher my treasure is. Hée being desirous to gain more, brought againe the treasure and layde it where it was, when the true owner came short∣ly after thither and founde it, he tooke it home with him and went to his Godfather and saide: Thou promisse breaker, bestowe no more labor in vaine to go to the treasure, for thou shalt find it no more.

MOR. It is an easie thing to deceyue a coue∣tous man with hope of more money.

Humilitie

181 Of the Pigarde and the Egle

THe Pigarde sometime being pursued by a Hauke, flyed to the Egle for sauegard, say∣ing: Thou art great and mercifull, therfore came I to thée for ayde and succoure, whiche am small & weake, crauing that I may be vnder the shadow of thy winges, to defend me from the fu∣rie of my enimie. The Egle moued with pittie & compassion, sayd: Bicause of thy lowlinesse and imbecillicie abyde with mée, and feare nothing as long as thou art in my companie.

MOR. They that are mightie, ought to de∣fend the méeke and lowly.

Heart.

182 Of a man stoned.

A Certaine man béeing stoned to death of the people, rose againe: who being asked of one what did most gréeue him in that stoning, said: Nothing so much as the stone which one did throw whō I supposed to be my friend, although it touched me not.

MOR. The hurte done by our friendes doth more greue, than that which our enimies doe.

Hurtfull gaine.

183 Of a Rauen and a Serpent.

A Rauen lacking meate, sée a Serpent sléeping on a sunnie banke, at whom he flewe downe

and caught him vp: who turned againe and byt him: the Rauen therwith nigh deade sayde: Ah wretch that I am, which haue founde such gayne whereof I peryshe.

MOR. This fable is against him, which by fin∣ding a tresure, hath put him in daūger of his life.

Hurtfull things.

184 Of a poore man.

A Certain poore man had nothing but a house vnderset with shores, which was like to fal. It happened on a time as he returned from the fieldes, he founde it fallen, and bicause he had not wherwith to set it vp again, he was so much troubled in his mynd, that he fell to mourning & wéeping out of measure. But as this poore man thus made moane, he espied a brasen pot, which many years had ben hiddē in y^e wal, lying amōg the stones and rubbish, which when he had takē vp and opened, he found it ful of gold, wherwith his hart hopping for ioy, he left off his wéeping.

MOR. Sometime that we thinke hurtful, tur∣neth to our great profite and commoditie.

Jesting.

185 Of a learned man not esteemed.

A Certaine learned man béeing bidden to the feaste of a Prince, and commaunded to sitte

down in the nethermost roomes, when the other guestes had great fishes sette before them, but to him very small ones, he didde eate none, but put them one after an other to his mouth, then to hys ears, as though he would demaund somthing of them, and after layd them downe whole and vn∣touched in the dishes again: whom the maister of the feast asked why he did so? he aunswered, two yeare agoe in these parties my father through shipwracke was cast away, and what became of his body I coulde not afterwardrs knowe, I dyd therfore demaūd of these little fishes if they cold tel any tydings of him, but they aunswered that time they were not bred: wherfore I must aske the greater fishes. The Prince hearing so merie a saying, commaunded of the greater fishes to be set before him, & euer after he placed him among his chiefest guestes.

MOR. Amongst vnlearned men, learning is not so profitable as to the learned is pleasaunt and mery talke.

Ignorance.

186 Of a Phisitian.

AN olde Woman being troubled with pain of hir eyes, bargained with a Phisitian for a certaine sum of money to pay him if he hea∣led hir: if not, he should haue nothing. The phisi∣tian went about his cure, who dayly came and a∣noynted

hir eyes, but she (that houre he dressed hir) could sée nothing, then he at his departure, caried some thing out of the house. The olde wo∣man sée hir stuff dayly decrease, so that when she was healed, scarse any thing was left, to whome when the Phisitian came and required his bar∣gain, bicause she could sée clearely, and thereof brought witnesses, she saide: Truely I rather sée lesse than before, for when I was blind I coulde sée much stuf in my house, but now that I can sée as thou saist, I perceue nothing of y^t which I had.

MOR. Wicked persons not knowing what they doe, speake often against them selues.

187 Of a Dog.

A Certein man had two Dogs, wherof the one he taught to hunt, y^e other to kéepe hys house, if it chaunced the hounde to catche any thing, hée which kept within was partaker thereof, the o∣ther being offended, cast oft in his felowes téeth that he dayly tooke paynes, and the other did no∣thing, and yet he was fed with his trauaile: his fellowe aunswered and saide: Blame not mée but my Maister, which neuer taught me to labor but to eate that an other hath swet for.

MOR. Yong men which knowe nothing, are not to be blamed, séeing their Parentes brought them vp so.

Immoderatenesse.

188 Of Sheepe wasting Corne.

A Husbandman complayned that the shéepe destroied al his Corne, whervppon Iupiter commaunded the shéep to féed temperately, and bicause they obeyed not his will, the Wolfe was appoynted to afflicte them moderately. But when the shepherd complayned that al hys flock was killed by the Wolf, Iupiter was offended, & bad the Hunter kyll the Wolfe, which thing hee quickly dyd.

MOR. No immoderate thing is continuall.

Impossible promises.

189 Of the Owle and the Larke.

THe Larke came to the Owle and sayde: Deare sister, I praye thée beare me cōpanie to morowe at noone, for my louer desireth to sée me by Sunne light: Nowe if I be matched with thée, I shal seem more beutiful. The Owle promised to be ther, for he was ashamed to stick with hir for so smal a trifle. When day was vp & the Sun did shine very cleare, the Larke way∣ted for him, but the Owle durst not appeare by Sun light, bicause she could not sée, and therfore came not, wherwith the larke being offended, al∣wayes after abhorred & pursued hir: wherefore the Owle flieth not by day for feare of the lark, but séeketh his meate by nyght.

MOR. None ought to promise that which he

can not perfourme.

190 Of the Reede.

THe Réede was displeased y^t not onely al other trees, but sometime grasse did beare a nest, and he only of that honor was depriued: he ther∣fore prayed a litle bird to build hir nest vpō him, so would I (quod she) but I mistrust thy incon∣stancie, for I wil not build my childrens house vpon so ticklish a foundation.

MOR. We oughte not to commit our selues or our children to inconstant persons.

191 Of the Eele.

THe Eele saide to the Serpent, why do men pursue mée rather than thée, séeing we are so néere kin and so like? Mary (quod he) If they hunt mée, they seldome escape scotfrée.

MOR They are least hurte, whiche vse to re∣uenge their iniuries.

Innocencie.

192 Of the Crowe and the Sheepe.

A Crowe lighted on a shéepes backe & made a great noyse, then said the shéep: If y^u shuldest do so to a dog, thou mightest chaunce catche copper. Yea (said the Crow) I know with whom I deale, for I am to the pacient gréeuous, and to the angry pleasaunt.

MOR The wicked striue continually with the féeble and simple folke: the innocent is troden

vnder foote, but no man gainesayeth the vngod∣ly, if he be stout.

Inough hath none.

193 Of the Ape and the Foxe.

THe Ape prayed the Fox to giue him a piece of his taile to couer his buttockes withall, bicause that to him was a burthen, woulde stande him in good stéede and do him much wor∣ship. The Foxe aunswered and said, that she had nothing too muche, and she had rather swéep the ground therewith, than it should couer the Apes buttockes.

MOR. Some haue great scarcitie, and some haue great plentie, yet fewe rich men are so wel bent as to helpe the poore with any thing of their excesse and superfluitie.

Ʋaine ioye.

194 Of the Frogs and the Sunne.

THe Frogges reioysed at the mariage of the Sun, to whom one sayd: O wretched kind, if we onely feare the Sunne beames, who will abyde hym if he gette children?

MOR. This fable is agaynst those, which ig∣norauntly reioyce at their owne harme.

195 Of a Wolfe fallen into a pit.

A Fox espying a Wolfe fallen into a hole, dyd laugh, & reioysing skipped about the brinkes of the Pit, calling him foolish beast, which would

not beware of mens deceits. As he thus wantō¦ly scoffed, the earth fayled, and caried him heade, long in also: whome the Wolfe séeing to fall saide: I shall nowe carye a great comfort of my death to hell, bicause I see the Foxe (which moc¦ked me) perishe with mee.

MOR. We ought not reioyce at anothers mi¦serie, seing we may fal into the same likewise.

196 Of two Hogs.

A Certain man had two Hogges which bare so mortal hatred one toward an other, that dai∣ly they tore eche other with their téeth: but whē their Maister killed one of them, the other was wonderful glad, seeing his enimie should dye incontinent: within fewe dayes after, when hée him selfe was drawen to deathe, he tormented him selfe, saying: Woe is me wretch, why did I so reioyce ouer my enimies death, whom so soone I followe to the same ende?

MOR. None ought to reioyce, no not ouer the death of his enimie, seeing it is euident that all must dye.

Judging outwardly.

197 Of a Wolfe that put on a Sheepes skin.

A Wolfe put on a Shéeps skin, and was con∣uersant amongst the Sheepe, of whome hée dayly deuoured one, which thing when the shepherd had espied, he hanged him vp in an high

trée, thē other shepherds asked him why he hoong vp a Shéepe: Ah (quod he) the skin as ye sée is a shéepe, but in his déedes he was a Wolfe.

MOR. Men muste not be esteemed after their apparell, but after their works, for many are vn∣der shéepes skinnes rauening wolues.

198 Of the Elephant.

AS the Lyon passed by the wilde beasts tho∣rough the desert, they made their obeisaunce to him as King of beasts, onely the Elephant bo∣wed not his knée, bicause he coulde not: but some beastes enuying him, reported yll of him to the Lion, he sent for him foorthwith, and sayd: Why art thou so stubborne, that thou doest not thy du∣tie as the rest? My Lord, according to my power I honoure thée, but I can not kneele bycause I lack knées. The Lion sayde, if thou doo it in thy heart, it suffiseth: wherefore he condemned hys accusers, and promoted the Elephant.

MOR. Wée ought to giue no iudgemente, be∣fore the truth be tryed.

Labor.

199 Of an Asse.

THe Asse in the winter season was muche troubled for the extreme colde that he suffe∣red, and that he lyued onely by straw, wher∣vpon he wished for the spring tide, that he might

féede of the swéete grasse. When the spring w•• come, his master béeing a potter, compelled hy•• to carry clay into the workhouse, and wood to t•••• furnace, and thence to carry bricke & tile into d••¦uers places: wherwith béeing anoyed, he long•••• for sommer, hoping then to take his ease whe•• his maister was busie in his haruest: but then h•• caried wheate into the barne, and from then•••• home, and had no rest: wherfore he thoughte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Autumne were once come, to haue an end of hi•• trauell: but he could not yet be eased of his tra¦uell, but as then caried wine, fruit and wood: the•• he desired for frost and snow agayne, that at th•• last he might haue some ease of his trauell.

MOR. In this lyfe there is no tyme voyde of continuall labour.

Learning.

200 Of a Husbandman and a Poet.

A Certayne Husbandman came to a Poet, whose grounds he tylled, whom bycause he found alone sitting amongst his Bookes, as∣ked hym by what meanes he coulde lyue so so∣lytarie? Mary (quod he) I was not alone afore thou camest héere.

MOR. Learned men which dayly are in com∣pany of suche as they are, be neuer alone, but when they are amongst the vnlearned.

201 Of a Riche man vnlearned, and a Poore man learned.

A Certaine man being riche but vnlearned, mocked a learned man which was poore, by∣••ause that he himselfe with his own trauaile had ••athered much goods, but he which was so lerned ••as in great penurie: No maruaile (quod hée) ••icause thou hast studied to gather riches, but I ••aue endeuored to get learning, whiche doth far ••xcel ryches. Herevpon fel a contention between ••he riche man and the learned, whither learning or ryches were more excellent, which coulde not ••e ended seeing both had many fauorers, but the ryth man had most: At length by this meanes it was knowne that learning excelled ryches, tho∣rough ciuile discorde béeing bothe compelled to liue in banishmēt, when they could cary nothing away with them of their substance they, went a∣way into an other citie, where the learned man was hyred to teach for a great stipende, and had in honour and estimation: but he which was rich through pouertie béeing fayne to beg his breade from doore to doore, confessed that in his opinion he had erred.

MOR. The giftes of Fortune, bicause they passe to and fro, are farre subiect to the giftes of the mynde, whiche are proper and euer∣lasting.

Learne by others.

202 Of the Pike and the Tench.

AS a certain Fisher angled, he so bayted h•••• hookes that the Fishes coulde not percei•••• them, which the Pyke and the Tenche sé••¦ing, were very desirous of it: but the Pyke b••¦ing subtil said to the Tench: This bayte séemet•• to be good and delicate, yet I thinke it is layde t•• deceyue fishes withall, therefore let vs forsake 〈◊〉〈◊〉 least we peryshe through the lustes of gluttonie In faythe (quod the Tenche) it were a folly t•• leaue so good a morsel for feare of nothing: I wi•• fyrst trye it and make merry with it, and look•• thou what wil hap. As he swallowed the bayte•• he felte the deceite of the hooke and would fayn•• haue retired, but the Fisher first plucked him vp then the Pyke swam away & said: Let vs learn•• by our fellowes mischance, least we peryshe.

MOR. Happie is hée, whome other mens harmes do make to beware.

Leudenesse of women.

203 Of a Ielous man.

A Certayn Ielous man maryed a Wife, whō he knew vnhonest, wherevpon he deliuered hir to a trustie friend of his to kéepe, promi∣sing him a great rewarde, if he kept hir so safely, that by no meanes the bonde of wedlocke were broken▪ When he had tried hir a fewe days and

••erceiued that she might hardly be kepte safe, by∣••••use through hir subteltie he was nighe ouer∣••ome, went to hir husbande and told him that he ••••oulde not take so great charge vpon him, séeing ••••at Argus himself, with an hundred eyes, were ••ot able to kéepe hir by constraint: he said more∣••uer, if he might be put to choyse, he had rather ••y the space of one whole yere, dayly carry into ••he fieldes a sacke full of fleas, and turne them ••ll to grasse, and bring them home agayne at e∣••ening, than one day too haue the charge of a ••eude woman.

MOR. No kéeper be he neuer so diligent, can ••éepe safely a wanton minion.

Liberalitie.

204 Of a Liberall man.

A Frank and Liberall man towarde all men, trauelling farre, fell amongst théeues, who ••tanding about him, and ready to stay him, one of ••hem cryed out: kyll not thys man which hathe muche holpen me, for sometime he did not onely ••eceyue me gently into his house, but also nori∣••hed me béeing sicke, and caused a Phisitian too ••ooke vnto me, with which wordes his felowes ••elenting, suffered him to depart vnhurt.

MOR. As farre as we may, we should doo good to all men.

Libertie.

205 Of the Dog and the Lyon.

A Dog by chaunce met with a Lyon, to whom he sayd merily, what wandrest thou (O mi∣ser) through woods and deserts nighe pyned for hunger? Marke howe fatte and trim I am: I neuer take paynes for it, but get it idelly. Truth it is (sayde the Lyon) that thou farest well, yet thou (O foole) art in bondage, serue thou whiche canst serue, for I am frée and will not serue.

MOR. In euery thing libertie far excelleth.

Lyers.

206 Of the Shepheard and the Hus∣bande men.

A Boy kepte shéepe in a great Pasture, who thrée or foure tymes dyd crye in ieste that the Wolfe was come: which thing caused the Hus∣bandmen (out of euery quarter of the Countreis) to assemble there. It chaunced verily, that the Wolfe came at lengthe, and the Boy called for help as before, but they béeing oft deluded, would not once stirre out of their doores, whereby the shéepe were all destroyed.

MOR. He that vseth lying, though he chaunce once to tell a truth, shall not soone be credited.

207 Of Mercurius.

IVpiter commaunded Mercurius to bestowe a∣mongest craftes men the medicine to make

them ly, which when he had wel stamped & mea∣sured, he poured it equally vpon euery one The shoomaker only remained, on whō (bicause much of the medicine was lefte) he poured all in the morter: whereof it came to passe, that all craftes men are liers, but most of all shoomakers.

MOR. This fable is against lying workmen.

Like to like.

208 Of an olde man and his Sonne.

A Certaine olde man being thrust out of doors by his Sonne, lyued in an Hospitall. On a time he espied his Sonne trauayling that way, whom he prayed, that at the least he would send him two towels of al his lynnen, for which he had swet ful sore▪ who being at length moued with his Fathers prayers, commaunded a little Boye his sonne, to fetch his Grandfather the linnen that he required. The Boy being witty and worthy of suche a father, brought but one, whome his Father rebuked bicause he brought not two as he was bidden: forsoothe (quod he) I keepe the other for thée, that when thou art olde and liuest in an Hospitall, I myght sende it to thee.

MOR. Looke what loue we beare towardes our Parentes, the same will our children beare toward vs.

Lyue in thy vocation.

209 Of a Camell.

A Camell being wery of his estate, complay∣ned that the Buls had goodly hornes, but he himself had no defence to resist other beasts He therfore besought Iupiter to giue him horns also: Who laughed at his foolish request, wherof not only he was denied, but also had his eares cropped.

MOR. Lette euery man be contente with his calling, for as some hunte after better Fortune, they happen to worse.

210 Of the Asse, the Ape, and the Mole.

THe Asse complayned that he lacked hornes, and the Ape that he wanted a tayle. Peace fooles (quod the Mole) for I am blinde also.

MOR. Some are not content with their estate, but if they wayed wel other mens misfortunes, they would quietlier endure their owne.

Loue of money.

211 Of a ryche man.

A Ryche man had two daughters, wherof the one died, at whose buriall he hyred women to lament: the other sayde: What wretches are wée, for to vs this mourning belongeth, but wée can not skyll thereof, and they whiche haue nothing to doo therewith, how pitifully doe they wayle? To whom hir mother saide: Maruell

not daughter if they lament so, for they doe it bi∣cause of money.

MOR. Some men for loue of money, feare not to picke aduantage from an others miserie.

Madnesse.

212 Of a mad man.

A Certaine mad Man wandring throughe Ci∣ties, cried aloud that he had wisdome to sell, then one offered money and required it, to whome he lent a blowe & gaue him a long thréed, saying: Thou shalt be wise if thou kéepe thée as farre from mad men, as this is long.

MOR. We must haue nothing to do with mad men.

Mad seruaunts.

213 Of a Priest and his Boy.

A Priest giuen to belly good chéere, deliuered to his Boy ten fat thrushes vppon a Spit to be rosted, saying that he should eate them al at a bit, if he let them fall into the ashes. Within a short while after, whē he returned (for he was gone out to doo certeine businesse) he founde the boye crying, who being demaunded whye he wept, aunswered, bicause he could eate but nine when they fell into the ashes, requesting that he might not be forced to eate the tenthe, bicause he was ful swolne more than inough. The priest be∣ing offended, as well with the madnesse of the

boy, as bicause he saw that he had lost his supper, led the boy without the threshold of the dore, and shewed him thrée wayes, saying: Choose which of these thou wilt, for héere thou shalt not lodge this night.

MOR. We ought not to kéepe mad seruaunts in our house.

Mariage.

214 Of a yong man.

A Certeine yong man which should marrie a wife, being demaunded whither he woulde haue hir, tourned to his frends and neibours present, saying: Why stand ye like dumbe men, why do ye not pray God to help me this day? for if we pray God to help them which néeze, where no danger is, how much more ought ye nowe to pray for me to whom so great danger is at hand?

MOR. They which marrie enter into greate danger.

Meane life.

215 Of Iupiter.

IVpiter celebrating a marriage, receiued al bea∣stes vnto the feast, only the Snaile made slowe haste, the cause wherof he maruelling at, asked him why he came not to y^e feast? he answered: My house is deare to me and excellent: wherat Iupi∣ter being angry, gaue sentence that he shuld cary his house about him.

MOR. Some men had rather liue hardly at home, than daintily abroade.

Myght.

216 Of the Wolfe and the Lambe.

AS a Wolfe was drinking at the heade of a spryng, he espied a Lambe far beneath also drynking of the same spryng, wherat grud∣ging ran hastily to the Lamb & roughly rebuked him for troubling y^e spring. The Lamb trēbling besought him to shewe compassiō on him, being therof giltlesse, alleaging that bicause he dranke far beneath him, by no meanes he could trouble his drinking, neyther yet meant it. The Wolfe hauing determined euen at the firste sighte, the deathe of the Lambe, threatned hym most rigo∣rously, saying: Thy labor is in vaine to aske pardon, for thou art alwayes my enimie, thy fa∣ther, thy mother, and all thy cursed kinred are willingly my foes: but this daye I will be re∣uenged of thee.

MOR. The mightie if he be desposed to hurte, easely findeth occasion thereto. A small is a great faulte, if a man deale with his Superiours.

Musick.

217 Of a Swanne.

A Ryche man brought vp a Swan and a Goose together, but not both to one purpose, for the one shoulde serue to sing, the other for the table.

When the time was come that the Goose should do that for which he was kept vp, it chaunced to be night, so that one could not be knowen from the other, and the Swanne was caried awaye in¦stead of the Goose, who soong a song at the begin∣ning of hir deth, by which she shewed hir nature, and by hir swéete singing escaped death.

MOR. Commonly Musick prolongeth life.

Necessitie.

218 Of a Horseman and a Husbandman.

A Horseman required a Husbandmā to catch a Hare, whiche he tooke in his handes and asked the price, and foorthwith set spurs to his horsse: but the Husbandman sayde: Make no hast, for I will giue it thée for a present.

MOR This fable toucheth those which refuse their owne vpon necessitie.

Negligence of seruants.

219 Of a Man and his Dog.

A Certaine man hauing forgotte to shut the doore wher the Hens roosted: when he arose in the morning, founde that they were all kylled and caried awaye by the Foxe: He was wroth therefore with the Dog, bycause he hadde not well tended hys goods, & bet him sore. Why, (quod he) if thou hast ben negligent in shutting the doore, for whome the Hens layde Egges, and hatched Chickens, is it any maruell if I béeing

in a dead sléepe, and haue no profite by them, did not perceiue the Foxe comming?

MOR. We muste neuer hope to haue diligent seruants, where the maister is negligent.

Newe things best.

220 Of a Souldiour and his Horse.

THere was a Souldiour which had a passing fine horse, and boughte an other in goodnesse nothing like vnto him, whome more nicely he kept than the first: Then said he to his fellow, why dothe my Maister kéepe me passingly aboue thée, séeing I am not to be compared to thée, ney∣ther in comelynesse, strength, nor swiftnesse? He answered him: This is the course of the worlde, that new guestes are best welcome.

MOR. Such is the madnesse of men, that they preferre newe things afore olde, thoughe they be worser.

Obedience.

221 Of the Kid and the Wolfe.

A Gote going abrode to féede, shut vp hir yong Kid at home, charging him not to open the doore till hir returne: The Wolf by chaunce hearing that, after hir departure knocked at the doore, faining the voice of the Gote, and bad him open it. The Kid perceiuing his pretence, denyed to open the doore, saying: Thoughe thy voyce be like a Gotes, yet I sée a wolf through the chinks.

MOR. It is good for children to obey their Parents, yong men to be ruled by age.

Offences vnpunished.

222 Of a Philosopher.

A Philosopher of the secte of Cynicus in chi∣ding béeing stricken, was not onely there∣with contented, but also rewarded hym that strake, with a piece of siluer: Which thing when al that were present maruelled at, and said y^t he was worthy to be beaten ageyne, ah (quod hée) yée knowe not what I haue done nowe, but hereafter yée shall know: not long after as that stryker woulde haue beaten an other (for he ho∣ped to gayne somwhat,) he receyued his deathes wound, and feeling death to come vppon him, he sayd▪ how much better had it ben for mée to haue ben striken again of the Philosopher, than to be rewarded with a siluer peny?

MOR. When offenders escape scot frée, it doth them somtime more hurte than punishment.

Ouer hastinesse.

223 Of the Mouse and the Cat.

A Flocke of Myse had their abiding in a hol∣low wal, where out by chaūce péeping, they espyed a Cat, which sat in a chaumber loo∣king grimly, and hanging downe hir heade. Then saide one of them: This beaste séemeth very gentle and simple, for hir countenaunce

pretendeth holinesse, I will therefore go speake with hir, and contract a perfect league of friende∣ship with hir that shall neuer be broken. When he had so sayde, he came néerer vnto hir, whome the Cat caught & tore in pieces: the other séeing that, sayde: Verily, verily, wée must not credit smooth lookes.

MOR. We must not iudge any man by hys countenaunce, but by his good woorkes: for in a sheeps skyn oft are wrapped rauening Wolues.

Pacience for gayne.

224 Of the Sowe and the Dog.

A Sowe mocked a Spaniell, bicause he vsed to faune on his maister, which so oft had beaten him, and plucked him by the eares, to teache him to hunt. Thou mad body (quod the Dogge) thou knowst not what I haue gained by these stripes, for hereby doe I eate the swéete Partriches and Quayles.

MOR. We must not be gréeued if our Maister beate vs, for therof issueth plentiful goodnesse.

Pacience perforce.

225 Of a Lambe and a Wolfe.

A Lamb standing in an highe place, rayled on the Wolfe as he passed by beneath, calling him naughty beast and rauening, to whom the Wolfe turning sayde: Thou doest not taunt me, but the Toure wheron thou standest.

MOR. Some suffer wrong of vile persons, for feare of greater men.

226 Of a Flie.

A Flie by chaunce fell into a fleshe pot, wherin being nigh choked, sayd to himselfe, beholde I haue eate and dronk so much, and so wel washed me, that now being so full, I am content to die.

MOR. A wise man will stoutly beare out that which by no meanes can be auoided.

Parentes.

227 Of the Ape and his two sonnes.

THe reporte is, that if the Ape chance to haue a twin, shée loueth the one, and hateth the o∣ther: It came to passe, that shée had two at a clap, who by chaunce being put in feare, bicause shée wold escape the present danger, caried y^t shée loued in hir armes, which as shée ran hedlōg, shée dashed against a rock, and flue it, the other which shée hated, sat on hir rough back, & went scot frée.

MOR It chaunceth commonly that parentes bring that childe to naughte, whome they make wanton, and whome lesse they cocker, to proue a valiant and good man.

Please euery body.

228 Of an olde man which caried an Asse

IT was talked sometime amongste the Popes Secretaries, that those menne which framed their lyfe after the opinion of the common peo∣ple,

were in a miserable bondage, bicause it was impossible to please euery one, séeing they are of sundry iudgements. To which opinion one tolde, that there was an olde man which went to mar∣kette, with his sonne to sell an Asse, whiche he draue vnladen before him. As he passed on his way, there were men labouring by in the fields, which blamed the olde man, bicause that neyther he nor his sonne did ride on the Asse which went emptie, séeing the one for his age, the other for his infancie had néede to be caryed. Then the old man sette his sonne on the Asse, and himselfe went by on foote, which thing other séeing, sayde that he doted for letting his sonne ryde whiche was stronger, and he being olde woulde followe on foote: forthwith he chaunged his minde, and sette off his sonne, and ridde him selfe. When he hadde ridden a little further, other mette hym, who blamed him, that he hadde no regarde to the age of his little sonne, but would let him followe him as a drudge, and him selfe being his Father, did ride on the Asse: wherwith he being moued, sette his sonne also on the Asse. Not long after he was asked by other, whose the Asse was: Mary (quod hée) it is mine: then they rebuked hym that he had no pitie on his poore Asse, but to sette two on him, séeing one was sufficient. Then the man being troubled with so sundry opinions,

and séeing he coulde not be in quiet, but still wa•• checked, he bounde the Asses foure feete togithe•• and on a staffe caried him on his owne shoulder and his sonnes to markette: whereat all m••nn wondring, laughed excéedingly, blaming both their follies, especially the fathers. The old ma•• therewith chared, went to the riuers ••ide, an•• caste his Asse bounde into the water, and so soft•• him and returned home: by which meanes th•• silly olde man desirous to content euery bodye could please none, but lost his Asse.

Pleasure.

229 Of a Firre tree and the Bushe.

THe reporte was sometime, that the Firre trée despised the Bushes, and boasted of his owne tal stature, that he was placed in hou∣ses, and to beare a saile in the Shippes: but they low, vile, and good for nothing: then they framed him this answere: thou boastest much (O Firre trée) of thy goodnesse, and scornest oure euils, be∣sides this thou concealest thy mischéefe, and pas∣sest ouer our good fortune, but when thou shalt be cut downe with the axe, howe gladly woldest thou be like vnto vs which are voide of care?

MOR. Felicitie hath euils to accompany hir, as misery hath good things. In summe, this is safe &

••ide of care, the other is neuer out of feare, nor ••ide of daunger.

Perfection.

230 Of the Sowe and the Bitche.

THe Sowe and the Bitche contended aboute their nobilitie: The Bitche alleaged that of al foure footed beastes shée was the fruteful∣••est. The Sowe quickly replied, saying: Séeing ••hou sayste so, knowe thou, that thy Whelpes be ••orne blinde.

MOR. Things are not iudged by quick spéede, ••ut by full perfection.

Perseueraunce in his vocation.

231 Of the Dog and the Asse.

WHen the Dog fauned on his Lord or the seruaunte, they stroked him with their hands, and made muche of him: which thing the Asse marking wel, sighed déepely, being weary of his estate, yea and he thought it vniust∣ly appointed that the Dog should so be beloued of all men, as to be fed at his maisters table, & there vnto to attaine with ease and play: contrarywise, himselfe to cary packes, to be whipped, to laboure without ceassing, and yet neuerthelesse to be ha∣ted of all men: Séeing these things come to passe by fauning, he purposed to folowe that trade of li∣uing being so profitable: and watching a conueni∣ent time, when his Lorde returned home, bicause

he woulde put the thing in triall, he ran afore t•• méete him: incontinently he lept on him & knoc¦ked at him with his héeles. Then his maister cri¦ed out for helpe, which thing his seruauntes hea¦ring, ranne speedely to him: and the foolishe Ass•• which thought him selfe ciuill and curteous, was well beaten with a staffe.

MOR. All men can not doe all things, neythe•• all things become all men. Let no man meddle aboue his capacitie, nor goe about that, which he is most vntowardly in.

Policie.

232 Of a Lyon and a Foxe.

A Lion being taken in a snare, endeuoured with all his force to breake the bandes: the harder he plucked, the straighter he was helde. The Foxe hauing an errand that way, and séeing this, sayd: O King, by no strengthe maiste•• thou escape hence, but by pollicie, for the snare must be lette oute and loosed, and not drawne in. Which when the Lion had done, he straightway loosed the snare wherewith he was bounde, and escaped frée.

MOR. Pollicie is farre better than strength.

Pore and rich.

233 Of a Wolfe being hungry.

A Wolfe in his olde age not able any more to hunte, was sore a hungred, neither coulde he

••inde any kinsman or friend which would helpe him with meat. As he therfore wandred through a great woode heauily, he chaunced vpon a deade carcase of an Oxe, which he had scarse begon to teare, but a companie of other wolues, rauens, & crowes came thither and prayed him to receiue them as his fréends to partake of his pray: Then the Wolfe said to him selfe: beholde me whome lately my brethrē and sonnes regarded not, now strange beasts reuerence, & desire my frendship, but they do not this honor to me, but to the Oxe.

MOR. A poore man is hated of al men, but the rich are honoured.

Pouertie praised.

234 Of the Horsse and the Harte.

THe Horsie kept warre with the Harte, and being often driuen from his meate, and put to the worst, he lamentably desired the aide of men, with whome he came into the field: then he that afore had the ouerthrow, became conque∣ror: but his enimie being ouercome, and subdued he himselfe became bond too man, faine to carrie him on his backe, and a bit in his mouth. Of this fable writeth Horace.

A Hart in fight excelling much the horsse, from meate him draue, The strife vvas long, but horsse vvas faine, the helpe of man to craue.

The bit he tooke vvith merry cheere, straight vanquisht vvas his foe, His Ryder yet he durst not cast, nor yet his bvt forgoe, So he that dreadeth pouertie, and can not vse a meane, Shall leade his life in seruitude, and loose his freedome cleane.

Praise not thy selfe.

235 Of the Ape and his yong ones.

IVpiter sent out a precept, commaunding all li∣uing things to appeare before him, y^t he mighte giue iudgement whose ofspring were the best fa∣uored: the beasts came running, the birds flying, and the Fishes swimming thither. Laste of all came the Ape, and w^e him his yong one, at whose yl fauoured buttockes euery one laughed. Tushe (quod the Ape) whom pleaseth God Iupiter shall haue the victorie, yet in my iudgement this my childe is faire, & therfore of right before all other to be preferred: whereat Iupiter also smiled.

MOR. We and oures séeme good in our owne eyes, but of vs and our doings, let other iudge.

Prayer.

236 Of Mariners.

IT hapned as many Maryners were sayling on the sea, that there arose a great tēpest sodeinly: hen euery one prayed to his God for helpe, but

one amongst the rest, sayde: Ye know not what yée pray, for before these gods can goe to the Lord for oure succoure, wée shall perishe throughe this storme: therefore I doe thinke it best to pray vn∣to that God, which withoute the helpe of any o∣ther, can deliuer vs from this present daunger: Then they cried to almighty God for helpe, and straight way the storme ceased.

MOR. We must not séeke for help at the foote, when we may goe to the head.

Praise of our owne.

237 Of the Owle.

IN the assembly of birdes, the Eagle sayde that he would choose the yong ones of other birds to serue in his court: and when euery one stroue to preferre his owne, the Owle sayd: I pray thée (O Quéene) receiue mine, which in beautie passe all the rest: why (quod the Egle) what beautie are thy sonnes of? The Owle answered: Of the same that I my selfe am. Then all the Birdes laughed excéedingly.

MOR. No childe is so deformed, which to his parentes seemeth not faire.

Praise another for aduauntage.

238 Of a Foxe and a Dog.

A Fox being coursed by a Dog, and euen at y^e pointe to be caught, hauing no way to shifte him, said: why woldest thou destroy me thou

dog, séeing my flesh y^u canst not eat? Go catch ra∣ther that Hare (for there was one then harde by) whose flesh men iudge to be the swéetest: the dog harkened to the counsel of the Foxe, and let him goe free, pursuing the Hare, whom bycause of his wonderfull swiftnesse he could not ouer∣take. Not long after, the Hare mette with the Foxe, blaming him for setting the Dog at him. The Foxe aunswered him: I maruell what thou meanest to accuse me, which praysed thée so greatly: what wouldest thou haue sayde, if I had dispraysed thée?

MOR. Many vnder the colour of praysing, de∣uise vtter vndooing to some men.

Preparation.

239 Of the Wolfe and the Porkupine.

ON a tyme the Wolfe béeing hungry had a fancy to deuoure a Porkupine, whome by∣cause of his sharpe prickes he durst not assayle, but inuented a craftie wile to trap him in, coun∣selling him not to trouble his backe with so ma∣ny weapons in tyme of peace, séeing that other Archers carried none with them but when they goo to warfare: Nay (quod the Porkupine) wée must suppose that there is no tyme voyd of war agaynst a Wolfe.

MOR. A wise man ought always to be armed agaynst the assaults of his enimies.

Preparation to dye.

240 Of an olde man loth to dye.

A Certayne olde man desired deathe whiche came to take his life from him, to spare him till he might make his will, and prouide all other necessaries fit for suche a iorney: whome Death aunswered: Why haste not thou prepa∣red thy selfe béeing so ofte warned by me? Mary (quod he) I neuer sawe thée afore? Why (quod Deathe) when I dayly tooke, not onely those which were of like yeres to thine (of which num∣ber very fewe remayne) but also yong men, chil∣dren and babes, was it not sufficient warning that thou arte mortall? When thy eyes waxed dimme, thy hearing thick, other senses dayly de∣caying, and thy body béeing worse and worse, did I not tell thée that I was néere at hande? and yet thou sayest thou hast no warning: wherefore I will no longer prolong the time.

MOR. We muste directe our lyfe, as though death were alwayes before our eyes.

Presumption.

241 Of the Asse and the Lyon.

THe Cocke sometyme fed with an Asse, to whom as the Lion was comming, the Cock crowed out aloude, and the Lyon straight∣way fled (for men say) he is afearde at the cro∣wing of the Cocke. The Asse supposing that he

ranne away bicause of him, wēt straight after the lyon, whom when he had so far pursued that they were without the hearing of the Cocks crowing, the lion returned & deuoured him, who as he was dying cryed out: Ah wretch & madde body that I am, for I am borne of none that were warriors, and wherefore haue I rushed into the hoste?

MOR. Many men assayle their enimies which vpon set purpose doo humble them selues, by the which meanes they are slayne.

Pride.

242 Of the Horse and the Asse.

SOmetyme a Horse decked with fayre trap∣pers and a saddle, greatly neyghing, ranne through a highe way, whose running an Asse laden by chaunce dyd let, he all raging and che∣wing his bit for anger, sayd: Ah lither lurdeyn, why withstandest thou the Horse? Giue place or I will tread thée downe: the Asse durst not once bray, but quietly auoyded. It happened as the Horse ranne his race, his hoofe brake, who then béeyng paste running or makyng any shewe, was spoyled of his ornaments, and after solde to a Tanner. The Asse seeing him com∣ming wyth a Tanner, sayde vnto hym: What good sir, howe happeneth thys kynde of wéede? where is thy gilt sadle, thy studded trappers, and glittering brydle? Thus it is fitte my friende to

happen to euery one that is proude.

MOR. Many men in their prosperitie are so puft vp with pride, that they cleane forget them selues, and all modestie, but for their presumpti∣on they soone suffer aduersitie.

Proude of an others purse.

243 Of Iupiter and the Rauen.

ON a tyme Iupiter mynding to create a king of the Foules, appoynted a day of assembly, to the ende that he which was comlyest shoulde be appoynted king. The Rauen hearing therof, and knowing his owne deformitie, gathered to∣gither diuers feathers and decked himselfe, that he was goodlyest of all. When the day appoyn∣ted was come, the Foules assembled togither: then Iupiter would haue made the Rauen king bycause of his gaynesse, whereat the other dys∣dayning, plucked euery one his feathers from him, whereof he beeing spoyled was a Rauen as before time.

MOR. He that hangeth on another mans sléeue, if he chance to fall from him, al the world shall know what he is.

Falles of pride.

244 Of a Flea and a Lyon.

THe Flea came to the Lyon and sayde: Nei∣ther feare I thée, neither arte thou stronger

than I, but I pray thée what is thy strength? thou scratchest with thy nayles, and with thy téeth thou bytest, so doth a woman fyghting with hir husbande: but in strength I far excéede thée, and if thou wilt, let vs go fight. The Trumpet béeing blowen, the Flea stucke faste about hys nosethrils, byting: but the Lyon with his owne nayles tore him selfe till he was chafed: The Flea hauing ouercome the Lyon, sounded the Trumpet, and reioyced: but as he flewe away, he was entangled in a Cobwebbe: and béeing ready to be deuoured, he lamented that he stroue with the greatest Beastes, and nowe to be kilde by a vile Spider.

MOR. This Fable is agaynst those whiche vanquishe greate men, and are vanquished by meane persons.

Princes.

245 Of the Pecock and the Chough.

WHen the Birds would make them a king, the Pecocke prayed them to choose him for his beautie: when they so mynded, the Chough began to say: if in thy raigne the Egle pursue vs, how wilt thou helpe vs?

MOR. Princes must bée chosen, not onely for their beautie, but also for their strengthe and wisedome.

Promis.

246 Of a man and a Dog.

A Certayne man had prepared a Supper, to whiche he hadde certaine of his friendes, whose Dogge lykewise desired an other Dogge, saying: Friende, come and suppe with mée. Which Dogge béeing come in at the doores, and séeing suche great chéere towarde, reioyced greatly, and sayd to him selfe: Oh what ioy hath happened me of late, for I shall fill my belly so full, that I shall not be hungry to morrow: and as he wagged his tayle for ioy, bicause he trusted in his friende, the Cooke seeing him thus doo, caught him by the legges and cast him out of the wyndow: when the Dogge was fallen, he rose vp quickly and ran howling away: As he went another Dog met him, and asked him what good chéere he had to supper, he answered: I was so out of measure dronke, that I knew not the way wherout I came.

MOR. We must not trust in those which pro∣mise vs a good turne of another mans gifte.

247 Of a Heardman.

AS a Heardman kepte a Heard of Bulles, he lost a Calfe, whom in euery desert he sought a long time, but when he coulde not finde hym, he prayed to Iupiter, promising if he would shew him the Théefe which stole his Calfe, to offer a

Gote in sacrifice to him. It happened as he wal∣ked in a groue of Okes, he foūd that his calf was deuoured by the Lyon, whereat trembling for feare, he cast vp his hands to heauen and sayde: God Iupiter I promised to giue thee a kidde if I found the Théefe, nowe if I escape his hands, I will vndertake to giue thée a Bull.

MOR. This Fable is agaynst vnluckie men, that lacking ought, pray to finde it, which hauing found, they séeke to auoyde.

Promotion.

248 Of a man created Cardinall.

A Certein merry conceited fellow, hearing his friende to be created Cardinal, came to gréet him for his promotion: he loftie and swelling with pride, counterfayting that he knew not hys olde friende, asked who he was: the other bee∣ing ready in his merry aunswere, sayde: I pitie thée and others that come to suche promotion, for as soone as ye haue got suche honours, ye léese so your fight, féeling and other senses, that ye cleane forget your olde friendes.

MOR. Some béeing promoted to dignitie, de∣spise their olde acquaintaunce.

249 Of Field Mise.

A Flocke of fielde Myse appoynted to gnawe downe an Oke full of mast that they might haue their meate the readier, so as they neede

not so ofte runne vp and downe for it. Then one wyser than the rest forbad them, saying: If wée destroy our norisher, who shall giue foode to vs and our séede in time to come?

MOR. A wise man ought not onely to behold things present, but also things to come.

Punishment of vices.

250 Of a Flea

AS a Flea was byting a man, he was taken, who asked what he was, seing he fed of him: aunswered, he was of that kinde of beastes, which as nature ordeined, liued by that meanes, praying him not to kill him, bicause he could not doo muche harme, whereat the man laughed, saying: I will therefore the sooner kill thée, by∣cause it is not lawefull to hurt any, either much or little.

MOR. We must not fauour the wicked, whi∣ther their trespasse be small or great.

Rashnesse.

251 Of a Fisher.

A Certayne Fisher béeing but a nouice in that arte, tooke his pypes and his nets, and went to the Sea, and standing on a rocke, played firste with his pype, supposing that by his swéete me∣lodie the fishes would daunce: but when he had long tried that way, & could not prosper, he layd downe his pype and tooke vp his nette, which he

cast into the Sea, wherein he drewe many Fy∣shes. When he had emptied his nette and sawe them skipping, he sayde: Oh wicked Creatures, when I piped, ye would not daunce, and nowe I haue left off, ye begin to skip.

MOR. This fable is against those whiche doe any thing without aduisement, and out of time.

252 Of a Currier and a Hunter.

ON a time a Currier came to a Hunter to bie a Beares skyn, for whiche he drewe money to haue payde. In faythe (quod the Hunter) pre∣sently I haue none, but to morrow I will goe a hunting, & if I chaunce to kil a Beare, thou shalt haue his skin. The currier (to refresh his spirits) wente into the forest with him, and bycause hée woulde the better beholde the pastime betwéene the Hunter & the Beare, he climbed into an ex∣céeding highe trée. The Hunter went boldly to the Beares Denne, who put in hys Dogs and rouzed him. It happened that the Beare shun∣ned his blow, and foorthwith strake the Hunter to the grounde: who knowing the nature of the beast to bée, to take pytie of a carcase: helde his breath and fayned him selfe to be deade. The Beare smelled at him euery where, and percey∣uing by no meanes any life in him, departed a∣way. When the Currier saw that the beast was gone, and that there was no daunger, he came

downe out of the trée and went to the Hunter, whom he had arise, and afterward demaunded what the Beare sayde in his eare? He warned me (quod he) that hereafter I sell not a Beares skinne before I haue caught him.

MOR. We ought not accounte that we haue not, as sure as that we haue.

Religious men.

253 Of a Wolfe.

A Wolfe being old and not able any longer to hunt, gaue him selfe to religion, put vppon him a Monks attyre, and begged meate from doore to doore▪ & being rebuked by another wolfe sayd: What wouldest thou I shoulde doe? My se••th are cute, and runne I can not, wherefore I mistrust otherwise how to liue.

MOR. Many addicte them selues to Religion bicause they can not otherwise liue.

Repentance to laice.

254 Of a Beare.

AS a Beare scolded by chaunce with his wife he thrust out hir eyes, but after repenting, he was so graued therwith, that hée byt off hys nayles. And when in talking he sayd, that for the loue he bare to hir he had cast away his best de∣fence: what good (quod his wife) doth this to me? Thou shouldest haue done this before thou scrat∣chedst out my eyes.

MOR. After harme done it is too late to repēt, séeing that which is done, can not be vndone.

255 Of a simple Countryman.

TThere was a Countrymā which as he came from market, heard two Cuckoes aunswe∣ring one an other out of two sundrie woods. And when the Cuckoe of the other wood had néere put to silence hys country cuckoe, he lighted off his horsse and climbed a trée, and as well as he could, he holpe his country cuckoe with his cry∣ing. In the meane time a Wolfe deuoured his horsse: then was hée fayne to goe home on foote, where he complayned to hys neighbours, how for the honour of his country he had holpe hys Cuckoe, wherby he had suffeyned greate losse. Then they all with one accorde payd his dama∣ges, supposing that it was not fit that any should receiue hinderance, which had trauelled for their common wealth.

256 Of the Mule and the Horsse.

A Mule espied a horsse gorgeously decked with a gilt byt, a faire sadle, & purple trappers, at whose Fortune he enuied much, supposing him to be happy, bicause he alwayes fared well, and went gayly: contrarywise, his owne estate in comparison of hys to be miserable. For (quod he) I am ouerladen with the packsaddle, and I am a dayly drudge to cary burdens. But shortly

after, he espyed the Horsse returning from bat∣taile sore wounded, then he accounted his owne estate better than the Horses, saying: I had ra∣ther get my liuing hardly with my daily labour, and to bée clad in vile aray, than after such faire and trim apparell to be in daunger of my life.

MOR. We must not enuie Kings and Prin∣ces bicause of their wealth and substance, séeing they are subiecte to many moe peryls than poore men are.

257 Of a Diuell.

A Diuill wandring through the worlde (as his maner is) marked a certaine yong man re∣ioysing at the deth of his parēts, wherat he was very glad: but going a little further he wept, sée∣ing an other very heauie at his Fathers buriall, who being demaunded the cause of so diuers af∣fections, aunswered: The laughing of the sonne for the deathe of his parents, declareth that those being riche are dead, of which number very few escape our handes: but the wéeping is a token of the fathers pouertie: and the kingdome of Hea∣uen, for the most part, is wont to belong to those whiche are poore.

MOR. Too much riches do cary a man downe to Hell.

Riche enimies.

258 Of the Birdes.

THe Birdes were greatly afrayde least the Dorres shoulde kill them with shooting of Balles, bicause they hearde that they hadde rolled togither a great heape of bals. Feare not sayd the Sparrow, for how shall they shoote bals at vs that flie in the aire, when they can not car∣ry them on earth but with much toyle?

MOR. Wée néede not feare the riches of our foes, when wée sée they lacke wit.

Riottousnesse.

259 Of an Oxe and a Bullock.

AN Oxe béeing well striken in age, dayly went to plow. It hapned that a yong Hey∣fer whiche neuer had laboured, fetched hys friskes in the pastures not farre off, and scorned the toyling of the elder, boasting muche of hys owne libertie, that he had tasted neyther yoke nor chayn, but the others necke was worn bare with laboure. The Oxe presently aunswered nothing: not long after he espyed this royster ledde to be sacrificed, then he saide thus to him: What end hath now thy easy life? Thy carelesse liuing at harts ease hath brought thée to y^e axe, I think now thou wilt rather counsel me to labor than to tolenesse, which is the cause of thy death.

MOR. To leade an honest life there néedeth

trauell: the Sluggard and he that is bent to ri∣ottous liuing, shall come to that which he would be lothe.

260 Of a Boy that would not learne.

A Boye whiche hated learning, béeing brou∣ghte by his Father into a Schoole, coulde not be enticed by any faire meanes of his Mai∣ster, to speake the fiest letter of the Alphabete: Then sayd his Maister, open thy mouth, for that thys Letter requireth, but he gaped and spake not. The Maister seeing his labor lost, had hym sitte amongst his fellowes, warning them to persuade him to speake onely this Letter: then his schoolefellows exhorted him in the best ma∣ner that they coulde, saying: Is it suche a payne to saye A? Nay (quod the Boye) but if I speake that, he would make me learn B and so the rest. But neither my master nor my father shal haue the power to make me learne.

MOR. They which are vnwilling to learne, can neuer be forced to it.

Seruaunts.

261 Of the Doue and the Crowe.

A Doue being fed in a doue house was exccee∣ding proude of hir fertilitie: The Crow hea∣ring therof, sayd to hir: Friend, brag no more thereof, for the more thou breedest, the more care thou heapest.

MOR. Amongest seruants, those are most mi∣serable, which in time of their bondage get ma∣ny children.

262 Of the Asse and the Calfe.

AN Asse and a Calfe fed togither in one pa∣sture, by chaunce they heard the founde of a bell, which they supposed to be a signe that their enimies were at hand, to whom the Calfe sayde: Let vs be packing hence fellowe, least our eni∣mies take vs prisoners. Nay, flee thou hence ra∣ther (quod the Asse) whom they vse to kill & eate, for I care not, I know this, where soeuer I be∣come my life shall be to cary burdens.

MOR Let not seruants feare much to chaunge their maisters, least the last bée woorser than the firste.

Shifies.

263 Of a Marchaunt and a Iewe.

A Certein prodigall fellowe hauing wasted al his Fathers goods, applied his minde to prac∣tise deceyt. It happened on a time, that he wrap∣ped a piece of ordure in a cloute and brought it into the market, saying that he had a precious thing which was of such force, that if any mā ta∣sted the least crum therof, he should haue fulfil∣led whatsoeuer he thought of. But a Iew, whose maner is priuily to mark al things, thought if he did buy it, that he would haue o•• his minde many

townes and lordships when he tasted of it (by∣cause he would be exceding riche) he came ther∣fore secretly vnto him and asked the price, wher∣vnto this prodigall fellow sayde: Auaunt, thou shalt not buy it, for thy clothes declare, that thou art not able. The Iewe sayde to him, how kno∣west thou? tel mée the price: he answered .700. crownes: the Iewe payd him the money, vpon condition, that if he had fayde true, he should en∣ioy it: but when he had tasted it, he spit it out, and sayd it was ordure. Then the seller hauing per∣formed his promise, pleaded the cause before the Maior, and enioyed the money.

Sicke folke.

264 Of a Carter.

A Certein Carter asked his wagon, why that whéele which was worst made so much crea∣king, séeing none of the rest did so? The waggon aunswered: Sicke folkes are wayward, and al∣wayes complayning.

MOR. Diseases cause men to complayne.

Sinners.

265 Of an olde Woman.

MEn commonly will (if through their follie any mischaunce happen to them) laye the blame to Fortune or the Deuill, to excuse them selues, they doo so muche followe their appeti∣tes: wherewith the Deuill not contented, when

by chaunce he espyed an olde woman clymbing a trée, whence he perceyued she was lyke to fal, and then the faulte would be layd on his necke, he called for witnesses, to whome he sayde: Be∣holde; that same olde woman hath climbed that trée without my consente, where I see shee wyll fall: beare witnesse therfore with mée, that I counselled hir not to goe vp. Immediatly she fel: then being demaunded why she climbed that trée, answered, the Deuil forced me: then he brought foorth his witnesses, and proued that she did that without his aduise.

MOR. Those men deserue no pardon, whiche voluntarily sinning, blame Fortune or the De∣uill therfore.

Synging.

266 Of the Nightingale and the Rauen.

ON a solemne feast day the Egle had the bir∣des to dinner: after it was doone, the Eagle called foorth the Nyghtingale, whome he had to sing some melodie to lyghten their hartes with∣all. She foorthwith song swéetely, that it delited the hearers. In the meane tyme a Rauen pas∣sing by, and hearing this, sayd: I will also sing wyth the Nightingale, for I haue a base voyce whiche shall be hearde farre off, and he began to croake verye lothsomely, whiche caused the Nyghtyngale to holde hir peace. The other

birdes were offended with the Rauen for trou∣blyng the feast: then the Egle commaunded him eyther to departe, or to holde his peace: but hée aunswered, that hée woulde syng, and for hir he woulde not stirre an inche. The Eagle com∣maunded him agayne to auoyde, whiche bicause hée stubbornely disobeyed, was commaunded to be slayne.

MOR. It is vayne to sing, where the hearers are vnwilling.

Simplicitie.

267 Of the Doue and the Pye.

THe Pie asked the Doue what was the cause that shee alwayes buylt in one place where hir chickens were alwayes taken away: she aunswered, simplicitie.

MOR. Good men are easyly beguyled.

Slouthfulnesse.

268 Of an Asse and Frog••.

AS an Asse laden with wood passed thorough a marshe, by chaunce he slipped and fell, who not béeing able to aryse, lamented & sighed, but the Frogs whiche were in the marshe, hearing hym sighyng; sayde: What wouldest thou doo sirra, if thou hadst continued here so long as wée haue, which for so smal a tyme doost so mourne?.

MOR This talke maye any manne vse to a slouthfull persons, whiche for a little paynes is

troubled, béeing able easyly to ouercome greate affayres.

269 Of a Pellican.

THe Goose and the Ducke made sometyme a greate feast, to the whiche they had all tame Foules, but to sette out their Supper, they went into the wyldernesse and founde the Pellicane, whome they brought with them to their banket, When the feaste was doone, they all besoughte the Pellicane to abyde with them, and not to liue so solitarily in suche penurie, who at length beeing somewhat persuaded, continued a fewe dayes wyth them, and made greate bankets: But when hee woulde haue prayde, he was in∣terrupted with their chattering: wherefore he left their companye, and liued the rest of his lyfe in solitarynesse.

MOR Who so will serue God truely, muste do it alone quietly.

Sluggardes.

170 Of a Smith and his Dog.

A Certayne Smyth had a whelpe, whiche all the whyle hée stroke on his yron, did sléepe: but when he wente to meate, the Dogge would straightewaye arise, and eate the crummes that fell from the Table, or bones, or any thing else. Whiche thing the Smith marking wel, sayde to his Dogge: Thou wretche, I can not tell how to

••andle thée, for whyles I am busie in my worke, thou lyest snorting and sléeping: But when my teeth goe, thou startest vp and waggest to me thy tayle.

MOR. Idle sluggardes whiche liue of an other mans sweate, must be punished according to the rigour of the law.

Strength.

271 Of the Bull and the Mouse.

A Mouse did byte a Bull by the foot, & straight way ran into his hole: the Bul shaked hys horns & sought for his enimie, but see him he could not: then the mouse laughed him to scorne, saying: Bicause of thy strength despise not euery body, for now a silly Mouse hath hurte thée, and scaped free.

MOR. Let no man regarde his enimie.

Stryfe.

272 Of a Weasel.

A Weasel came into a Smiths shop, and lic∣ked ••n a fyle which lay there, wherwith hir tong being torne, bled very muche: She reioy∣ced greatly, supposing to cary away something from the yron, vntill hir tong altogither was worne away.

MOR. This fable is against those whiche in strife hurt them selues.

273 Of Hares.

THe Hares sometime holding war with the Eagles, required ayde of the Foxes: but they aunswered, we would helpe you, but that we knowe what ye are, and with whom ye fight.

MOR. They which striue with their betters, set little by their owne health.

Stripes.

274 Of the Nut tree, the Asse, and the Woman.

A Certeine Woman questioned with a Nut trée growing by the high way side, whiche was alwayes pelted with stones by passengers, why he was so mad, that the more he were bea∣ten, the more encrease he yelded, the Walnut aunswered: Remēber you not the old Prouerb? The Nut trée, the Asse, and the Woman, are al vnder one lawe: whiche thrée will doo nothing well without great store of stripes.

MOR. Some men make a rod oftentimes for their own tayle.

Suffering wrong.

275 Of the Beare and the Bee.

A Beare sometime stinged of a Bée, was so wood angry thereat, that with his nayles he tore in pieces the hiues where the Bées made hony: the Bées seing their hiues plucked down, their food caried away, & their yong ones slayne, rushing all at once, assayled the Beare, and nigh

stoong him to deathe. Hée hardlye scapyng from them, sayde to himselfe: howe muche better had it ben for mée, paciently to haue suffred the stin∣ging of one Bee, thā to prouoke so many enimies agaynst mee?

MOR. Sometyme it is farre better to suffer wrong doone by one, than in requiting it to pro∣cure many foes.

Thefie.

276 Of a Boy and his mother.

A Boye stole his Fellowes Booke oute of the Schoole, whiche he broughte to his mother: she corrected him not therefore, but rather made muche of him: Who waxyng elder, stole grea∣ter things: and at a tyme béeing taken with the manner, he was straight way ledde to execution, whome his mother followed and lamented: but he prayed the Hangman that he myghte talke a woorde or twoo in his mothers eare, who straight way layd hir ear to his mouth, which he with his téeth byt off: diuers rebuked him that he had not onely played the theefe, but also vsed suche vil∣lanie to his mother. Shée (sayde hée) is the cause of my vndooing: for if shée had chastized me when I stoale the Booke, I had not now ben ledde to hanging.

MOR. Faultes whiche are not at the first cor∣rected, doo increase greater.

Time.

277 Of a Grammarian teaching an Asse.

A Certein Grammarian boasted that he was so passing tine in his arte, that if he might haue a sufficient reward, he would take vp∣pon him to teache not only children, but also as∣ses. The Prince hearing of the mans rashnesse, asked hym whither he thought hee coulde teache an Asse within tenne yeares, if he gaue hym .50. Crownes. The shamelesse manne aunswered, that he woulde not refuse to bée slayne of hym, if in that space the Asse coulde not write and reade. His fréendes hearyng of thys, maruel∣led and rebuked him, bycause hee had promi∣sed to doe a thing, not onely harde, but also impossible: and they dyd feare, least when the tyme hadde bene expired, he should be slayne of the Kyng: whome he answered: Before this time be come out, eyther the Prince, the Asse, or I shal dye.

MOR. Delay of time is commonly woont to bée a helpe, for those whiche stande in daun∣ger.

Trying of friends.

278 Of a man that would trie his friends.

THere was a certein man very riche and libe∣rall, whiche had many friends whom often times he had did to supper, to the which willing∣ly they came, & bicause he might y^t better know

whether they would be trustie in time of néede, he assembled them togither and told them that he had foes lately vpstart, whiche he meaned to destroy, praying them therefore to arme them∣selues and come with him to reuenge his qua∣rel: then euery one began to excuse him selfe sa∣uing two, whiche he accounted for his friendes, and afterward loued them dearly, but the other he reiected.

MOR. The best trier of friendes is aduersitie.

Trye all wayes.

279 Of a yong man and an old.

A Certein old man espied a yong man gathe∣ring of his frute, whome he gently entreated to come downe frō the trée, and not to purloyne his goods: but he spake to the winde, for he light∣ly regarded his age and his words. Ah (quod the olde man) I haue heard, that not only in words, but also in herbes force consisteth, whervpon he began to pluck the leaues and cast them at him. The yong man séeing him do so, laughed out of measure, supposing that he doted, to driue hym downe with leaues. The old man willing to as∣saye him by gentle meanes, when he perceyued that he could nothing preuayle, sayd: I wil proue what stones wil doo, for in them men say, there is vertue: & forthwith filled his lap with stones which he cast at the yong mā, and perforce made

him come downe and departe.

MOR. A wise man ought to assay all manner ways, before he take any weapon in hand.

Trouble.

280 Of the Lyon and the Bull.

A Bull being afrayde of a Lyon, fled away, and by chaunce met with a Gote, who with frouning countenaunce threatned to strike him with his hornes, to whom the Bull full of wrath, sayd: It is not the knitting of thy browes feareth me, but y^t the fierce Lion is so neer at my héeles, thou shouldest féele what it were to meddle with a Bull, and to renew his wounde.

MOR. To the sorowfull ought no more mise∣rie be added, who that hath bin once in trouble, hath tasted sorrowe inough.

Trust in thy selfe.

281 Of a Larke.

A Certein Larke by chaunce builded hir nest in a piece of wheat, that was somewhat riper than other: whence hir yong ones were not able to flie when the corne was yellowe. As she was going foorth to séeke meate, she warned them if a∣ny noueltie hapned to be done or sayd, to marke it well, and at hir returne to certifie hir thereof: after hir departure, the owner of the corne came thither, and sayd to a yong man his sonne: Séest ••••••t thou, that this corne is rype and néedeth la∣••ourers?

to morrowe therefore by breake of daye. ••o to my friends, desire them to helpe me in with my haruest: when he had so saide, he departed. When the Larke returned to hir yong ones, they ••ame fluttering aboute hir, and prayed hir out of hand to hast and carry them away, for the owner had sent to his friendes, willing them to come the next morning to reap his corne: She had them bée of good cheer & feare nothing, for if the Lord of the ground haue remitted y^e matter to his friends, to morrow it shall not be cut down: the next day she flew a broad again for meat, y^e lord waited for his bidden friends, the sun waxed hote, but nothing was don, neyther any friend of his came. Thē said be to his son, I see wel that these my frends for the most part are loyterers, let vs therefore entreate our kinsfolkes and neyghboures to morrowe betimes to come: hir Chickens were then afrayd and tolde it to their mother: she had them to leaue off feare and care, for none of alliance would be so obedient as to come at a becke, especially to la∣bour. The nexte morning she went abroad as be∣fore, his kinsfolkes lefte the worke vndone: The owner seeing that, sayde to his sonne: Adieu both friends and Cousins, bring thou to morrow at the break of day two sickles, one for mée, another for thee, and we with our owne handes will reape it. When hir yong ones tolde hir this, she sayd: It is

time to be packing, for that he sayd with out do•• shall come to passe: for on him that ought it, th•• labour is turned, not where it was required: an•• thus the Lark shifted hir nest, and the corne wa•• reaped. Héereof Ennius writeth these tw•• verses.

This sentence in thy minde, beare thou in any wise: Looke for no helpe of friendes, where thy helpe may suffise.

Trusting mortall things.

282 Of an Asse.

A Certaine poore man which had nothing but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 barrell of Wine and an Asse, had maried hi•• only daughter to a certaine yong man, pro¦mising hym somewhat in franke mariage which he thought to gather of his Wine and th•• Asse (for he had determined to sell them) but th•• nexte nyght after that the bridale was kepte, th•• Asse died, who as he was dying, brake the vessel with his héeles, and spylt the Wine.

MOR. We must put no trust in transitorie things.

Truth hateth iesting.

283 Of one that played the part of Christ.

A Certain Countreyman playing the parte of Christ in a playe, was beaten and euill entreated of the Iewes, wherfore he flang way the crosse and sayde: The Deuill bée your God, for I wil not. Then a Baker ••ooke his part, ••home the Iewes lykewise did h••••d••e opprobri∣••usly: whiche thing the pacient suffered, but an ••ther sayd to him, Meale stealer: then the Baker ••unswered, hold thy tong, or else & wil ouerthrow ••hée with my crosse.

MOR. Truthe can abyde no iesting, neyther ••enne that are guiltie willingly heare of any ie∣••ting of their dooings.

Ʋayne desires.

284 Of the Harte.

A Hart beholding himselfe in a cleare water, al∣lowed much his fayre forhead and breade hor∣nes, but the smalnesse of his legs he condemned. As he was thus viewing and iudging, there came a Hunter vppon him: the Hart fledde away very swiftly, the Dogs pursued him: but being entred into a thick wood, his horns were wrapt fast in the boughs: then he praysed his legs and dispraysed his hornes, which caused him to be taken.

MOR. Things whiche do hurt we do hunt af∣ter, but good things we despise.

285 Of a Countryman and Hercules.

A Countrymans Carte stucke faste in a déepe mire: straight way he besought helpe of Her∣cules. To him an answer was giuen: Thou dolte whip on thy horsse, and lifte thou forwarde thy whéeles, and then call on Hercules, and he wyll be ready at hand.

MOR. Vayne requestes do not auayle, whiche God will not heare, helpe thy selfe, and then god will helpe forward.

Vaineglory.

286 Of a byting Dog.

A Certein man had a Dog which often times had byt many, whervppon he tyed a clog on his necke, that men might take héed of hym. The Dog supposing that to be geuen him for a com∣mendation of his courage, despised his compani∣ons: then one of them tolde him of his blindnesse, that he wore that clog with shame, and not with honour.

MOR A vaynglorious foole sometime counteth y^t to be hys prayse, which is vtterly to his shame.

Ʋaliant death.

287 Of the Hog and the Horsse.

A Hog espied a barded Horse, whyche was set out to warfare well appointed, to whom he sayde: Whether makest thou suche hast thou foole, perhaps thou shalte be slayne in battayle:

The Horse aunswered him, though thou doo no∣thing worthy of prayse, but being fat liest wallo∣wing in the myre, yet a little knyfe thy life shall dispatch, whereas great renoume after my death I haue.

MOR. It is better to die valiauntly, thā to pro∣long thy life led wickedly.

Ʋndefiled life.

288 Of the Swan and the Crowe

THe Rauen enuied the Swanne for his white∣nesse, whome with all pollicie he endeuoured to defile and make black: and bycause he coulde not worke his will whiles the Swan waked, he practised it when she slept. Wherefore he came in a night the Swanne sléeping on hir nest, and wyth hys blacknesse polluted hir and made hir black. When day was vp and the Swanne awa∣ked, who saw hir self thus painted, she washed hir selfe continually, till she became faire.

MOR. Who so will be blissed, lette him kéepe him selfe vndefiled.

Ʋndoing him selfe.

289 Of a Thrush.

A Thrush being caught with birdlime of a fou∣ler, did torment hir selfe, saying: The pangs of death gréeue me not so muche, as that my owne things are my destruction: for men say, that birdlime is made of Thrushes doung.

MOR. Then are men most gréeued, when their owne doings do slay them.

Vnequall mariage.

209 Of the Lion and the Mouse.

A Lion sometime caught in a snare, was so en∣tangled: that he could not wind out himself, wherevpon he desired the Mouse to gnawe asunder the ginne, promising a recompen••e for his good turne. Which thing when the Mouse had quickly done, he required the Lion to giue him his daughter in mariage: the Lion (to requite hys benefactor) graunted hir vnto him When the newe maried wife was come vnto hir Husbande, by chaunce not séeing him, trode on him, and burst him all to pieces.

MOR. Al mariages and matches vnequally made, are not to be allowed.

Ʋnthankefulnesse.

291 Of Ryuer.

A Certaine Ryuer checked hys headspring, as being a standing water, neyther hauing any fyshes: but him selfe he highly commended, bycause he bred goodly fishes, and pleasantly ran through the valleys. The headspring fretting at the vnthankfulnesse of the Ryuer, ceased his won∣ted course, whereby the Riuer wanting bothe his fishes and his pleasaunt noyse, dryed vp.

MOR. Some claime as their own, whatso∣euer

they doe, robbing God of his honour, from whom all goodnesse doth procéede.

A wise Ape.

292 Of a Serpent.

A Serpent beyng ouerwhelmed with a greate stone, desired a man that traueled y^t way, to roll off the burdē frō him, promising to gyue him a great treasure if he would do it. Whiche when the gentle fellow had done, the Serpent did not only breake his promisse, but also sayd the man was worthy to die. As they thus stroue, it happe∣ned that the ape passed that way, who being cho∣sen iudge betwene them, sayde: I can not ende so great stryfe betwene you, excepte I see first howe the serpent stood vnder the stone. Whē the man had layd the st••ne vppon the Serpent, he sayd: I thinke that vnthankfull beast ought to remayne vnder the stone.

MOR. Vnthankful men are worthy of no good turne.

293 Of a man that brake an Image.

A Certein man had a woodden Image, whome he prayed to bestowe some benefite on him, but the more hée prayed, the more he liued in pouertie: Wherewyth he béeing angrye, caught his Image by the leggs, and sloong hym against a wall, wherewith hys heade being broken, great abundance of golde came out, whiche as

he gathered, he sayd: thou art froward as I think for whiles I did reuerence thée, thou didst me no good, but when thou wast well beaten, thou has•• yelded much riches.

MOR. A naughty man wil do much more good by beating than by honoring him.

294 Of an Asse and a Rauen.

AN Asse hauing a galled back, fedde in a me∣dow, on whom a Rauen did sit and picked at his sore, wherat the Asse brayed and skipped▪ The horskéeper stāding a far off, laughed therat▪ whome as a Wolfe passing by espied, he sayde▪ Alas, if we poore wretches should doe so muche, we should be pursued, but at him they laugh.

MOR Wicked men only peeping abroad ar•• forthwith knowne.

295 Of a Dog.

A Certen rich man, much giuē to hunting, did kéepe many dogs, wherof one bit his sonne that he dyed: Their maister béeing wroth, com∣maunded to slay not only the man killer, but al∣so all the reste: then sayd one of them, one hath offended, but all are punished.

MOR. The wickednesse of one, often hurteth many.

296 Of the Nurse and the Wolfe.

A Woman sometime had a chylde to nursse, whom she thretned to cast to the wolfe excep••

••e left his crying. It happened that the Wolfe ••assing that way, hearde what she sayde: where∣••ppon béeing in good hope, he wayted still at the ••oore. The childe at length béeing stilled, fell a ••léepe, the wolfe returned fasting into the couerte with a Flea in his eare. The shée Wolfe asked ••or his pray. Mary (quod he sighing) I was decey∣••ed, a Nurse promised to cast me a boy that cryed, ••ut she did not.

MOR. No credit is to be had in a woman.

297 Of a Woman that wept for hir husbande.

THere was a yong Woman whose husbande lay at the point of death, whome with these ••ords hir father comforted, saying: Daughter, ••exe not so muche thy selfe, for I haue prouided ••hée a husbande, muche fayrer than he is, whyche ••hall soone driue away thy longing for this: but ••his woman would not harkē to hir fathers talke, ••ut blamed him for making mention so hastily: yet when hir husband was dead, she asked hir fa∣ther, wéeping, if the yong man were néere, which he sayd should be hir husband.

MOR. The loue whiche women haue to theyr husbands soone, weareth away, after they bée dead.

298 Of a Woman beaten.

A Certeyne Woman sore beaten of hir hus∣bande, fayned hir selfe deade, to make hym

afrayde, for she hild hir breath, and lay with hir face vpward, not once stirring: Thys wise man knowing well the fetches of women, sayd: The deade beast must bée flayde, and he caught vp a knife, and began to flay the skin from hir féete: she perceiuing the ende of hir dissimulation, plucked backe hir féete, and straight way arose.

MOR. Womens wyles are practised in vayne against wise men.

299 Of the Widow and the grene Asse.

A Certeyne Widow being weary of leading a single lyfe, desired to mary, but she durst not, bycause shée feared the mocking of the people, which reported euill of those that were twice ma∣ried: but hir godmother shewed her by this pol∣licie, how lightly rumors are to be regarded: she commaunded hir to take the white Asse she had, and cause him to be paynted gréene, and then to leade him through euery streate, which thing at the first sight was so wondred at, that not only childrē, but also old men, moued with this strange Wonder, followed the Asse, to behold him, which being dayly led through the citie, they ceased too wonder at. Then sayde hir godmother, the like shall happen to thée, for if thou mary, thou shalte for a fewe dayes bée a byworde to the peo∣ple, but within a while after, there shall not be a word spoken of it.

MOR. Nothing is so wonderfull, that in conti∣nuance of time will not ceasse to be wondred at.

300 Of the Rauen and the Foxe.

A Rauen somtime hauing got his pray, made a great noyse in the boughes, whome the Foxe séeing thus reioyce, ranne vnto hir, and sayde: I gréete you with all my heart, I haue often hearde reports to be vntrue, but now in deede I fynde it: ••or as I passed by this way, by chaunce I espyed ••hee in a trée, I am therfore come vnto thee, being ••ffended with reporte: for they saye that thou arte blacker than pitche, but in my sight thou arte whiter than snowe. In my iudgemente thou passest the Swan, thou art fairer than white yuie: If thy voyce were agreable to thy beautie, I wold sooner account thée the Quéene of all birdes. The Rauen allured with this smoothe tale, prepared him selfe to sing. In the meane whyle, the praye ••ell out of his bill, whiche the Foxe caughte vp, laughing excéedingly, wherof the sillie Rauen, be∣ing ashamed, repented his follie.

MOR. Eschue vaynglorie, and that venemous sect of Flatterers may easily be auoyded: but if thou couet to be magnified, maister Parasite will wayte on you at an inche.

301 Of the Dogge and the Sheepe.

A Dog brought an action against a Shéepe for a loafe of bread which he ought him, the shepe

denied it, wherevpon they ioyned issue, then the Dog brought in the Kight, the Wolf, and the Ra∣uen to beare witnesse to the debt, who affirmed it for truthe: the Shéepe was condemned, whom the Dog caught, and pulled the skinne from his backe.

MOR. It is well known, that by false witnesse many are oppressed and ouercome.

302 Of a Dog and a Butcher.

SOmetime a Dogge had stolne a péece of fleshe from a Butcher in the market, and streight ran away: the Butcher being colde at the harte wyth the losse of the thing, first held his peace: then re∣membring hymselfe, cried out after him, saying: O vile theefe, for this time runne safely, thou go∣est scotfrée for thy swiftnesse, but hereafter I will watche thée narrowlier.

MOR. The burnt hande feareth the fire.

Escaping of daungers hard.

303 Of the Harte and the Oxen.

A Harte being pursued of a hunter, ran into an Oxe stall, praying the Oxen to hide him in the rack: they tolde him that there was no safe harbo∣ring, for both their maister & his seruants would come thither: He answered y^t he was safe inough so that they would not bewray him: the seruants came in, and mistrusting nothing to be hid in the hey, departed: the Hart was excéedingly glad, and

feared nothing. Then one of the Oxen older and wiser than the rest, sayd to him: It is an easy ma∣ter to deceiue him that is as blinde as a Mole, but if thou escape our maister, which hath an hundred eyes, I will warrant thée: Streight after came in the maister to redresse his seruants negligēce, looked rounde aboute, and groping in the racke, felte the hornes of the Hart, and cryed out for his seruants, who straightway came, tooke the beast and slue him.

MOR. When one is in perill, it is harde to finde a place to hide him in, eyther it is that Fortune tosseth the oppressed, or that béeing afrayde, and vncertaine what to do, thorough follie they betray themselues.

Wisdome.

Of the Hare and the Foxe.

THe Hare iudged him selfe worthy to be pre∣ferred before the Foxe, bycause in swift run∣ning he far passed him: the fox aunswered, I haue a more excellent wit, wherby I do oftner begyle the Dogs, than thou with thy swiftnesse.

MOR. Wisdome far passeth strength or swift∣nesse.

FINIS.