Page:Disciplina Clericalis (English translation) from the fifteenth century Worcester Cathedral Manuscript F. 172.djvu/27

   overcome his gentilnes and kynred, gadreden toguyder and saiden vnto the kyng: "Sir kyng, whi this so vile of birth magnifieth [thow] somoche?" To this the kyng: "Whom yee han trowed to blame, the more yee han praised." He forsoth whiche was blamed to this he adjoyned: "Roses spryngen on thornes nat for that they bien nat (f. 121b) blasfemed." Forsoth the kyng left hym with more worshipful giftes.

It happened as that a versifiour of noble birth forsoth but litel lierned to suche a kyng offred his vers. Whiche the kyng tooke, as gretely evil made, dispised hem, and nought yave hym. Therfor the versifiour saide to the kyng: "If nat only for the vers, for myn nobilnes sumwhat yield thow me." Therfor the kyng: "Who is thy fader?" Than he shewed hym. Than quod the kyng: "Seede in the hath he gendred." To whom the versifiour: "Often of whete spryngith Rye." To this the kyng saide: "Thow previst thisilf lasse than thi fader." And so [he] left hym vnrewarded.

Another versifiour also cam to the kyng of an vnnoble fader but a gentil Moder. What compownd and vncompownd he offred hym vers whos moder had a shyneng brother. Forsoth nat forthan toke [he] hym worshipfully, [but], asked of hym whos sone he was. Than he pretendid hym his vncle; wherof the kyng turned hymsilf in to moche laughter. Than saide his housold meyne: "Wherof procedith this laughter?" Quod the kyng: "Suche a fable in suche a booke I Red whiche I behold here with myn eyen." Quod thei: "What is that?" Quod the kyng.

"A Mule newly born fonde foxes in lesewes and woundryng saide vnto hym: 'Who artow?' The Mule saide hym to be formed. To whom the foxes: 'Hastow neither fader ne moder?' [The mule replied]: 'A gentil hors is myn vncle.' So as [the mule] therfor knowlached nat the Asse his fader, insomoche that he was a slow beest and dul, so this shameth to knowlache his fader for his dulnes nat vnknowen." The kyng only turned hym to the