Page:The Fables of Bidpai (Panchatantra).djvu/186

90 quarters) was taken prioner in the battell of the Pigmies, and was olde to the King of Pheaants with condicion to be ranomed. Who eeing o fantaticall a beat with o great barbs, which ometime were a pale blew, ometime a kie colour, now changed from that to white, and then to black againe, he wondered to ee thoe odeine chaunges: and more beholding his welling and railing up his fethers, putting forth that home of flehe, he ayde he neuer aw before o goodly a woonder. And talking a little with him, hee founde him of a bigge voyce, of fewe wordes, but reolute, o as hee made much of him. And wote ye what? thither came a number of beates of his countrie (vndertanding of his captiuitie) to ranome him. But he being high minded, and reputing himelfe the chiefe Birde of the dunghill (as true he was) would neuer ay he was a prioner, but that he was amongt the Pheants for his pleaure, and thus dipied their fauor and the helpe of them all. On a time there came a friend of his to him, and ecretly offered to giue him (that no man mould know it) o much golde as hould redeeme him out of prion. But he refued it, and woulde none of it, bicaue he would not eeme to be a prioner. In the ende (neceitie enforcinge him, and remembring his