Page:The Fables of Bidpai (Panchatantra).djvu/215

Rh Crickets, which beyng fewe in number, he was almot tarued for hunger. But one day tanding by the riuers ide all adde and malincholy, loe there commeth a great Crabbe wyth hir legges pred abrode to the bankes ide which ayde: Sir Fowle how doe you? in faith quoth he, naught at home: for we haue yll newes abrode. I pray you what are they ayde the Crabbe? Certayne fihers ayde he that within fewe dayes with ome engines and deuifes will drie vp this Lake and take vp all the fih. But I pore wretch, that yet other while had one, how hall I doe? I would I might aue them (ince I am like to loe them) for the benifite that I haue had o long time, and that I might take them out of the Lake, & flying carie them to ome other urer place. The Crabbe hearing o yll newes, called to Parliament all the Fities of the Lake, and told them this matter. The fihes foreeeing the daunger at hande, had preent recoure vnto the wylde Fowle for counell, to tell him howe it toode wyth them: and ayde vnto him. If this be true, out of all doubt we are in great daunger: therefore giue us the bet counell thou cant, as well for the loue thou bearet to this Lake, as for the eruice we looke to do to thee, honevt Fowle. The Paragone that knew there was good pature and a