Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/216



F the euylle man om tyme prouffiteth ōme other / he doth hit not by his good wylle / but by force / As reherceth to vs this fable /   Of a man whiche had in his hows an ydolle the whiche oftyme he adoured as his god / to whome ofte he prayed that he wold gyue to hym moche good   And the more that he prayed hym / the more he faylled / And became pouere / wherfore the man was wel wrothe ageynt his ydolle / and took hit by the legges / and mote the hede of hit o trongly ageynt the walle / o that it brake in to many pyeces / Oute of the whiche ydolle yued a ryght grete treoure / wherof the man was ful gladde and Joyous / And thenne the man ayd to his ydolle / Now knowe I wel / that thow art wycked / euyl and peruers / For whanne I haue worhipped the / thow hat not holpen me / And now whanne I haue bete the / thow hat moche done for me / ¶ And therfore the euylle man whanne he doth ony good / it is not of his good wylle / but by force