Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/245



o fowler a thyng is to the man / than with his mouth to preye hym elf / As this fable reherceth to vs / Of Jupiter kynge of alle the world whiche made alle the beetes and alle the byrdes to be aembled to gyder for to knowe theyr bounte / and alo theyr kynd / Emonge alle the whiche came the Ape / whiche preented his one to Jupiter / ayenge thus / Fayre yre and myghty god / loke and ee here the fairet beet that euer thow createt in this world / And Jupiter thenne beganne to lawhe / and after ayd to hym / thow arte wel a fowle beet to preye oo thy elf / For none oughte to preye hym elf / but oughte to doo good and vertuous werkes / wherof other may preye hym / for it is a hameful thyng to preye hym elf