Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/37



Hey that be glad and Joyefull of the prayynge of flaterers oftyme repente them therof / wherof Eope reherceth to us uche a fable / A whiche was vpon a tree / and held with his a chee / the whiche chee the fox deyred moche to haue / the foxe wente and preyed hym by uche wordes as folowen / O gentyll rauen thow art the fayret byrd of alle other byrdes / For thy fethers ben o fayr o bright and o replendyhynge / and can alo o wel ynge / yf thow haddet the voys clere and mall thow holdet be the moot happy of al other byrdes / And the foole whiche herd the flateryringe wordes of the foxe beganne to open his bylle for to ynge / And then the chee fylle to the grounde / and the fox toke and ete hit / And whan the rauen awe that for his vayn glorye he was deceyued hevy and orowfull / and repented hym of that he had byleued the foxe / And this fable techeth vs / how men ought not to be glad take reioyhynge in the wordes of folke / ne alo to leue flatery ne vayn glory