¶ The xv fable is of the rauen and of the foxe
Hey that be glad and Joyefull of the
prayſynge of flaterers oftyme repente
them therof / wherof Eſope
reherceth to us ſuche a fable / A
rauen whiche was vpon a tree /
and held with his bylle a cheſe / the whiche
cheſe the fox deſyred moche to haue / wherfore
the foxe wente and preyſed hym by ſuche wordes
as folowen / O gentyll rauen thow art the fayreſt
byrd of alle other byrdes / For thy fethers ben ſo
fayr ſo bright and ſo reſplendyſſhynge / and can
alſo ſo wel ſynge / yf thow haddeſt the voys clere
and ſmall thow ſholdeſt be the mooſt happy of
al other byrdes / And the foole whiche herd the
flateryringe wordes of the foxe beganne to open
his bylle for to ſynge / And then the cheſe fylle
to the grounde / and the fox toke and ete hit /
And whan the rauen ſawe that for his vayn
glorye he was deceyued wexed hevy and ſorowfull
/ and repented hym of that he had byleued
the foxe / And this fable techeth vs / how men
ought not to be glad ne take reioyſſhynge in the
wordes of caytyf folke / ne alſo to leue flatery ne
vayn glory
