¶ The vj fable is of the man and of the god of the wodes
F the euylle man ſom tyme prouffiteth
ſōme 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 ageynſt his
ydolle / and took hit by the legges / and ſmote
the hede of hit ſo ſtrongly ageynſt the walle / ſo
that it brake in to many pyeces / Oute of the
whiche ydolle yſſued a ryght grete treſoure /
wherof the man was ful gladde and Joyous /
And thenne the man ſayd to his ydolle / Now
knowe I wel / that thow art wycked / euyl and
peruers / For whanne I haue worſhipped the /
thow haſt not holpen me / And now whanne I
haue bete the / thow haſt moche done for me /
¶ And therfore the euylle man whanne he doth
ony good / it is not of his good wylle / but by
force
