¶ The xiij fable is of a carpenter
N as moche as god is more propyce
and benygne to the good and holy /
moche more he punyſſheth the
wycked and euylle / As we may
ſee by this fable / Of a carpenter
whiche cutte wode vpon a Ryuer for to make a
temple to the goddes / And as he cutte wode /
his axe felle in the Ryuer / wherfore he beganne
to wepe and to calle helpe of the goddes / And
the god Mercurye for pyte appiered before hym
And demaunded of hym wherfore he wepte / and
ſhewed to hym an axe of gold / and demaunded
of hym yf hit was the axe whiche he had loſt /
& he ſayd nay / And after the god ſhewed to hym
another axe of ſyluer / And ſemblably ſaid nay
And by cauſe that Mercurius ſawe that he was
good and trewe / he drewe his axe oute of the
water / and took hit to hym with moche good
that he gaf to hym / And the carpenter told thyſtory
to his felawes / of the whiche one of them
came in to the ſame place for to cutte woode as
his felawe dyd before / & lete falle his axe within
the water / and beganne / to wepe and to de-
