¶ The xij fable is of the crane and of the pecock
Or what vertue that ony man hath /
none oughte to preyſe hym ſelf /
As hit apiereth by this fable / Of
a pecok / whiche ſomtyme made
a dyner to a crane / And And
whanne they had eten and dronken ynough /
they had grete wordes to gyder / wherfore the
pecok ſayd to the crane / Thow haſt not ſo fayre
a forme ne ſo fayre a fygure as I haue / ne alſo
fayr fethers / ne ſoo reſplendyſſhynge as I haue /
To whome the crane anſuerd / and ſayd / It is
trouthe / Neuertheles thow haſt not one good / ne
one ſo fayre a vertue as I haue / For how be hit
that I haue no ſo fayre fethers as thow haſt /
yet can I flee better than thy ſelf doſt / For
with thy fayre fethers thow muſt euer abyde
on the erthe / and I may flee where ſomeuer
hit pleaſeth me / And thus euerychone ought to
haue ſuffyſaunce and to be content of that / that
he hath / without auanncynge or prayſynge of
hym ſelf / and not to dyſpreyſe none other.
