¶ The seuenth fable is of the theef and of the ſonne.
O man is chaunged by nature but
of an euyll man maye wel yſſue
and come a wers than hymſelf /
wherof Eſope telleth ſuche a
fable / A theef held the feeſt of
his weddynge / And his neyghbours came there
as the feſt was holden and worſhipped / and bare
honour to the theef / And as a wyſe man ſawe
that the neyghbours of this theef were ioyeful
and glad / he ſayd to them / Ye make joye &
gladnes of that / wherof ye ſholde wepe / take
hede thenne to my wordes and vnderſtond your
ioye /¶ The ſonne wolde ones be maryed / But
alle the Nacions of the world were ageynſt hym /
& prayd Iupiter that he ſhold kepe the ſonne
fro weddyng / & Jupiter demaunded of them
the cauſe why they wolde not haue hym to be
wedded / the one of them ſaid/ Iupiter thou
knoweſt wel / how ther is but one ſonne & yet
he brenneth vs al / & yf he be maryed & haue
ony children / they ſhal deſtroye al kynde / And
this fable techeth vs that we ought not to be
reioyſſhed of euyll felowſhip /