¶ The xvij fable is of the ante and the flye
O make booſt and auauntynge is but
vayne glorye and folye / wherof Eſope recyteth ſuche a fable / Of
the ante or formyce and of the
flye / whiche ſtryued to gyder /
for to wete whiche was the moſt noble of
them bothe / & the flye ſayd to the formyce /
Come hyder formyce / wylt thow compare thy
ſelf to me that dwelle in the kynges places and
palays / and ete and drynke at theyr table / And
alſo I kyſſe bothe kynge and quene / and the
moſt fayre maydens / and thow poure and myſchaunt
beeſt thow arte euer within the erthe /
And the formyce anſuerd to the flye / Now
knowe I wel thy vanyte and folye / ¶ For thow
auaunteſt the of that wherof thou ſholeſt deſprayſe
the /
For fro alle places where as thow gooſt or flyeſt / thow arte hated chaced and put oute / and lyueſt in grete daunger / for aſſone as the wynter ſhalle come thow ſhalt deye / And I ſhal abyde on lyue alone within my chamber or hole / where as I drynke and ete at my playſyr / For
