The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Liber Secundus/Fable 15
¶ The xv fable is of the Jaye and of the pecok
One ought to were and putte on
hym the gowne of other / wherof
Esope reherceth to vs suche a
fable Of a Jaye full of vayne
glory / whiche tooke and putte
on hym the fethers of a pecok / and with them
he a[d]ourned/ and arayed hym self well / And
whanne he was wel dressyd and arayed / by his
oultrecuydaunce or ouerwenynge wold haue gone
and conuersed amonge the pecoks / and despraysed
alle his felawes / And whanne the pecokes
knewe that he was not of theyr kynd / they anone
plucked of alle his fethers / and smote and bete
hym by suche maner / that no fethers abode
vpon hym / And he fledde away al naked and
bare /
¶ And thenne whanne his felawes sawe hym / they sayd to hym / What gallaunt come hyther / where ben thy fayre fethers / whiche thow haddest but late a gone / Hast thow no shame ne vergoyne to come in oure companye / And thenne alle the byrdes cam vpon hym / and smote & bete hym / sayenge thus to hym / yf thou haddest be content of thyn owne vestymentes thow hadest not come to this vylony / Ther for hit appereth that hit is not good to were another mans gowne / For suche weren fayre gownes and fayr gyrdels of gold that haue theyr teeth cold at home