The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Liber Tertius/Fable 17
¶ The xvij fable is of the Ape and of the foxe.
F the poure and of the Ryche Esope
reherceth suche a fable / Of an
ape / whiche prayd the foxe to
gyue hym somme of his grete
taylle for to couere his buttokes
therwith / sayenge thus to hym / what auaylleth
to the soo long a taylle / hit doth but wagge /
And that whiche letteth the / shalle be prouffitable
and good for me / The foxe said to hym
I wold that hit were yet lenger / For rather I
wold see hit al to fowled and dagged / than hit
shold here to yow suche honour / as to couere
thy fowle buttoks therwith / And therfore gyue
thou not that thynge of whiche thow hast nede
of / to the ende that afterward thow myster not
of hit