The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Other Aesop's/Fable 6

¶ The vj fable is of the man and of the god of the wodes

 

F the euylle man som tyme prouffiteth sōme other / he doth hit not by his good wylle / but by force / As reherceth to vs this fable /  Of a man whiche had in his hows an ydolle the whiche oftyme he adoured as his god / to whome ofte he prayed that he wold gyue to hym moche good  And the more that he prayed hym / the more he faylled / And became pouere / wherfore the man was wel wrothe ageynst his ydolle / and took hit by the legges / and smote the hede of hit so strongly ageynst the walle / so that it brake in to many pyeces / Oute of the whiche ydolle yssued a ryght grete tresoure / wherof the man was ful gladde and Joyous / And thenne the man sayd to his ydolle / Now knowe I wel / that thow art wycked / euyl and peruers / For whanne I haue worshipped the / thow hast not holpen me / And now whanne I haue bete the / thow hast moche done for me / ¶ And therfore the euylle man whanne he doth ony good / it is not of his good wylle / but by force