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MOTHER HVI BERDS TALE 501
To whom their liuing they resigned quight
For a few pence, and ran away by night |
So passing through the Countrey m disguize,
They fled farre off, where none might them
surprize,
And after that long straied here and there, |
Through euene field and forrest farre and nere,
Yet ntuer found occasion for their tourne,
But almost steru'd, did much lament and I
mourne 580
At last they chaunst to meete vpon the way
The Mule, all detkt in goodly rich aray,
With bells and bosses, that full lowdly rung,
And costly trappings, that to ground downe
hung
Lowly they him saluted in meeke wise,
But he through pride and fatnes gan despise
Their meanesse, scarce vouchsafte them to
requite
Whereat the Foxe deep groning in his sprite,
Said, Ah sir Mule, now blessed be the day,
That I see you so goodly and so gay 590
In your attyres, and eke your silken hyde
Fil'd with round flesh, that euene bone doth
hide
Seemes that in fruitfull pastures ye doo hue,
Or fortune doth you secret fauour giue
foolish Foxe (said the Mule) thy wretched need
Praiseth the thing that doth thy sorrow breed
tor well I weene, thou canst not but enuie
My wealth, compar'd to thine owne misene,
That art so leane and meagre waxen late,
I hat scarse thy legs vphold thy feeble gate
Ay me (said then the Foxe) whom euill hap
Vnworthy in such wretchednes doth wrap,
And makes the scorne of other beasts to bee
But read (faire Sir, of grace) from whence corr e
yee?
Or what of tidings you abroad doo heare ?
But chieflie, loyes on foote them to beholde,
Enchaste with chame and circulet of golde
So wilde a beast so tame ytaught to bee,
Ind buxome to his bands, is loy to see
So well his golden Circlet him beseemeth
But his late chayne his Liege vnmeeteesteemeth,
For so braue beasts she loliueth best to see,
In the wilde forrest raunging fresh and free
Therefore if fortune thee in Court to hue, 631
In case thou euer there wilt hope to thriue,
To some of these thou must thy selfe apply
Els as a thistle-downe in th'ayre doth file,
So vainly shalt thou too and fro be tost,
And loose thy labour and thy fruitles cost
And yet full few, which follow them I see,
For vertues bare regard aduaunced bee,
But either for some gainfull benefit, 639
Or that they may for their owne turnes be fit
Nath'les perhaps ye things may handle soe,
That ye may better thriue than thousands moe
But (said the Ape) how shall we first come in,
That after we may fauour seeke to win ?
How els (said he) but with a good bold face,
And with big words, and with a stately pace,
That men may thmke of you in generall,
That to be in you, which is not at all
For not by triat which is, the w orld now deemeth
(As it was w ont) but by that same that seemeth
Ne do I doubt, but that ye well can fashion
Your selues theretoo, according to occasion
So fare ye well, good Courtiers may ye bee,
So proudlie neighing from them parted hee
Then gan this craftie couple to deuize,
How for the Court themselues they might
aguize
For thither they themselues meant to addresse,
In hope to finde there happier successe,
So well they shifted, that the Ape anon
Himselfe had cloathed like a Gentleman, 660
Ne wes may perhaps some good vn weeting beare And the she Foxe, as like to be his groome,
From royal 1 Court I lately came (said he) That to the Court in seemly sort they come
Where all the brauene that eye may see, Where the fond Ape himselfe vprearing hy
And all the happinesse that heart desire, Vpon his tiptoes, stalketh stately by,
Is to be found, he nothing can admire, 610 As if he were some great Magntfico,
That hath not seene that heauens portracture And boldhe doth amongst the boldest go
But tidings there is none I you assure, And his man Reynold with fine counterfesaunce
Saue that which common is, and knowne to all, Supports his credite and his countenaunce
That Courtiers as the tide doo rise and fall Then gan the Courtiers gaze on euene side,
But tell vs (said the Ape) we doo you pray, And stare on him, with big lookes basen wide,
Who now in Court doth beare the greatest sway Wondnng what mister wight he was, and
That if such fortune doo to vs befall,
We may seeke fauour of the best of all
whence
For he was clad in strange accoustrements,
Marie (said he) the highest now in grace, 619 Fashion'd with queint deuises neuer seene
Be the wilde beasts, that swiftest are in chace, In Court before, yet there all fashions beene;
For in their speedie course and nimble flight Yet he them in newfanglenesse did pas s
The Lyon now doth take the most delight But his behauiour altogether was