Erture, Underhand Dealing.] Reported Unto All That He Was Sure A Noble Gentleman Of High Regard, Which Through The World Had With Long Travel Far'D, And Seene The Manners Of All Beasts On Ground, Now Here Arriv'D To See If Like He Found. Thus Did The Ape At First Him Credit Gaine, Which Afterwards He Wisely Did Maintaine With Gallant Showe, And Daylie More Augment Through His Fine Feates And Courtly Complement; For He Could Play, And Daunce, And Vaute, And Spring, And All That Els Pertaines To Reveling. Onely Through Kindly Aptnes Of His Ioynts. [Kindly, Natural.] Besides He Could Doo Manie Other Poynts, The Which In Court Him Served To Good Stead: For He Mongst Ladies Could Their Fortunes Read Out Of Their Hands, And Merie Leasings Tell, And Iuggle Finely, That Became Him Well. But He So Light Was At Legierdemaine, That What He Toucht Came Not To Light Againe; Yet Would He Laugh It Out, And Proudly Looke, And Tell Them That They Greatly Him Mistooke. So Would He Scoffe Them Out With Mockcrie, For He Therein Had Great Felicitie; And With Sharp Quips Ioy'D Others To Deface, Thinking That Their Disgracing Did Him Grace: So Whilst That Other Like Vaine Wits He Pleased And Made To Laugh, His Heart Was Greatly Eased. But The Right Gentle Minde Woulde Bite His Lip, To Heare The Iavell So Good Men To Nip: [Iavell, Worthless Fellow.] For, Though The Vulgar Yeeld An Open Eare, And Common Courtiers Love To Gybe And Fleare At Everie Thing Which They Heare Spoken Ill, And The Best Speaches With Ill Meaning Spill, [Spill, Spoil.] Yet The Brave Courtier, In Whose Beauteous Thought Regard Of Honour Harbours More Than Ought, Doth Loath Such Base Condition, To Backbite [Condition, Quality.] Anies Good Name For Envie Or Despite. He Stands On Tearmes Of Honourable Minde, Ne Will Be Carried With The Common Winde Of Courts Inconstant Mutabilitie, Ne After Everie Tattling Fable Flie; But Heares And Sees The Follies Of The Rest, And Thereof Gathers For Himselfe The Best. He Will Not Creepe, Nor Crouche With Fained Face, But Walkes Upright With Comely Stedfast Pace, And Unto All Doth Yeeld Due Curtesie; But Not With Kissed Hand Belowe The Knee, As That Same Apish Crue Is Wont To Doo: For He Disdaines Himselfe T'Embase Theretoo. He Hates Fowle Leasings And Vile Flatterie, Two Filthie Blots In Noble Gentrie; And Lothefull Idlenes He Doth Detest, The Canker Worme Of Everie Gentle Brest; The Which To Banish With Faire Exercise Of Knightly Feates He Daylie Doth Devise: Now Menaging The Mouthes Of Stubborne Steedes, Now Practising The Proofe Of Warlike Deedes, Now His Bright Armes Assaying, Now His Speare, Now The Nigh Aymed Ring Away To Beare: At Other Times He Casts To Sew The Chace [Casts, Plans, Makes Arrangements.] Of Swift Wilde Beasts, Or Runne On Foote A Race, T'Enlarge His Breath, (Large Breath In Armes Most Needfull,) Or Els By Wrestling To Wex Strong And Heedfull, Or His Stiffe Armes To Stretch With Eughen Bowe, [Eughen, Made Of Yew.] And Manly Legs, Still Passing Too And Fro, Without A Gowned Beast Him Fast Beside; A Vaine Ensample Of The Persian Pride, Who After He Had Wonne Th'Assyrian Foe, Did Ever After Scorne On Foote To Goe. Thus When This Courtly Gentleman With Toyle Himselfe Hath Wearied, He Doth Recoyle Unto His Rest, And There With Sweete Delight Of Musicks Skill Revives His Toyled Spright; Or Els With Loves And Ladies Gentle Sports, The Ioy Of Youth, Himselfe He Recomforts: Or Lastly, When The Bodie List To Pause, His Minde Unto The Muses He Withdrawes, Sweete Ladie Muses, Ladies Of Delight, Delights Of Life, And Ornaments Of Light: With Whom He Close Confers With Wise Discourse, Of Natures Workes, Of Heavens Continuall Course, Of Forreine Lands, Of People Different, Of Kingdomes Change, Of Divers Gouvernment, Of Dreadfull Battailes Of Renowmed Knights; With Which He Kindleth His Ambitious Sprights To Like Desire And Praise Of Noble Fame, The Onely Upshot Whereto He Doth Ayme. For All His Minde On Honour Fixed Is, To Which He Levels All His Purposis, And In His Princes Service Spends His Dayes, Not So Much For To Game, Or For To Raise Himselfe To High Degree, As For His Grace, And In His Liking To Winne Worthie Place, Through Due Deserts And Comely Carriage, In Whatso Please Employ His Personage, That May Be Matter Meete To Game Him Praise. For He Is Fit To Use In All Assayes, Whether For Armes And Warlike Amenaunce, [Amenaunce, Conduct.] Or Else For Wise And Civill Governaunce; For He Is Practiz'D Well In Policie, And Thereto Doth His Courting Most Applie: [Courting, Life At Court.] To Learne The Enterdeale Of Princes Strange, [Enterdeale, Dealing Together.] To Marke Th'Intent Of Counsells, And The Change Of States, And Eke Of Private Men Somewhile, Supplanted By Fine Falshood And Faire Guile; Of All The Which He Gathereth What Is Fit T'Enrich The Storehouse Of His Powerfull Wit, Which Through Wise Speaches And Grave Conference He Daylie Eekes, And Brings To Excellence. [Eekes, Increases.] Such Is The Rightfull Courtier In His Kinde: But Unto Such The Ape Lent Not His Minde; Such Were For Him No Fit Companions, Such Would Descrie His Lewd Conditions: But The Yong Lustie Gallants He Did Chose To Follow, Meete To Whom He Might Disclose His Witlesse Pleasance And Ill Pleasing Vaine. A Thousand Wayes He Them Could Entertaine, With All The Thriftles Games That May Be Found; With Mumming And With Masking All Around, With Dice, With Cards, With Balliards Farre Unfit, [Balliards, Billiards.] With Shuttelcocks, Misseeming Manlie Wit, [Misseeming, Unbecoming.] With Courtizans, And Costly Riotize, Whereof Still Somewhat To His Share Did Rize: Ne, Them To Pleasure, Would He Sometimes Scorne A Pandares Coate (So Basely Was He Borne); Thereto He Could Fine Loving Verses Frame, And Play The Poet Oft. But Ah! For Shame, Let Not Sweete Poets Praise, Whose Onely Pride Is Vertue To Advaunce, And Vice Deride, Be With The Worke Of Losels Wit Defamed, Ne Let Such Verses Poetrie Be Named! Yet He The Name On Him Would Rashly Take, Maugre The Sacred Muses, And It Make A Servant To The Vile Affection Of Such As He Depended Most Upon; And With The Sugrie Sweete Thereof Allure Chast Ladies Eares To Fantasies Impure. To Such Delights The Noble Wits He Led Which Him Reliev'D, And Their Vaine Humours Fed With Fruitles Folies And Unsound Delights. But If Perhaps Into Their Noble Sprights Desire Of Honor Or Brave Thought Of Armes Did Ever Creepe, Then With His Wicked Charmes And Strong Conceipts He Would It Drive Away, Ne Suffer It To House There Halfe A Day. And Whenso Love Of Letters Did Inspire Their Gentle Wits, And Kindly Wise Desire, [Kindly: Qu. Kindle?] That Chieflie Doth Each Noble Minde Adorne, Then He Would Scoffe At Learning, And Eke Scorne The Sectaries Thereof, As People Base [Sectaries, Followers.] And Simple Men, Which Never Came In Place Of Worlds Affaires, But, In Darke Corners Mewd, Muttred Of Matters As Their Bookes Them Shewd, Ne Other Knowledge Ever Did Attaine, But With Their Gownes Their Gravitie Maintaine. From Them He Would His Impudent Lewde Speach Against Gods Holie Ministers Oft Reach, And Mocke Divines And Their Profession. What Else Then Did He By Progression, But Mocke High God Himselfe, Whom They Professe? But What Car'D He For God, Or Godlinesse? All His Care Was Himselfe How To Advaunce, And To Uphold His Courtly Countenaunce By All The Cunning Meanes He Could Devise; "Were It By Honest Wayes, Or Otherwise, He Made Small Choyce: Yet Sure His Honestie Got Him Small Gaines, But Shameles Flatterie, And Filthie Brocage, And Unseemly Shifts, [Brocage, Pimping.] And Borowe Base, And Some Good Ladies Gifts. [Borowe, Pledging.] But The Best Helpe, Which Chiefly Him Sustain'D, Was His Man Raynolds Purchase Which He Gain'D: [Purchase, Booty.] For He Was School'D By Kinde In All The Skill [Kinde, Nature.] Of Close Conveyance, And Each Practise Ill Of Coosinage And Cleanly Knaverie, [Cleanly, Neat, Skillful.] Which Oft Maintain'D His Masters Braverie. Besides, He Usde Another Slipprie Slight, In Taking On Himselfe, In Common Sight, False Personages Fit For Everie Sted, With Which He Thousands Cleanly Coosined: Now Like A Merchant, Merchants To Deceave, With Whom His Credite He Did Often Leave In Gage For His Gay Masters Hopelesse Dett: Now Like A Lawyer, When He Land Would Lett, Or Sell Fee-Simples In His Masters Name, Which He Had Never, Nor Ought Like The Same; Then Would He Be A Broker, And Draw In Both Wares And Money, By Exchange To Win: Then Would He Seeme A Farmer, That Would Sell Bargaines Of Woods, Which He Did Lately Fell, Or Corne, Or Cattle, Or Such Other Ware, Thereby To Coosin Men Not Well Aware: Of All The Which There Came A Secret Fee To Th'Ape, That He His Countenaunce Might Bee. Besides All This, He Us'D Oft To Beguile Poore Suters That In Court Did Haunt Some While: For He Would Learne Their Busines Secretly, And Then Informe His Master Hastely, That He By Meanes Might Cast Them To Prevent, [Prevent, Anticipate.] And Beg The Sute The Which The Other Ment. Or Otherwise False Reynold Would Abuse The Simple Suter, And Wish Him To Chuse His Master, Being One Of Great Regard In Court, To Compas Anie Sute Not Hard, In Case His Paines Were Recompenst With Reason: So Would He Worke The Silly Man By Treason To Buy His Masters Frivolous Good Will, That Had Not Power To Doo Him Good Or Ill. So Pitifull A Thing Is Suters State! Most Miserable Man, Whom Wicked Fate Hath Brought To Court, To Sue For Had-Ywist, That Few Have Found, And Manie One Hath Mist! Full Little Knowest Thou That Hast Not Tride, What Hell It Is In Suing Long To Bide: To Loose Good Dayes, That Might Be Better Spent; To Wast Long Nights In Pensive Discontent; To Speed To Day, To Be Put Back To Morrow; To Feed On Hope, To Pine With Feare And Sorrow; To Have Thy Princes Grace, Yet Want Her Peeres; To Have Thy Asking, Yet Waite Manie Yeeres; To Fret Thy Soule With Crosses And With Cares; To Eate Thy Heart Through Comfortlesse Dispaires; To Fawne, To Crowche, To Waite, To Ride, To Ronne, To Spend, To Give, To Want, To Be Undonne. Unhappie Wight, Borne To Desastrous End, That Doth His Life In So Long Tendance Spend! Who Ever Leaves Sweete Home, Where Meane Estate In Safe Assurance, Without Strife Or Hate, Findes All Things Needfull For Contentment Meeke, And Will To Court For Shadowes Vaine To Seeke, Or Hope To Gaine, Himselfe Will A Daw Trie: That Curse God Send Unto Mine Enemie! For None But Such As This Bold Ape Unblest Can Ever Thrive In That Unluckie Quest; Or Such As Hath A Reynold To His Man, That By His Shifts His Master Furnish Can. But Yet This Foxe Could Not So Closely Hide His Craftie Feates, But That They Were Descride At Length By Such As Sate In Iustice Seate, Who For The Same Him Fowlie Did Entreate; And, Having Worthily Him Punished, Out Of The Court For Ever Banished. And Now The Ape, Wanting His Huckster Man, That Wont Provide His Necessaries, Gan To Growe Into Great Lacke, Ne Could Upholde His Countenaunce In Those His Garments Olde; Ne New Ones Could He Easily Provide, Though All Men Him Uncased Gan Deride, Like As A Puppit Placed In A Play, Whose Part Once Past All Men Bid Take Away: So That He Driven Was To Great Distresse, And Shortly Brought To Hopelesse Wretchednesse. Then Closely As He Might He Cast To Leave The Court, Not Asking Any Passe Or Leave; But Ran Away In His Rent Rags By Night, Ne Ever Stayd In Place, Ne Spake To Wight, Till That The Foxe, His Copesmate, He Had Found; [Copesmate, Partner In Trade.] To Whome Complayning His Unhappie Stound, [Stound, Plight, Exigency.] At Last Againe With Him In Travell Ioynd, And With Him Far'D Some Better Chaunee To Fynde. So In The World Long Time They Wandered, And Mickle Want And Hardnesse Suffered; That Them Repented Much So Foolishly To Come So Farre To Seeke For Misery, And Leave The Sweetnes Of Contented Home, Though Eating Hipps And Drinking Watry Fome. [Hipps, Dog-Rose Berries.] Thus As They Them Complayned Too And Fro, Whilst Through The Forest Rechlesse They Did Goe, [Rechlesse, Reckless.] Lo! Where They Spide How In A Gloomy Glade The Lyon Sleeping Lay In Secret Shade, His Crowne And Scepter Lying Him Beside, And Having Doft For Heate His Dreadfull Hide: Which When They Saw, The Ape Was Sore Afrayde, And Would Have Fled With Terror All Dismayde. But Him The Foxe With Hardy Words Did Stay, And Bad Him Put All Cowardize Away; For Now Was Time, If Ever They Would Hope, To Ayme Their Counsels To The Fairest Scope, And Them For Ever Highly To Advaunce, In Case The Good Which Their Owne Happie Chaunce Them Freely Offred They Would Wisely Take. Scarse Could The Ape Yet Speake, So Did He Quake; Yet, As He Could, He Askt How Good Might Growe Where Nought But Dread And Death Do Seeme In Show. "Now," Sayd He, "Whiles The Lyon Sleepeth Sound, May We His Crowne And Mace Take From The Ground, And Eke His Skinne, The Terror Of The Wood, Wherewith We May Our Selves, If We Thinke Good, Make Kings Of Beasts, And Lords Of Forests All Subiect Unto That Powre Imperiall." "Ah! But," Sayd The Ape, "Who Is So Bold A Wretch, That Dare His Hardy Hand To Those Outstretch, When As He Knowes His Meede, If He Be Spide, To Be A Thousand Deathes, And Shame Beside?" "Fond Ape!" Sayd Then The Foxe, "Into Whose Brest Never Crept Thought Of Honor Nor Brave Gest, [Gest, Deed.] Who Will Not Venture Life A King To Be, And Rather Rule And Raigne In Soveraign See, Than Dwell In Dust Inglorious And Bace, Where None Shall Name The Number Of His Place? One Ioyous Howre In Blisfull Happines, I Chose Before A Life Of Wretchednes. Be Therefore Counselled Herein By Me, And Shake Off This Vile-Harted Cowardree. If He Awake, Yet Is Not Death The Next, For We May Colour It With Some Pretext Of This Or That, That May Excuse The Cryme: Else We May Flye; Thou To A Tree Mayst Clyme, And I Creepe Under Ground; Both From His Reach: Therefore Be Rul'D To Doo As I Doo Teach." The Ape, That Earst Did Nought But Chill And Quake, Now Gan Some Courage Unto Him To Take, And Was Content To Attempt That Enterprise, Tickled With Glorie And Rash Covetise. But First Gan Question, Whether Should Assay [Whether, Which Of The Two.] Those Royall Ornaments To Steale Away? "Marie, That Shall Your Selfe," Quoth He Theretoo, "For Ye Be Fine And Nimble It To Doo; Of All The Beasts Which In The Forrests Bee Is Not A Fitter For This Turne Than Yee: Therefore, Mine Owne Deare Brother, Take Good Hart, And Ever Thinke A Kingdome Is Your Part." Loath Was The Ape, Though Praised, To Adventer, Yet Faintly Gan Into His Worke To Enter, Afraid Of Everie Leafe That Stir'D Him By, And Everie Stick That Underneath Did Ly: Upon His Tiptoes Nicely He Up Went, For Making Noyse, And Still His Eare He Lent To Everie Sound That Under Heaven Blew; Now Went, Now Stopt, Now Crept, Now Backward Drew, That It Good Sport Had Been Him To Have Eyde. Yet At The Last, So Well He Him Applyde, Through His Fine Handling And Cleanly Play He All Those Royall Signes Had Stolne Away, And With The Foxes Helpe Them Borne Aside Into A Secret Corner Unespide. Whither Whenas They Came They Fell At Words, Whether Of Them Should Be The Lords Of Lords: For Th'Ape Was Stryfull And Ambicious, And The Foxe Guilefull And Most Covetous; That Neither Pleased Was To Have The Rayne Twixt Them Divided Into Even Twaine, But Either Algates Would Be Lords Alone: [Algates, By All Means.] For Love And Lordship Bide No Paragone. [Paragone, Equal, Partner.] "I Am Most Worthie," Said The Ape, "Sith I For It Did Put My Life In Ieopardie: Thereto I Am In Person And In Stature Most Like A Man, The Lord Of Everie Creature, So That It Seemeth I Was Made To Raigne, And Borne To Be A Kingly Soveraigne." "Nay," Said The Foxe, "Sir Ape, You Are Astray; For Though To Steale The Diademe Away Were The Worke Of Your Nimble Hand, Yet I Did First Devise The Plot By Pollicie; So That It Wholly Springeth From My Wit: For Which Also I Claime My Selfe More Fit Than You To Rule: For Government Of State Will Without Wisedome Soone Be Ruinate. And Where Ye Claime Your Selfe For Outward Shape Most Like A Man, Man Is Not Like An Ape In His Chiefe Parts, That Is, In Wit And Spirite; But I Therein Most Like To Him Doo Merite, For My Slie Wyles And Subtill Craftinesse, The Title Of The Kingdome To Possesse. Nath'Les, My Brother, Since We Passed Are Unto This Point, We Will Appease Our Iarre; And I With Reason Meete Will Rest Content, That Ye Shall Have Both Crowne And Government, Upon Condition That Ye Ruled Bee In All Affaires, And Counselled By Mee; And That Ye Let None Other Ever Drawe Your Minde From Me, But Keepe This As A Lawe: And Hereupon An Oath Unto Me Plight." The Ape Was Glad To End The Strife So Light, And Thereto Swore: For Who Would Not Oft Sweare, And Oft Unsweare, A Diademe To Beare? Then Freely Up Those Royall Spoyles He Tooke, Yet At The Lyons Skin He Inly Quooke; But It Dissembled, And Upon His Head The Crowne, And On His Backe The Skin, He Did, And The False Foxe Him Helped To Array. Then When He Was All Dight He Tooke His Way Into The Forest, That He Might Be Seene Of The Wilde Beasts In His New Glory Sheene. There The Two First Whome He Encountred Were The Sheepe And Th'Asse, Who, Striken Both With Feare At Sight Of Him, Gan Fast Away To Flye; But Unto Them The Foxe Alowd Did Cry, And In The Kings Name Bad Them Both To Stay, Upon The Payne That Thereof Follow May. Hardly Naythles Were They Restrayned So, Till That The Foxe Forth Toward Them Did Goe, And There Disswaded Them From Needlease Feare, For That The King Did Favour To Them Beare; And Therefore Dreadles Bad Them Come To Corte; For No Wild Beasts Should Do Them Any Torte [Torte, Wrong.] There Or Abroad, Ne Would His Maiestye Use Them But Well, With Gracious Clemencye, As Whome He Knew To Him Both Fast And True. So He Perswaded Them With Homage Due Themselves To Humble To The Ape Prostrate, Who, Gently To Them Bowing In His Gate, [Gate, Way.] Receyved Them With Chearefull Entertayne. Thenceforth Proceeding With His Princely Trayne, He Shortly Met The Tygre, And The Bore, Which With The Simple Camell Raged Sore In Bitter Words, Seeking To Take Occasion Upon His Fleshly Corpse To Make Invasion: But Soone As They This Mock-King Did Espy, Their Troublous Strife They Stinted By And By, [Stinted By And By, Stopped At Once.] Thinking Indeed That It The Lyon Was. He Then, To Prove Whether His Powre Would Pas As Currant, Sent The Foxe To Them Streight Way, Commaunding Them Their Cause Of Strife Bewray; And, If That Wrong On Eyther Side There Were, That He Should Warne The Wronger To Appeare The Morrow Next At Court, It To Defend; In The Meane Time Upon The King T'Attend. The Subtile Foxe So Well His Message Sayd, That The Proud Beasts Him Readily Obayd: Whereby The Ape In Wondrous Stomack Woxe, Strongly Encorag'D By The Crafty Foxe; That King Indeed Himselfe He Shortly Thought, And All The Beasts Him Feared As They Ought, And Followed Unto His Palaice Hye; Where Taking Cong?, Each One By And By Departed To His Home In Dreadfull Awe, Full Of The Feared Sight Which Late They Sawe. The Ape, Thus Seized Of The Regall Throne, Eftsones By Counsell Of The Foxe Alone Gan To Provide For All Things In Assurance, That So His Rule Might Lenger Have Endurance. First, To His Gate Be Pointed A Strong Gard, That None Might Enter But With Issue Hard: Then, For The Safegard Of His Personage, He Did Appoint A Warlike Equipage Of Forreine Beasts, Not In The Forest Bred, But Part By Land And Part By Water Fed; For Tyrannie Is With Strange Ayde Supported. Then Unto Him All Monstrous Beasts Resorted Bred Of Two Kindes, As Griffons, Minotaures, Crocodiles, Dragons, Beavers, And Centaures: With Those Himselfe He Strengthned Mightelie, That Feare He Neede No Force Of Enemie. Then Gan He Rule And Tyrannize At Will, Like As The Foxe Did Guide His Graceles Skill; And All Wylde Beasts Made Vassals Of His Pleasures, And With Their Spoyles Enlarg'D His Private Treasures. No Care Of Iustice, Nor No Rule Of Reason, No Temperance, Nor No Regard Of Season, Did Thenceforth Ever Enter In His Minde; But Crueltie, The Signe Of Currish Kinde, And Sdeignfull Pride, And Wilfull Arrogaunce; Such Followes Those Whom Fortune Doth Advaunce. But The False Foxe Most Kindly Plaid His Part: [Kindly, According To His Nature.] For Whatsoever Mother-Wit Or Arte Could Worke, He Put In Proofe: No Practise Slie, No Counterpoint Of Cunning Policie, [Counterpoint, Counterplot.] Ne Reach, No Breach, That Might Him Profit Bring, But He The Same Did To His Purpose Wring. Nought Suffered He The Ape To Give Or Graunt, But Through His Hand Must Passe The Fiaunt. [Fiaunt, Fiat.] All Offices, All Leases By Him Lept, And Of Them All Whatso He Likte He Kept. Iustice He Solde Iniustice For To Buy, And For To Purchase For His Progeny. [Purchase, Collect Spoil.] Ill Might It Prosper That Ill Gotten Was, But, So He Got It, Little Did He Pas. [Pas, Care.] He Fed His Cubs With Fat Of All The Soyle, And With The Sweete Of Others Sweating Toyle; He Crammed Them With Crumbs Of Benefices, And Fild Their Mouthes With Meeds Of Malefices; [Malifices, Evil Deeds.] He Cloathed Them With All Colours Save White, And Loded Them With Lordships And With Might, So Much As They Were Able Well To Beare, That With The Weight Their Backs Nigh Broken Were. He Chaffred Chayres In Which Churchmen Were Set, [Chaffred, Bartered.] And Breach Of Lawes To Privie Ferme Did Let. [Ferme, Farm.] No Statute So Established Might Bee, Nor Ordinaunce So Needfull, But That Hee Would Violate, Though Not With Violence, Yet Under Colour Of The Confidence The Which The Ape Repos'D In Him Alone, And Reckned Him The Kingdomes Corner Stone. And Ever, When He Ought Would Bring To Pas, His Long Experience The Platforme Was: And When He Ought Not Pleasing Would Put By The Cloke Was Care Of Thrift, And Husbandry, For To Encrease The Common Treasures Store. But His Owne Treasure He Encreased More, And Lifted Up His Loftie Towres Thereby, That They Began To Threat The Neighbour Sky; The Whiles The Princes Pallaces Fell Fast To Ruine; For What Thing Can Ever Last? And Whilest The Other Peeres For Povertie Were Forst Their Auncient Houses To Let Lie, And Their Olde Castles To The Ground To Fall, Which Their Forefathers Famous Over-All [Over-All, Everywhere.] Had Founded For The Kingdomes Ornament, And For Their Memories Long Moniment. But He No Count Made Of Nobilitie, Nor The Wilde Beasts Whom Armes Did Glorifie, The Realmes Chiefe Strength And Girlond Of The Crowne. All These Through Fained Crimes He Thrust Adowne, Or Made Them Dwell In Darknes Of Disgrace: For None But Whom He List Might Come In Place. Of Men Of Armes He Had But Small Regard, But Kept Them Lowe, And Streigned Verie Hard. For Men Of Learning Little He Esteemed; His Wisedome He Above Their Learning Deemed. As For The Rascall Commons, Least He Cared, For Not So Common Was His Bountie Shared: "Let God," Said He, "If Please, Care For The Manie, I For My Selfe Must Care Before Els Anie." So Did He Good To None, To Manie Ill, So Did He All The Kingdome Rob And Pill, [Pill, Plunder.] Yet None Durst Speake, Ne None Durst Of Him Plaine; So Great He Was In Grace, And Rich Through Game. Ne Would He Anie Let To Have Accesse Unto The Prince, But By His Owne Addresse: For All That Els Did Come Were Sure To Faile; Yet Would He Further None But For Availe. For On A Time The Sheepe, To Whom Of Yore The Foxe Had Promised Of Friendship Store, What Time The Ape The Kingdome First Did Gaine, Came To The Court, Her Case There To Complaine; How That The Wolfe, Her Mortall Enemie, Had Sithence Slaine Her Lambe Most Cruellie; [Sithence, Since.] And Therefore Crav'D To Come Unto The King, To Let Him Knowe The Order Of The Thing. "Soft, Gooddie Sheepe!" Then Said The Foxe, "Not Soe: Unto The King So Rash Ye May Not Goe; He Is With Greater Matter Busied Than A Lambe, Or The Lambes Owne Mothers Hed. Ne Certes May I Take It Well In Part, That Ye My Cousin Wolfe So Fowly Thwart, And Seeke With Slaunder His Good Name To Blot: For There Was Cause, Els Doo It He Would Not: Therefore Surcease, Good Dame, And Hence Depart." So Went The Sheepe Away With Heavie Hart; So Manie Moe, So Everie One Was Used, That To Give Largely To The Boxe Refused. Now When High Iove, In Whose Almightie Hand The Care Of Kings And Power Of Empires Stand, Sitting One Day Within His Turret Hye, From Whence He Vewes With His Black-Lidded Eye Whatso The Heaven In His Wide Vawte Containes, And All That In The Deepest Earth Remaines, And Troubled Kingdome Of Wilde Beasts Behelde, Whom Not Their Kindly Sovereigne Did Welde, [Welde, Govern.] But An Usurping Ape, With Guile Suborn'D, Had All Subverst, He Sdeignfully It Scorn'D In His Great Heart, And Hardly Did Refraine But That With Thunder Bolts He Had Him Slaine, And Driven Downe To Hell, His Dewest Meed. But Him Avizing, He That Dreadfull Deed Forbore, And Rather Chose With Scornfull Shame Him To Avenge, And Blot His Brutish Name Unto The World, That Never After Anie Should Of His Race Be Voyd Of Infamie; And His False Counsellor, The Cause Of All, To Damne To Death, Or Dole Perpetuall, From Whence He Never Should Be Quit Nor Stal'D. [Stal'D, Forestalled (?).] Forthwith He Mercurie Unto Him Cal'D, And Bad Him Flie With Never-Resting Speed Unto The Forrest, Where Wilde Beasts Doo Breed, And, There Enquiring Privily, To Learne What Did Of Late Chaunce To The Lyon Stearne, That He Rul'D Not The Empire, As He Ought; And Whence Were All Those Plaints Unto Him Brought Of Wrongs And Spoyles By Salvage Beasts Committed: Which Done, He Bad The Lyon Be Remitted Into His Seate, And Those Same Treachours Vile [Treachours, Traitors.] Be Punished For Their Presumptuous Guile. The Sonne Of Maia, Soone As He Receiv'D That Word, Streight With His Azure Wings He Cleav'D The Liquid Clowdes And Lucid Firmament, Ne Staid Till That He Came With Steep Descent Unto The Place Where His Prescript Did Showe. There Stouping, Like An Arrowe From A Bowe, He Soft Arrived On The Grassie Plaine, And Fairly Paced Forth With Easie Paine, Till That Unto The Pallace Nigh He Came. Then Gan He To Himselfe New Shape To Frame, And That Faire Face, And That Ambrosiall Hew, Which Wonts To Decke The Gods Immortall Crew, And Beautefie The Shinie Firmament, He Doft, Unfit For That Rude Rabblement. So, Standing By The Gates In Strange Disguize, He Gan Enquire Of Some In Secret Wize, Both Of The King, And Of His Government, And Of The Foxe, And His False Blandishment: And Evermore He Heard Each One Complaine Of Foule Abuses Both In Realme And Raine: Which Yet To Prove More True, He Meant To See, And An Ey-Witnes Of Each Thing To Bee. Tho On His Head His Dreadfull Hat He Dight, Which Maketh Him Invisible In Sight, And Mocketh Th'Eyes Of All The Lookers On, Making Them Thinke It But A Vision. Through Power Of That He Runnes Through Enemies Swerds; Through Power Of That He Passeth Through The Herds Of Ravenous Wilde Beasts, And Doth Beguile Their Greedie Mouthes Of The Expected Spoyle; Through Power Of That His Cunning Theeveries He Wonts To Worke, That None The Same Espies; And Through The Power Of That He Putteth On What Shape He List In Apparition. That On His Head He Wore, And In His Hand He Tooke Caduceus, His Snakie Wand, With Which The Damned Ghosts He Governeth, And Furies Rules, And Tartare Tempereth. With That He Causeth Sleep To Seize The Eyes, And Feare The Harts, Of All His Enemyes; And When Him List, An Universall Night Throughout The World He Makes On Everie Wight; As When His Syre With Alcumena Lay. Thus Dight, Into The Court He Tooke His Way, Both Through The Gard, Which Never Him Descride, And Through The Watchmen, Who Him Never Spide: Thenceforth He Past Into Each Secrete Part, Whereas He Saw, That Sorely Griev'D His Hart, Each Place Abounding With Fowle Iniuries, And Fild With Treasure Rackt With Robberies; Each Place Defilde With Blood Of Guiltles Beasts Which Had Been Slaine To Serve The Apes Beheasts; Gluttonie, Malice, Pride, And Covetize, And Lawlesnes Raigning With Riotize; Besides The Infinite Extortions, Done Through The Foxes Great Oppressions, That The Complaints Thereof Could Not Be Tolde. Which When He Did With Lothfull Eyes Beholde, He Would No More Endure, But Came His Way, And Cast To Seeke The Lion, Where He May, [Cast, Projected.] That He Might Worke The Avengement For This Shame On Those Two Caytives Which Had Bred Him Blame And Seeking All The Forrest Busily, At Last He Found Where Sleeping He Did Ly. The Wicked Weed Which There The Foxe Did Lay From Underneath His Head He Tooke Away, And Then Him, Waking, Forced Up To Rize. The Lion, Looking Up, Gan Him Avize, [Avize, Bethink.] As One Late In A Traunce, What Had Of Long Become Of Him: For Fantasie Is Strong. "Arise," Said Mercurie, "Thou Sluggish Beast, That Here Liest Senseles, Like The Corpse Deceast, The Whilste Thy Kingdome From Thy Head Is Rent, And Thy Throne Royall With Dishonour Blent: [Blent, Stained.] Arise, And Doo Thy Selfe Redeeme From Shame, And Be Aveng'D On Those That Breed Thy Blame." Thereat Enraged, Soone He Gan Upstart, Grinding His Teeth, And Grating His Great Hart; And, Rouzing Up Himselfe, For His Rough Hide He Gan To Reach; But No Where It Espide. Therewith He Gan Full Terribly To Rore, And Chafte At That Indignitie Right Sore. But When His Crowne And Scepter Both He Wanted, Lord! How He Fum'D, And Sweld, And Rag'D, And Panted, And Threatned Death And Thousand Deadly Dolours To Them That Had Purloyn'D His Princely Honours. With That In Hast, Disroabed As He Was, He Toward His Owne Pallace Forth Did Pas; And All The Way He Roared As He Went, That All The Forrest With Astonishment Thereof Did Tremble, And The Beasts Therein Fled Fast Away From That So Dreadfull Din. At Last He Came Unto His Mansion, Where All The Gates He Found Fast Lockt Anon And Manie Warders Round About Them Stood: With That He Roar'D Alowd, As He Were Wood, [Wood, Frantic.] That All The Pallace Quaked At The Stound, [Stound, (Time, Scene) Tumult.] As If It Quite Were Riven From The Ground, And All Within Were Dead And Hartles Left; And Th'Ape Himselfe, As One Whose Wits Were Reft, Fled Here And There, And Everie Corner Sought. To Hide Himselfe From His Owne Feared Thought. But The False Foxe, When He The Lion Heard, Fled Closely Forth, Streightway Of Death Afeard, [Closely, Secretly.] And To The Lion Came, Full Lowly Creeping, With Fained Face, And Watrie Eyne Halfe Weeping, T'Excuse His Former Treason And Abusion, And Turning All Unto The Apes Confusion: Nath'Les The Royall Beast Forbore Beleeving, But Bad Him Stay At Ease Till Further Preeving. [Preeving, Proving.] Then When He Saw No Entrance To Him Graunted, Roaring Yet Lowder That All Harts It Daunted, Upon Those Gates With Force He Fiercely Newe, And, Rending Them In Pieces, Felly Slewe Those Warders Strange, And All That Els He Met But Th'Ape Still Flying He No Where Might Get: From Rowme To Rowme, From Beame To Beame He Fled, All Breathles, And For Feare Now Almost Ded: Yet Him At Last The Lyon Spide, And Caught, And Forth With Shame Unto His Iudgement Brought. Then All The Beasts He Causd' Assembled Bee, To Heare Their Doome, And Sad Ensample See: The Foxe, First Author Of That Treacherie He Did Uncase, And Then Away Let Flie. [Uncase, Strip Of His Disguise.] But Th'Apes Long Taile (Which Then He Had) He Quight Cut Off, And Both Eares Pared Of Their Hight; Since Which, All Apes But Halfe Their Eares Have Left, And Of Their Tailes Are Utterlie Bereft. So Mother Hubberd Her Discourse Did End: Which Pardon Me If I Amisse Have Pend, For Weake Was My Remembrance It To Hold, And Bad Her Tongue That It So Bluntly Tolde.