The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Liber Quartus/Fable 17
¶ The xvij fable is of the Ant and of the sygale
T is good to purueye hym self in the
somer season of suche thynges /
wherof he shalle myster and have
nede in wynter season / As thow
mayst see by this present fable /
Of the sygalle / whiche in the wynter tyme went
and demaunded of the ant somme of her Corne
for to ete / ¶ And thenne the ant sayd to the
sygall / what hast thow done al the somer last
passed / And the sygalle ansuerd / I haue songe /
¶ And after sayd the ante to her / Of my corne
shallt not thou none haue / And yf thow hast
songe alle the somer / danse now in wynter /
¶ And therfore there is one tyme for to doo some
labour and werk / And one tyme for to haue
rest / For he that werketh not ne doth no good /
shal haue ofte at his teeth grete cold and lacke
at his nede /