The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Other Aesop's/Fable 11
¶ The xj fable is of the ante and of the columbe
One ought to be slowful of the good
whiche he receyueth of other / As
reherceth this fable of an Ante /
whiche came to a fontayne for
to drynke / and as she wold haue
dronke she felle within the fontayn / vpon the
whiche was a columbe or douue / whiche seyng
that the Ante shold haue ben drowned withoute
helpe / took a braunche of a tree / & cast it to
her for to saue her self / ¶ And the Ante wente
anone upon the braunche and saued her / ¶ And
anone after came a Fawkoner / whiche wold haue
take the douue / And thenne the Ante whiche
sawe that the Fawkoner dressed his nettes came
to his foote / and soo fast pryked hit / that she
caused hym to smyte the erthe with his foote /
and therwithe made soo gret noyse / that the douue
herd hit / wherfore she flewhe aweye or the
gynne and nettes were al sette / ¶ And therfore
none ought to forgete the benyfyce whiche he
hath receyued of some other / for slowfulnesse is
a grete synne