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