The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Preface

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First printed by William Caxton in 1484

3770701The subtyl historyes and fables of Esope — PrologueRomulus

¶ Here begynneth the book

of the subtyl historyes and fables

of Esope whiche were translated

out of frensshe in to Englysshe

by William Carton

At Westmynstre in the yere of oure Lorde

.m. cccc.lxxxiij

¶ Here begoneth the preface or prologue of the fyrste book of Esope


I Romulus son of thybere Cyte of Atyque / gretyng / Esope man of grece / subtyll and Ingenyous / techeth in his fables how men ought to kepe and rewle them well / And to thende that he shold shewe the lyf and customes of al maner of men / he induceth the byrdes / the trees and the beestes spekynge to thende that the men may knowe wherfore the fables were found / In the whiche he hath wreton the malyce of the euylle people and the argument of the Improbes / He techeth also to be humble and for to vse wordes / And many other fayr Ensamples reherced and declared here after / the whiche I Romulus have translated oute of grekes tongue in to latyn tongue / the whiche yf thou rede them / they shalle aguyse and sharpe thy wytte and shal gyue to the cause of Joye /