The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Annotated/Vol. II/Preface
¶ 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
Romulus son of thybere[1]
Cyte of Atyque[2] / 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 /