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

¶ Here foloweth the prohemye of the second book of fables of esope / man wyse subtyle and Ingenyous

 

le maner of fables ben found for to shewe al maner of folk / what maner of thyng they ought to ensyewe and folowe /   ¶ And also what maner of thyng they must and ought to leue and flee / for fable is as moche to seye in poeterye / as wordes in theologye /   ¶ And therfor I shalle wryten fables for to shewe the good condycions of the good men / for the lawe hath be gyuen for the trespacers or mysdoers / And by cause the good ond Juste be not subget to the lawe as we fynde and rede of alle the Athenyens / the whiche lyued after the lawe of Kynde / And also they lyued at theyr lyberte / but by theyre wylle wold haue demaunded a kynge for to punysshe alle the euyll / but by cause they were not customed to be refourmed ne chastysed / whan ony of them was corrected / and punysshed / they were gretely troubled / whan theyr newe kynge made Justyce / For by cause that before that tyme they had neuer be vnder no mans subjection / and was grete charge to them to be in seruytude / wherfore they were sorowful that euer they had demaunded ony / ageynst the whiche esope reherceth suche a fable whiche is the fyrst and formest of this second book