206 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP.

hangeth there, and you will be presently
with me”; which I no sooner did, but being
much heavier than thyself, I fell presently to
the bottom of the well, and thou came up to
the top; at which when I seemed to be angry,
thou said, “‘ Aunt, this is but the fashion of the
world; ever as one comes up another must go
down”; and so said, you leaped out of the
bucket and ran your way, leaving me there all
alone, where I remained a whole day, pined
with hunger and starved with cold; and ere I
could get out from thence, received so many
blows, that my life was never in greater
danger.’

The fox replied, ‘Aunt, though the strokes
were painful unto you, yet I had rather you
should have them than myself, for you are
stronger and better able to bear them; and at
that time of necessity, one of us could not
escape them: besides, aunt, I taught you
wisdom and experience, that you should not
trust either friend or foe, when the matter he
persuades to is the avoiding of his own peril;
for nature teacheth us to love our own welfare,
and he which doth otherwise is crowned with
nothing but the title of folly.’

Then said Sir J/segrim to the King, “i