And when lambes fail’d, the old sheepes lives they reft; That how t’acquite themselves unto their lord They were in doubt, and flatly set abord. [_Set abord_, set adrift, at a loss.] The Foxe then counsel’d th’Ape for to require 325 Respite till morrow t’answere his desire: For times delay new hope of helpe still breeds. The good man granted, doubting nought their deeds, And bad next day that all should readie be. But they more subtill meaning had than he: 330 For the next morrowes meed they closely ment, [_Closely_, secretly.] For feare of afterclaps, for to prevent: [_Prevent_, anticipate.] And that same evening, when all shrowded were In careles sleep, they without care or feare Cruelly fell upon their flock in folde, 335 And of them slew at pleasure what they wolde. Of which whenas they feasted had their fill, For a full complement of all their ill, They stole away, and tooke their hastie flight, Carried in clowdes of all-concealing night. 340 So was the husbandman left to his losse, And they unto their fortunes change to tosse. After which sort they wandered long while, Abusing manie through their cloaked guile; That at the last they gan to be descryed 345 Of everie one, and all their sleights espyed; So as their begging now them failed quyte, For none would give, but all men would them wyte. [_Wyte_, blame.] Yet would they take no paines to get their living, But seeke some other way to gaine by giving, 350 Much like to begging, but much better named; For manie beg which are thereof ashamed. And now the Foxe had gotten him a gowne, And th’Ape a cassocke sidelong hanging downe; For they their occupation meant to change, 355 And now in other state abroad to range: For since their souldiers pas no better spedd, They forg’d another, as for clerkes booke-redd. Who passing foorth, as their adventures fell, Through manie haps, which needs not here to tell, 360 At length chaunst with a formall Priest to meete, [_Formall_, regular.] Whom they in civill manner first did greete, And after askt an almes for Gods deare love. The man straightway his choler up did move, And with reproachfull tearmes gan them revile, 365 For following that trade so base and vile; And askt what license or what pas they had. “Ah!” said the Ape, as sighing wondrous sad, “Its an hard case, when men of good deserving Must either driven be perforce to sterving, 370 Or asked for their pas by everie squib, [_Squib_, flashy, pretentious fellow] That list at will them to revile or snib. [_Snib_, snub] And yet (God wote) small oddes I often see Twixt them that aske, and them that asked bee. Natheles because you shall not us misdeeme, 375