The Lyon sleeping lay in secret shade, His crowne and scepter lying him beside, And having doft for heate his dreadfull hide: Which when they saw, the Ape was sore afrayde, 955 And would have fled with terror all dismayde. But him the Foxe with hardy words did stay, And bad him put all cowardize away; For now was time, if ever they would hope, To ayme their counsels to the fairest scope, 960 And them for ever highly to advaunce, In case the good which their owne happie chaunce Them freely offred they would wisely take. Scarse could the Ape yet speake, so did he quake; Yet, as he could, he askt how good might growe 965 Where nought but dread and death do seeme in show. “Now,” sayd he, “whiles the Lyon sleepeth sound, May we his crowne and mace take from the ground, And eke his skinne, the terror of the wood, Wherewith we may our selves, if we thinke good, 970 Make kings of beasts, and lords of forests all Subiect unto that powre imperiall.” “Ah! but,” sayd the Ape, “who is so bold a wretch, That dare his hardy hand to those outstretch, When as he knowes his meede, if he be spide, 975 To be a thousand deathes, and shame beside?” “Fond Ape!” sayd then the Foxe, “into whose brest Never crept thought of honor nor brave gest, [_Gest_, deed.] Who will not venture life a king to be, And rather rule and raigne in soveraign see, 980 Than dwell in dust inglorious and bace, Where none shall name the number of his place? One ioyous howre in blisfull happines, I chose before a life of wretchednes. Be therefore counselled herein by me, 985 And shake off this vile-harted cowardree. If he awake, yet is not death the next, For we may colour it with some pretext Of this or that, that may excuse the cryme: Else we may flye; thou to a tree mayst clyme, 990 And I creepe under ground; both from his reach: Therefore be rul’d to doo as I doo teach.” The Ape, that earst did nought but chill and quake, Now gan some courage unto him to take, And was content to attempt that enterprise, 995 Tickled with glorie and rash covetise. But first gan question, whether should assay [_Whether_, which of the two.] Those royall ornaments to steale away? “Marie, that shall your selfe,” quoth he theretoo, “For ye be fine and nimble it to doo; 1000 Of all the beasts which in the forrests bee Is not a fitter for this turne than yee: Therefore, mine owne deare brother, take good hart, And ever thinke a kingdome is your part.” Loath was the Ape, though praised, to adventer, 1005 Yet faintly gan into his worke to enter, Afraid of everie leafe that stir’d him by, And everie stick that underneath did ly: Upon his tiptoes nicely he up went, For making noyse, and still his eare he lent 1010 To everie sound that under heaven blew;