Now went, now stopt, now crept, now backward drew, That it good sport had been him to have eyde. Yet at the last, so well he him applyde, Through his fine handling and cleanly play 1015 He all those royall signes had stolne away, And with the Foxes helpe them borne aside Into a secret corner unespide. Whither whenas they came they fell at words, Whether of them should be the lords of lords: 1020 For th’Ape was stryfull and ambicious, And the Foxe guilefull and most covetous; That neither pleased was to have the rayne Twixt them divided into even twaine, But either algates would be lords alone: 1025 [_Algates_, by all means.] For love and lordship bide no paragone. [_Paragone_, equal, partner.] “I am most worthie,” said the Ape, “sith I For it did put my life in ieopardie: Thereto I am in person and in stature Most like a man, the lord of everie creature, 1030 So that it seemeth I was made to raigne, And borne to be a kingly soveraigne.” “Nay,” said the Foxe, “Sir Ape, you are astray; For though to steale the diademe away Were the worke of your nimble hand, yet I 1035 Did first devise the plot by pollicie; So that it wholly springeth from my wit: For which also I claime my selfe more fit Than you to rule: for government of state Will without wisedome soone be ruinate. 1040 And where ye claime your selfe for outward shape Most like a man, man is not like an ape In his chiefe parts, that is, in wit and spirite; But I therein most like to him doo merite, For my slie wyles and subtill craftinesse, 1045 The title of the kingdome to possesse. Nath’les, my brother, since we passed are Unto this point, we will appease our iarre; And I with reason meete will rest content, That ye shall have both crowne and government, 1050 Upon condition that ye ruled bee In all affaires, and counselled by mee; And that ye let none other ever drawe Your minde from me, but keepe this as a lawe: And hereupon an oath unto me plight.” 1055 The Ape was glad to end the strife so light, And thereto swore: for who would not oft sweare, And oft unsweare, a diademe to beare? Then freely up those royall spoyles he tooke, Yet at the Lyons skin he inly quooke; 1060 But it dissembled, and upon his head The crowne, and on his backe the skin, he did, And the false Foxe him helped to array. Then when he was all dight he tooke his way Into the forest, that he might be seene 1065 Of the wilde beasts in his new glory sheene. There the two first whome he encountred were The Sheepe and th’Asse, who, striken both with feare At sight of him, gan fast away to flye; But unto them the Foxe alowd did cry, 1070 And in the kings name bad them both to stay, Upon the payne that thereof follow may. Hardly naythles were they restrayned so,