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;
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,