In the meane time upon the King t’attend. 1100
The subtile Foxe so well his message sayd,
That the proud beasts him readily obayd: 
Whereby the Ape in wondrous stomack woxe,
Strongly encorag’d by the crafty Foxe;
That king indeed himselfe he shortly thought, 1105
And all the beasts him feared as they ought,
And followed unto his palaice hye;
Where taking conge, each one by and by
Departed to his home in dreadfull awe,
Full of the feared sight which late they sawe. 1110
The Ape, thus seized of the regall throne,
Eftsones by counsell of the Foxe alone
Gan to provide for all things in assurance,
That so his rule might lenger have endurance. 
First, to his gate be pointed a strong gard, 1115
That none might enter but with issue hard: 
Then, for the safegard of his personage,
He did appoint a warlike equipage
Of forreine beasts, not in the forest bred,
But part by land and part by water fed; 1120
For tyrannie is with strange ayde supported. 
Then unto him all monstrous beasts resorted
Bred of two kindes, as Griffons, Minotaures,
Crocodiles, Dragons, Beavers, and Centaures: 
With those himselfe he strengthned mightelie, 1125
That feare he neede no force of enemie. 
Then gan he rule and tyrannize at will,
Like as the Foxe did guide his graceles skill;
And all wylde beasts made vassals of his pleasures,
And with their spoyles enlarg’d his private treasures. 
No care of iustice, nor no rule of reason, 1131
No temperance, nor no regard of season,
Did thenceforth ever enter in his minde;
But crueltie, the signe of currish kinde,
And sdeignfull pride, and wilfull arrogaunce; 1135
Such followes those whom fortune doth advaunce. 
But the false Foxe most kindly plaid his part: 
     [Kindly, according to his nature.]
For whatsoever mother-wit or arte
Could worke, he put in proofe:  no practise slie,
No counterpoint of cunning policie, 1140
     [Counterpoint, counterplot.]
Ne reach, no breach, that might him profit bring,
But he the same did to his purpose wring. 
Nought suffered he the Ape to give or graunt,
But through his hand must passe the fiaunt.
     [Fiaunt, fiat.]
All offices, all leases by him lept, 1145
And of them all whatso he likte he kept. 
Iustice he solde iniustice for to buy,
And for to purchase for his progeny.
     [Purchase, collect spoil.]
Ill might it prosper that ill gotten was,
But, so he got it, little did he pas. 1150
     [Pas, care.]
He fed his cubs with fat of all the soyle,
And with the sweete of others sweating toyle;