OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Alfonce/Fable 7

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¶ The vij fable is of a Rethorycian and of a crowk backed
Philosopher sayd ones to his sone / that whan he were falle by fortune in to somme dommage or perylle / the sooner that he myght he shold delyuere hym of hit / to thende / that afterward he shold no more be vexed ne greued of hit / As hit appiereth by this fable of a rethoryque man or fayr speker / whiche ones demaunded of a kynge / that of alle them whiche shold entre in to the cyte / hauynge somme faulte of . kynde on theyr bodyes / as crouked or counterfayted / he myght haue and take of them at thentre of the yate a peny / the whiche demaunde the kynge graunted to hym / and made his lettres to be sealed and wreton vnder his sygnet / And thus he kepte hym styll at the yate / And of euery lame / scabbed / & of alle suche that had ony counterfaytour on theyr bodyes / he tooke a peny / ¶ It happed thene on a day that a croukbacked and counterfayted man wold haue entryd within the Cyte withoute gyuynge of ony peny / and bethought hym self / that he shold ​take and put on hym a fayre mantel / and thus arayed came to the yate / ¶ And thenne whan the porter byheld hym / he perceyued that he was goglyed / and sayd to hym pay me of my dewte / And the goglyed wold paye nought / whertore he toke from hym his mantel / And thenne he sawe that he was crowkbacked and sayd to hym / thow woldest not to fore paye a peny / but now thou shalte paye tweyne / ¶ And whyle that they stryued to gyder / the hat and the bonet felle from his hede to the erthe / And the porter whiche sawe his scabbed hede / sayd to hym / Now shalt thou paye to me thre pens / and thenne the porter yet ageyne setted his handes on hym / and felte / that his body was al scabbed / And as they were thus wrastlynge to gyder / the crowkbacked fylle to the ground / and hurted hym self sore on the legge / And the porter sayd thenne to hym / Now shalt thow paye v pens / For thy body is al counterfayted / wherfore thow shalt leue here thy mantele / And yf thou haddest payd a peny / thow haddest gone on thy waye free and quyte / wherfore he is wyse that payeth that / that he oweth of ryght / to thende that therof come not to hym gretter dommage
# The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Auian/Fable 12

* related portals: Aesop's Fables.
* sister projects: Wikidata item.
Numbered 294 in the Perry Index. Click here to create an annotated version of this text.
¶ The xij fable is of the crane and of the pecock
Or what vertue that ony man hath / none oughte to preyse hym self / As hit apiereth by this fable / Of a pecok / whiche somtyme made a dyner to a crane / And And whanne they had eten and dronken ynough / they had grete wordes to gyder / wherfore the pecok sayd to the crane / Thow hast not so fayre a forme ne so fayre a fygure as I haue / ne also fayr fethers / ne soo resplendysshynge as I haue / To whome the crane ansuerd / and sayd / It is trouthe / Neuertheles thow hast not one good / ne one so fayre a vertue as I haue / For how be hit that I haue no so fayre fethers as thow hast / yet can I flee better than thy self dost / For with thy fayre fethers thow must euer abyde on the erthe / and I may flee where someuer hit pleaseth me / And thus euerychone ought to haue suffysaunce and to be content of that / that he hath / without auanncynge or praysynge of hym self / and not to dyspreyse none other.
# The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Alfonce/Fable 5

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¶ The v fable is of the feythe of the thre felawes
Fte it happeth that the euyll whiche is procured to other cometh to hym whiche procureth it / as hit apperyth by thre felawes / of the whiche tweyn were burgeys / & the thyrd a labourer / the whiche assembled them to gydre for to go to the holy sepulcre / This thre felawes made so grete prouysyon of flour for to make theyr pylgremage / in suche wyse / that it was all chauffed / and consumed / excepte only for to make one loef only / And whan the Burgeis sawe thende of theyre floure they sayd to gyder / yf we fynde not the maner and cautele for to begyle this vylayn / by cause that he is a rygt grete gallaunt / we shalle deye for hongre / wherfore we must fynde the maner and facyone that we may haue the loof whiche shall be maad of alle oure floor / And therfore they concluded to gyder and sayd / whanne the loof shalle be putte within the ouen we shalle go and lye vs for to slepe / and he that shalle dreme best / the loof ​shall he his / And by cause that we bothe ben subtyle and wyse / he shalle not mowe dreme as wel as we shalle / wherof the loof be ours / wherof alle they thre were wel content / and al byganne to slepe /
¶ But whanne the labourer or vylayne knewe and perceyued all theyre fallace / and sawe that his two felawes were a sleep / he wente and drewe the loof oute of the ouen and ete hit /  ¶ And after he feyned to be a slepe / and thene one of the burgeys rose vp / and sayd to hys felawes / I haue dremed a wonder dreme / For two Angels haue taken & borne me with grete Joye before the dyuyn mageste / And the other burgeys his felawe awoke and sayd / Thy dreme is merueyllous and wonderfull / but I suppose that the myn is fayrer / than thyn is / For I haue dremed that two Angels drewe me on hard ground for to lede me in to helle / And after they dyd awake the vylayne whiche as dredeful sayd / who is there / and they ansuerd / we be thy felawes / And he sayd to them / how be ye soo soone retourned / And they answerd to hym / how retorned / we departed not yet fro hens / And he sayd to them by my feythe / I haue dremed that the Angels had led one of yow in to paradys or heuen / and the other in to helle / wherfor I supposed / that ye shold neuer have comen ​ageyne / And therfore I aroos me fro sleep / and by cause I was hongry / I wente and drewe oute of the ouen the loef and ete hit / For ofte hit happeth that he whiche supposeth to begyle somme other / is hym self begyled.
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# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 13/From Jonathan Swift to Thomas Sheridan - 29

TO DR. SHERIDAN.
MAY 22, 1737.
I WILL on Monday (this is Saturday, May 22, as you will read above in the date) send to talk to Mr. Smith: but I distrust your sanguinity so much (by my own desponding temper) that I know not whether that affair of your justiceship be fixed, but I shall know next week, and write or act accordingly. I battled in vain with the duke and his clan against the ​lowering of gold, which is just a kind settlement upon England of 25,000l. a year for ever: yet some of my friends differ from me, though all agree that the absentees will be just so much gainers. I am excessively glad that your difficulty of breathing is over; for what is life but breath? I mean not that of our nostrils, but our lungs. You must in summer ride every half holiday, and go to church every Sunday some miles off. The people of England are copying from us to plague the clergy, but they intend far to outdo the original. I wish I were to be born next century, when we shall be utterly rid of parsons, of which, God be thanked, you are none at present; and until your bishop give you a living, I will leave off (except this letter) giving you the title of reverend. I did write him lately a letter with a witness, relating to his printer of Quadrille (did you ever see it) with which he half ruined Faulkner. He promises (against his nature) to consider him, but interposed an exception, which I believe will destroy the whole. Mrs. Whiteway gives herself airs of loving you; but do not trust her too much for she grows disobedient, and says she is going for to get another favourite. In short, she calls you names, and has neither Mr. nor Dr. on her tongue, but calls you plain Sheridan, and pox take you. She is not with me now, else she would read this in spite of me; and, between ourselves, she sets up to be my governor. I wish you had sent me the christian name of Knatchbull, and I would have writ to him; but I will see him on Monday, if he will be visible. ​The poem on Legion Club is so altered and enlarged, as I hear (for I only saw the original) and so damnably murdered, that they have added many of the club to the true number. I hear it is charged to me, with great personal threatenings from the puppies offended. Some say they will wait for revenge to their next meeting. Others say the privy council will summon the suspected author. If I could get the true copy I would send it you. Your bishop writes me word, that the real author is manifest by the work. —— Your loss of flesh is nothing, if it be made up with spirit. God help him who hath neither, I mean myself. I believe I shall say with Horace, Non omnis moriar; for half my body is already spent.
* ↑ The proclamation for lowering the English and foreign gold coin to the standard of English silver was published Aug. 9, 1737.
* ↑ Mr. Knatchbull was secretary to lord chancellor Wyndham.
* ↑ Dr. Horte.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 13/From Jonathan Swift to Unknown - 2

BY DR. SWIFT;
BUT WHEN OR TO WHOM WRITTEN IS UNCERTAIN.
EVERY squire, almost to a man, is an oppressor of the clergy; a racker of his tenants; a jobber of all publick works; very proud; and generally illiterate. Two neighbouring squires, although they be intimate friends, relations, or allies, if one of them want one hundred foot of the other's land contiguous to his own, which would make any building square, or his garden uniform (without the least inconveniency to the other) he shall be absolutely refused; or as the utmost mark of friendship) shall be forced to pay for it twenty times more than the value. This they call, paying for your conveniency: which is directly contrary to the very letter of an ancient heathen maxim in morality — That whatever benefit we can confer upon another, without injuring ourselves, we are bound to do it to a perfect stranger. The esquires take the titles of great men, with as little ceremony, as Alexander or Cæsar. For instance, the great Conolly, the great Wesley — the great Damer.
A fellow, whose father was a butcher, desiring a lawyer to be a referee in some little brangle between him and his neighbour, complained that the lawyer excused himself in the following manner: — Sir, I ​am your most humble servant; but dare not venture to interfere in the quarrels of you great men. Which I take to be just of a piece with Harlequin's swearing upon his honour. Jealousies, quarrels, and other ruptures, are as frequent between neighbouring squires, and from the same motives: the former brangling about their meres and bounds, as the others do about their frontiers. The detestable tyranny and oppression of landlords are visible in every part of the kingdom.
* ↑ Speaker of the house of commons.
* ↑ Garret Wesley, esq.
* ↑ Joseph Damer, esq., of the county of Tipperary.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 13/From Jonathan Swift to Trinity College Provost - 1

TO THE PROVOST AND SENIOR FELLOWS
OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN.
DEANERY HOUSE,
AS I had the honour of receiving some part of my education in your university, and the good fortune to be of some service to it while I had a share of credit at court, as well as since, when I had very little or none, I may hope to be excused for laying a case before you, and offering my opinion upon it.
Mr. Dunkin, whom you ail know, sent me some time ago a memorial intended to be laid before you, which perhaps he hath already done. His request is, that you would be pleased to enlarge his annuity at present, and that he may have the same right in his turn, to the first church preferment, vacant in your gift, as if he had been made a fellow, according to the scheme of his aunt's will; because the absurdity of the condition in it ought to be imputed to the old woman's ignorance, although her intention be very manifest: and the intention of the testator in all wills is chiefly regarded by the law. What I would therefore humbly propose is this, that you would increase his pension to one hundred pounds a year, and make him a firm promise of the first ​church living in your disposal, to the value of two hundred pounds a year, or somewhat more. This I take to be a reasonable medium between what he hath proposed in his memorial, and what you allow him at present.
I am almost a perfect stranger to Mr. Dunkin, having never seen him above twice, and then in mixed company, nor should I know his person if I met him in the streets. But I know he is a man of wit and parts; which, if applied properly to the business of his function, instead of poetry (wherein it must be owned he sometimes excels), might be of great use and service to him.
I hope you will please to remember, that, since your body hath received no inconsiderable benefaction from the aunt, it will much increase your reputation, rather to err on the generous side toward the nephew.
These are my thoughts, after frequently reflecting on the case under all its circumstances; and so I leave it to your wiser judgments.
I am, with true respect and esteem,
reverend and worthy sirs,
your most obedient and
most humble servant,
J. SWIFT.
* ↑ This letter plainly shows the author's friendship to gentlemen of genius and learning, although unacquainted with them; but, soon after this, Mr. Dunkin was introduced to the dean, who did him farther services, by recommending him to Dr. Bolton, archbishop of Cashel, who ordained him.
* ↑ See the translation of "Carberiæ Rupes," vol. VII, p. 248.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 13/From Jonathan Swift to Thomas Sheridan - 26

TO DR. SHERIDAN.
JULY 10, 1736.
I RECEIVED your two letters. The first is mingled with Latin and English, one following the other: now I scorn that way, and put both languages in one. However, for the sake of order, I will begin with answering your second letter before the first, because it deserves one on account of your presents. From bogs, rivers, mountains, mosses, quagmires, heaths, lakes, kennels, ditches, weeds, &c. &c. &c. &c. —— Mrs. Whiteway was pleased, although very unjustly, to criticise upon every curiosity; she swears the paper of gravel was of your ​own voiding, as she found by the smell. That your whole artichoke leaf shows its mother to be smaller than a nutmeg, and I confess you were somewhat unwary in exposing it to censure. Your raspberry she compared with the head of a corkingpin, and the latter had the victory. Your currants were invisible, and we could not distinguish the red from the black. Your purslane passed very well with me, but she swore it was houseleek. She denies your Cavan fly to be genuine, but will have it, that for the credit of your town you would have it born there, although Mrs. Donaldson confesses it was sent her in a box of brown sugar, and died as it entered the gates. Mrs. Whiteway proceeds farther in her malice, declaring your nasturtium to be only a p-ss-abed; your beans as brown as herself, and of the same kind with what we fatten hogs in Leicestershire. In one thing she admires your generosity, that for her sake you would spare a drop or two of your canal water, which by the spongy bottom needs it so much. The only defects of them all, were, that they wanted colour, sight, and smell; yet as to the last, we both acknowledge them all to exhale a general fustiness, which however did much resemble that of your Cavan air.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bickersteth, Robert

​BICKERSTETH, ROBERT (1816–1884), bishop of Ripon, the fourth son of the Rev. John Bickersteth, rector of Sapcote, Leicestershire, and Henrietta, daughter of Mr. G. Lang, was born at Acton, Suffolk. His father was brother of Edward Bickersteth [q. v.] After some medical training, he entered Queens' College, Cambridge, and graduated as a junior optime in 1841. He was ordained the same year to the curacy of Sapcote, where he remained until 1843. The next year he was appointed curate of St. Giles's, Reading, and the year after of Holy Trinity, Clapham. In 1845 he was appointed to the incumbency of St. John's, Clapham, which he held for six years. During this period he attained considerable popularity as an evangelical preacher. In 1846 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. J. Garde of Cork. On the death of his uncle, the Rev. Edward Bickersteth of Watton [q. v.], in 1850, he took up his work as an hon. secretary of the Irish Church Missions. He left Clapham for the living of St. Giles's-in-the-Fields, where he had a large congregation. In 1854 he was appointed canon residentiary and treasurer of the cathedral church of Salisbury. On the translation of Bishop Longley to the see of Durham in 1856 Bickersteth succeeded to the bishopric of Ripon, and was consecrated 18 June 1857. The bishop was a liberal in politics. He occasionally took part in the debates in the House of Lords. He opposed the disestablishment of the Irish church, and on 17 June 1869 spoke with considerable ability against the bill. He strongly advocated the legalisation of marriage with a deceased wife's sister. As long as his health allowed he was active in the discharge of his official duties. During his episcopate he consecrated 155 churches. The restoration of his cathedral church was begun in June 1862, and carried out at the cost of 40,000l. He preached constantly in different parts of his diocese, sometimes as often as three times in a single Sunday. Although he was not a total abstainer, he was zealous in promoting temperance. He was regarded as one of the leaders of the evangelical school, and was strongly opposed to the introduction of any ceremonies or doctrines not strictly in accord with the opinions of his party. At the same time his long episcopate seems to have been free from all actions at law on matters of ritual. During the last two years of his life he was disabled by sickness from active work, and some newspaper attacks were made on him for not resigning his see. As, however, eminent physicians assured him that he might hope to be restored to health, he did not see fit to resign. He died at his palace at Ripon 15 April 1884, leaving four sons and one daughter. Bishop Bickersteth published his speech on the Irish Church Disestablishment Bill, London, 1869, and several charges, sermons, lectures, tracts, and prefaces to books.
[Record, 18 April 1884; Leeds Mercury, 16 April 1884; Guardian, May 1883; private information.]
W. H.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bickerstaff, William

​BICKERSTAFF, WILLIAM (1728–1789), antiquary, was born at Leicester 17 July 1728, where he was appointed undermaster of the Lower Free Grammar School 30 Jan. 1749-50. He took orders in December 1770, being successively curate at most of the churches at Leicester, and also at Great Wigston and Ayleston, two villages in the neighbourhood. He died suddenly at his lodgings in Leicester on 26 Jan. 1789. He possessed good classical attainments, and had a wide knowledge of antiquarian and historical subjects, being a frequent contributor to the 'Gentleman's Magazine.' From a correspondence published in that periodical after his death it appears that he was in straitened circumstances throughout the greater part of his career, receiving a salary of only 19l. 16s. for his services at the Leicester grammar school. At fifty-eight years of age he speaks of himself as 'a poor curate, unsupported by private property.' Among his antiquarian researches may be noticed several valuable communications, which Mr. Nichols embodied in his 'History of Leicester.'
[Gent. Mag. 1789, lix. 181, 203-5; Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica, 1790, viii. 1371.]
T. F. T. D.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bickham, George (d.1758)

Date of death 1771 in the ODNB; modern sources exchange the year of death between father and son
​BICKHAM, GEORGE, the younger (d. 1758), engraver, son of George Bickham (d. 1769), was one of the earliest political caricaturists, and executed many of the humorous designs published by Messrs. Bowles, He engraved 'A View and Representation of the Battle of Zenta, fought 11 Sept. 1696,' and 'The Description of the Loss of his Majesty's Ship the Northumberland, taken by the French, 8 May 1744;' also many head-pieces for songs, portraits of himself and his father, and that of Serjeant Thomas Barnardiston [q. v.] The younger Bickham was the author of 'An Introductive Essay on Drawing, with the Nature and Beauty of Light and Shadows,' &c., 1747. He died in 1758.
[Strutt's Biog. Dict. of Engravers (1786); Redgrave's Dictionary of Artists (1878); MS. notes British Museum.]
L. F.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bickham, George (d.1769)

Date of death 1758 in the ODNB; modern sources exchange the year of death between father and son
​BICKHAM, GEORGE, the elder (d. 1769), writing-master and engraver, was born about the end of the seventeenth century, He was the most celebrated penman of his time, and published in 1743 a folio volume entitled 'The Universal Penman … exemplified in all the useful and ornamental branches of modern Penmanship, &c.; the whole embellished with 200 beautiful decorations for the amusement of the curious.' He also practised engraving, but his productions in this department had little merit. He engraved Rubens's 'Peace and War' and 'Golden and Silver Ages;' 'Philosophy,' a large plate from his own design; a few portraits, including those of Sir Isaac Newton, Bishop Blackall, Stephen Duck the poet, and George Shelly, John Clark, and Robert More, writing-masters; the plates to 'British Monarchy, or a new Chorographical Description of all the Dominions subject to the King of Great Britain,' 1748; and those to 'The Beauties of Stow,' 1763. Bickham was a member of the Free Society of Artists, and exhibited with them from 1701 to 1765. His stock-in-trade, plates, &c., were sold by auction in May 1767, and he died at Richmond in 1769.
[Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting (Wornum). p. 969; Strutt's Biog. Dict, of Engravers (1785); Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers (ed. Graves). 1885; Redgrave's Dictionary of Artists (1878); MS. notes in British Museum.]
L. F.
# Thom's Irish Who's Who/Ross, Right Rev. Arthur Edwin

duplicated at Tuam, Killala And Achonry, Bishop of
​ROSS, Right Rev. Arthur Edwin, B.D., D.D. (T.C.D.); M.C. (with bar); Curate of Ballymena, Co. Antrim, 1895-1900; Curate of Portrush, 1900-01; Curate of St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, 1901-3; Rector of Portrush, 1903-12; Rector of Ballymena, 1912-19; Rector of Holywood, Co. Down, 1919-20; Canon of Connor Cathedral, 1909; Examining Chaplain to Bishop of Down, 1911; Canon of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, 1919; Chancellor of Down Cathedral, 1920; Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, 1920; Temporary Chaplain to the Forces, 1916-17; b. 1869; son of David Ross, Warriston, Glenageary, Co. Dublin. Res.: Palace, Tuam, Co. Galway; University Club, Dublin.
# Thom's Irish Who's Who/Ross, Right Hon. Sir John

​ROSS, Right Hon. Sir John, Baronet (Unit. Kgd., 1919), P.C, Irld., (1902); Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1921; Judge of the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division. 1896-21; son of the late Rev. Dr. Ross, D.D., of Londonderry. Educ. at Trinity College, Dublin (first classical scholar, 1876: LL.B., 1879); LL.D. (Hon.), 1914; Knight of Grace of the Grand Priory of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, 1914; called to the Irish Bar in 1880; Q.C., 1891; Bencher King's Inns, 1893; a Commissioner of Charitable Donations and Bequests (1898); a Commissioner of National Education in Ireland, 1905; M.P. for Londonderry City, 1892-5; b. 1854; m. 1882, Katherine, dau. of Lieut.-Col. Deane Mann, D.L., of Dunmoyle, Co. Tyrone, and has issue one son and one dau. Res.: Whitehall Court, London, S.W,; Dunmoyle, Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone. Clubs: Kildare Street, Dublin; Royal St. George Yacht, Kingstown.