The Beasts and the Birds

3.04. De quadrupedibus et avibus
Caxton: Of the beestes and of the birdes
None maye doo no good to two lordes at ones / whiche ben contrary one to that other / as sayth to vs this fable that the beestes made grete were agenyst the byrdes / & fought euery day to gyder / And the backe feryng the wulues And that the beestes shold vaynquysshe and ouercome the byrdes / wold haue hold with the beestes / and be agenyst the byrdes / And whanne that bataylle was ordeyned on both sydes / the egle beganne to entre in to the batayll of the beestes by suche a strengthe / that with the help of the other byrdes he gat the feld / and vaynquysshed / and ouercame the bestes / wherfor the bestes maade pees with the byrdes / and were alle of one accord and of one wylle / And for the treason that the backe had made / she was condempned to neuer see the day / And neuer flee / but only by nyght / And also she was despoylled of alle her fethers /
And therfore he that wylle serue two lordes contrary one to other may not be good ne trewe / And they whiche relynquen and leue theyr owne lordes for to serue another straunger / whiche is enemy to theyr lord / ben wel worthy to be punysshed / For as the Euangely sayth / None may serue bothe god and the deuyl
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The Birds, The Beasts, and the Bat

124. THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT. Once upon a time there was a fierce war waged between the Birds and the Beasts. For a long while the issue of the battle was uncertain, and the Bat, taking advantage of his ambiguous nature, kept aloof and remained neutral. At length when the Beasts seemed to prevail, the Bat joined their forces and appeared active in the fight; but a rally being made by the Birds, which proved successful, he was found at the end of the day among the ranks of the winning party.
A peace being speedily concluded, the Bat’s conduct was condemned alike by both parties, and being acknowledged by neither and excluded from the terms of the truce, he was obliged to skulk off as best he could, and has ever since lived in holes and corners, never daring to show his face except in the duskiness of twilight. [more info]

The Beasts and the Birds

THE BEASTS AND THE BIRDS. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Birds, The Beasts, and the Bat

125. THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT. Once upon a time, there commenced a fierce war between the birds and the beasts, when the bat, taking advantage of his ambiguous make, hoped by that means to live secure in a state of neutrality, and save his bacon.
It was not long before the forces on each side met, and gave battle; and their animosities running very high, a bloody slaughter ensued. The bat, at the beginning of the day, thinking the birds most likely to carry it, listed himself among them, but kept fluttering at a little distance, that he might the better observe and take his measures accordingly.
However, after some time spent in the action, the army of the beasts seeming to prevail, he went entirely over to them, and endeavoured to convince them, by the affinity which he had to a mouse, that he was by nature a beast, and would always continue firm and true to their interest.
His plea was admitted; but, in the end, the advantage turning completely on the side of the birds, under the admirable conduct and courage of their general, the eagle, the bat, to save his life, and escape the disgrace of falling into the hands of his deserted friends, betook himself to flight; and ever since, skulking in caves and hollow trees all day, as if ashamed to show himself, he never appears till the dusk of the evening, when all the feathered inhabitants of the air are gone to roost. [more info]

The Birds, The Beasts, and the Bat

030. THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT. Once upon a time, there commenced a fierce war between the birds and the beasts, when the bat, taking advantage of his ambiguous make, hoped by that means to live secure in a state of neutrality, and save his bacon.
It was not long before the forces on each side met, and gave battle; and their animosities running very high, a bloody slaughter ensued. The bat, at the beginning of the day, thinking the birds most likely to carry it, listed himself among them, but kept fluttering at a little distance, that he might the better observe and take his measures accordingly.
However, after some time spent in the action, the army of the beasts seeming to prevail, he went entirely over to them, and endeavoured to convince them, by the affinity which he had to a mouse, that he was by nature a beast, and would always continue firm and true to their interest.
His plea was admitted; but, in the end, the advantage turning completely on the side of the birds, under the admirable conduct and courage of their general, the eagle, the bat, to save his life, and escape the disgrace of falling into the hands of his deserted friends, betook himself to flight; and ever since, skulking in caves and hollow trees all day, as if ashamed to show himself, he never appears till the dusk of the evening, when all the feathered inhabitants of the air are gone to roost. [more info]

The Birds, The Beasts, and the Bat

17. THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS AND THE BAT. Once a great war was declared between the birds and the beasts. The bat, being half a bird and half a beast, hoped to escape fighting, and so save his skin. On the day of battle, the bat, thinking the birds were most likely to win, flew up in the air, taking care, nevertheless, to keep at some distance, so as to see how the matter went.
After much fighting, the beasts appeared to be having the best of it. Down flew the cowardly bat to join them. He told them
that as his body was very like that of a mouse, it was to them he owed allegiance. The beasts agreed to receive him, and he swore to be true always to their cause.
However, in the end the birds, through the cleverness of their general, the eagle, won the day, and the bat, in fear of his life, took to flight.
Since then, as if ashamed to show himself, he hides in caves and hollow trees, never appearing until dusk, when all the birds have gone to roost. [more info]

The Bat, The Birds, and the Beasts

24. THE BAT, THE BIRDS, AND THE BEASTS. A great conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts. When the two armies were collected together the Bat hesitated which to join. The Birds that passed his perch said: "Come with us"; but he said: "I am a Beast." Later on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him looked up and said: "Come with us"; but he said: "I am a Bird."
Luckily at the last moment peace was made, and no battle took place, so the Bat came to the Birds and wished to join in the rejoicings, but they all turned against him and he had to fly away. He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces. "Ah," said the Bat, "I see now: he that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends." [more info]

The Birds and Beasts

030. THE BIRDS AND BEASTS. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll down to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

Neither Beast nor Bird

45. NEITHER BEAST NOR BIRD.
A Beast he would be, or a bird,
As might suit, thought the Bat: but he erred.
When the battle was done,
He found that no one
Would take him for friend at his word.
BETWEEN TWO STOOLS YOU MAY COME TO THE GROUND
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The Birds, The Beasts, and the Bat

13. THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT. Upon a desperate and a double Battel betwixt the Birds and the Beasts, the Bat stood Neuter, till she found that the Beasts had the better on’t, and then went over to the stronger Side. But it came to pass afterward (as the Chance of War is various) that the Birds rally’d their broken Troops, and carry’d the Day; and away she went then to t’other Party, where she was try’d by a Council of War as a Deserter; stript, banish’d, and finally condemn’d never to see Day-light again.
Trimming, in some Cases, is foul and dishonest; in others laudable, and in some again not only honest but necessary. The Nicety lies in the Skill of distinguishing upon Cases, Times, and Degrees. [more info]