Of a Fox that Would Eat No Grapes, George Turberville

edited by Adam Wagner

George Turberville, 1540?-1610, was born in Whitchurch, Dorset, along the banks of the Winterborne. A scholar of Winchester College at the age of fourteen, Turberville went on to study at New College in Oxford, and to serve as the secretary to Thomas Randolph, Ambassador to the Empress of Russia's Court. A noted scholar and poet, Turberville wrote volumes on topics ranging from hunting and falconry, to sonnets and songs. Turberville also translated Ovid and was a pioneer in the use of blank verse. "Of a Fox that Would Eat no Grapes" was first published in 1567 in a collection entitled Epitaphs, Epigrams, Songs, and Sonnets. 

 By fortune came a fox,
    Where grew a lofty vine.
 "I will no grapes," quoth he,
    "This yard is none of mine."
 The fox would none because that he		5
 Perceived the highness of the tree.
    So men that foxly are
    And long their lust to have
 But cannot come thereby,
    Make wise they would not crave:	       10
 Those subtle merchants will no wine
 Because they cannot reach the vine.

3.quoth] said. will] want, desire
5.would] wanted, desired
8.lust] desire.
10.Make wise] pretend, behave as if they were wise about the matter.
11.subtle] crafty; cunning.

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