Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/102



He Auctor that is to wete Eope reherceth to vs uche a fable of two euyls / ayeng that a erpent entryd om tyme within the forge of a mythe / for to erche omme mete for her dyner / It happed / that he fond a whiche he beganne to gnawe with her teethe / Thenne ayd the fyle to her / yf thow byte and gnawe me / yet halt thow doo to me no hurte / but bytynge and gnawyng on me / thow halt hurte thyn owne elf / For by my trengthe alle the yron is planed by me / And therfore thow arte a foole to gnawe me / For I telle the / that none euyll may hurte ne another as euylle as he / Ne none wycked may hurte another wycked / ne alo the hard ageynt the hard halle not breke eche other / ne two enuyous men hal not both ryde vpon an ae / wherfor the myghty and tronge mut loue hym whiche is as myghty and as trong as hym elf is