Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/112



Nely for to flee is aured to cape the daunger wherfore he fleeth / As thow halt nowe ee by this fable / Of a whiche rane byfore the dogges / and to thende that he hold not be take / he fledde in to the fyrt toun that he found / & entryd in to a table where as many oxen were / to whom he ayd the caue why he was come there / prayeng them wetely that they wold aue hym / And the oxen ayd then to hym / Allas poure herte thow arte amonge vs euylle adreyd / thow holdet be more urely in the feldes   ¶ For yf thow be perceyued or ene of the oxeherd or els of the mayter / Certaynly thow arte but dede / Helas for god & for pyte I praye yow that ye wylle hyde me within your racke / and that ye deceyue me not / and at nyght next comynge / I halle goo hens / and halle putte my elf in to a ure place /   ¶ And whanne the eruaunts came for to gyue hey to the oxen / they dyd cat heye before the oxen / and wente ageyne theyre waye and awe not the hert / wherof the herte was gretely reioyhed to haue caped the perylle