Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/118



Ytte is better than force or trengthe / As reherceth to vs this fable of an old weel / the whiche no more take no rats / wherfore he was ofte ore hongry and bethought her that he hold hyde her elf withynne the for to take the rats whiche came there for to ete hit. And as the rats came to the floure / he took and ete them eche one after other / And as the oldet rat of all perceyued & knewe her malyce / he ayd thus in hym elf / Certaynly I halle kepe me wel fro the / For I knowe alle thy malyce & falhede   ¶ And therfore he is wye that capeth the wytte and malyce of folke / by wytte and not by force