Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/125



Hanne a or kynred is indyfferent or indyuyyon / not lyghtly they halle doo ony thynge to theyr alute / as reherceth to vs this fable / Of a whiche entryd within a table full of whethers / And after as the awe hym / none of them ayd one word / And the bocher toke the fyrt that he fonde / ¶ Thenne the whethers pake al to gyder and ayd / lete him doo what he wylle / And thus the bocher tooke him all one after another one onely / And as he wold haue taken the lat / the poure whether ayd to / Iutly I am worthy to be take / by caue I haue not holpen my felawes / For he that wylle not helpe ne comforte other / ought not to demaunde or ake helpe ne comforte / For vertue whiche is is better than vertue eparate