Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/160



HE Auctor of this booke reherceth uche another Fable and of uche entence / as the / that is to wete / that men hold not byleue hym / to whome / men hath done / And ayth that omtyme in heruet tyme a labourer wente for to ee his goodes in the feldes / the whiche mette on his way a erpent / And with a taf whiche he bare in his hand mote the ayd erpent / and gaf hym uche a troke vpon the heed / that he lewe hym / ¶ And as the erpent felte hym elf o ore hurted / he wente the man / and entryd in to his hole / And ayd to the labourer / O euylle Frende / thow hat bete me / But I warne / that thow neuer byleue not hym / to the whiche thow hat done ony eyylle / Of the whiche wordes the labourer made lytyl and went forthe on his waye / ¶ It befelle thenne in the ame yere / that this labourer wente ageyne by that waye / for to goo laboure and his ground / To whome