Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/218



E whiche is wye / and that ones hath ben begyled / ought not to trute more hym that hath begyled hym   As reherceth this Fable of a catte whiche wente in to a hows / where as many rats were / the whiche he dyd ete eche one after other /   ¶ And whanne the rats perceyued the grete fyernes and crudelyte of the catte / held a counceylle to gyder where as they determyned of one comyn wylle / that they hold no more hold them ne come nor goo on the lowe floore. wherfore one of them moot auncyent profered and ayd to al the other uche wordes /   ¶ My bretheren and my frendes / ye knowe wel / that we haue a grete enemye / whiche is a grete perecutour ouer vs alle / to whome we may not reyte / wherfor of nede we mut hold our elf vpon the hyghe balkes / to thende that he may not take vs / Of the whiche propoycion or wordes the other rats were wel content and apayd / and byleuyd this counceylle / And whanne the kat knewe the counceylle of the rats / he hynge hym elf by his two feet behynd at a pynne of