Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/249



En oughte not to breke his feythe ageynte his good Frend / ne to leue his felauhip / as hit appiereth by this fable / of four oxen whiche to gyder were in a fair medowe / ¶ And by caue that euer they were and kepte them to gyder / none other beet durte not aaylle them / and alo the lyon dradde them moche / the whiche lyon on a daye came to them / And by his deceyuable wordes thoughte for to begyle them / & to rauhe & take them the better / maade them to be epared eche one fro other / ¶ And whanne they were epered / the lyon wente / and toke one of them / And whan the lyon wold haue trangled hym / the oxe ayd to hym / godep / He is a foole whiche byleueth fals and deceyuable wordes And leuelh the felawhip of his good frende / For yf we had ben euer to gyder / thow haddet not taken me / And therfore he whiche is / and tandeth wel ure / ought to kepe hym oo that he falle not / For to whiche is wel / meue not hym elf