Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/279



Ryche man omtyme wente by a Cyte / And walked fro one yde to that other / fylle fro hym a grete pure / wherin were a thouand Crownes / the whiche a poure man fond / and toke them for to kepe to his wyf / wherof he was ful gladde / and ayd / thanked be god of al the goodes whiche he endeth to vs / yf he endeth now this grete omme kepe we hit wel / And on the next morne after folowyng / the Ryche man made to be cryed thurgh the cyte / that who omeuer had fond a thowand Crownes in a pure / he hold retitue / and brynge them to hym ageyne / and that he hold haue for his reward an honderd of them / And after that the poure man had herd this crye / he ranne Incontynent to his wyf / & ayd to her / My wyf / that / that we haue fond mut be rendred or yolden ageyne / For hit is better to haue a C crownes withoute ynne than a thowand with ynne & wrongfully / And how