Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/312

   the poure man al ahamed & vergoynous knowynge her thoughte and her wylle / anuerd thus to her Certaynly my good lady I dare not / but neuertheles he wold fayne haue done hit / And the wydowe al embraced with loue beeched and prayd hym more and more / And thenne whan the poure man awe that he myght not excue hym elf / he ayd to the wydowe in this manere / My frend yth that thow deyret it for to doo oo moche and oo grete an euylle / I take god to my wytnes / that thow arte cauer of hit / For I am not conentynge to the faytte or dede / but ayenge thee wordes he conented to her wylle

[Omitted. Cf. Poggio Facetiæ 45.]