Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/42



He myghte and puyant mut pardonne and forgyue to the lytyll and feble / and ought to kepe hym al euylle / For oftyme the lytyll may wel gyue ayde and help to the grete / wherof Eope reherceth to vs uche a fable Of a lyon whiche lepte in a foret and the rats and playd  hym / It happed that the rat wente vpon the lyon / wherfore the lyon awoke / and within his clawes or he tooke the rat /    ¶ And whanne the rat awe hym thus taken & hold ayd thus to the lyon / My lord pardonne me / For of my deth noughte ye halle Wynne / For I uppofed not to haue done to yow harme  diplayyre /    ¶ Thenne thought the lyon in hym elf that no ne glorye it were to put it to dethe / wherfor he graunted his pardonne and lete hym go within a lytyll whyle / After this it happed o that the ame lyon was take at a grete trappe / and as he awe hym thus caught and taken / he beganne to crye and make orowe / and then whan the rat