¶ The vi fable is of the bochers and of the whethers
Hanne a lygnage or kynred is indyfferent
or indyuyſyon / not
lyghtly they ſhalle doo ony thynge
to theyr ſalute / as reherceth to vs
this fable / Of a bocher whiche
entryd within a ſtable full of whethers / And after
as the whethers ſawe hym / none of them ſayd
one word / And the bocher toke the fyrſt that
he fonde / ¶ Thenne the whethers ſpake al to
gyder and ſayd / lete him doo what he wylle /
And thus the bocher tooke him all one after
another ſauf one onely / And as he wold haue
taken the laſt / the poure whether ſayd to hym /
Iuſtly I am worthy to be take / by cauſe I haue
not holpen my felawes / For he that wylle not
helpe ne comforte other / ought not to demaunde
or aſke helpe ne comforte / For vertue whiche is
vnyed is better than vertue ſeparate