¶ The xij fable is of the foxe / and of the lyon
Ayre doctryne taketh he in hym
ſelf / that chaſtyſeth hym by the
perylle of other / As to vs reherceth
this prefent fable / Of a
lyon whiche ſomtyme faygned
hym ſelf ſeke / ¶ And whanne the beetles
knewe that the lyon was ſeke / they wold goo
alle to vyſyte and ſee hym as theyr kynge /
¶ And Incontynent as the beeſtes entryd in to
his hows for to ſee and comforte hym / he deuoured
and ete them / ¶ And whan the foxes
were come to the yate for to haue vyſyded[errata 1] the
lyon / they knewe wel the fallace and falſhede
of the lyon and ſalewed hym at the entre of the
yate / And entryd not within / ¶ And whan
the lyon ſawe that they wold not entre in to his
hows / he demanded of them / why they wold
not come within / And one of the foxes ſayd to
hym / we knowe wel by thy traces / that alle
the beeſtes whiche haue entryd in to thy hows
came not oute ageyne / And alſo yf we entryd
within / nomore ſhold we come ageyne ¶ And
therfor he is wel happy that taketh enſample
