¶ The xx fable maketh mencion of the tree and of the reed
One ought to be prowd ageynſt his
lord / but oughte to humble hym
ſelf toward hym / As this fable
reherceth to vs of a grete tre /
whiche wold neuer bowe hym
for none wynd / And a reed whiche was at his
foote bowed hym ſelf as moche as the wynd
wold / And the tree ſayd to hym / why doſt
thow not abyde ſtylle as I doo / And the reed
anſuerd / I haue not the myght whiche thow
haſt / And the tree ſayd to the reed prowdly / than
haue I more ſtrengthe / than thow / And anone
after came a grete wynde / whiche threwe doune
to the ground the ſayd grete tree / and the reed
abode in his owne beynge / For the prowde
ſhall be allway humbled And the meke and
hūble ſhalle be enhaunced / For the roote of
alle vertue is obedynce and humylyte
¶ Here fynyssheth the fourthe book of the subtyle Fables of Esope / And how be it that
