¶ The xxiij fable is of the oxe and of the rat
He lordes ought to loue theyr ſubgettis
/ For he whiche is hated of
his tenaunts and ſubgets / is not
lord of his land / as hit appereth
by this Fable / Of an oxe / whiche
ſomtyme was within a ſtable / and as the oxe
on a tyme wold haue ſlepte fayne / a rat came /
whiche bote the oxe by the thyes / And as the
oxe wold haue ſmyten hym / he ran awaye into
his hole / And thenne the oxe beganne to menace
the rat / And the ratte ſayd to hym / I am
not aferd of the And yf thow arte grete / thy
parentes ben cauſe therof and not thy ſelf / And
therfore the ſtronge ought not to deſpeyſe the
feble / but ought to loue hym as the chyef or
hede ought to loue his lymmes / For he that
loueth not / oughte not to be loued / And therfore
the lord muſt loue his ſubgettys / yf of them
he wylle be loued
