¶ The xij fable is of the two rats
Etter worthe is to lyue in pouerte
ſurely / than to lyue rychely beyng
euer in daunger / Wherof Eſope
tellelh ſuche a fable / There were
two rats wherof the one was grete
and fatte / and held hym in the celer of a Ryche
man And the other was poure and lene / ¶ On
a daye this grete and fat ratte wente to ſporte
hym in the feldes and mette by the way the
poure rat / of the whiche he was receyued as
well as he coude in his poure cauerne or hole /
and gaf from of ſuche mete as he had / Thenne
ſayd the fatte ratte come thow wyth me / And
I ſhalle gyue the wel other metes / He went
with hym in to the toune / and enterd bothe
into the celer of the ryche man / the whiche
celer was full of alle goodes / And when they
were within the grete rat preſented and gaf to
the poure rat of the delycious metes / ſaying thus
to hym / Be mery and make good chere / and
ete and drynke Joyouſly / ¶ And as they were
etynge / the bouteler of the place came in to the
celer / & the grete rat fled anon in to his hole /
