¶ The xiij fable is of the Egle and of the foxe
Ow the puyſſant & myghty muſt
doubte the feble Eſsope reherceth
to vs ſuche a fable / Ther was an
Egle whiche came ther as young
foxes were / and took awey one of
them / and gaf hit to his younge Egles to fede
them with The foxe wente after hym & praid
hym to reſtore and gyue hym ageyne his yong
foxe / and the Egle ſaid that he wold not / For he
was ouer hym lord and maiſter/ ¶ And thenne
the foxe fulle of ſhrewdnes and malyce beganne
to put to gyder grete habondaunce of ſtraws
round aboute the tree / where vpon the egle and
his yonge were in theyr neſt/ and kyndeled it
with fyre / ¶ And whan the ſmoke and the
flambe began to ryſe vpward / the Egle ferdfulle
and doubtyng the dethe of her lytylle egles
reſtored ageyne the younge foxe to his moder
¶ This fable ſheweth vs / how the myghty men
oughte not to lette in ony thynge the ſmall folke /
For the lytyle ryght ofte may lette and trouble
the grete
