The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Liber Secundus/Fable 2
¶ The second fable is of the Columbes or douues of the kyte and of the sperehawke
Ho that putte and submytteth hym
self vnder the saue gard or protection
of the euylle / thou oughtest
to wete & knowe / that whan he
asketh & demanded ayde & helpe /
he geteth none / ¶ Wherof Esope reherceth to
vs suche a fable / Of the douues whiche demaunded
a sperehawke for to be theyr kynge /
for to kepe them fro the kyte or mylan / And
whanne the sperehawke was maade kynge ouer
them / he beganne to deuoure them / the whiche
columbes or douues sayd amonge them / that
better it were to them to suffre of the kyte than
to be vnder the subjection of the sperehawke /
& to be martyred as we be / but therof we be
wel worthy / For we oure self ben cause of this
meschyef / And therfore whanne men done ony
thyng / men ought well to loke and consydere
thende of hit / For he dothe prudently and
wysely whiche taketh good hede to the ende