The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Liber Tertius/Fable 2
¶ The second fable is of the lyon and of the hors
Che one ought to eschewe dyssymylyng
/ for none ouȝt to were on hym
the skyn of the wulf / but that he
wyll be lyke to hym / For none
ougt to fayne hym self other than
suche as he is / As to vs reherceth this fable /
¶ Of a lyon whiche sawe a hors / whiche ete
grasse in a medowe / And for to fynde somme
subtylyte and manere for to ete and deuoure
hym approched to hym / and sayd / God kepe
the my broder/ I am a leche / and with al a good
phesycyen/ ¶ And by cause that I see that
thow hast a sore foote / I am come hyther for
to hele the of hit/ And the hors knewe wel
all his euyell thought And sayd to the lyon /
My broder I thanke the gretely / and thow arte
welcome to me / I preye the that thow wylt
make my foote hole / And thenne the lyon sayd
to the hors / late see thy foote / And as the lyon
looked on hit / the hors smote hym on the forhede
/ In suche wyse that he brake his hede and
fyll oute of his mynde / & the lyon felle to the
ground / and soo wonderly he was hurte / that almost he myght not ryse vp ageyne / And thenne
sayd the lyon in hym self / I am wel worthy to
haue had this / For he that sercheth euylle /
euyll Cometh to hym / And by cause that I
dyssymyled and fayned my self to be a medycyn /
where as I shold haue shewed mysel a grete
enemye / I therfore haue receyued good reward /
and therfore euery body oughte to shewe hym
self suche as he is /