The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Other Aesop's/Fable 15

by Aesop

¶ The xv fable is of the flee and of the man.

 

E that dothe euyl / how be hit that the euylle be not grete men ought not to leue hym vnpunysshed / As it appereth by this fable / Of a man whiche took a flee whiche bote hym / to whome the man sayd in this manere / Fle why bytest thow me / and letest me not slepe / and the flee ansuerd It is my kynd to doo soo / wherfore I praye the that thow wylt not put me to dethe / And the man beganne to lawhe / & sayd to the flee / how be it / that thow mayst not hurte me sore / Neuertheless / to the behoueth not to prycke me / wherfore thow shalt deye / For men ought not to leue none euyll vnpunysshed how be hit that hit be not grete.