Serpent and File


3.12. De vipera et lima
Caxton: Of the serpent
The Auctor that is to wete Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable of two euyls / sayeng that a serpent entryd somtyme within the forge of a smythe / for to serche somme mete for her dyner / It happed / that she fond a fyle whiche she beganne to gnawe with her teethe / Thenne sayd the fyle to her / yf thow byte and gnawe me / yet shalt thow doo to me no hurte / but bytynge and gnawyng on me / thow shalt hurte thyn owne self / For by my strengthe alle the yron is planed by me / And therfore thow arte a foole to gnawe me /
For I telle the / that none euyll may hurte ne adommage another as euylle as he / Ne none wycked may hurte another wycked / ne also the hard ageynst the hard shalle not breke eche other / ne two enuyous men shal not both ryde vpon an asse / wherfor the myghty and stronge must loue hym whiche is as myghty and as stronge as hym self is
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