The Goat and the Wolf


5.06. De lupo et hirco
Caxton: Of the hegoote and of the wulf
The feble ought not to arme hym ageynst the stronge / As recyteth this present fable of a wulf / which somtyme ranne after a hegoot / and the hegoot for to saue hym lept vpon a roche / and the wulf besyeged hym / And after whan they had duellid there two or three dayes / the wulf beganne to wexe hongry / and the hegoote to haue thurst / And thus the wulf went for to ete / and the hegoot went for to drynke / And as the hegoot dranke he sawe his shadowe in the water / and speculynge and beholdynge his shadowe profered and sayd suche wordes within hym self / Thou hast so fayre legges / so fayr a berd / and so fayre hornes / and hast fere of the wulf / yf hit happed that he come ageyne / I shall corryge hym wel / and shalle kepe hym wel / that he shalle haue no myght ouer me / And the wulf whiche held hys peas / and herkened what he sayd / toke hym by the one legge thus sayenge / what wordes ben these whiche thow proferest & sayst broder Hegoote / And whanne the hegote sawe that he was taken / he beganne to saye to the wulf / Ha my lord / I saye no thynge / and haue pyte of me / I knowe wel / that it is my coulpe / And the wulf toke hym by the neck and strangled hym /
And therfore it is grete folye whan the feble maketh werre ageynst the puyssaunt and stronge
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