The Wolves and the Sheep

3.13. De lupis et ovibus et canibus
Caxton: Of the wulues and of the sheep
Whanne men haue a good hede / and a good defensour / or a good Capitayne / men oughte not to leue hym / for he that leueth hym repenteth hym afterward of hit / as to vs reherceth this fable / Of the sheep whiche had were and discencion with the wolues / And by cause that the wulues made to stronge werre ageynst the sheep / the shepe thenne tooke for theyr help the dogges / and the whethers also / And thenne was the bataylle of the sheep so grete and so stronge / & fought so vygorously agenst the wolues. that they put them to flyght / And whanne the wolues sawe the strengthe of theyr aduersaryes / they sent an ambassade toward the sheep for to trete the pees with them / the whiche Ambassade sayd to the sheep in this maner / yf ye wylle gyue vs the dogges / we shalle swere vnto yow oure feythe / that we shalle neuer kepe ne hold werre ageynst yow / And the sheep ansuerd / yf ye wylle gyue vs yur fayth / we shalle be content / And thus they made pees to gyder / but the wulues kyld the dogges / whiche were the capytayns and protectours of the sheep / And the dogges dyde but lytyll hurte to the wulues / wherfore whanne the lytyl and yong wulues were growen in theyr age / they came of eche part and countrey / and assembled them to gyder / and all of one accord and wylle sayd to theyre Auncestres and faders / we must ete vp alle the sheep / And theyr faders ansuerd thus to them / we haue maade pees with them / Neuertheles the yonge wolues brake the pees and ranne fyersly vpon the sheep / and theyr faders wente after them / And thus by cause that the sheep had delyuerd the dogges to the wolues / the whiche were theyr capitayns / and that they had none that kepte them / they were all eten and deuoured of the wulues /
Therfore hit is good to kepe well his capytayne / whiche may at a nede gyue socour and helpe / For a trewe frend is better at a nede than a Royalme / For yf the sheep had kepte the loue of the dogges / the wolues had neuer deuoured them / wherfore it is a sure thynge to kepe wel the loue of his protectour and good frende /
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The Wolves and the Sheep

062. THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP.  Once on a time, the Wolves sent an embassy to the Sheep, desiring that there might be peace between them for the time to come. “Why,” said they, “ should we be forever waging this deadly strife? Those wicked Dogs are the cause of all; they are incessantly barking at us, and provoking us. Send them away, and there will be no longer any obstacle to our eternal friendship and peace.” The silly Sheep listened, the Dogs were dismissed, and the flock, thus deprived of their best protectors, became an easy prey to their treacherous enemy. [more info]

The Wolves and the Sheep

THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Wolves and the Sheep

161. THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP. The wolves and the sheep had been a long time in a state of war together; at last a cessation of arms was proposed in order to a treaty of peace, and hostages were to be delivered on both sides for security. The wolves proposed that the sheep should give up their dogs on the one side, and that they should deliver up their young ones on the other. This proposal was agreed to; but no sooner executed, than the young wolves began to howl for want of their dams: the old ones took this opportunity to cry out, “The treaty was broke;” and so falling upon the sheep, who were destitute of their faithful guardians, the dogs, they worried and devoured them without control. [more info]

The Wolves and the Sheep

009. THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP. The wolves and the sheep had been a long time in a state of war together; at last a cessation of arms was proposed in order to a treaty of peace, and hostages were to be delivered on both sides for security. The wolves proposed that the sheep should give up their dogs on the one side, and that they should deliver up their young ones on the other. This proposal was agreed to; but no sooner executed, than the young wolves began to howl for want of their dams: the old ones took this opportunity to cry out, “The treaty was broke;” and so falling upon the sheep, who were destitute of their faithful guardians, the dogs, they worried and devoured them without control. [more info]

The Wolves and Sheep

009. THE WOLVES AND SHEEP.
A truce concluded was 'twixt wolves, and sheepe,
The wolves, their dogs as a firm hostage keepe,
The Sheepe, their whelps, who with design complaine,
Their Dames break in and slaughter o're the plaine.
Morall
Those who with foes too mighty make a peace
Give 'em but power to hurt 'em with more ease.
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The Wolves and the Sheep

03.13: THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP.
By-gone a thousand years of war,
The wearers of the fleece
And wolves at last made peace;
Which both appear'd the better for;
For if the wolves had now and then
Eat up a straggling ewe or wether,
As often had the shepherd men
Turn'd wolf-skins into leather.
Fear always spoil'd the verdant herbage,
And so it did the bloody carnage.
Hence peace was sweet; and, lest it should be riven,
On both sides hostages were given.
The sheep, as by the terms arranged,
For pups of wolves their dogs exchanged;
Which being done above suspicion,
Confirm'd and seal'd by high commission,
What time the pups were fully grown,
And felt an appetite for prey,
And saw the sheepfold left alone,
The shepherds all away,
They seized the fattest lambs they could,
And, choking, dragg'd them to the wood;
Of which, by secret means apprised,
Their sires, as is surmised,
Fell on the hostage guardians of the sheep,
And slew them all asleep.
So quick the deed of perfidy was done,
There fled to tell the tale not one!
From which we may conclude
That peace with villains will be rued.
Peace in itself, 'tis true,
May be a good for you;
But 'tis an evil, nathless,
When enemies are faithless.
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