Of the sheep and of the crowe

4.19. De cornice et ove
Caxton: Of the sheep and of the Crowe
Men ought not to iniurye ne disprayes the poure Innocentes ne the symple folke As reherceth this fable / Of a Crowe / whiche sette her self vpon the back of a sheep / And whan the sheep had born her a grete whyle she sayd to her / thow shalt kepe thy self wel to sette the vpon a dogge / And thenne the crowe sayd to the sheep / Thynke thow poure Innocent that I wote wel with whom I playe / For I am old and malycious / and my kynde is to lette all Innocents / and to be frende vnto the euyls /
And therfore this fable wylle telle and saye / how ther be folke of suche kynde / that they wyl doo no good werk / but only to lette euer the Innocents and symple folke
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The Jackdaw and the Sheep

184. THE JACKDAW AND THE SHEEP. A jackdaw sat chattering upon the back of a sheep; “Peace, you noisy thing,” says the sheep, “if I were a dog, you durst not serve me so."
"That is true enough," replies the jackdaw; "I know very well who I have to do with; I never meddle with the surly and revengeful; but I love to plague such poor helpless creatures as you are, that cannot do me any harm again.” [more info]

The Jackdaw and the Sheep

23. THE JACKDAW AND THE SHEEP
A jackdaw was chattering on the back of a sheep,
Who, in spite of the jackdaw, was trying to sleep;
At length, after trying and trying in vain
To stop the bird's talking, the sheep did complain.
"Do stop your noisy tongue! You very well know,
If I were a dog you would not treat me so!"
"Oh!" replied the jackdaw, "I know that is true,
But you forget that no dog is like you.
The reason I treat you so is very plain:
You're too big a coward to fight back again."
In the battle of life, 'tis a fact well known,
To the weak in the strife, little mercy is shown.
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