The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Auian/Fable 19

3930061The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs), The Fables of Avian — Fable 19: The Lyon and the GoteAvianus

¶ The xix fable is of the lyon and of the gote

He is wyse that can kepe hym self from the wyly and fals / as hit appereth by this fable / Of a lyon / whiche ones mette with a gote / whiche was vpon a montayne And whanne the lyon sawe her / he sayd to her in this manere / For to gyue to her occacion to come doune fro the hylle / to thende that he myght ete her / My suster why comest thow not hyder on this fayre and grene medowe for to ete of these fayre herbes or grasse / And the gote ansuerd to hym / How be hit / that thow sayst trouthe / Neuertheles thow sayst it not / neyther for my wele ne for my prouffyte / but thow sayst hit / by cause that thow woldest fayne ete and deuoure me / but I truste not in thy fayre speche / For many tymes I haue herd saye of my graūt moder / he that is wel / meue not hym self / For he whiche is in a place wel sure / is wel a fole to go fro hit / and to putte hym self in grete daunger and perylle