¶ The xix fable is of the herte and of the oxe
Nely for to flee is aſſured to ſcape
the daunger wherfore he fleeth /
As thow ſhalt nowe ſee by this
fable / Of a herte whiche rane
byfore the dogges / and to thende
that he ſhold not be take / he fledde in to the
fyrſt toun that he found / & entryd in to a ſtable
where as many oxen were / to whom he ſayd the
cauſe why he was come there / prayeng them
ſwetely that they wold ſaue hym / And the
oxen ſayd then to hym / Allas poure herte thow
arte amonge vs euylle adreſſyd / thow ſholdeſt
be more ſurely in the feldes ¶ For yf thow be
perceyued or ſene of the oxeherd or els of the
mayſter / Certaynly thow arte but dede / Helas
for god & for pyte I praye yow that ye wylle
hyde me within your racke / and that ye deceyue
me not / and at nyght next comynge / I ſhalle
goo hens / and ſhalle putte my ſelf in to a ſure
place / ¶ And whanne the ſeruaunts came for
to gyue hey to the oxen / they dyd caſt heye
before the oxen / and wente ageyne theyre waye
and ſawe not the hert / wherof the herte was
gretely reioyſſhed wenynge to haue ſcaped the
