¶ The xx fable maketh mencion of the tree and of the reed
One ought to be prowd ageynſt his lord / but oughte to humble hym ſelf toward hym / As this fable reherceth to vs of a grete tre / whiche wold neuer bowe hym for none wynd / And a reed whiche was at his foote bowed hym ſelf as moche as the wynd wold / And the tree ſayd to hym / why doſt thow not abyde ſtylle as I doo / And the reed anſuerd / I haue not the myght whiche thow haſt / And the tree ſayd to the reed prowdly / than haue I more ſtrengthe / than thow / And anone after came a grete wynde / whiche threwe doune to the ground the ſayd grete tree / and the reed abode in his owne beynge / For the prowde ſhall be allway humbled And the meke and hūble ſhalle be enhaunced / For the roote of alle vertue is obedynce and humylyte
¶ Here fynyssheth the fourthe book of the subtyle Fables of Esope / And how be it that