¶ The fourthe fable is of the dragon and of the herte
En ought not to rendre euylle for good / And them that helpen ought not to be letted / As reherceth thys fable Of a dragon whiche was within a Ryuer / and as this Ryuer was dymynuyſſhed of water / the dragon abode at the Ryuage / whiche was al drye / And thus for lack of watre he coude not ſtere hym / A labourer or vylayne came thēne that waye / and demaunded of the dragon / what doſt thow there / And the dragon anſuerd to hym / I am here lefte withoute water / withoute whiche I can not meue / but yf thow wilt bynd me / and ſette me vpon thyn aſſe / and lede me in to my Ryuer / I ſhal gyue to the habondaunce of gold and ſyluer / And the vylayne or chorle for courtyſe bound and ledde hym in to his repayre / And whanne he had vnbounden hym / he demaunded his ſallary / and payment / And the dragon ſayd to hym / By cauſe that thow haſt bounden me / thow