¶ The xiiij fable is of the four oxen
En oughte not to breke his feythe
ageynſte his good Frend / ne to
leue his felauſhip / as hit appiereth
by this fable / of four oxen whiche
to gyder were in a fair medowe /
¶ And by cauſe that euer they were and kepte
them to gyder / none other beeſt durſte not aſſaylle
them / and alſo the lyon dradde them moche /
the whiche lyon on a daye came to them / And
by his deceyuable wordes thoughte for to begyle
them / & to rauſſhe & take them the better /
maade them to be ſepared eche one fro other /
¶ And whanne they were ſepered / the lyon
wente / and toke one of them / And whan the
lyon wold haue ſtrangled hym / the oxe ſayd to
hym / godſep / He is a foole whiche byleueth
fals and deceyuable wordes And leuelh the felawſhip
of his good frende / For yf we had ben euer
to gyder / thow haddeſt not taken me / And
therfore he whiche is / and ſtandeth wel ſure /
ought to kepe hym ſoo that he falle not / For
to whiche is wel / meue not hym ſelf
