Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/298

 

and maade a lytyl catte which ſhe hadde at homme to faſte thre dayes one after another / And after ſhe took ſomme breed with a grete dele or quantite of moſtard vpon hit / and gaf hit to thys yonge Catte for to ete hit /  ¶ And whanne the Catte ſmelled hit / ſhe beganne to wepe and crye /  ¶ And the old woman or Bawde wente vnto the hows of the ſayd yonge woman / and bare her lytyl Catte with her / the whiche yonge and good woman receyued and welcomed her moch honeſtly / by cauſe that alle the world held her for a holy woman /  ¶ And as they were talkynge to gyder / the yong woman hadde pyte of the catte whiche wepte / And demaunded of the old woman / what the cat eyled / And the old woman ſayd to her / Ha a my fayr doughter & my fayre Frend / renewe not my sorowe / And ſayinge theſe wordes ſhe beganne to wepe / and ſayd / My frend for no good I wyl tell the cauſe why my catte wepeth / And thenn / the yonge woman ſayd to her / My good Moder I praye yow that ye wyll telle me the cauſe & wherfor your catte wepeth / And thenne the old woman ſayd to her / My Frend I wyll wel / yf thow wilt ſwere that thou ſhalt neuer reherce it to no body / to the whiche promeſſe the good and trewe yonge woman accorded her ſelf / ſuppoſyng / that hit had ben all good