¶ The xviij fable is of the lyon and of the rat /
He myghte and puyſſant muſt pardonne and forgyue to the lytyll
and feble / and ought to kepe hym
fro al euylle / For oftyme the lytyll
may wel gyue ayde and help to
the grete / wherof Eſope reherceth to vs ſuche a
fable Of a lyon whiche ſlepte in a foreſt and the
rats deſported and playd aboute hym / It happed
that the rat wente vpon the lyon / wherfore the
lyon awoke / and within his clawes or ongles he
tooke the rat / ¶ And whanne the rat ſawe hym
thus taken & hold ſayd thus to the lyon / My
lord pardonne me / For of my deth noughte ye
ſhalle Wynne / For I ſuppofed not to haue done
to yow ony harme ne diſplayſyre / ¶ Thenne
thought the lyon in hym ſelf that no worſhip ne
glorye it were to put it to dethe / wherfor he
graunted his pardonne and lete hym go within
a lytyll whyle / After this it happed ſo that the
ſame lyon was take at a grete trappe / and as he
ſawe hym thus caught and taken / he beganne
to crye and make ſorowe / and then whan the
