The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Other Aesop's/Fable 15
¶ The xv fable is of the flee and of the man.
E that dothe euyl / how be hit
that the euylle be not grete
men ought not to leue hym
vnpunysshed / As it appereth
by this fable / Of a man whiche
took a flee whiche bote hym / to whome the
man sayd in this manere / Fle why bytest thow
me / and letest me not slepe / and the flee
ansuerd It is my kynd to doo soo / wherfore
I praye the that thow wylt not put me to
dethe / And the man beganne to lawhe / &
sayd to the flee / how be it / that thow mayst
not hurte me sore / Neuertheless / to the behoueth
not to prycke me / wherfore thow shalt
deye / For men ought not to leue none euyll
vnpunysshed how be hit that hit be not grete.