Here begynneth the book of the subtyl historyes and fables of Esope whiche were translated out of Frensshe in to Englysshe by wylliam Caxton at westmynstre in the yere of oure Lorde M. CCCC. lxxxiij

A Noble man was somtyme / whiche had a wyf moche chaste and was wonder fayr / This noble man wold haue go on pylgremage to Rome / and lefte his wyf at home / by cause that he knewe her for a chaste and a good woman / ¶ It happed on a daye as she wente in to the toun A fayre yonge man was esprysed of her loue / and took on hym hardynes / and requyred her of loue / and promysed to her many grete yeftes / But she whiche was good had leuer deye than to consente her therto / wherfore the yonge man deyde al mooste for sorowe / to the whiche felawe came an old wo∣man / whiche demaunded of hym the cause of his sekenesse / And the yonge man manyfested or discouered vnto her alle his courage and herte / askynge help and counceylle of her / And the old woman wyly and malycious sayd to hym / Be thow gladde and Ioyous / and take good courage / For wel I shalle doo / and brynge aboute thy fay•••• / in soo moche that thow shalt haue thy wyll fulfylled / And after thys the old bawde wente to her hows / and maade a lytyl catte which she hadde at home 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 tallynge to gyder / the yong woman hadde pyte of the catte whiche wep∣te / 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 sayenge these wordes she beganne to wepe / and sayd / My frend for no go∣od I wyl telle the cause why my catte wepeth / And then∣n / the yonge woman sayd to her / My good Moder I praye yow that ye wyll telle me the cause why & wherfor your catte