Alphabet of tales : an English 15th century translation of the Alphabetum narrationum of Etienne de Besançon, from Additional MS. 25,719 of the British Museum / by Etienne de Besançon

CIII.
Bellum. Bellare non expedit sine magna causa.

We rede how þat Cesar Augustus, þat was moste noble in batayle, euer denyed to take bateƚƚ on̛ hand̛ bod if it war mor̛ for hope of avayntage þan [MS. þat.] drede of harm̛. For he saide þat in were a little profett myght nott make amendis vnto þe grete harm̛ þat commys of feghtyng; "ffor," as he said̛, "& a man̛ fysshid with a huke aƚƚ of gold̛ & gatt a little fyssℏ, & at þe laste his huke war broken̛ away, þe takyng of þat fysscℏ myght not make amendis vnto þe los þat he had of his golden̛ huke."