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

DCCVI.
Serpens. Serpenti comparatur nequicia aliquorum.

Petrus Alphonsis [MS. Petrus Alphensis.] on a tyme as he went be a wud-syde tellis how þat he fand̛ a serpent slayn̛ with hurdmen̛, & bon̛ vnto a stokk; and he lowsid̛ hur becauce sho was som-what on lyfe, & layd̛ hur þer sho mot fele warmenes of þe son̛. And so when̛ sho was a lityƚƚ warmyd̛, sho crope aboute hym̛, and at þe laste sho tanged̛ hym̛ hugelie. And þan̛ he said̛ vnto hur; "What dois

þou? þou dose me iƚƚ for gude, and whi duse þou so?" And þe serpent ansswerd̛ hym̛ agayn̛ & said̛; "I do not bod my kynd̛." And with þat sho clappid̛ hur faste aboute his legg. And he wold̛ hafe had̛ hur of & sho wold̛ nott. And so, be þer bother assent, þai callid̛ vnto þaim a fox to gyff a iugemend̛ wheder sho sulde lowse of his legg or nay. And þey told̛ hym̛ aƚƚ þe matir how it happend̛. Than̛ þe fox sayd̛; "In þis cauce I can̛ gyff no dome be heryng, bod if I se at myne ee how it was with you bothe at your furste metyng." So þis serpend̛ lowsid̛, & onone sho was bon̛ vnto þe stokk agayn̛ as he fand̛ hur. And þan̛ þe fox gaff his iugement & sayd̛; "O þou serpent! & þou may now esskape, go þi wayes! And þou man̛!" he sayd̛, "I cownceƚƚ þe not labur no mor̛ to lowse hur."