DCCLXV.
Verbum. Verbo non est semper adherendum.
We rede how som tyme a man̛ had ane ass, & he rade hur, & a little son̛ that he had folowid̛ hym̛ on fute. And þer was men̛ at mett þaim, emang þe whilk som̛ said̛; "O, how fond̛ þis alde carle is, þat rydis hym̛ selfe & lattis hys son̛ ryn̛ in þe myre," & when̛ þai war passid̛ þai lepid̛ on̛ bothe. Than̛ þai mett a noder meneyay, & þai sayd̛, "Forsutℏ, þies er bod̛ fulis, for þai wiƚƚ sla þis ass." And when̛ þai war passid̛, he and his son light & lete þe ass go tome. So þai met a noder meneya, & þai sayd; "þies meneya er fonde, for þai go bothe on̛ þer fete, and þat one of þaim mot ryde." þan̛ he sett his son̛ on̛ & went on̛ his fete hym̛ [self]. And þan̛ þai mett a noder meneya þat sayd̛; "Loo! Yone fonde alde carle, he gois on̛ his fete hym̛ selfe & lattys his son̛ ryde, þat mott bettyr go þan̛ he may." And þan̛