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

¶ The second fable is of the bore and of the wulf

SOOthe desyren to be grete lordes / and dyspreysen his pa∣rents / that at the last becomen poure and fallen in to grete dishonour / As thow mayst see by this present

[illustration]

fable / Of a bore / whiche was amonge a grete herd of other swynes / And for to haue lordship and domynacion ouer alle them / he beganne to make grete rumour / and shewed his gre∣te teethe for to make the other swynes aferd / but by cause they knewe hym / they sette nought by hym / wherof he displea∣sed moche / and wold goo in to a herd of sheep / and emonge lambes / And whanne he was amonge the lambes / he began to make grete rumour / and shewed his sharp and long teeth ¶ And whanne the lambes herd hym / they were sore aferd / and byganne to shake for fere / ¶ And thenne sayd the bore within hym self / here is the place wherin I must abyde & dueke For here I shalle be gretely worshipped / For euerychone quaken for fere of me / ¶ Thenne came the wulf there for to haue and rauysshe somme proye / And the lambes beganne alle to flee / but the bore as prowd wold not sterr hym / ne go fro the place / by cause he supposed to be lord / but the wulf toke hym / and bare hym in to the wode for to ete hym / ¶ And as the wulf bare hym / it happed that he passid before the herd of swynes / whiche the bore had lefte / ¶ And thenne whanne the bore perceyued and knewe them / he prayd and cryed to them / that for the loue of god they wold helpe hym / And that withoute

••••er help / he was d••••d / And thenne the swynes alle of one as∣sent and owne wylle wonte and recouered theyr felawe / and after slewe the wulf / And as the bore was delyuerd / and sa we hym amonge the swynes / and that alle his doubte and fere was gone / he beganne to haue vergoyne and shame / by cause that he was thus departed / and gone fro theyr felauship and sayd to them / My bretheren and my frendes / I am well worthy to haue had this payne / by cause / I was gone & depar ted from yow / And therfore he that is wel / lete hym beware / that he moue not hym self / For suche by his pryde desyreth to be a grete lord / whiche ofte falleth in grete pouerte /