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 xij fable is of a blynd man and of his wyf /

[illustration]

THere was somtyme a blynd man whiche had a fayre wyf / of the whiche he was moche Ia••••us / He kepte her so that she myght not goo no wher / For euer he had her by the hand / And after that she was enamoured of a gentil felawe / they coude not fynde the maner ne no place for to ful∣fylle theyr wyll / but notwithstandyng the woman whiche was subtyle and Ingenyous counceylled to her frende that he shold come in to her hows / and that he shold entre in to the gardyn and that there he shold clymme vpon a pere tree / And he did as she told hym / and when they had made theyr enterpryse / the woman came ageyne in to the hows / and sayd to her hus∣bond / My frend I praye yow that ye wylle go in to our gar∣dyn for to disporte vs a lytel whyle there / of the whiche pra∣yer the blynd man was wel content / and sayd to his wyf / wel my good frend I will wel / lete vs go thyder / And as they were vnder the pere tree / she sayd to her husband / My frende I praye the to lete me goo vpon the pere tre / And I shalle gader for vs bothe some fayre peres / wel my frend sayd the blynd man / I wylle wel & graūt therto / And when

she was vpon the tree / the yong man begannn to shalte the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tree at one syde / and the yonge woman atthe other syde / And And as the blynd man herd thus hard shake the pere tree / and the noyse whiche they made / he sayd to them / Ha a euylle woman how be it that I see hit not / Neuertheles I fele and vnderstande hit well / But I praye to the goddes / that they vouchesauf to sende me my syght ageyne / And as soone as he had made his prayer Iupiter rend••••yd to hym his syght ageyn

¶ And whanne he sawe that pagent vpon the pere tree / he sayd to his wyf Ha vnhappy woman / I shalle neuer haue no Ioye with the / And by cause that the yonge woman was re dy in speche and malycious / she ansuerd forthwith to her hus∣bond / My frend thow arte wel beholden and bounden to me / For by cause and for the ••••oue the goddes haue restored to the thy syght / wh••••rof I thanke alle the goddes and goddesses / whiche haue enhaunced and herd my prayer / For I desyryng moche that thow myght see me / cessed neuer day ne nyght to pray them / that they wold rendre to the thy syghte / wherfore the goddesse Wenus Vysybly shewed her self to me / and sayd / that yf I wold doo somme plays yr to the sayd yonge man / she shold restore to the thy syght / And thus I am cause of it And thenne the good man sayd to her / My ryght dere wyf & good frende / I remercye and thanke yow gretely / For ryght ye haue and I grete wronge