202 Of the Pike and the Tench.
AS a certain Fisher angled, he so bayted h•••• hookes that the Fishes coulde not percei•••• them, which the Pyke and the Tenche sé••¦ing, were very desirous of it: but the Pyke b••¦ing subtil said to the Tench: This bayte séemet•• to be good and delicate, yet I thinke it is layde t•• deceyue fishes withall, therefore let vs forsake 〈◊〉〈◊〉 least we peryshe through the lustes of gluttonie In faythe (quod the Tenche) it were a folly t•• leaue so good a morsel for feare of nothing: I wi•• fyrst trye it and make merry with it, and look•• thou what wil hap. As he swallowed the bayte•• he felte the deceite of the hooke and would fayn•• haue retired, but the Fisher first plucked him vp then the Pyke swam away & said: Let vs learn•• by our fellowes mischance, least we peryshe.
MOR. Happie is hée, whome other mens harmes do make to beware.