Sentence:  The "Oak" Upbraided the "Willow", that it was Weak and Wavering, and gave way to Every Blaſt. ... Some very little while after This Diſpute, it Blew a Violent Storm. The "Willow" <WSD>Ply'd</WSD>, and gave way to the Guſt, and ſtill recover'd it ſelf again, without receiving any Damage: But the "Oak" was Stubborn, and choſe rather to "Break" than "Bend". 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To bend, to flex; to be bent by something, to give way or yield (to a force, etc.).