Page:The Fables of Bidpai (Panchatantra).djvu/117

Rh him something written that might be learned and eloquent, which konning without booke he might recite at pleasure in the companye of wise men, that he might at least seeme no lesse learned than they. His friende consented, and performed his desire, and gaue him in a written booke (faire bounde and lymned with golden letters) many goodly sentences, so that he began to learn by rote his written authorities, and laboring night and daye to commit them to memorie, he determined to show that he was also learned. And being one daye in argument, not understanding the signification of the words he had learned, for that they were not in his owne tongue, hee began to alleadge them quite from the purpose: & being taken with the maner they lawghed him to scorne. Hee being angrye at the matter, lyke an obstinate and ignorant foole, aunswered. What? thinke you I am deceyued, that have learned that I alleadge out of the booke of a woorthie learned man, yea, and the letters lymned with gold to? at which wordes they laughed him more to scorne than before to see his ignorance.

Every man therefore mut endeuor himelfe to vndertand that he readeth, and vndertanding it well, he mut diligently oberue that doctrine,