Page:The Fables of Bidpai (Panchatantra).djvu/118

22 marking to what end and purpoe that was written that he hath red, to profit thereby at any time. I knowe there will be wie men that will beleue they can aye and doe more wonders than this commeth to: yet for all that, the more we reade, the more we knowe, and the quicker is our vndertanding, beides, there is obteined euen profounde knowledge. Learning bringeth with it a great priuiledge; forby that men are exalted, and to a man of knowledge and vndertanding it giueth life. But to him that hath iudgement and vndertanding, and that gouerneth not himelfe and his actions according to the precribed rule of reaon: His knowledge I ay dyeth within him without fruit. As by reading this example folowing you may eailye perceiue.

An honest man lying in his bedde hearde a Theefe going up and downe in his house: and thinking to paye him home (to take the more aduantage of him) suffered him to take his pleasure antu lodsing, that hauing in deede his packe at his backe, he might euen then as he