Page:The Fables of Bidpai (Panchatantra).djvu/149

Rh It is mot true that lightly beleiuing thee worldly thinges hath made many a man fall into undrie daungers, and hedlong to plunge himelfe into the deepe mieries of this worlde. Sometimes men detirmine to obey the lawe. At another time they contemme it and et it at naught, following enuall appetite. Oft times they beleeue the counell of their good friend, but very often they follow the counell of the flatterer. To-day we are pleaed with true doctrine: to-morrow we folow the fale. In euery wit and arte there is abue, and who runneth not to this riuer? and the more they weene to gaine, the more they runne in daunger and loe of life and oule. Behold here is one man pricked in his concience, there is another oppreed with paion and orow, and there neuer wanteth ome that follow the continuall eruitude of this deceitfull life, either for goodes, fauor, and etimation, or ele of their owne free willes: and there is neuer none (or fewe at the leat) that in o hort time of life can forget this knowne and manifet daunger. For death alaulting us, we knowe not whither to retire, and then with all our might we flie the force of his mot piercing dart: and thus weening to hide our elues in ure place, we hedlong runne to our hame and vndoing. As is manifetly