Page:The Fables of Bidpai (Panchatantra).djvu/159

Rh of life he tode, he beganne with one hande to tate of it, holding himelfe by the other, and o long hee attended to thys little tate, that orow troke him on the necke. For the two beats had gnawen a under the rootes when he hedlong fell into the Well and died.

What is ignified hereby, or who can otherwie interprete it, but thus: The Well repreenteth the world. The foure Lions the foure elements, which eeke till to deuour man. The Dragon with gaping mouth, what was it ele but the graue? The two thwigges or boughes, temporall goodes and loue to which we are wholly inclined: both which by the two beates are gnawen a under, the one white, the other blacke, which are vndertanded for the day and night. But the pot with that little weete honie, to which we are giuen, not regarding our daunger, betokeneth no other but the hort pleaure of this worlde, which retayneth vs, and uffereth vs not to knowe the daungers and troubles of this mot mierable world, and of our thrall and troubled lyfe.