Page:The fables of Aesop, as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, with those of Avian, Alfonso and Poggio. Vol 2.djvu/233



E that enhaunceth hym elf more than he oughte to do To hym oughte not to come noo good / As hit appiereth by this preent fable / Of a tortoe / whiche aid to the byrdes / yf ye lyft me vp wel hyghe fro the ground to the ayer I halle ewe to yow grete plente of precius tones / And the Egle toke her and bare her o hyghe / that he myghte not ee the erthe / And the Egle ayd to her hewe me now thee precius tones that thow promyet to hewe to me / And by caue that the tortoe myght not ee in the erthe / and that the Egle knewe wel that he was deceyued / threted his clowes in to the tortoes bely / and kylled hit / For he that wylle haue and gete worhip and glorye may not haue hit withoute grete laboure / Therfore hit is better and more ure / to kepe hym lowely than to enhaunce hym elf on hyghe / and after to deye hamefully and myerably / ¶ For men ayn comynly / who o mounteth hyher / than he hold / he falleth lower than he wold