¶ The ſecond fable is of the tortoſe and of the other byrdes
E that enhaunceth hym ſelf more
than he oughte to do To hym
oughte not to come noo good /
As hit appiereth by this preſent
fable / Of a tortoſe / whiche ſaid
to the byrdes / yf ye lyft me vp wel hyghe fro
the ground to the ayer I ſhalle ſewe to yow
grete plente of precius ſtones / And the Egle toke
her and bare her ſo hyghe / that ſhe myghte not
ſee the erthe / And the Egle ſayd to her ſhewe
me now theſe precius ſtones that thow promyſet
to ſhewe to me / And by cauſe that the tortoſe
myght not ſee in the erthe / and that the Egle
knewe wel that he was deceyued / threſted his
clowes in to the tortoſes bely / and kylled hit /
For he that wylle haue and gete worſhip and
glorye may not haue hit withoute grete laboure /
Therfore hit is better and more ſure / to kepe
hym lowely than to enhaunce hym ſelf on hyghe /
and after to deye ſhamefully and myſerably /
¶ For men ſayn comynly / who ſo mounteth
hyher / than he ſhold / he falleth lower than he
wold
