¶ 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