The fables of Aesop by William Caxton (Jacobs)/Vol. II/Auian/Fable 2

by Avianus

¶ 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