A Schole of wise conceytes wherein as euery conceyte hath wit, so the most haue much mirth : set forth in common places by order of the alphabet / translated out of diuers Greeke and Latine wryters by Thomas Blage ...

279 Of a yong man and an old.

A Certein old man espied a yong man gathe∣ring of his frute, whome he gently entreated to come downe frō the trée, and not to purloyne his goods: but he spake to the winde, for he light∣ly regarded his age and his words. Ah (quod the olde man) I haue heard, that not only in words, but also in herbes force consisteth, whervpon he began to pluck the leaues and cast them at him. The yong man séeing him do so, laughed out of measure, supposing that he doted, to driue hym downe with leaues. The old man willing to as∣saye him by gentle meanes, when he perceyued that he could nothing preuayle, sayd: I wil proue what stones wil doo, for in them men say, there is vertue: & forthwith filled his lap with stones which he cast at the yong mā, and perforce made

him come downe and departe.

MOR. A wise man ought to assay all manner ways, before he take any weapon in hand.