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 ...

Trust in thy selfe.

281 Of a Larke.

A Certein Larke by chaunce builded hir nest in a piece of wheat, that was somewhat riper than other: whence hir yong ones were not able to flie when the corne was yellowe. As she was going foorth to séeke meate, she warned them if a∣ny noueltie hapned to be done or sayd, to marke it well, and at hir returne to certifie hir thereof: after hir departure, the owner of the corne came thither, and sayd to a yong man his sonne: Séest ••••••t thou, that this corne is rype and néedeth la∣••ourers?

to morrowe therefore by breake of daye. ••o to my friends, desire them to helpe me in with my haruest: when he had so saide, he departed. When the Larke returned to hir yong ones, they ••ame fluttering aboute hir, and prayed hir out of hand to hast and carry them away, for the owner had sent to his friendes, willing them to come the next morning to reap his corne: She had them bée of good cheer & feare nothing, for if the Lord of the ground haue remitted y^e matter to his friends, to morrow it shall not be cut down: the next day she flew a broad again for meat, y^e lord waited for his bidden friends, the sun waxed hote, but nothing was don, neyther any friend of his came. Thē said be to his son, I see wel that these my frends for the most part are loyterers, let vs therefore entreate our kinsfolkes and neyghboures to morrowe betimes to come: hir Chickens were then afrayd and tolde it to their mother: she had them to leaue off feare and care, for none of alliance would be so obedient as to come at a becke, especially to la∣bour. The nexte morning she went abroad as be∣fore, his kinsfolkes lefte the worke vndone: The owner seeing that, sayde to his sonne: Adieu both friends and Cousins, bring thou to morrow at the break of day two sickles, one for mée, another for thee, and we with our owne handes will reape it. When hir yong ones tolde hir this, she sayd: It is

time to be packing, for that he sayd with out do•• shall come to passe: for on him that ought it, th•• labour is turned, not where it was required: an•• thus the Lark shifted hir nest, and the corne wa•• reaped. Héereof Ennius writeth these tw•• verses.

This sentence in thy minde, beare thou in any wise: Looke for no helpe of friendes, where thy helpe may suffise.