Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/556

544 unless one should put the meat in my mouth. The third sayd, the mill shall be mine, for I am yet a greater lyar, and more slothful than any of you both, for if I had thirst unto the death, and if I found then myselfe within a fair water up to the neck, I would rather dye, than move myselfe to drink one drop thereof. Then said the judge, Ye wot not what ye say; for neither I, nor any other, may well understand you; but the cause I remit among you."

I omitted in its proper place to notice a fable somewhat similar in the Latin Æsop. It is as follows.

"There was a young child which in his youth began to steal, and all that he did steal, he brought to his mother, and the mother took it gladly, and would in no wise correct him; and after he had stolen many things, he was taken and condemned to be hanged; and as men led him to the justice, his mother followed him and wept sore: and then the child prayed the justice that he might say