Page:History of Lawrence Lazy.pdf/6

 6 THE, HISTORY went to meet him. How now, m pretty lad, ſaid the ancient man, what makes you ſo late in this lonely place Marry, quoth Lawrence, I have loſt my company, and by, that means ar left-My ſon, quoth the old man though they have left thee, I have found thee, and will be no ſmall friend thee, if thou'lt follow my directions I know in the firſt place, thou art th: ſorrow of thy parents, and the won- der of the world through the melan- choly lazy ſloth which has attended thee ever ſince thou firft came into the world, and becauſe thou ſhalt not 1 the firſt perſon given to lazineſs, will furniſh you with a charm, which ſhall enable thee to make others ſix times more lazy than thyſelf. Az hereupon he preſented him with a rei ring, ſaying, Whenever thou ſhalt pu this upon thy finger, all men, wome and children on whom thou looke ſhall become as halt dead, thro' heavs ſleep, which ſhall then ſeize ther's and they ſhall continue ſo during the pleaſure ; and the charm ſhall be br ken by drawing the ring from thy fi- ger, when thou ſhalt fee fit. Be ſure