Page:History of two brothers misfortunes.pdf/12

 he goes to the well to fetch water; when there came an ox running down, with a butcher and his boy after him, who called to Simon to stop the ox which he endeavoured but the ox giving them the slip, Simon run in pursuit of him for the space of three or four miles and having secured him. the butcher gave him thanks for his kindness. So Simon returned back to the well, but his pail was lost, and he made a lamentation for it, enquiring about it but could hear nothing of it; and as the proverb says, one sorrow never comes alone; for in going in doors, the fire was flaming, and the bottom of the kettle burnt out. At the fight of this he fell to wringing his hands, and crying out with a lamentable tone, never was a man so unfortunate as poor Simon; what shall I say to my wife when she comes; first, I have lost the pail, second I have burnt out the bottom of the kettle. Here will be a sad reckoning for these mischances. Just in the middle of these lamentations, in comes Margery, who having heard him, came armed and fitted for the fray. How, now, sirrah, said she, has this been the care you promised of my business? and with that let fly an earthen pot at his head which made the blood to run about his ears. This done, she took him by the collar, and cust him about the kitchen