Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (1).pdf/21

 WISE-MEN OF GOTHAM, 21. meal's meat in the year. As for alms- deeds, what ſhould they give that have nothing? in Lent, you muſt refrain from drunkenneſs, and abſtain, from drink No, not ſo, ſaid one fellow, for it is an old proverb. That fiſh ſhould ſwim. Yes, ſaid the prieſt, it juſt ſwim in the water I cravs your mer- cy. quoth the fellow, I thought, ſhould liave, ſwam in fine ale, for have been told ſo Scon after the men of Gotham, came to thrift, and being ſeven in number, the prieſt knew not what penance, to give them He ſaid, If I injoin you to prays you cannot ſay your pater noſter And it is but folly to make your faſt, becauſe you never eat a good meal's meat Labour, hard, and get a good dinner on Sun- day, and I will partake of it, another man he enjoined to fare well on Mon- day, and another on Tueſday, and one after another. that one or other ſhould fare well once in the week, that he might have part of their meat, And as for alms-deeds, the prieſt ſaid, ye be but beggars, except one or two, threfore beſtow your alms on your ſelves