Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (10).pdf/11

11 bour, and said that the devil was at work in the field, and was hopping among the grass. Then was every man ready with their clubs and staves, halberts and other weapons, to kill the grasshopper. When they came near to the place where the grasshopper was, said one to the other, let every man cross himself from the devil, for we will not meddle with him. So they re- turned again, and said, We are blest this day that we went no farther. O ye cowards! said he that left the scythe in the meadow, help me to fetch my scythe. No, answered they, it is good to sleep in a whole skin. It is much better for thee to lose thy scythe than to marr us all.

TALE X.

On a certain time there were twelve men of Gotham that went to fish; and some waded in the water, and some stood on dry land. And in going home, one said to the other, we have ventur- ed wonderfully in wading, I pray God