Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (4).pdf/3

 wit: then lelp me, countea he, to ay mіѕ тек uр- on my ſhoulder. They did ſo, and he went to the fide of the bridge, and ſhook out the meal into the river, ſaying, How much meal is there in my ſack, neigh- bours ? Marry, ſaid one, none. By my faith, replied chis wife man, even ſo much wit is there in your two heads to ſtrive for that you have not.-Now, which was the wiſeſt of theſe three ? I leave you to judge.

T A L E II. THERE was a man of Gotham that rode to the market with two buſhels of wheat, and be- cauſe his horſe ſhould not be damaged by carrying too great a burden, he was determined, to carry the corn himſelf upon his own neck, and ſtill kept rid- ing upon his horſe 'till he arrived at the end of his journey. Now I will leave you to judge which was the wiſeſt, his horſe or himſelf.

T A L E III.

ON a time the men of Gotham ſain would have pinn'd in the cuckow, that ſhe might ſing all the year; and in the midſt of the town they had a hedge, made round in compaſs, and got a cuckow and pet her into it, and ſaid, Sing here, and you ſhall lack neither meat nor drink all the year. The cuckow, when the perceived herſelf encompaſſed within the hedge, flew away. A vengeance on her, ſaid theſe wife men, we did not make our hedge high enough.

T Α L Ε IV.

THERE was a man of Gotham who went to Nottingham market to ſeil cheeſe ; and going down the hill to Nottingham bridge, one of his cheeſes ſeil out of his wallet, and ran down the hill. Whore- ſon, ſaid the fellow, what, can you run to the market