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 12 THE MERRY TALES OF GOTHAM

nothing without good inſtructions, and that they are not wiſe who diſregard them.

Τ Α L Ε XVI.

A YOUNG man of Gotham went a wooing to a fair maid : his mother warned him beforehand ſaying, whenever you look at her, caſt a ſheep'ſ eye at her, and ſay, How doſt thou, my ſweet Pigſnie? The fellow went to a butcher's, and bought ſeven or eight ſheep's eyes. And when this luſty wooer was at dinner, he would look upon this fair wench, and caſt in her face a ſheep's eye, ſaying How doſt thou do my ſweet Pigſnie? How I do, ſaid the wench, Swine's face, what do you mean by caſting a ſheep's eye at me? Oh! ſweet Pigſnie, have at thee with another. But I defy thee. Swine's face, ſaid the wench. What my ſweet old Pigſnie, be content, for if you live till next year, you will be a foul ſow. Walk knave, walk, ſaid ſhe, for if you live till next year ye will be a fool.

T A L E XVII.

THERE was a man of Gotham, who would be married, and when the day of marriage was come they went to church. The Prieſt ſaid, Do you ſay after me. The man ſaid, Do you ſay after me. The Prieſt ſaid, Say not after me ſuch words, but ſay what I ſhall tell you, thou doſt play the fool to mock the holy Scripture concerning matrimony. Then the fellow ſaid, thou doſt play the fool to mock the holy Scripture concerning matrimony. The Prieſt could not tell what to ſay, but anſwered, What ſhall I do with this fool ? And the man ſaid, What ſhall I do with this fool? So the Prieſt took his leave and