Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (8).pdf/14

 14 THE MERRY TALES OF GOTHAM Τ Α L Ε. ΧΙΧ.

ON Aſh Wedneſday, the miniſter of Gotham would have a collection from his pariſhioners, and ſaid unto theim, My friends, the time is come that you muſt uſe prayer faſting and alms, but come ye to ſhrift will tell ye more of my mind But as for prayer, I don't thinkthat two men in the parish can ſay their Pater-noſter As for faſting, ye faſt ſtill, for ye have not a good meal's meat in the year.As for alms-deeds, what ſhould they give that have nothing? In Lent, you muſt refrain from drunkeneſs, 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 muſt ſwim in the water. I crave you mercy, quoth the fellow, I thought it ſhould have fwam in fine ale, for I have been told ſo. Soon after the men of Gotham came to ſhrift, and being ſeven, the prieſt knew not what penance to give. He ſaid, if I enjoin you to pray, you cannot ſay your Pater-noſter. And it is but folly to make you faſt, becauſe you never eat a meal's meat. Labour hard and get a dinner on Sunday and I will partake of it, another man he enjoined to fare well on Monday, 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 all except one or two, therefore beſtow your alms on yourſelves.