Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (8).pdf/3

 THE MERRY TALES, &c.

continued he, to lay this ſack upon my ſhoulder. They did ſo, and he went to the ſide of the bridge and ſhook out the meal into the river ſaying, How much meal is there in my ſack, neighbours? Marry, ſaid one, none: Indeed, replied this wiſeman, 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.

TALE II.

THERE was a man of Gotham that rode to the market with two buſhels of wheat, and becauſe 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 riding upon his horſe till he arrived at the end of his journey. Now I will leave you to judge what was the wiſeſt, his horſe or himſelf.

T A L E III.

ON a time the men of Gotham fain 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 put her into it, and ſaid, Sing here, and you ſhall lack neither meat nor drink all the year. The cuckow, when ſhe perceived herſelf acompaſſed within the hedge, flew away. Avengeance on her, ſaid theſe wiſe men, we did not make our hedge high enough.

Τ Α Ι Ε IV.

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