Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (8).pdf/6

 6 THE MERRY TALES OF

gotten ſo many ſprats left. And, ſaid the laſt, I have gotten ſo many ſalt fiſhes, let them go together in the great pond without any diſtinction, and we may be ſure to fare like lords the next year. At the beginning of the next Lent they immediately went about drawing the pond, imagining they ſhould have the fiſh; but were much ſurpriſed to find nothing, but a great eel Ah! ſaid they, a miſchief on this eel, for he hath eaten up our fiſh: what muſt we do with him? ſaid one to the other. Kill him, ſaid one; chop him in pieces, ſaid another. Nay, not ſo ſaid the other, but let us drown him. Be it accordingly ſo, replied they all. So they immediately went to another pond and caſt the eel into the water. Lie there, ſaid theſe wiſemen, and ſhift for thyſelf, ſince you may not expect any help from us. So they left the eel to be drowned.

T A L E VIII.

ON a time the men of Gotham had forgotten to pay their rents to their landlord. So one ſaid to the other, To-morrow muſt be pay-day by whom can we ſend our money to our landlord ? So one ſaid to them, I have this day taken a hare, and he may carry it, for he is very quick footed; be it ſo replied the reſt; he ſhall have a letter, and a large purſe to put our money in, and we can direct her the ready way. When the letter was written, and the money put into a purſe, they immediately tied them about the hare's neck, ſaying, You muſt firſt go to Loughborough, and then to Leiceſter, and at Newark is our landlord ; then commend us unto him