Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/272

264 threw the landlord's polimina down into the vessel. She came in, they covered it up, and she started off. She did not stop till she came in the presence of the landlord. She asked him, "What is the matter with thee, or what is the cause, or what is the cure?" He told her he had an illness in the throat, as he hated her. He remembered it was she that had cut off his polimina the night before. She asked him what would cure him. He told her, "Put thy tongue into my throat and I shall be cured." She put a cubit length of her tongue down his throat, and when he found it there he cut off her tongue with his teeth. She took her departure across through the fields without a word to say but "Lull-lall, luU-lall," &c.

"What is she saying?" said the master. "I don't know," said John; "is it not Latin?" "I never learnt Latin," said John. "Thy cat speaks English and thy wife Latin, master, and if there were horns on thy horse my term of service would be given." The mistress went home, took to her bed, and died a short time afterwards, together with the landlord.

At the end of a few days John narrated to him every conversation which taken place between the landlord and the mistress for a long time. "I am a luck-bringing man to thee, for thou wouldst have been dead long ago if I hadst not protected thee, for assuredly they conspired with one accord thy death."

John and his master were for a long time close to each other without anger, occasion of hatred, or mischief springing up between them. At last John said to him, "I will give thee advantageous advice, for the sake of thy friendship. Marry without delay. Look out for a woman for thyself who will be careful of thee at the close of thy life." "A hundred thanks to thee, John. I see with the eye of my mind that thy intention, thy secret thoughts, and thy deeds, are very good. For that reason I will send a proposal for a match at a distance from here, and thou wilt go with me." The master sent off a proposal, and an answer reached him in good time to go and bring it about. Then the master and John made preparations for a long journey.

They took their departure on two horses early in the morning. They journeyed till evening. A heavy rain encountered them at the close of the day without their being near a house or habitation.