Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (1).pdf/18

18 and the king asked him if he was a wise man? to which he answered, he is only a wise man that can take care of himself. Very well, says the king. On which, George pushed open the door, and in he wont with loud laughter, and directly in his Majesty's face, which blinded both his eyes, and put the whole court in amaze. Now, now, said his Majesty, it is true enough what the wise man says, for if I had taken care of myself, I need not have been p- upon by the English fool. Oho, says George, fools always strive to make fools of others, but wise men make fools of themselves. By this, his Majesty seemed to think he was made the greatest fool, and charged them to go home, for be wanted no more of England's strength, wisdom, or folly. 7. Ono night, a Highland drover chanced to have a drinking-bout with an English captain of a ship, and at last they camo to be very hearty over their cups, so that they called in their servants to have a share of their liquor. The drover's servant looked like a wild man, going without breeches, stockings, or shoes, not so much as a bonnet on his head, with a long peeled rung in his hand. The captain asked the drover, how long it is since he catched him ? swered, it is about two years since I hauled him out of the sea with a net, and afterwards ran into the mountains, where I catched him with a pack of hounds. The captain believed it was so, but says he, I have a servant the best swimmer in the world. O but, says the drover, my servant will swim him to death, No, he will not, says the captain, I'll lay two hundred crowns on it. Then says the drover, I'll hold it ono to one, and staked directly, the day being appointed when trial was to be made. Now the drover, when he came to himself, thinking on what a bargain he had made