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he made up the whole sum. The young man told him, he could not; so an officer was sent for; but before he came, the youth took to his heels, and ran for it with that swiftness, that, an ass standing in his way, he took bold of his tail to swing himself by, and twitched it off. A little farther he overthrew a woman with child and caused her to miscarry. at length he was taken and brought before a Justice by the three sufferers. Having heard their complaints he turned to the young man, and said, Young man, several complaints are here laid against you, which I shall clear up: First, keep the money you have found, and trade with it till you have improved it so far as to make him satisfaction, and then let him have it. You take the ass, and work him till a new tail grows, then give aim to his owner. And you take the wo- nan home, till she is as far gone with child as she was before and then send her home to her husband. So with these determinations he dismissed them.


TALE VIII.

In the reign of King Arthur, near the Landsend of England, namely the county