8
The Merry Tales of the
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 wise men, and shift for thyself, since you may not expect any help from us. So they left the eel to be drowned.
TALE VIII.
On a time the men of Gotham had forgotten to pay their rents to their landlord. So one said to the other, Tomorrow must be pay-day, by whom can we send our money to our landlord? Said one of 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 him the ready way. When the letter was written, and the money put into a purse, they immediately tied them about the hare's
