Pagina 70 di 274

THE THIEVES AND THE COCK

Some Thieves broke into a house, and found nothing worth taking

except a Cock, which they seized and carried off with them. When

they were preparing their supper, one of them caught up the Cock,

and was about to wring his neck, when he cried out for mercy and

said, "Pray do not kill me: you will find me a most useful bird,

for I rouse honest men to their work in the morning by my

crowing." But the Thief replied with some heat, "Yes, I know you

do, making it still harder for us to get a livelihood. Into the

pot you go!"

THE FARMER AND FORTUNE