Pagina 188 di 274

A Kid strayed from the flock and was chased by a Wolf. When he

saw he must be caught he turned round and said to the Wolf, "I

know, sir, that I can't escape being eaten by you: and so, as my

life is bound to be short, I pray you let it be as merry as may

be. Will you not play me a tune to dance to before I die?" The

Wolf saw no objection to having some music before his dinner: so

he took out his pipe and began to play, while the Kid danced

before him. Before many minutes were passed the gods who guarded

the flock heard the sound and came up to see what was going on.

They no sooner clapped eyes on the Wolf than they gave chase and

drove him away. As he ran off, he turned and said to the Kid,

"It's what I thoroughly deserve: my trade is the butcher's, and I

had no business to turn piper to please you."

THE DEBTOR AND HIS SOW