to know how This came About. Why ſays he, My Damn’d Fortune would have it ſo. Fortune happen’d to be at That Time within Hearing, and told him in his Ear, that he was an Arrogant, Ungrateful Clown; to Charge Her with All the Evil that Befell him, and to take the Good to Himſelf.
Fab. CCXXXI.
A Country-man and Fortune.
AS a Labourer was at his Work a Digging, he Chops his Spade upon a Pot of Money; Takes it up, Bleſſes the Place where he found it, and away he goes with his Treaſure. It ſo fell out, that Fortune Saw and Heard All that Paſt, and ſo ſhe call’d out to him upon the Way. Heark ye Friend, ſays ſhe; You are very Thankful, I perceive, to the Place where you found This Money; but 'tis the Jade Fortune, I warrant ye, that's to be Claw'd away for't: if you ſhould happen to Loſe it again. Pray tell me now why ſhould not you Thank Fortune for the One, as well as Curſe her for the Other.
Fab. CCXXXII.
An Old Woman and the Devil.
'TIS a Common Practice, when People draw Miſchiefs upon their Own Heads, to cry, the Devil's in't, and the Devil's in’t. Now the Devil happen'd to ſpy an Old Woman upon an Apple-Tree. Look ye (ſays he) You ſhall ſee that Beldam Catch a Fall there by and by, and Break her Bones, and then ſay 'twas all long of me. Pray Good People will you bear me Witneſs, that I was None of her Adviſer. The Woman got a Tumble, as the Devil ſaid ſhe would, and there was ſhe at it. The Devil Ought her a Shame, and the Devil put her upon't: But the Devil Clear’d himſelf by ſufficient Evidence that he had no Hand in’t at all.
FAB.
