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The Merry Tales of the
Christibel, did the same. The Priest then provided godfathers and godmothers himself.
Here a man may see, that children can do nothing without good instructions, and that they are not wise who disregard them.
TALE XVI.
A young man of Gotham went a wooing to a fair maiden; his mother warned him beforehand, saying, whenever you look at her, cast a sheep's eye at her, and say, How dost thou, my sweet Pigsnie? The fellow went to a butcher's, and bought seven or eight sheep's eyes. And when this lusty wooer was at dinner, he would look upon this fair wench, and cast in her face a sheep's eye, saying, How dost thou do, any sweet Pigsnie? How I do, said the wench, swine's-face, what do you mean, by casting a sheep's eye at me? Oh! sweet Pigsnie, have at thee with another. But I defy thee, swine's-face, said the wench. What my sweet old Pigsnie, be content, for if you live till next year, you will be a foul sow. Walk, knave, walk, said she, for if you live till the next year ye will be a fool.
