A Taylor carried his Bill to the Duke of Buckingham, who said he could not then pay him, but made him sup a Mess of his Broth, which having done, he humbly thanks his Grace, and takes his leave. He had not been at home exercising his Shears, but he was fit for the Bodkin, for his Broth began to operate, and provok’d him to call up his Wife, who presently attended his Motion, being easily prevail’d withal. So as the Potage began to work with him he work’d with her, and having highly pleased his Wife, as well as himself, with a Kiss dismiss’d her. Within a quarter of an Hour he calls her up again, and so he did to the third and fourth time. At last she ask’d him, how this strange and sudden Alteration came? So he told her, My Lord did not pay him his Bill, but gave him a Porrenger of his Broth, which had wrought these vigorous Effects. To which she reply’d, Prithee, Husband, if my Lord is willing, take out all thy Bill in this Broth.
101
Un Tailleur alla porter ses Parties au Duc de Buckingham, qui lui dit-qu’il ne pouvoit pas le payer alors, mais lui fit prendre une écuellée de son Bouillon, ce qu’ayant fait, il remercia très humblement sa Grandeur, & se retira. Il n’eut pas été long tems chez lui à faire aller ses Ciseaux, qu’il eut affaire de son Poinçon; car le Bouillon commençant à operer, il falut qu’il fit monter sa Femme, laquelle ne se fit pas beaucoup prier pour venir voir ce qu’il souhaitoit. A mesure que le Bouillon operoit sur lui, il en fit autant sur sa Femme; & s’étant bien diverti avec elle, il lui donna un baiser, & la renvoya. Dans un quart d’heure il la fit remonter; et puis une troisiéme & quatrieme fois. Enfin elle lui demanda d’où venoit un Changement si étrange & si subit? Il repondit que Milord ne lui avoit pas payé ses Parties, mais qu’il lui avoit donné, une écuellée de son Bouillon, qui l’avoit rendu si vigoureux: à quoi la Femme repliqua: Je te prie, mon bon, si Milord le veut, paye toi de toutes tes parties en Bouillons.
102
A Taylor, blind of one Eye, was come home sooner than his Wife expected; and because, during his absence, she had entertain’d her Lover, and could not tell how to convey him out; she bethought her self of this Stratagem, she goes to her Husband, and takes him about the Neck, claps her Hand upon his good Eye, and told him she was a dreaming last Night he could see with the other Eye, in the mean time her Spark slipt out.
102
Un Tailleur borgne revint au Logis avant que sa Femme l’y attendit; & comme pendant son absence elle s’ètoit divertie avec son galand, & qu’elle ne savoít comment le faire sortir, elle s’avisa de ce Stratageme: Elle s’approche de son mari, lui saute au cou, met sa main sur son bon oeil, & lui dit qu’elle avoit songé la nuit passée qu’il y voyoit de l’autre l’oeil, & dans ce tems là son galand se sauva.
103
A Taylor having a young and handsom Wife, went into the Country to his Customers; in the mean time a lusty young Journey-man sollicited her, but she refus’d; at last he vow’d, when she was in Bed, he’d come into the Chamber; she vow’d if he did, she’d have a great Knife in Bed with her to cut his Throat. At Night, he opens the Door softly, but remembering the Knife, was stealing out again. She hearing a noise, asked, who was there? ’Tis I, says he, and was resolv’d to lye with you, but that I remember’d your Vow of the Knife. Oh! what a Fool was I, says she, to leave the Knife below in the Kitchen?
103