“I have as yet gotten so many sprats left.”
“And,” said the last, “I have got so many salt fishes. Let them all go
together into the great pond without any distinction, and we may be
sure to fare like lords the next year.”
At the beginning of the next Lent they immediately went about drawing
the pond, imagining they should have the fish, but were much surprised
to find nothing but a great eel.
“Ah!” said they, “a mischief on this eel, for he hath eaten up our
fish.”
“What must we do with him?” said one to the other.
“Kill him!” said one to the other.
“Chop him into pieces,” said another.
“Nay, not so,” said the other, “but let us drown him.”
“Be it accordingly so,” replied they all.
So they immediately went to another pond, and did cast the eel into the
water.
“Lie there,” said these wise men, “and shift for thyself, since you can
expect no help from us.”
So they left the eel to be drowned.