Treason > History of Lawrence Lazy

6 THE HJSTORY
went to meet him. How now, iti
pretty lad, faid the ancient man, wha
makes you fo late in this lonely place
Marry, quoth Lawrence, I have loi
my company, and by that means at
left—My fon, quoth the old mar
though they have left thee, I have foun
thee, and will be no fmall Iriend t
thee, if thou’k follow my directions
I know in the firfl place, thou art tr.
forrow of thy parents, and the vvor
der of the world through the melar
choly lazy doth which has attende
thee ever lince thou firlt came into th
world, and becauie thou ihalt not I
the firft perfon given to lazinefs,
will furnilh you with a charm, whic
fhall enable thee to make others fh
times more lazy than thyfelf. Ay?:
hereupon he prefented him with a ref
ring, laying, Whenever thou Ihalt pi»
this upon thy finger, all men, wome
and children on whom thou loqke:
lhall become as half dead, thro’ bea\
deep, which diall then feize ther
and they Ihall continue fo during tfij
pleafure ; and the charm diail be bn I
ken by drawing the ring from thy fud
ger, when thou ihalt fee fit. Be fur a