Part 31 (1/2)

_Witty Conceits of Tom Long the Carrier._

Tom Long the Carrier, upon a time, asked a merry conceited fellow which was the best husband for a young wench to marry. ”Marry,” quoth the fellow, ”an old man, for then he shall be sure to be proud of her.”

Another standing by asked Tom Long the Carrier what trade he thought to be best? ”Marry,” quoth Tom, ”a cut-purse; for he hath no sooner done his work but he hath his money in his hand.”

CHAPTER XIV.

_The Conclusion of the Merry Conceits of Tom Long the Carrier._

Tom Long the Carrier coming to an inn, Asked the maid what meat there was within?

”Cow-heels,” said she, ”and a fine breast of mutton.”

”Then,” said Tom, ”since that I am no glutton, Either or both shall serve--to-night the breast, The heels in the morning, when light meat is best.”

At night he took the breast, and did not pay, And in the morning took his heels and ran away.

When the worst is past, all things begin to mend, And here the brave story of Tom Long doth end.

THE

STORY OF

BLUE BEARD

OR THE

EFFECTS OF FEMALE CURIOSITY.

There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was extremely rich. He had elegant town and country houses; his dishes and plates were of gold and silver; his rooms were hung with damask; his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all magnificently gilt with gold.

But, unfortunately, this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly that none of the ladies in the neighbourhood would venture to go into his company.

It happened that a lady of quality, who lived very near him, had two daughters, who were both extremely beautiful. Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him in marriage, leaving to herself the choice which of the two it should be.

They both, however, again and again refused to marry Blue Beard; but, to be as civil as possible, they each pretended that they refused because she would not deprive her sister of the opportunity of marrying so much to her advantage. But the truth was they could not bear the thoughts of having a husband with a blue beard, and, besides, they had heard of his having already been married to several wives, and n.o.body could tell what had afterwards become of them.

As Blue Beard wished very much to gain their favour, he invited the lady and her daughters, and some ladies who were on a visit at their house, to accompany him to one of his country seats, where they spent a whole week, during which nothing was thought of but parties for hunting and fis.h.i.+ng, music, dancing, collations, and the most delightful entertainments. No one thought of going to bed, and the nights were pa.s.sed in merriment of every kind.

In short, the time had pa.s.sed so agreeably that the youngest of the two sisters began to think that the beard which had so much terrified her was not so very blue, and that the gentleman to whom it belonged was vastly civil and pleasing.

Soon after they returned home she told her mother that she had no longer any objection to accept of Blue Beard for her husband, and, accordingly, in a short time they were married.

About a month after the marriage had taken place, Blue Beard told his wife that he should be obliged to leave her for a few weeks, as he had some business to do in the country. He desired her to be sure to procure herself every kind of amus.e.m.e.nt, to invite as many of her friends as she liked, and to treat them with all sorts of delicacies that the time might pa.s.s agreeably during his absence. ”Here,” said he, ”are the keys of the two large wardrobes. This is the key of the great box that contains the best plate, which we use for company; this belongs to my strong box, where I keep my money; and this to the casket in which are all my jewels. Here also is a master key to all the apartments in my house, but this small key belongs to the closet at the end of the long gallery on the ground floor. I give you leave,” continued he, ”to open or do what you like with all the rest excepting this closet: this, my dear, you must not enter, nor even put the key into the lock, for all the world. Should you disobey me, expect the most dreadful of punishments.”

She promised to obey his orders in the most faithful manner; and Blue Beard, after tenderly embracing her, stepped into his carriage and drove away.

The friends of the bride did not, on this occasion, wait to be invited, so impatient were they to see all the riches and magnificence she had gained by marriage; for they had been prevented from paying their wedding visit by their aversion to the blue beard of the bridegroom.