I saw no one yet come
back who had conned his lesson; they had so many bags and scripts tightly
bound to them, that they could never have got through such a narrow
needle's eye, even if they had tried to. After that a drove from the
Street of Pleasure walked up to the gate. "Where, pray, does this road
lead to?" asked one of the watchmen. "This," answered he, "is the way
that leads to eternal joy and happiness." Whereupon all strove to enter,
but failed, for some were too stout to pass through such a strait
opening; others too weak to struggle, being enfeebled through debauchery.
"Oh, ye must not attempt to take your baubles with you," said the
watchman, observing them; "ye must leave behind your pots and dishes,
your minions, and all other things, and then hasten on." "How shall we
live?" asked the fiddler, who would have been through long since but that
he feared to smash his fiddle. "Ye must trust the king's promise to send
after you as many of these things as will do you good," said the
watchman. This made them all prick their ears, "Oh, oh!" said one, "a
bird in hand is worth two in the bush," and at that they with one accord
turned back.
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