The wise and ingenious companion, French and English, or, A collection of the wit of the illustrious persons, both ancient and modern containing their wise sayings, noble sentiments, witty repartees, jests and pleasant stories : calculated for the improvement and pleasure of the English and foreigners / by Mr. Boyer ...

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An Italian Parson, one Day invited to Dinner Il Piovano Arlotto, with many other Parsons; and ha∣ving a mind to shew his Wit, took these aside and told them, Gentlemen, 'tis my opinion that we should make our selves merry to Day with Piovano, who, you know, sets up for a jester, and drolls upon every Bo∣dy; Being my Clark lies Sick, and that I no Body to wait on us, I will propose to draw Cuts, to see which of us shall go to the Cellar to draw the Wine, and wait on the Rest whilst they are at Dinner: And I will contrive it so, that it shall fall to Piovano's Lot; which being thus concluded amongst them, was put in Execution accordingly. Piovano smoak'd the Plot, and resolv'd •…•…o make his Host Repent it. Down he goes to the Cellar to fill the Bottles, whilst the others fell to, and being come up again with the Bottles, You see, Gentlemen, said he, How I have perform'd what I had to do; let's now draw Cuts to see which of us shall go down into the Cellar to stop the Hogs-heads I left running. Now the Landlord talk'd no more of casting Lots, and know∣•…•…ng Piovano to be a Man that would as soon do it, as say it, leaves presently his Dinner, and runs to the Cellar, where he finds his Vessels running, and part of his Wine spilt; which as he afterwards expostula∣ted

with Piovano, You have no Reason to Complain of me, answer'd he, since I have punctually satisfied the Conditions of the Play, which indeed obliged me to draw the Wine and fill the Bottles, but not to stop the Vessels of a Host who entertains his Guests so scurvily.