The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

LAUGHABLE STORIES OF ACTORS AND COMEDIANS.
CCCCLXXXVII. To a certain comedian it was said,
"When a cock riseth up in the early morning hours,
"why doth he hold one foot in the air?" He replied, "If
"he should lift
up both feet together he would fall down."
CCCCLXXXVIII. Another comedian said, "If it be
"only those that are weary and heavy-laden who are
"to enter Paradise, as our Lord said', there is nothing
"that who will go in before the harp, for in this world
"he endureth much trial and tribulation. His throat is
"squeezed, his ear is twisted, his belly is smitten, and
"when he is old he is thrown into the fire."
CCCCLXXXIX. Another actor said, "When I was
"young and was learning the actor's art, my master
"used to say to me, 'Take heed and learn well how
"'thou mayest become used to do the exact opposite
'"of the words which are spoken to thee, that is to
'"say, if people say unto thee, Go, thou must come,
'"and when they say unto thee. Come, thou must go.'
"And in the morning he himself used to say, 'Good
"evening,' and in the evening, 'Good morning.' And
"it came to pass one day that having been into the
"king's presence and made him laugh, the king com-
"manded them to write him an order on the Treasury
' St. Matthew xi. 28.