The Apes and the Two
Travelers
Two men, one
who always spoke
the truth and the other who told nothing but lies, were traveling
together
and by chance came to the land of Apes.
One of the
Apes, who had
raised himself to be king, commanded them to be seized and brought
before
him, that he might know what was said of him among men.
He ordered
at the same time
that all the Apes be arranged in a long row on his right hand and on
his
left, and that a throne be placed for him, as was the custom among
men.
After these
preparations
he signified that the two men should be brought before him, and greeted
them with this salutation: "What sort of a king do I seem to you to be,
O strangers?"
The Lying
Traveler replied,
"You seem to me a most mighty king."
"And what
is your estimate
of those you see around me?"
"These," he
made answer,
"are worthy companions of yourself, fit at least to be ambassadors and
leaders of armies."
The Ape and
all his court,
gratified with the lie, commanded that a handsome present be given to
the
flatterer.
On this the
truthful Traveler
thought to himself, "If so great a reward be given for a lie, with what
gift may not I be rewarded, if, according to my custom, I tell the
truth?"
The Ape
quickly turned to
him. "And pray how do I and these my friends around me seem to
you?"
"Thou art,"
he said, "a most
excellent Ape, and all these thy companions after thy example are
excellent
Apes too."
The King of
the Apes, enraged
at hearing these truths, gave him over to the teeth and claws of his
companions.
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