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I told him the tale I had told to the broker; but he laughed and

said, "These words are not true." Then, before I knew what was

doing, the guard stripped off my clothes and came down with palm

rods upon my ribs, till for the smart of the stick I confessed,

"It was I who stole it;" saying to myself, "'Tis better for thee

to say, I stole it, than to let them know that its owner was

murdered in thy house, for then would they slay thee to avenge

her." So they wrote down that I had stolen it and they cut off my

hand and scalded the stump in oil,[FN#596] when I swooned away

for pain; but they gave me wine to drink and I recovered and,

taking up my hand, was going to my fine house, when my landlord

said to me, "Inasmuch, O my son, as this hath befallen thee, thou

must leave my house and look out for another lodging for thee,

since thou art convicted of theft.