Pagina 189 di 274

A Man of Athens fell into debt and was pressed for the money by

his creditor; but he had no means of paying at the time, so he

begged for delay. But the creditor refused and said he must pay

at once. Then the Debtor fetched a Sow--the only one he had--and

took her to market to offer her for sale. It happened that his

creditor was there too. Presently a buyer came along and asked if

the Sow produced good litters. "Yes," said the Debtor, "very fine

ones; and the remarkable thing is that she produces females at

the Mysteries and males at the Panathenea." (Festivals these

were: and the Athenians always sacrifice a sow at one, and a boar

at the other; while at the Dionysia they sacrifice a kid.) At

that the creditor, who was standing by, put in, "Don't be

surprised, sir; why, still better, at the Dionysia this Sow has

kids!"

THE BALD HUNTSMAN