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A certain man made a wooden Image of Mercury, and exposed it for

sale in the market. As no one offered to buy it, however, he

thought he would try to attract a purchaser by proclaiming the

virtues of the Image. So he cried up and down the market, "A god

for sale! a god for sale! One who'll bring you luck and keep you

lucky!" Presently one of the bystanders stopped him and said, "If

your god is all you make him out to be, how is it you don't keep

him and make the most of him yourself?" "I'll tell you why,"

replied he; "he brings gain, it is true, but he takes his time

about it; whereas I want money at once."

THE EAGLE AND THE ARROW