Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/38

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T happened ome few days after the Lat Paage above, that Xanthus, having ome Buines at the Publick Hall, ent Æop to ee if there were any Great Throng of Men there; A Magitrate meets him Upon the Way, and Asks him whether he was going? Why truly, ays Æop, I am going I know not whither. The Magitrate took it that he Banter'd him, and bad an Officer take him into Cutody and Carry him to Prion. Well, ays Æop, to the Magitrate; Is it not true Now, that I did not know Whither I was going? Can you Imagine, that when I came out of the houe this Morning, I had any thoughts of going to Prion? The Magitrate was well enough pleaed at the fancy, and Dicharg'd him Upon it, and o he went forward to the Hall; Where among a world of People, he law one Man arret another upon an Action of Debt. The Debtor Pleaded Poverty; but if he would Compound for halfe, it hould go hard but he'd make a Shift to Pick it up, he aid. Well with all my Heart, ays the Creditor, Lay down the Mony upon the Nail, and the Buines is done: for a man had better Content himelf with Halfe, then Loe All, And I reckon that Mony as good as lot, that a Man mut go to Law for; Æop upon this, went back and told his Mater, that he had been at the Hall, and aw but one Man there; This was a Riddle to Xanthus; Inomuch that he went himelfe to Learn the Truth of the Matter. When he came to the Place, he found the Court extremely Thronged, and turning hort upon Æop, in great Indignation, Sirrah, ays he, are All thee People come ince you told me there was but one Man here? 'Tis very true, ays Æop, There was a Huge Crowd, and yet but one Man that I could ee in That vat Multitude. This eems to be taken out of the Life of Diogenes.