Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/365

Rh "Times are altered. Men grow worse. He who speaks truth has his head broken."—"Go," said the statue, "declare to his majesty what you have seen and read." The messengers obeyed, and detailed the circumstances as they had happened.

The emperor, therefore, commanded his guard to arm, and march to the place on which the statue was erected; and he further ordered, that if any one presumed to molest it, they should bind him hand and foot, and drag him into his presence. The soldiers approached the statue and said, "Our Emperor wills you to declare the name of the scoundrel who threatens you." The statue made answer, "It is Focus the carpenter. Every day he violates the law, and moreover, menaces me with a broken head, if I expose him." Immediately Focus was apprehended, and conducted to the Emperor, who said, "Friend, what do I hear of thee? Why hast thou broken my law?"—"My lord," answered Focus, "I cannot keep it; for I am obliged to obtain every day eight pennies, which, without incessant labor, I have not the means of acquiring."—"And