Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/250

234 work in; we therefore have to pretend that we are overcome by sickness, and during that time go wood-cutting in the forest; if wood-cutting is forbidden by day, we go at night. We have always to dodge about in this world, my friends. We could not possibly get on otherwise."

"Do you hear that?" said the liar to the honest man. "What I told you was perfectly true!"

But his companion would not be convinced, so they walked on farther, till they came across a merchant driving a waggon.

"Stop for a moment, good sir!" they cried; "we want you to do us a favour, if you will not resent it, and promise not to be angry with us."

"What is it?"

"We want you to decide our quarrel, and tell us whether it is better to live honestly in this world or dishonestly?"

"Ah, my children! it is difficult to live honestly. For my part, I think it is best to be dishonest; people cheat us, so why should we not cheat them?"

"You hear!" cried the liar to his companion. "This good man is of my opinion, like the other."

Still the truthful man would not listen to his friend, so they went on farther and met a noble coming along the road; they stopped him, and said,—

"Kindly judge our quarrel for us; how is it best to live in this world, honestly or dishonestly?"

"Well, you certainly have found something to quarrel about. You must have been very hard pressed for conversation. Of course, being dishonest is the only way to get on. What honesty and truth