at its fair price, and not by force, lest a bad precedent be established
and the village desolated." They asked, "What damage can ensue from this
trifle?" He answered, "Originally, the basis of oppression in this world
was small, and every newcomer added to it, till it reached to its
present extent:--Let the monarch eat but one apple from a peasant's
orchard, and his guards, or slaves, will pull up the tree by its root.
From the plunder of five eggs, that the king shall sanction, his troops
will stick a thousand fowls on their spits."


XX

I have heard of a revenue-collector who would distrain the huts of the
peasantry, that he might enrich the treasury of the sovereign,
regardless of that maxim of the wise, who have said, "Whoever can offend
the Most High, that he may gain the heart of a fellow-creature, God on
high will instigate that creature against him, till he dig out the
foundation of his fortune:--That crackling in the flame is not caused by
burning rue, but it is the sigh of the afflicted that occasions it."

They say, of all animals the lion is the chief; and of beasts the ass is
the meanest; yet, with the concurrence of the wise, the burden-bearing
ass is preferable to the man-devouring lion. "The poor ass, though
devoid of understanding, will be held precious when carrying a burden;
oxen and asses that carry loads are preferable to men that injure their
fellow-creatures."

The king had reported to him a part of his nefarious conduct. He put him
to the rack, and tortured him to death. "Thou canst not obtain the
sovereign's approbation till thou make sure of the good-will of his