Cap. X.
Æſop's Anſwer to a Magiſtrate.
IT happened ſome few days after the Laſt Paſſage above, that Xanthus, having ſome Buſineſs at the Publick Hall, ſent Æſop to ſee if there were any Great Throng of Men there; A Magiſtrate meets him Upon the Way, and Asks him whether he was going? Why truly, ſays Æſop, I am going I know not whither. The Magiſtrate took it that he Banter'd him, and bad an Officer take him into Cuſtody and Carry him to Priſon. Well, ſays Æſop, to the Magiſtrate; Is it not true Now, that I did not know Whither I was going? Can you Imagine, that when I came out of the houſe this Morning, I had any thoughts of going to Priſon? The Magiſtrate was well enough pleaſed at the fancy, and Diſcharg'd him Upon it, and ſo he went forward to the Hall; Where among a world of People, he law one Man arreſt another upon an Action of Debt. The Debtor Pleaded Poverty; but if he would Compound for halfe, it ſhould go hard but he'd make a Shift to Pick it up, he ſaid. Well with all my Heart, ſays the Creditor, Lay down the Mony upon the Nail, and the Buſineſs is done: for a man had better Content himſelf with Halfe, then Loſe All, And I reckon that Mony as good as loſt, that a Man muſt go to Law for; Æſop upon this, went back and told his Maſter, that he had been at the Hall, and ſaw but one Man there; This was a Riddle to Xanthus; Inſomuch that he went himſelfe to Learn the Truth of the Matter. When he came to the Place, he found the Court extremely Thronged, and turning ſhort upon Æſop, in great Indignation, Sirrah, ſays he, are All theſe People come ſince you told me there was but one Man here? 'Tis very true, ſays Æſop, There was a Huge Crowd, and yet but one Man that I could ſee in That vaſt Multitude. This ſeems to be taken out of the Life of Diogenes.
