II - 08 The Dervise And The Four Robbers

The  Dervise  And  The  Four  Robbers

A Dervise had once made a purchase of a fine fat sheep, intending to offer
 
it  up  in  sacrifice;  and  having  tied  a  cord  about  its  neck,  was  leading
 
it  to  his  home,  when  four  thieves  perceived  him,  and  instantly  made  up
 
their  minds  to  steal  the  sheep.  They  knew  the  Dervise  to  be  an  honest,
 
inoffensive  man,  and  one  who  thought  of  no  more  harm  in  others  than  he
 
had  in  himself.  They  dared  not,  however,  take  the  sheep  away  from  the
 
Dervise  by  force,  for  they  were  too  near  the  city;  therefore  they  made
 
use of this stratagem: they first parted company, and then accosted the
 
Dervise,  as  if  they  had  come  from  several  distinct  parts.
 
The. first thief, who had contrived to meet him full- face, said, "My good
 
old  man,  whither  are  you  leading  this  dog  ?"
 
At this instant the second robber, coming from another quarter, cried to
 
him,  "Venerable  old  man,  I  hope  you  have  not  so  far  forgot  yourself  as
 
to have stolen this dog;" and immediately after him, the third coming up,
 
asked him,  "Whither  are  you  going  with  that  handsome  greyhound  ?"
 
The poor Dervise began to doubt whether the sheep which he had was a sheep
 
or   not.   But   the   fourth   robber   put   him   quite   beside   himself(2)   by
 
approaching  him  and  asking  what  the  dog  cost  him.
 
The  Dervise,  absolutely  persuaded(3)  that  four  men,  coming  from  four
 
several directions, could not all be deceived, verily believed that the
 
grazier who had sold him the sheep was a conjurer, and had bewitched his
 
sight; inasmuch that, no longer giving credit to his Own eyes,(4) he began
 
to  be  firmly  convinced  that  the  sheep  he  was  leading  was  a  dog.  In  full
 
persuasion of this, the Dervise went back to the market to demand his money
 
of the grazier(5), leaving the wether with the felons, who made off with(6)
 
it.