In a certain forest, a Brahmin, having determined to make an offering, went to a
neighbouring village and purchased a Goat, which having thrown across his
shoulder, he turned toward home. As he was travelling along, he was perceived
by three thieves. "If," said they, "we could by some artifice get the Goat from
that man, it would be a great proof of our address."
Saying this, they agreed upon their stratagem, and executed it in this manner:
They stationed themselves before the Brahmin, and sat down under the trees in
the road which led to his habitation, till he should come up to them. Soon after,
he was accosted by one of them in this manner: "Is not that a dog? Brahmin,
what is the reason thou carriest it upon thy shoulder?" The Brahmin replied:
"No, it is not a dog; it is a Goat, which I have purchased to make an offering of."
About a mile farther on he met another of them, who repeating the same
question, he took the Goat from his shoulder, and putting it upon the ground,
examined it again and again; and at length, replacing it upon his shoulder, he
went on, quite staggered as it were, for:
The minds even of good men are staggered by the arguments of the wicked; but
those who place confidence in them may suffer by it.
At length the Brahmin, having heard the third thief, like the former two, insist
upon it that he had a dog upon his shoulder, was convinced that it was indeed a
dog; and so, leaving his Goat behind him, which the thieves presently took away
and made a feast of, the good man washed himself and went home. Whence, I
say, "He who, judging by what passeth in his own breast, believeth a knave to be
a person of veracity, is deceived."