A merchant had been trading in a far city and had made much money,
which he was now bringing home with him. He rode in haste, for he knew
he would not feel easy until he had locked away the gold in his strong
room at home.
Toward the middle of the morning he stopped at an inn to give his horse
water. “Sir,” said the ostler who waited on him, “a nail is loose in
your horse’s shoe.”
“No matter,” answered the merchant. “I am in haste, and the shoe must
go as it is till I get home.”
A little later he stopped at another inn. “Sir,” said the ostler, “your
horse’s shoe is loose; shall I not take him to the blacksmith near by
and have the shoe fastened on?”
“No,” answered the merchant, “I have not time to wait. I must be home
before nightfall.”
The merchant rode still farther, but presently his horse began to
limp. It limped more and more, until at last, in the very midst of a
deep forest, it stumbled and fell, and could not get up again.
The merchant was in despair. Dusk was coming on, and there seemed
nothing for it but to spend the night in the forest. However, he
discovered a house near by, and the old woman who was in charge of it
promised him food and a lodging for the night.
When the merchant went up to bed he put his bag of gold under his
pillow. He meant to watch all night, but he was very tired, and
presently, in spite of himself his eyes closed and he fell into a deep
sleep.
Now this house belonged to a band of robbers, and the old woman was
their housekeeper. Soon after the merchant was asleep the robbers came
home. The housekeeper told them of the rich man who had come to the
house while they were away, and of how she had given him a bed for the
night.
The robbers went up to the merchant’s room and finding him asleep they
stole the bag of money from under his pillow, and made off with it.
In the morning, when the merchant awoke, he felt under his pillow for
the bag, but it was gone. He called aloud, but no one answered. He
searched the house from top to bottom, but could find nobody.
So the merchant lost both his gold and his horse. “And all,” said he,
“because I was in such haste that I would not stop for a nail to be
put in my horse’s shoe. It is a true saying—‘the more haste the less
speed.’”