_The Sale of_ Æsop _to_ Xanthus.
Upon the Merchants Arrival at _Ephesus_, he made a quick Riddance of
All his Slaves but Three. That is to say, a _Musician_, an _Orator_,
and _Æsop_. He dress’d up the Two Former in Habits answerable to their
Profession, and Carry’d them to _Samos_, as the Likeliest Place for
a Chapman. He shew’d them there in the open Market, with Æsop for a
Fool betwixt them; which some People took much offence at. While they
were attending upon the Place, there came among other _Samians_, one
_Xanthus_, an Eminent Philosopher of that City, with a Train of his
Disciples at his Heels. The Philosopher was mightily pleased with the
Two Youths, and ask’d them one after another about their Profession,
and what they could do. The one told him he could do _any thing_; the
other that he could do _ev’ry thing_; this set Æsop a laughing at ’em.
The Philosopher’s Pupils would needs know what it was that made Æsop
so merry. Why, says he, if the Question had been put by your Master, I
should have told him the reason of it.
_Xanthus_ in the mean time was beating the Price of the Two other Slaves,
but the Terms were so high, that he was just upon turning about to go
his way, Only the Pupils would needs have him put the same Questions
first to the Ill favour’d Fellow, that he had done to the other Two; and
so _Xanthus_, for the Humour sake, Interrogated Æsop what _He_ could
do. _Nothing at all_, says he. How comes That says the Philosopher? My
Companions, says the Other, Undertake every thing, and there’s Nothing
left for me to do. This gave them to Understand, that the Man knew well
enough what he said, and what he Laugh’d at. Well! says _Xanthus_, but if
I should give Money for you Now, would you be Good and Honest? I’ll be
That, says Æsop, whether you Buy me or No. Ay, but tell me again, says
the Philosopher, Won’t you run away? Pray says Æsop, did you ever hear
of a Bird in a Cage that told his Master he Intended to make his Escape?
_Xanthus_ was well enough pleased with the Turn and Quickness of his Wit;
but, says he, That Unlucky Shape of yours will set People a Hooting and
Gaping at you wherever you go. A Philosopher says Æsop should value a man
for his Mind, Not for his Body. This presence of Thought gave _Xanthus_ a
High Opinion of the Wisdom of the Man; and so he bad the Merchant set him
his Lowest Price of That Miserable Creature. Why says he, you had as good
Cheapen a Dunghil; but if you’ll bid me like a Chapman for either of the
Other Two, you shall have this Phantome into the Bargain. Very good says
the Philosopher; and without any more ado what’s your selling Price? The
Merchant speaks the Word, The Philosopher pays the Money, and takes Æsop
away with him.