He who, judging by what passeth in his own breast, believeth a knave
to be a person of veracity, is deceived; as the Brahmin was concerning
his Goat.
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."