The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [25]
15. The servant went, and the nobleman’s wife, seeing the shoe and therefore confident that the message was from her husband, gave the necklace to the servant.
16. In this way the theft was proved, the necklace restored to the honest broker, and the nobleman punished for his crime.
Chapter 10
1. ‘Worthy judge,’ said the stranger, ‘who makes the truth come to light. This comes about by understanding the nature of men.’
2. ‘True,’ Charicles said, ‘and nothing shows this better than the story of how Judge Adasnes dealt with a certain servant and a rich man’s son. The story is as follows.’
3. There was a very wealthy merchant of this city, who had an only son. The son said to his father one day, ‘Father, send me on a voyage, that I might learn to trade, to see foreign lands, and to talk with men of wisdom, and learn from my experiences.’
4. Pleased with this request, the father bought a full-bottomed ship, filled it with quality goods, and sent his son abroad with steady companions and sound words of advice.
5. He himself remained at home with his servant, whom he trusted and who held the second place in his affection after his son.
6. Some years after the son had gone abroad, with only rare messages to tell of his wanderings, the merchant was seized at the heart, and died before he had directed how his property was to be divided.
7. The servant, by now passing himself off as the merchant’s son, took possession of everything, and lived thereafter as a wealthy man.
8. Ten years passed, and the real son returned, his ship freighted with wealth many times greater than his father had given him on departing.
9. But before the ship had weathered the treacherous cape beyond which the harbour’s mouth lay, a sudden storm blew up,
10. And drove the ship onto the rocks, where it foundered, and everything was lost, goods and lives all, except for the son himself,
11. Who struggled ashore, with nothing but the wet rags in which he had escaped death.
12. He went to his father’s house, and entered; but the servant drove him away with harsh words, denying his identity, and calling him a beggar and imposter;
13. Though in truth the servant knew who he was, but he had no intention to share the old merchant’s wealth with anyone; and was determined to claim himself the merchant’s son.
14. The real son went to Adasnes the judge to lay his case before him. Adasnes said, ‘Bring the merchant’s heir before me too, who also says he is the son,’ and the servant was summoned.
15. Then Adasnes said, ‘Go to the merchant’s grave, and dig up the bones; and bring them here to be burnt, as a posthumous punishment for making no will, and leaving his property to be a cause of strife.’
16. The servant immediately rose in obedience to go to the grave, there to dig up the bones for burning;
17. But the son also immediately rose and petitioned Adasnes, saying, ‘Let this servant keep everything; I would not disturb my father’s bones, or have him punished even in death.’
18. ‘This proves that you are the true son,’ said Adasnes the judge. ‘Let all be restored to you, and take this man as your slave.’
Chapter 11
1. After their long journey, and these tales, Charicles and the stranger were weary, and slept; but they were woken early by the noise of the city, and decided to go on their way before the sun grew hot.
2. As they rode their asses along the main street, the stranger said, ‘You can ask me anything, for I know the half of all knowledge.’
3. ‘The half of all knowledge? I cannot believe that,’ said Charicles with a laugh. ‘Who can know the half of all knowledge?’
4. ‘But I do know it,’ insisted the stranger; ‘I know the half of all knowledge in the world. Test me.’
5. So Charicles asked the stranger what he knew of medicine, and the stranger said, ‘Nothing.’
6. And Charicles asked him what he knew of mathematics, and the stranger said, ‘Nothing.’
7. And Charicles asked him what he knew of astronomy, and the stranger said, ‘Nothing.