|
There is a legend in the region of
Punjab, about a thief who broke into a farm and stole two hundred
onions. But before he could make his escape, he was caught by the
farmer and led before the judge.
The magistrate past sentence: the
payment of ten gold pieces. But the man alleged that the fine was
too high, so the judge offered him two alternatives: to be whipped
twenty times, or eat the two hundred onions.
The thief chose to eat the two hundred
onions. When he had eaten twenty-five, his eyes were already filled
with tears, and his stomach was burning up like the fires of hell.
Since there were still 175 to go, and he knew he would never bear
this punishment, he begged to be thrashed twenty times.
The judge agreed. But when the whip
tore into his back for the tenth time, he implored for the punishment
to be stopped, for he could not stand the pain. His wish was granted,
but the thief still had to pay the ten pieces of gold.
- If you had accepted the fine, you
would have avoided eating the onions and wouldn't have suffered
with whip - said the judge. - But you preferred the more difficult
path, not understanding that, when you have done wrong, it is better
to pay up quickly and forget the matter.
|
