| Show THE OF TRUTH in the middle of the fourteenth century a spanish prince don juan manuel published a book by the title of count Lu caBOr which contains an inexhaustible fund of homely wi s dom and sound morals from it we extract the following allegory one day count said to hi counselor petronius Patr onius alive in great feud and fight with some who do not lore me very much these men are stubborn and mendacious and never think but to betray me and all with whom they have to deal and they know how to turn and twist and use their lies so well that they bring me into great difficulties and damage while they themselves are always becoming more powerful and are gain ing a strong adherence among the people believe me would do ES they do I might have like success but as lie is ft bad means I would never disgrace myself thereby and pray you therefore to assist me with your good advice what measures to take against these people count Lu canor replied patro alus lie and truth once made acquaintance and after they bad been together for a time lie which is al ways full of devices and designs said to truth it would be good for them to plant a tree of which thy could have fruit and in whose shade they could repose in the heat truth plain and friendly as ever consented but when the little tree grew up lie thought each should choose her portion of it she then showed to truth with neat and trim how the root gave life and nourishment to the whole tree and as I he root therefore was the most useful even the most important part the would counsel truth to choose the roots of the tree under the eartha she herself would risk to take ho little twigs sprouting forth a great risk indeed as they would be exposed to the danger to be cut off damaged by men gnawed by boasts torn out by birds beaks and claws barned by the beat or frozen by the cold all of which dangers would not exist for the roots estruth heard so many real ons being a very trusting unsuspecting ture she confided to her companion lie and thought all she eaid to bs true she deeme t herself very fortunate took the roots of the tree and rejoiced over her share highly delighted T alth the deception in which sho had succeeded with her sleek glib talk now truth hied herself under the ground to the roots which were her bhare lie however remained on the earth where men dwell and nations and as she WM very fascinating she soon rose in universal favor her tree commenced to grow and to bring forth branches and foliage and to throw a great shade and in its foliage beautiful hanpa dared in marvelously fine blos magnificent roe they gat nerea around it in good faith and enjoyed its fragrant coolness most of them dwelled there permanent and those who were scattered over the face of the earth told one another who wanted to live in joy and pleasure should come into the shade of the tree of lie but when the na eions were gathered under the tree lie who is very captivating and of great learning made merry amusements and taught them in her lore and men were very desirous to learn her arts and in this wise she attracted all the nations of the earah and taught them falsehoods to the plain people plain ones and to the learned fearful ones for you must know it is plain falsehood to tell one I shall do this and that while we do not think in the least eyer to do it and it is a double falsehood for one to add oath and pledge or having others be surety while be has already made it out in his mind that all shall end in deception and delusion but the fearful falsehood the mortal falsehood it is for one to speak the truth hypocritically in order to beguile the credulous and confiding of such lore lie possessed much and knew so well t dispose of it to those who took delight in the shade of the tree that they succeeded almost in everything they undertook and nono would be of the lore so great was the desire of the nations for that shade and that lore that they became like serfs to lie the ones for the fair trees sake the others on account of the lore and thus lie was highly honored and praised and had all the nations in her retinue and ho who refused her allegiance and knew other arts was by others and by but while lie was thus basking in prosperity truth lived poor and despised life in the hocom of the earth and nobody in the i world knew of her nobody thought of or sought after her As ehe found nothing to feed on but those root which bad become her portion through the crafty counsel of lie she was compelled for lack of other food to gaab again and again those roots and however vigorous were the branches of the tree and however broad the filiaga expanded itself decked with beautiful blossoms ere it bud into fruit the roots below destroyed and when the last one WM destroyed and lie wa standing in tho ido of her tree with all the people that learned knowledge of her a whirlwind seized the tree and as it w cosy to tear out being without roots it fell on lt and crushed her and all who yere with but alere the trunk of lh tree had stood the long hidden truth and when she stepped on the earth she fw lie and all that bad kept with her lost and miserable notwithstanding all the arts and tricks they bad learned thus consider count lueaner Lu eanor that Ls can bring forth large branches and thai her blossoms fh her sayings and flatteries flat teries ar phasing and agreeable to men but it is all poor shadow and sever brings forth good fruit if therefore your enemies employed tricks and lying devices guard youri self as well as you can never endeavor to become their companion in such false laro and do not envy them for the good fortune they may secure by their ari nices for h it lasts only a short ends well u themselves the happiest it all falls in as tho tree did over them who worshipped wor shipped lae but as to despised be cling to it and revere it in order that god may grant you fortune honor and health herfa bielow and eternal bass beyond of this conniel conn sel says the old the count took heed and never did |
