| 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 |
| 1 | 33 | 66 | 99 | 132 |
|
www.freeclassicebooks.com
he floated upon the surface and examined the pond with The bottom and
sides were all lined with glossy tiles of a light pink color; just one place in the
bottom where the water bubbled up from a hidden spring had been left free.
On the banks, the green grass grew to the edge of the pink tiling. And now, as
the Frogman examined the place, he found that on one side of the pool, just
above the water line, had been set a golden plate on which some words were
deeply engraved. He swam toward this plate, and on reaching it read the
following inscription:
This is
always afterward tell
THE TRUTH POND Whoever bathes in this
THE TRUTH.
water must
This statement startled the Frogman. It even worried him, so that he leaped
upon the bank and hurriedly began to dress himself. "A great misfortune has
befallen me," he told himself, "for hereafter I cannot tell people I am wise,
since it is not the truth. The truth is that my boasted wisdom is all a sham,
assumed by me to deceive people and make them defer to me. In truth, no
living creature can know much more than his fellows, for one may know one
thing, and another know another thing, so that wisdom is evenly scattered
throughout the world. But--ah me!--what a terrible fate will now be mine.
Even Cayke the Cookie Cook will soon discover that my knowledge is no
greater than her own, for having bathed in the enchanted water of the Truth
Pond, I can no longer deceive her or tell a lie."
More humbled than he had been for many years, the Frogman went back to
the grove where he had left Cayke and found the woman now awake and
washing her face in a tiny brook. "Where has Your Honor been?" she asked.
"
To a farmhouse to ask for something to eat," said he, "but the woman refused
me."
"
How dreadful!" she exclaimed. "But never mind, there are other houses
where the people will be glad to feed the Wisest Creature in all the World."
"
"
Do you mean yourself?" he asked.
No, I mean you."
The Frogman felt strongly impelled to tell the truth, but struggled hard against
it. His reason told him there was no use in letting Cayke know he was not
wise, for then she would lose much respect for him, but each time he opened
his mouth to speak, he realized he was about to tell the truth and shut it
again as quickly as possible. He tried to talk about something else, but the
7
6
Page
Quick Jump
|