A long time ago, there lived in a certain village a lazy, adorable man. All he could think about was how to evade work, and he earned his living by cunning, stealth, and deception. In addition, the sloth was also envious. Nobody wanted to be friends with such a dishonest fellow. And yet he was very attracted to people: he really wanted to get rich. However, nothing worked out for him in his native village - his reputation was too bad.
And the lazy man had to go to the side. He somehow found out about a kind rich man and decided to visit him.
When the lazy man entered the rich man's house, he was busy talking with the guests.
- How can I be of help to you? – the rich man asked friendly, as soon as he saw the stranger.
And the stranger - lazy and envious - says: - Dear Sir! I have urgent business with you, but I’m embarrassed to talk about it in front of strangers.
The rich man asked the guests for forgiveness and retired with the sloth in the next room.
- Now we are alone. Tell me what brought you to me?
- My lord! “I want to ask you for a trifle: if possible, give me the scraps from your table,” the sloth whispered barely audibly.
- For God's sake! - exclaimed the rich man. “But today my wife, unfortunately, has already thrown them away.” Come tomorrow!
- Okay, I’ll definitely come tomorrow. Just please don't tell anyone about my request. - And the sloth left.
The next day the sloth arrived much later than the agreed hour. He approached the rich man, who, as the day before, was talking with the guests, and asked:
- Well, can I have it?
- Not today. You were late and the hostess threw everything away. “Come early tomorrow,” said the owner, looking at the guests embarrassedly.
The rich man deliberately spoke so that the guests would not understand what he was talking about - he remembered his promise not to tell anyone about the stranger’s request.
- OK. Tomorrow I will certainly be on time. Just please don't forget! “The lazy man bowed respectfully and left.
The next day the lazy man came to the rich man even later. It was extremely hot outside, and it was simply impossible to store waste. As the day before, he approached the rich man and insinuatingly asked:
– Can I get it today?
“It won’t work out again today,” the rich man answered him, nodding towards the guests. - Come tomorrow. – And, turning his back to the stranger, he spoke to the guests.
- Okay, sir. Tomorrow I will come at the same time. Make sure I get everything in full.
The next day, passing the rich man's house, the sloth went to the judge and complained that the rich man allegedly did not repay his debt, and asked to call the rich man's guests as witnesses. From the judge he went to the rich man's house and, as usual, found the rich man talking with the guests.
– Can I have it? – he asked the owner with a mysterious look.
“If you please,” the rich man answered him and whispered something in the servant’s ear. He went into the kitchen and soon brought a pot with the remains of food.
- Sir, why are you acting so dishonestly? - the petitioner was indignant. “Then you all fed me breakfast.” And now, instead of repaying the debt, you are foisting on me some scraps that can only be fed to dogs! After all, you owe me a whole thousand ja! I see that there is no way around this without a trial!
And the enraged sly man rushed headlong back to the judge.
- Dear judge! - he exclaimed. “This very minute I went to the rich man again and in return for the debt I received a pot of leftovers.” Help me get my thousand ja back, and half the money is yours.
By order of the judge, the rich man, accompanied by his guests, appeared in court to testify.
– Did you see this man in the rich man’s house? - he asked the witnesses, pointing to the sly man.
“We saw it,” the guests confirmed innocently.
– What was the conversation about when he came? – the judge continued.
And the witnesses answered in unison:
- “Can I have it?” - he asked. We also heard that every time he was told to come tomorrow. “And the rich man’s guests told the judge in detail how the matter happened.
“My decision will be as fair as the testimony of your friends is honest and truthful,” the judge turned to the rich man. “You must return the thousand ja to this man immediately!”
So the virtuous and honest man was forced to give the rogue and lazy man a thousand ja, which he shared with the judge.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru