When the lord came from his bath, he asked them to bring him the figs for the first course of his dinner. And Agathopus said: “My lord, Aesop came from his work and, as he found the pantry open, he went in and, not listening to reason, ate them all.” Hearing this, the lord, moved by anger, said: “Who will send for this Aesop for me?” And when Aesop came before the lord, he said to Aesop: “Tell me, mean rascal, shameless one, is this the way you respect me? So little do you fear me that you have had the boldness to eat the figs that were kept in the pantry for me?” Aesop, not being able to answer his master because of his speech impediment, was afraid. And the lord ordered him stripped. But as he was sharp, clever, and astute and knew that he was being falsely accused by those present, he got down on his knees before his master and, making signs, requested a bit of time before he should be beaten, knowing that he could not counter with words the trick his accusers had laid upon him and that he would have to defend himself by cleverness. Whereupon he went to the fire, picked up a pot of hot water he found there, tossed the contents into a basin, and drank it. Then shortly he stuck his fingers into his throat and threw up only the water that he had drunk, for during that day he had had no other food. Then he begged his lord as a favor to have his accusers drink hot water. By command of their lord they drank it, and to keep from vomiting they held their hands to their mouths, but as their stomachs were swollen with hot water they threw up water mixed with figs. And the lord saw plainly, by the experiment, that they had eaten the figs. Turning to them he said: “Because you lied about this man who is not glib, I order you stripped and publicly beaten, that whosoever shall by deceit raise up an accusation against another will have his hide tanned and burnished for a reward.”

II

Aesop has gained his freedom and embarks upon a series of travels as a fable-maker.