After a few days, desiring to see Greece, Aesop asked leave of the king, promising to return and spend the rest of his life in Babylon. And thus traveling through the cities of Greece, showing his wisdom through fables, he earned a great reputation and increased in wisdom. Finally Aesop came to a city called Delphi, which was a much honored city and the chief place of the region. As the people heard him and followed him there was no honor they did not do him. And Aesop said to them: “Men of Delphi, you certainly are like a tree that is brought to the sea. The wood, when it is far from the sea, seems a large object, but when it is near it knows itself to be small, just as I was when I was distant from your city: I thought that you were the most excellent of all, but now, being near you, I know you for the least discreet of all.” The people of Delphi, hearing these and similar words, said among themselves; “This fellow is feared and followed in many other towns. If we are not careful, certainly by his fables and stories he will take away and diminish the authority of our city. Therefore let us take counsel concerning this affair.” So they agreed to kill Aesop by a trick, claiming that he was evil and sacrilegious. But on account of the people they did not dare to kill him publicly without reason, so they detained Aesop’s servant, who had to prepare his affairs for his departure. And they placed secretly within his luggage a golden vessel that came from the temple of the sun. Aesop, not knowing the tricks and treason that had been prepared against him, left that place for another, called Focida, and to that place the men of Delphi followed him and there took him prisoner with great clamor. When Aesop asked them why they detained him, they shouted loudly: “O evil one, O villainous, wicked man. Why did you steal from the Temple of Apollo and the Sun?” This Aesop denied freely, maintaining it with a heavy heart. But the men of Delphi, unpacking his luggage, found in it in the golden goblet, and showed it to everyone with great tumult and noise and resolutely dragged him to prison.