The men of Delphi, hearing this, had no wish to let Aesop go, but rather struggled to carry him to the cliff from which they meant to throw him. But Aesop, struggling, fled from their hands and repaired to the Temple of Apollo and climbed up the altar. But it did him no good, for those of Delphi by force and cruelty took him from there with great wrath, determination, roughness, and beatings and carried him off to throw him over the cliff. Now Aesop, seeing himself thus carried off dishonorably, said to them: “Citizens of Delphi, look upon this your god. Although his dwelling is small, you do not wish to dishonor it, but look with shame and moderation toward Apollo, to whom I had resorted when you dragged me forth.” But they, not heeding his words, with great zeal carried him off to death. And Aesop, seeing his end near, said very quickly: “Evil and cruel men, since I cannot make you understand my counsels, at least listen carefully to this story: A woman had a mad virgin for a daughter, and she continually begged the gods to give her daughter some brains. The mother offered this prayer many times and even in public that her mad daughter might recover her mind. And a few days later, being in a village where she had gone with her mother, the daughter went out of the house and saw how a village boy wished to have indecent carnal knowledge of a she-ass. The girl came up to the boy and asked, ‘What are you doing, good fellow?’ And he replied: ‘I am giving some brains to this she-ass.’ The mad girl, remembering her mother’s words, said: ‘Oh, good lad, I wish you would give me some brains also, and if you do so, you will not labor in vain, for my mother will be very grateful to you.’ The country boy left the she-ass and violated and corrupted the virgin. And she, thus corrupted and happy, ran to her mother saying: ‘Rejoice, mother, for on account of your prayers I have been given brains.’ The mother replied: ‘And thus the gods have answered my prayers, or what is this?’ The daughter answered: ‘Just now a boy put a rather long thing with balls hanging below it into my stomach, taking it out and returning it quickly. I received it gladly for certain, and thus he gave me brains, and I feel it so in my heart.’ Then said the mother: ‘Woe to you, my daughter, rather you have lost the few brains you had.’