infinite number of persons were
convicted and punished.

Now there was a certain carpenter, called Focus, who pursued his
occupation every day alike. Once, as he lay in bed, his thoughts turned
upon the accusations of the statue, and the multitudes which it had
caused to perish. In the morning he clothed himself, and proceeded to
the statue, which he addressed in the following manner: "O statue!
statue! because of thy informations, many of our citizens have been
taken and slain. I vow to my God, that if thou accusest _me_, I will
break thy head." Having so said, he returned home.

About the first hour, the emperor, as he was wont, despatched sundry
messengers to the statue, to inquire if the edict had been strictly
complied with. After they had arrived, and delivered the emperors
pleasure, the statue exclaimed: "Friends, look up; what see ye written
upon my forehead?" They looked, and beheld three sentences which ran
thus: "TIMES ARE ALTERED. MEN GROW WORSE. HE WHO SPEAKS TRUTH HAS HIS
HEAD BROKEN." "Go," said the statue, "declare to his majesty what you
have seen and read." The messengers obeyed, and detailed the
circumstances as they had happened.

The emperor therefore commanded his guard to arm, and march to the place
on which the statue was erected; and he further ordered, that if any one
presumed to molest it, they should bind him hand and foot, and drag him
into his presence.

The soldiers approached the statue and said, "Our emperor wills you to
declare the name of the scoundrel who threatens you."

The statue made answer, "It is Focus the carpenter. Every day he
violates the law, and, moreover, menaces me with a broken head, if I
expose him."

Immediately Focus was apprehended, and conducted to the emperor, who
said, "Friend, what do I hear of thee? Why hast thou broken my law?"

"My lord," answered Focus, "I cannot keep it; for I am obliged to obtain
every day eight pennies, which, without incessant work, I have not the
means of getting."

"And why eight pennies?" said the emperor.

"Every day through the year," returned the carpenter, "I am bound to
repay two pennies which I borrowed in my youth; two I lend; two I lose;
and two I spend."

"For what reason do you this?" asked the emperor.

"My lord," he replied, "listen to me. I am bound each day to repay two
pennies to my father; for, when I was a boy, my father expended upon me
daily the like sum. Now he is poor, and needs my assistance, and