(These Whistles have divers Sounds.)
2. This also seemed wondrous, that the same whistles pleased some vastly that they refrained not from skipping for joy; to others the same sound appeared so grievous that they held their ears and ran away into corners, or they listened and then began to lament and cry bitterly. And I said: "This is a monstrous thing, that one and the same whistle should sound so sweet to some, and so bitter to others." The interpreter said: "It is the difference not of the sound, but of the hearing, that causes this. As one and the same medicine acts differently on patients according to their sickness, so also according to a man's inward passion and inclination to a thing the exterior sound of it appears either sweet or bitter."
(The Limping Messenger.)
3. "And where do they find these whistles?" "They bring them from everywhere," he said. "Seest thou not the vendors?" Then I look, and see that some walked and rode out who were appointed to carry about these whistles. Many of these rode forth on speedy horses, and many bought of them; others went on foot, and some even limped along on crutches, and prudent men bought rather from these, believing them to be trustworthy.[1]
- ↑ The "limping messenger" was a proverbial expression signifying "later news." At that period when communications were uncertain and difficult, the later news often contradicted that which had been first reported.
