The Traveller's Vow
Once there was a poor but very clever traveller. On a hot summer day the man set out on a long road. During the journey his food ran out and he grew very hungry. On the road he prayed to Hermes, the protector of travellers. "If I find food on the way, I will offer you half," he said. After a while he saw a big bag by the roadside.
He opened the bag at once and found many almonds and dates. The traveller sat down happily and quickly ate all the food. He put the almond shells and the date stones aside. When he was full, he went to the statue of Hermes. He slowly placed the shells and the stones before the statue. "See, I am keeping my promise to you now," he whispered.
"I give you the outside and the inside of my find." "I ate the soft fruit, and the shells and stones are yours." The clever traveller walked on happily and thought he fooled the god. But this trick never brought him any real riches. Promises kept with tricks bring nobody any good. Lies have short legs.