BUDDHA OR KARL MARX 457
them, he did provide the due watch and ward protection, but on the destitute he bestowed no wealth and because this was not done, poverty became widespread.
When poverty was thus become rife, a certain man took that which others had not given him, what people call by theft. Him they caught, and brought before the king, saying: ‘This man, O king has taken that which was not given to him and that is theft’.
Thereupon the king spake thus to the man. ‘Is it true sirrah, that thou hast taken what no man gave thee, hast committed what men call theft.’
‘It is ture, O king.’
‘But why?’.
‘O king, I have nothing to keep me alive.’ Then the king bestowed wealth on that man, saying: ‘With this wealth sir, do thou both keep thyself alive, maintain thy parents, maintain children and wife, carry on thy business.’
‘Even so, O king,’ replied the man.
- Now another man, brethern, took by theft what was not given him. Him they caught and brought before the king and told him, saying: ‘this man, O king, hath taken by theft what was not given him’.
And the king (spoke and did even as he had spoken and done to the former man.)
- Now men heard brethren, that to them who had taken by theft what was not given them, the King was giving wealth. And hearing they thought, let us then take by theft what has not been given us.
Now a certain man did so. And him they caught and charged before the king who (as before) asked him why he had stolen.
‘Because, O king I cannot maintain myself ’.
Then the king thought: If I bestow wealth on anyone so ever who has taken by theft what was not given him, there will be hereby and increase of this stealing. Let me now put final stop to this and inflict condign punishment on him, have his head cut off!
So he bade his man saying: ‘Now look ye! bind this man’s arms behind him with a strong rope and tight knot, shave his head bald, lead him around with a harsh sounding drum, from road to road, from cross ways to cross ways, take him out by the southern gate and to the south of the town, put a final stop to this, inflict on him uttermost penalty, cut of his head.’
‘Even so, O king’ answered the men, and carried out his commands.
- Now men heard, brethren, that they who took by theft what was not given them were thus put to death. And hearing they thought: