Character Index | Proverb Index
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| Character Index | Proverb Index |
Townsend version
Mercury once determined to learn in what esteem he was held among mortals. For this purpose he assumed the character of a man and visited in this disguise a Sculptor's studio having looked at various statues, he demanded the price of two figures of Jupiter and Juno. When the sum at which they were valued was named, he pointed to a figure of himself, saying to the Sculptor, "You will certainly want much more for this, as it is the statue of the Messenger of the Gods, and author of all your gain." The Sculptor replied, "Well, if you will buy these, I'll fling you that into the bargain."
L'Estrange version
Mercury had a great mind once to learn what credit he had in the world, and he knew no better way, then to put on the shape of a man, and take occasion to discourse the matter, as by the by, with a statuary: so away he went to the house of a great master, where, among other curious figures, he saw several excellent pieces of the gods. The first he cheapen'd was a Jupiter, which would have come at a very easy rate. Well (says Mercury) and what's the price of that Juno there? The carver set that a little higher. The next figure was a Mercury, with his rod and his wings, and all the ensigns of his commission. Why, this is as it should be, says he, to himself: for here am I in the quality of Jupiter's messenger, and the patron of artizans, with all my trade about me: and now will this fellow ask me fifteen times as much for this as he did for t'other: and so he put it to him, what he valu'd that piece at: why truly, says the statuary, you seem to be a civil gentleman, give me but my price for the other two, and you shall e'en have that into the bargain.
Moral
This is to put the vanity of those men out of countenance, that by setting too high a value upon themselves, appear by so much the more despicable to others.
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Tom Simondi, All Rights Reserved