Now, there was in the capital city a carpenter
named Focus. He was a diligent workman,
laboring at his trade from early morning till late at
night. One year, when the prince's birthday came
round, he continued to work all that day.
The next morning he arose, dressed himself,
and, before any one was astir in the streets, went
to the magic statue and said:--
``O statue, statue! because you have
denounced so many of our citizens, causing them
to be put to death, I vow, if you accuse me, I will
break your head!''
Shortly after this the emperor dispatched
messengers to the statue to inquire if the law had
been broken the day before. When the statue
saw them, it exclaimed:--
``Friends, look up! What see ye written on
my forehead?''
They looked up and beheld three sentences
that ran thus:--
``Times are altered!
``Men grow worse!
``He who speaks the truth will have his head broken!''
``Go,'' said the statue, ``declare to His Majesty
what ye have seen and read.''
The messenger accordingly departed and returned
in haste to the emperor, and related to
him all that had occurred.
The emperor ordered his guard to arm and to
march instantly to the public square, where the
statue was, and commanded that if any one had
attempted to injure it, he should be seized, bound
hand and foot, and dragged to the judgment hall.
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