788. Mercurius et Viator. Viator, longum iter ingressus, Mercurio, si quid invenisset, se dimidium oblaturum votis promisit. Cum autem in peram amygdalis dactylisque refertam forte incidisset, eam laetus capit, nummos ibi inesse arbitratus. Sed, ea excussa, nihil aliud quam amygdalas dactylosque adinvenit. Quibus omnibus comesis, amygdalarum cortices et dactylorum nucleos collegit et in ara, quae ibi forte aderat, collocavit, aiens, “Habes, O Mercuri, quod votis promisi; interiora enim et exteriora inventae a me rei obtuli tibi.” Fabula avarum respicit, qui ad avaritiae suae cupiditatem explendam Deos quoque decipere conatur.
Click here for a
SLIDESHOW of all the Brant images. Of course, the image of the god in this illustration looks a good deal more respectable than the tricky Hermes of the ancient world. After all, as a consummate trickster, Hermes is really just getting his just deserts!
M0788 = Perry178. Source: De Furia 156. This is Perry 178. For another fable about nuts and their shells, see the story of the two boys, #966. See also the story of the sick man who tried to trick the gods, #903.
