The History
“My Lord Conde Lucanor,” said Patronio, “a certain good man had a son; and among other matters which he advised, he enjoined him always to endeavor to obtain a great number of friends; and the son did as he was told. He began to keep much company, and to share his sub-stance among different individuals whom he esteemed as his friends, and ready to do anything in their power to pleasure him;—nay, in-somuch as to venture their lives and substance, if need be, in his behalf. And one day this young man, conversing with his father, was asked whether he had done as he had been commanded, and had yet obtained many friends?
Greatly surprised
And the son replied that he had; and in particular, that among others, there were ten of whom he was most assured, that never in any difficulty or necessity whatever would they be led to desert him. When the father heard this, he said he was greatly surprised that his son had been able in so short a time to obtain so many friends; and such as he, who was an old man, had never been fortunate enough to possess during his whole life, at all events never counting more than one friend and a half. And the son began to argue with him, maintaining that what he had said of his friends was only the truth.
“When the father saw that his son was so eager on their behalf, he said that he ought to proceed to prove it in the following manner. First, I hat he should kill a pig, and having put it into a sack, should go with it to the house of one of his friends, and when admitted there, tell him Hcretly—not it was a pig, but a man whom he had unhappily killed. Further, that if this fact should be made known, it would be quite impossible for him to escape with his life; and that all those who knew of it would be likely to share with him in the same fate.
That his son should enjoin them, since they were his friends, not to reveal the fact; and that if need be, they should unite with him and defend him. And the youth did this: going to the house of his friends, he informed them of the fatal accident that had befallen him. They all, one after another, declared, that in all other matters they would serve him to the utmost, but that on such an occasion, which would endanger both their lives and property, they dare not assist him; beseeching him, at the same time, for the love of God, not to breathe a single being that he had been at their houses.
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