Prophecies of Thomas the Rhymer (4)/Chapter 5
Turkish Impartiality.
A Grocer of the city of Smyrna had a son who, with the help of the little learning the country could afford, rose to the post of Naib, or deputy to the Cady, or mayor of the city, and as such visited the markets, and inspected the weights and measures of all retail dealers. One day, while going his rounds, his father was advised by the neighbours to remove his weights, which they knew to be deficient. The old cheat, depending on his relationship to the inspector, laughed at their advice, and, at his shop door, calmly awaited his coming. The Naib, however, was well assured of the dishonesty and unfair dealing of his father, and resolved to detect his villany, and make an example of him. Accordingly, he stopt at the door, and coolly said to him, 'Good man, fetch out your weights, that we may examine them.' Instead of obeying, the grocer was desirous to put it off with a laugh, but was soon convinced his son was serious, by hearing him order the officers to search his shop, and seeing them produce the instruments of his Fraud, which, after an impartial examination, were openly condemned and broken to pieces, His shame and confusion, however, he hoped, would plead with a son to excuse him all further punishment of his crime; the Naib, however, sentenced him to a fine of fifty piastres, and to receive a bastinado of as many blows on the soles of his feet. All this was executed upon the spot; after which, the Naib, leaping from his horse, threw himself at his feet, and watering them with his tears, addressed him thus:—'Father, I have discharged my duty to my God, my sovereign, my country, and my station; permit me now, by my respect and submission, to acquit the debt I owe a parent. Justice is blind, it is the power of God on earth; it has no regard to father or son—God, and our neighbour's right, are above the ties of nature. You had offended against the laws of justice, you deserved this punishment, you would in the end have received it from some other. I am sorry it was your fate to receive it from me, my conscience would not suffer me to act otherwise-behave better for the future, and instead of blaming, pity my being reduced to so cruel a necessity. This done, he mounted his horse again, and continued his journey amid the acclamations and praises of the whole city. Report of which being made to the Sublime Porte, the Sultan advanced him to the post of Cady; from which, by degrees, he rose to the dignity of Mufti, who is the head of both religion and law among the Turks. Were our dealers with false weights to be treated according to the Turkish law, the poor might not be so much imposed on as they are at present.
FINIS.