A COBBLER unable to make a living by his trade and made desperate by poverty, began to practice medicine in a town in which he was not known. He sold a drug, pretending that it was an antidote to all poisons, and obtained a great name for himself by long-winded puffs and advertisements. When the Cobbler happened to fall sick himself of a serious illness, the Governor of the town determined to test his skill. For this purpose he called for a cup, and while filling it with water, pretended to mix poison with the Cobbler’s antidote, commanding him to drink it on the promise of a reward. The Cobbler, under the fear of death, confessed that he had no knowledge of medicine, and was only made famous by the stupid clamors of the crowd. The Governor then called a public assembly and addressed the citizens: “Of what folly have you been guilty? You have not hesitated to entrust your heads to a man, whom no one could employ to make even the shoes for their feet.”
靴屋が、本業では暮らしを立てられなくなり、貧しさのあまりやけになって、自分のことをだれも知らない町で医者を始めた。彼は、あらゆる毒に効く解毒剤だと偽って薬を売り、長ったらしい宣伝や広告で大いに名を上げた。ところが、その靴屋自身がたまたま重い病気にかかったとき、町の長官は彼の腕前を試してみることにした。長官は杯を持ってこさせ、それに水を注ぎながら、靴屋の解毒剤に毒を混ぜるふりをし、ほうびを約束して、それを飲むよう命じた。靴屋は死ぬのが恐ろしくなり、自分には医術の知識などまったくなく、ただ群衆のばかげた評判のおかげで有名になっただけだと白状した。そこで長官は町じゅうの人々を集めて、こう語りかけた。「おまえたちは、なんと愚かなことをしたのだ。足にはく靴をつくらせることさえだれもしなかった男に、ためらいもなく自分の頭をあずけていたのだぞ。」