The Debtor and his Pig
There are no lengths to which some people won’t go.
ONCE upon a time in Athens, there was a man who was in debt, and his creditor was pressing him to repay.
His first response was to ask for an extension on his loan, as (so he said) he could not raise the money.
But his creditor was not to be persuaded, so our man brought out his one and only pig, and offered it for sale.
An interested buyer and asked whether the pig ever had piglets. ‘Piglets?’ replied the man. ‘Why, she litters girl pigs every year for sacrifice at the Mysteries of Eleusis, and boy pigs every four years for the Panathenaic Games.’
Seeing the buyer was dumbfounded at this revelation, the debtor pursued his advantage. ‘That’s nothing. Dionysius doesn’t care for pigs, so on his feast she’ll give you baby goats.’
Which goes to show that some people won’t hesitate to swear to the most frightful lies to get what they want.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Why did the man feel he had to sell his only pig?
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Why did the man feel he had to sell his only pig?
See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.
IIt was necessary to pay his debts.