Ge. Because he carried the Thief along with him.
Po. Perhaps he might not have Money at that Time, but paid for 'em afterwards.
Ge. He might have indicted him for a Robbery.
Po. That was attempted afterwards, but now the Magistrates knew Maccus.
Ge. What did Maccus say for himself?
Po. Do you ask what he said for himself, in so good a Cause as this? The Plaintiff was in more Danger than the Defendant.
Ge. How so?
Po. Because he arrested him in an Action of Defamation, and prosecuted him upon the Statute of Rheims which says, that he that charges a Man with what he can't prove, shall suffer the Penalty, which the Defendant was to suffer if he had been convicted. He deny'd that he had meddled with another Man's Goods without his Leave, but that he put 'em upon him, and that there was no Mention made of any Thing of a Price; but that he challeng'd the Shoemaker to run for a Wager, and that he accepted the Challenge, and that he had no Reason to complain because he had out-run him.
Ge. This Action was pretty much like that of the Shadow of the Ass. Well, but what then?
Po. When they had had laughing enough at the Matter, one of the Judges invites Maccus to Supper, and paid the Shoemaker his Money. Just such another Thing happen'd at Daventerv, when I was a Boy. It was at a Time when 'tis the Fishmonger's Fair, and the Butchers Time to be starv'd. A certain Man stood at a Fruiterer's Stall, or Oporopolist's, if you'd have it in Greek. The Woman was a very fat Woman, and he star'd very hard upon the Ware she had to sell. She, according as the Custom is, invites him to have what he had a Mind to; and perceiving he set his Eyes upon some Figs, Would you please to have Figs, says she? they are very fine ones. He gives her a Nod. She asks him how many Pound, Would you have five Pound says she? He nods again; she turns him five Pound into his Apron. While she is laying by her Scales, he walks off, not in any great haste, but very gravely. When she comes out to take her Money, her Chap was gone; she follows him, making more Noise than Haste after him. He, taking no Notice, goes on; at last a great many getting together at the Woman's Out-cry, he stands still, pleads his Cause in the midst of the Multitude: there was very good Sport, he denies that he bought any Figs of her, but that she gave 'em him freely; if she had a Mind to have a Trial for it, he would put in an Appearance.