"There was once a man who was giving a great supper, to which he had invited many of his friends. At the hour for the supper, he sent out his servant to say to the guests who had been invited, 'Come at once, for everything is now ready!' But all of them with one mind began to decline his invitation. The first man said to the servant:
"'I have bought some land, and I must go and look at it. Please to excuse me.'
"The second said, 'I have bought five pair of oxen, and I am going to give them a trial. Please to have me excused.'
"Another said, 'I cannot come, because I have just married a wife.'
"The servant went home and told his master all these answers. Then the master of the house was very angry. He said to his servant:
"'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in here the poor, the cripples, the blind and the lame.'
"Soon the servant came back, saying, 'Your orders have been carried out, sir; but there is still room for more.'
"'Go out into the country,' said the master of the house, 'to the roads and the hedges, and make the people come in, to fill up my house; for I tell you that not one of those that were invited shall taste of my supper.'"