X Here it is told of a fine judgment given by the slave of Bari in a dispute between a townsman and a pilgrim
Edward Storer translation
His friend said: tell me over the pact again. The wanderer told it over again. You say well, quoth the friend: ten byzantines I give back to you, and two hundred and ninety I keep for myself.
The pilgrim began to get angry. What kind of faith is this? You take away from me wrongfully what is mine.
The friend replied calmly: I do you no wrong, but if you think I do, let us go before the governors of the city. A law-suit ensued.
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · Ancient gold money of the Eastern Empire of about the same value as a ducat. It changed naturally in the course of the centuries. ↑Note 2 · According to Malaspina, the Slave of the Bari was “an idiot or almost one, unlettered and unread, but of great natural talent, wit and wisdoNote 3 · The Slave of Bari was the judge,2 and heard both sides. He formulated the argument, and to him who held the money he said: give back the two