Note 100 — San Agustin’s Letter on the Filipinos

They resemble in this a mischievous lad who served a good cleric. One day his master sent him to buy a hen, and he stole and hid a leg.100 His master was silent, and overlooked the incident. It came to pass that the master and the lad walked into a field, where they came upon some cranes, all of them with one foot lifted high in the air. Thereupon the lad said to his master, “Sir, the hen was like these birds which have but one foot.” The cleric answered, “No, my lad, for these birds have two feet; and if you do not believe it, look.” So saying, he threw a stick at the cranes, which flew away in fright, showing the other foot. At this the lad said, “O, sir, had you done the same with me, the hen would also have had two feet.” Doubtless, this lad must have been of the same disposition as these good brothers, who do nothing good without a beating. Tu virga percuties eum (Proverbs XXIII, 14).101