Cobwebs from an Empty Skull

Two travellers between Teheran and Bagdad met half-way up the vertical face of a rock, on a path only a cubit in width.  As both were in a hurry, and etiquette would allow neither to set his foot upon the other even if dignity had permitted prostration, they maintained for some time a stationary condition.  After some reflection, each decided to jump round the other; but as etiquette did not warrant conversation with a stranger, neither made known his intention.  The consequence was they met, with considerable emphasis, about four feet from the edge of the path, and went through a flight of soaring eagles, a mile out of their way![A]

[Footnote A:  This is infamous!  The learned Parsee appears wholly to ignore the distinction between a fable and a simple lie.—­TRANSLATOR.]