Quote 220 of 281

From the diary of Samuel Pepys (1663-1703)

The sport [of taking of a wild Eliphant] being ended, a messenger
comes from the King, which the Druggerman thought had been to have
taken away his life.  But it was to enquire how the strangers
liked the sport.  The Druggerman answered that they did cry it up
to be the best that ever they saw, and that they never heard of
any prince so great in everything as this King.  The messenger
being gone back, Erwin and his company asked their Druggerman what
he had said, which he told them.  "But why," say they, "would you
say that without our leave, it being not true?"  "It is not matter
for that," says he, "I must have said it, or have been hanged, for
our King doth not live by meat nor drink, but by having great lyes
told him."
		-- Pepys' Diary, 17 Aug. 1666

Tags: prince diary erwin lyes eliphant