On Trial

A man took a bull to the market to sell. A buyer approached, haggled with the man for the bull, gave him a deposit, and instructed him where to deliver it, to such-and-such a house, he said.

The man leads the bull: on the way, he encounters another merchant.
— Peasant, sell me the bull!
— As you wish, sir merchant.

They struck a deal, and this one also gave a deposit, indicating where to deliver the bull.
— I, — he says, — will come right away!

The man led the bull further. A third buyer approached, and he struck a deal with him too, took a deposit from this one as well, and was leading the bull to him when the first two buyers showed up: one was pulling the purchase toward himself, the other toward himself...

The matter didn’t resolve peacefully, so they went to court. While the plaintiffs were explaining their case to the judge, the man stood in the hallway.

A clerk ran out to him and said:
— If you give me a tip, I’ll teach you how to defend yourself!
— Do me a divine favor, father, be like a father to me—I’ll pay!
— Deal. No matter what they ask you, first say: "So what?" and then: "Oh, come on!"

The man was called before the judge.
— You, peasant, sold the bull to this merchant? — the judge asked.
— So what? — said the man.
— Did you take the money?
— Oh, come on!
— Did you sell it to this one?
— So what?
— Did you take the money?
— Oh, come on!
— Well, and did you sell it to this one?
— So what?
— Did you take the money?
— Oh, come on!
— Are you out of your mind or something?
— So what?
— Get out of here, or I’ll throw you in jail!
— Oh, come on!

As soon as the man stepped over the threshold, the clerk caught up with him:
— Come on, peasant, give me what you promised, you said you’d tip me!
— So what?
— Give it, brother!
— Oh, come on!
And so the man got away with it.

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On Trial

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