[653] "But, headman (gāmaṇi), a certain person here is seen garlanded and wearing earrings, well bathed, well anointed, with hair and beard trimmed, amusing himself with women's sensual pleasures like a king, one would think. They say of him: 'Sir, what has this man done, that he is garlanded and wearing earrings, well bathed, well anointed, with hair and beard trimmed, amusing himself with women's sensual pleasures like a king, one would think?' They say of him: 'Sir, this man forcibly deprived the king's enemy of life. The king, delighted, bestowed a reward upon him. That is why this man is garlanded and wearing earrings, well bathed, well anointed, with hair and beard trimmed, amusing himself with women's sensual pleasures like a king, one would think.'
"And, headman, a certain person here is seen bound tightly with a strong rope, his arms pinioned behind his back, his head shaved bare, led about with a harsh-sounding drum from street to street, from crossroads to crossroads, then taken out through the southern gate and having his head cut off to the south of the city. They say of him: 'Sir, what has this man done, that he is bound tightly with a strong rope, his arms pinioned behind his back, his head shaved bare, led about with a harsh-sounding drum from street to street, from crossroads to crossroads, then taken out through the southern gate and has his head cut off to the south of the city?' They say of him: 'Sir, this man deprived of life a woman or a man who was an enemy of the king. That is why the kings, having had him seized, inflicted such a punishment upon him.'
"What do you think, headman? Have you ever seen or heard of such a thing?"
"Venerable sir, I have seen such a thing, I have heard of it, and it will be heard of again."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.