[655] "But, headman, here a certain person is seen garlanded and wearing earrings … amusing himself, one would think, like a king with the pleasures of women. Concerning him they say: 'Sirs, what has this man done, that he is garlanded and wearing earrings … amusing himself, one would think, like a king with the pleasures of women?' Concerning him they say: 'Sirs, this man took by force what was not given from the king's enemy; the king, pleased with him, bestowed a reward upon him. That is why this man is garlanded and wearing earrings … amuses himself, one would think, like a king with the pleasures of women.'
"And here, headman, a certain person is seen [bound] with a stout rope … having his head cut off to the south of the city. Concerning him they say: 'Sirs, what has this man done, that [bound] with a stout rope … his head is being cut off to the south of the city?' Concerning him they say: 'Sirs, this man took from a village or from a forest what was not given, what is reckoned as theft (theyyasaṅkhāta); therefore the kings, having seized him, inflict such punishment (kammakaraṇa) upon him.' What do you think, headman? Has such a thing been seen or heard by you?"
"Venerable sir, such a thing has been seen by us, and heard, and it will be heard of again."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.