[659] "But, headman, here a certain person 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. People say of him: 'Good 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?' And people say of him: 'Good sir, this man made the king laugh with false speech; the king, pleased, gave him a reward. 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 here, headman, a certain person is seen with his arms bound tightly behind his back with a strong rope, his head shaven bare with a razor, being led about from street to street and from crossroads to crossroads to the harsh sound of a drum, then taken out through the southern gate, and, to the south of the city, having his head cut off. People say of him: 'Good sir, what has this man done, that with his arms bound tightly behind his back with a strong rope, his head shaven bare with a razor, he is led about from street to street and from crossroads to crossroads to the harsh sound of a drum, then taken out through the southern gate, and, to the south of the city, has his head cut off?' And people say of him: 'Good sir, this man by false speech destroyed the welfare of a householder or a householder's son. That is why the kings, having seized him, are inflicting such a punishment upon him.'
"What do you think, headman — has such a thing been seen or heard by you?"
"It has been seen by us, venerable sir, and it has been heard, and it will be heard again."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.