Fable 10 - The Athenian Debtor

In Athens, a debtor summoned by his creditor to repay his debt begged for more time because things were very difficult for him. Not
being able to persuade his creditor, he led a sow, the only one he owned, and offered it for sale in front of him. A buyer came along
and asked if the sow were fertile.
‘Oh yes, she’s fertile,’ replied the debtor, ‘extraordinarily so. During the time of the Eleusinian Mysteries she gives birth to females,
and during the Panathenaiac Festival she gives birth to males.’
The buy was stunned on hearing this. The creditor added sarcastically:
‘I shouldn’t be surprised if I were you. Why, it’s quite clear that this sow would also doubtless give birth to
baby goats for the god Dionysius.’

This fable shows that people do not hesitate to pledge the impossible when they are desperate.