Mercury and the Workmen

A workman, felling wood by the side of a river, accidentally let his axe drop into a deep pool. Deprived of the means of his livelihood, he sat down on the bank and lamented his hard fate.

Mercury appeared and asked him the cause of his tears. After the workman explained his misfortune, Mercury plunged into the stream and emerged with a golden axe, inquiring if that was the one he had lost. The workman replied that it was not his, and Mercury disappeared beneath the water once more.

This time, he returned with a silver axe and again asked the workman if that was his. Again, the workman said it was not. Finally, Mercury dove into the pool for a third time and brought up the axe that had originally been lost. The workman claimed it and expressed his joy at its recovery. Pleased with his honesty, Mercury gifted him the golden and silver axes in addition to his own.

On his return home, the workman recounted all that had happened to his companions. One of them immediately resolved to try and secure the same good fortune for himself. He ran to the river, threw his axe into the pool on purpose, and sat down on the bank to weep.

Mercury appeared to him, just as he had hoped. After learning the cause of his grief, he plunged into the stream and brought up a golden axe, inquiring if it was the one he had lost. The workman seized it greedily, declaring that it was indeed the very same axe he had lost.

Mercury, displeased with his dishonesty, not only took away the golden axe but also refused to recover the axe he had thrown into the pool.