On one occasion four divine beings made their appearance on the Earth to attend a festival of the Gods.

And they bore in their hands wreaths of the strangest flowers that had ever been seen, and those around asked: “What are these flowers?” And the Gods made answer and said: “These divine flowers are fit for those possessed of great powers: for the base, the foolish, the faithless, the sinful beings within the world of men, they are not fitted. But, whosoever amongst men is endowed with certain virtues—to them is due the honor of wearing these flowers.
“He who steals no thing from another,
Who uttereth no lie,
Who doth not lose his head at the height of Fame—
He may wear the flowers.”

Now there was a certain false Teacher or Priest who thought to himself: “I do not possess one of these qualities, but, by appearing to possess them, I shall obtain permission to wear the wreaths, and the people will believe that I really am what I appear to be, and they will place their confidence in me.”

Then, with exceeding boldness, he came to the first of the Gods and exclaimed with great solemnity: “Behold, I am endowed with these qualities of which you speak—

“I have stolen from no man, never have I uttered a lie, nor has fame ever caused me to be proud or haughty.”

And when he had uttered these words, the wreath was placed upon his brow. And, emboldened by his success, he came with the same pride and confidence into the presence of the second God, and asked that the second wreath should be bestowed upon him.

And the God said:
“He who earns wealth honestly, and shuns dishonest means,
Who takes but sparingly of the Cup of Pleasure,
To him shall be awarded this second wreath.”

And the false Priest bowed his head and said: “Behold all that I have earned is honestly gotten, and all pleasure have I shunned. Give me the wreath............