(A) Once upon a time there was a king of Armenia, who, being of a curious turn of mind and in need of some change, sent (a) his men throughout the land to make the following proclamation: “Hear this! Whatever man among you can prove himself the most outrageous liar in Armenia shall receive an apple made of pure gold from the hands of His Majesty the King!”
(B) “You are a perfect liar, sir!” exclaimed the king. “I owe you no money!” “A perfect liar am I?” said the poor man. “Then give me the golden apple!” The king, realizing that the man was trying to trick him, said, “No, no! You are not a liar!” “Then give me the pot of gold you owe me, sire,” said the man. The king saw the dilemma. (b) He handed over the golden apple.
(C) The king was beginning to grow tired of (c) his new sport and was thinking of calling the whole contest off without declaring a winner. Then there appeared before him a poor, ragged man, carrying a large sack over (d) his shoulder. “What can I do for you?” asked His Majesty. “Sire!” said the poor man, slightly bewildered. “Surely you remember? You owe me a pot of gold, and I have come to collect it.”
(D) People began to swarm to the palace from every town and village in the country, people of all ranks and conditions, princes, merchants, farmers, priests, rich and poor, tall and short, fat and thin. There was no lack of liars in the land, and each one told his tale to the king. None of those lies, however, convinced the king that (e) he had listened to the best one.