Don’t crap here, we’re full already

I’ve often flippantly wondered whether the taboo on excretion at holy sites so thoroughly documented by Michael Gilleland is the origin of the old joke about the antiquarian who locks his shop during absences to prevent folks depositing even more junk. Here’s Melchor de Santa Cruz de Dueñas’ take (Floresta española, 1574) on Mark 4:25 (“For he that hath, to him shall be given”):

A great lord had a servant who complained in his absence because, being very poor, he never made gifts to him nor to others, except to the very rich who had no need of them. It so happened once that when this lord was crossing a river on horseback the horse stopped to urinate in the middle of the river, on which the servant said, “Are you like your master, who gives more to those who already have?”
(esp)

Trevor @ 6 October 2008 1:08 PM

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