In English
The King asked him why he had beaten the dog, which according to the farmer was quite a harmless pet. The visitor said that it had actually leapt at him and bared its teeth. The farmer said that this did not justify his using a thorny stick; he could have used a smooth stick, instead. The visitor retorted that when one is anxious about saving one's life which is in jeopardy, one has no time to discriminate and pick and choose; one has to use what one can find. Besides, he asked, why, the dog could have threatened to bite me with its tail; when it bites with the teeth, I have to reply with something equally sharp." The appreciated this point and he was acquitted. Because it was his pet, the farmer resorted to all these tactics; the visitor had to use countertactics. Straight dealing could have avoided the bother.