The stories are old, common and with different versions. But the essential features are the same.
Here are some features common to most of the stories: a rich and influential man with many wives
versus a poor man having one wife; a representative of the conscience of that society; symbols and
metaphors, as you usually find, who will speak in parables to tell the rich and influential man of the
occasion when he crossed the proverbial line.
In the first story, the rich man is reported to have left his many sheep and gone and taken the only
sheep of a poor man in the city, which he barbecued for some of his visitors who came
unannounced. To the great distress of the poor owner. When the representative of the conscience
of that society went to the king with the story, cleverly masking the true identities of those involved,
the king was incensed but became sober when upon further interrogation, he discovered he was the
guilty party.
In the second story, the rich man is reported to have left his harem full of wives and concubines,
thrown a wrapper around his body for disguise, taken a flashlight, and gone to the home of one of
his subjects, and begun having an affair with her. To the great distress of the poor husband.
One day, as he made his way through the path that led to the site for his favourite nocturnal activity,
he was confronted by representatives of the conscience of that society. Thinking his identity was still
secret, he fled leaving behind his wrapper and flashlight.
There was no speech the following day when he sat in council in his palace, and the representatives
walked in, greeted him and presented the wrapper and flashlight to him. And walked away.
Apart from the heart of the poor man that is denied the love of his wife, what else bleeds when any
of the above situations occur?