Twistales

A trumpeter, who had bravely led the charging soldiers of his regiment, was taken prisoner in battle and begged hard for mercy from his captors.

“Spare me, good sirs, I plead you!” he cried. “There’s no reason to put me to death. I haven’t killed anyone, and I was not carrying any weapons. The only thing I have with me is this trumpet.”

“But that’s the very reason,” said his captors, “why you shall die. Even though you don’t fight yourself, your trumpet stirs the soldiers and instils them with a spirit to fight and shed blood.”

Old Learning: He who stirs others to go to war and cause bloodshed is worse than those who take part in it.