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Ryder - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Twenty-Two Goblins - Translated from the Sanskrit - -Author: Arthur W. Ryder - -Illustrator: Perham W. Nahl - -Translator: Arthur W. Ryder - -Release Date: June 11, 2016 [EBook #52309] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS *** - - - - -Produced by Charlene Taylor, Christopher Wright and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_001-274.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="half-title">TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Frontispiece" id="Frontispiece">[Frontispiece]</a></span></p> - -<p class="mb4 ph3"><em>All rights reserved</em></p> - -<div class="break-before figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_007.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">Love-cluster ... stood at her lattice window.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="break-before"> - <h1><em>TWENTY-TWO - GOBLINS</em></h1> - - <p class="ph3">TRANSLATED FROM THE SANSKRIT</p> - <p class="ph4">BY</p> - <p class="ph2">ARTHUR W. RYDER</p> - - <div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/title_page_illo.jpg" alt="" /> - </div> - - <p class="ph4">WITH TWENTY<br /> - ILLUSTRATIONS IN<br /> - COLOUR BY<br /> - <span class="ph3">PERHAM W. NAHL</span></p> - - - <p class="mt2 ph3">LONDON & TORONTO<br /> - J. M. DENT & SONS LTD.<br /> - NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO.<br /> - MCMXVII</p> -</div> - - - - -<p class="mt4 ph5"> -<em>Printed in Great Britain<br /> -by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh</em></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<table class="toc" summary="Contents"> -<tr> - <th class="rom"> </th> - <th class="cht"> </th> - <th class="pag"><em>Page</em></th> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom"> </td> - <td class="cht"><em>Introduction</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <th class="rom"><em>Goblin-<br />story</em></th> - <th class="cht"> </th> - <th class="pag"> </th> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">1.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Prince's Elopement. Whose fault was the resulting death of his parents-in-law?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">2.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Three Lovers who brought the Dead Girl to Life. Whose wife should she be?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">3.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Parrot and the Thrush. Which are worse, men or women?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">4.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>King Shudraka and Hero's Family. Which of the five deserves the most honour?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">5.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Brave Man, the Wise Man, and the Clever Man. To which should the girl be given?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">6.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Girl who transposed the Heads of her Husband and Brother. Which combination of head and body is her husband?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">7.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Mutual Services of King Fierce-lion and Prince Good. Which is the more deserving?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">8.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Specialist in Food, the Specialist in Women, and the Specialist in Cotton. Which is the cleverest?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">9.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Four Scientific Suitors. To which should the girl be given?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">10.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Three Delicate Wives of King Virtue-banner. Which is the most delicate?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">11.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The King who won a Fairy as his Wife. Why <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span>did his counsellor's heart break?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">12.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Brahman who died because Poison from a Snake in the Claws of a Hawk fell into a Dish of Food given him by a Charitable Woman. Who is to blame for his death?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">13.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Girl who showed Great Devotion to the Thief. Did he weep or laugh?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">14.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Man who changed into a Woman at Will. Was his wife his or the other man's?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">15.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Fairy Prince Cloud-chariot and the Serpent Shell-crest. Which is the more self-sacrificing?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">16.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The King who died for Love of his General's Wife; the General follows him in Death. Which is the more worthy?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">17.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Youth who went through the Proper Ceremonies. Why did he fail to win the magic spell?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">18.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Boy whom his Parents, the King, and the Giant conspired to Kill. Why did he laugh at the moment of death?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">19.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Man, his Wife, and her Lover, who all died for Love. Which was the most foolish?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">20.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Four Brothers who brought a Dead Lion to Life. Which is to blame when he kills them all?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">21.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Old Hermit who exchanged his Body for that of the Dead Boy. Why did he weep and dance?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom">22.</td> - <td class="cht"><em>The Father and Son who married Daughter and Mother. What relation were their children?</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="rom"> </td> - <td class="cht"><em>Conclusion</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> -</div> -<table class="toc" summary="Illustrations"> -<tr> - <td class="cht"><em>Love-cluster ... stood at her lattice window</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Frontispiece"><em>Frontispiece</em></a></td> -</tr><tr> - <th class="cht"> </th> - <th class="pag"><em>facing page</em></th> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>They took her body to the cemetery and burned it</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>The thrush suddenly became a goddess</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>Trusty worshipped the goddess and bravely saluted her</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>The giant came out in anger and the brave man fought with him</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>"Do nothing rash, my daughter, leave the rope alone"</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>Good sank into the ocean, and when he looked about he saw a wonderful city</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>The brothers went to the ocean, and there they found a turtle</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_78">78</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>"I understand the cries of all beasts and birds"</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>She gradually recovered consciousness</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>When he saw that she was saved, the king cried, "Come, come to me!"</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>The summer came on him like a lion</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>With a turn of the wrist he sent the dagger flying from the chief's hand</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>An elephant came by, crushing the people in his path</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>He climbed the rock of sacrifice, eager to give his life for another</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>"Shall I go into the fire or go home?"</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>The giant laughed aloud, spit fire in his wrath, and showed his dreadful fangs</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>A merchant named Fortune richer than the god of wealth</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_188">188</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>The lion arose and killed his four creators</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td> -</tr><tr> - <td class="cht"><em>He comforted her and soothed her with tender words</em></td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - - - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/i_014.jpg" alt="" /> - <p class="caption">TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS</p> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">On</span> the bank of the Godavari River is a -kingdom called the Abiding Kingdom. -There lived the son of King Victory, -the famous King Triple-victory, mighty as the -king of the gods. As this king sat in judgment, -a monk called Patience brought him every day -one piece of fruit as an expression of homage. -And the king took it and gave it each day to -the treasurer who stood near. Thus twelve -years passed.</p> - -<p>Now one day the monk came to court, gave -the king a piece of fruit as usual, and went away. -But on this day the king gave the fruit to a -pet baby monkey that had escaped from his -keepers, and happened to wander in. And as -the monkey ate the fruit, he split it open, and a -priceless, magnificent gem came out.</p> - -<p>When the king saw this, he took it and asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> -the treasurer: "Where have you been keeping -the fruits which the monk brought? I gave -them to you." When the treasurer heard this, -he was frightened and said: "Your Majesty, I -have thrown them all through the window. If -your Majesty desires, I will look for them -now." And when the king had dismissed him, -he went, but returned in a moment, and said -again: "Your Majesty, they were all smashed -in the treasury, and in them I see heaps of -dazzling gems."</p> - -<p>When he heard this, the king was delighted, -and gave the jewels to the treasurer. And when -the monk came the next day, he asked him: -"Monk, why do you keep honouring me in -such an expensive way? Unless I know the -reason, I will not take your fruit."</p> - -<p>Then the monk took the king aside and -said: "O hero, there is a business in which I -need help. So I ask for your help in it, because -you are a brave man." And the king promised -his assistance.</p> - -<p>Then the monk was pleased, and said again: -"O King, on the last night of the waning moon, -you must go to the great cemetery at nightfall, -and come to me under the fig-tree." Then the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> -king said "Certainly," and Patience, the monk, -went home well pleased.</p> - -<p>So when the night came, the mighty king -remembered his promise to the monk, and at -dusk he wrapped his head in a black veil, -took his sword in his hand, and went to the -great cemetery without being seen. When -he got there, he looked about, and saw the -monk standing under the fig-tree and making -a magic circle. So he went up and said: -"Monk, here I am. Tell me what I am to -do for you."</p> - -<p>And when the monk saw the king, he was -delighted and said: "O King, if you wish to -do me a favour, go south from here some -distance all alone, and you will see a sissoo -tree and a dead body hanging from it. Be -so kind as to bring that here."</p> - -<p>When the brave king heard this, he agreed, -and, true to his promise, turned south and -started. And as he walked with difficulty -along the cemetery road, he came upon the -sissoo tree at some distance, and saw a body -hanging on it. So he climbed the tree, cut -the rope, and let it fall to the ground. And -as it fell, it unexpectedly cried aloud, as if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> -alive. Then the king climbed down, and -thinking it was alive, he mercifully rubbed -its limbs. Then the body gave a loud laugh.</p> - -<p>So the king knew that a goblin lived in it, -and said without fear: "What are you laughing -about? Come, let us be off." But then -he did not see the goblin on the ground any -longer. And when he looked up, there he -was, hanging in the tree as before. So the -king climbed the tree again, and carefully -carried the body down. A brave man's heart -is harder than a diamond, and nothing makes -it tremble.</p> - -<p>Then he put the body with the goblin in -it on his shoulder, and started off in silence. -And as he walked along, the goblin in the -body said: "O King, to amuse the journey, -I will tell you a story. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>FIRST GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Prince's Elopement. Whose fault was the -resulting death of his parents-in-law?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">There</span> is a city called Benares -where Shiva lives. It is loved by -pious people like the soil of Mount -Kailasa. The river of heaven shines there -like a pearl necklace. And in the city lived -a king called Valour who burned up all his -enemies by his valour, as a fire burns a forest. -He had a son named Thunderbolt who broke -the pride of the love-god by his beauty, and -the pride of men by his bravery. This prince -had a clever friend, the son of a counsellor.</p> - -<p>One day the prince was enjoying himself -with his friend hunting, and went a long -distance. And so he came to a great forest. -There he saw a beautiful lake, and being tired, -he drank from it with his friend the counsellor's -son, washed his hands and feet, and -sat down under a tree on the bank.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> - -<p>And then he saw a beautiful maiden who -had come there with her servants to bathe. -She seemed to fill the lake with the stream -of her beauty, and seemed to make lilies grow -there with her eyes, and seemed to shame the -lotuses with a face more lovely than the moon. -She captured the prince's heart the moment -that he saw her. And the prince took her -eyes captive.</p> - -<p>The girl had a strange feeling when she saw -him, but was too modest to say a word. So -she gave a hint of the feeling in her heart. -She put a lotus on her ear, laid a lily on her -head after she had made the edge look like -a row of teeth, and placed her hand on her -heart. But the prince did not understand her -signs, only the clever counsellor's son understood -them all.</p> - -<p>A moment later the girl went away, led by -her servants. She went home and sat on the -sofa and stayed there. But her thoughts were -with the prince.</p> - -<p>The prince went slowly back to his city, -and was terribly lonely without her, and grew -thinner every day. Then his friend the son -of the counsellor took him aside and told him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -that she was not hard to find. But he had -lost all courage and said: "My friend, I don't -know her name, nor her home, nor her family. -How can I find her? Why do you vainly -try to comfort me?"</p> - -<p>Then the counsellor's son said: "Did you -not see all that she hinted with her signs? -When she put the lotus on her ear, she meant -that she lived in the kingdom of a king named -Ear-lotus. And when she made the row of -teeth, she meant that she was the daughter of -a man named Bite there. And when she laid -the lily on her head, she meant that her name -was Lily. And when she placed her hand on -her heart, she meant that she loved you. And -there is a king named Ear-lotus in the Kalinga -country. There is a very rich man there -whom the king likes. His real name is -Battler, but they call him Bite. He has a -pearl of a girl whom he loves more than his -life, and her name is Lily. This is true, -because people told me. So I understood her -signs about her country and the other things." -When the counsellor's son had said this, the -prince was delighted to find him so clever, -and pleased because he knew what to do.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then he formed a plan with the counsellor's -son, and started for the lake again, pretending -that he was going to hunt, but really to find -the girl that he loved. On the way he rode -like the wind away from his soldiers, and -started for the Kalinga country with the -counsellor's son.</p> - -<p>When they reached the city of King Ear-lotus, -they looked about and found the house -of the man called Bite, and they went to a -house near by to live with an old woman. -And the counsellor's son said to the old -woman: "Old woman, do you know anybody -named Bite in this city?"</p> - -<p>Then the old woman answered him respectfully: -"My son, I know him well. I was -his nurse. And I am a servant of his daughter -Lily. But I do not go there now because my -dress is stolen. My naughty son is a gambler -and steals my clothes."</p> - -<p>Then the counsellor's son was pleased and -satisfied her with his own cloak and other -presents. And he said: "Mother, you must -do very secretly what we tell you. Go to -Bite's daughter Lily, and tell her that the -prince whom she saw on the bank of the lake<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> -is here, and sent you with a love-message -to her."</p> - -<p>The old woman was pleased with the gifts -and went to Lily at once. And when she got -a chance, she said: "My child, the prince and -the counsellor's son have come to take you. -Tell me what to do now." But the girl -scolded her and struck her cheeks with both -hands smeared with camphor.</p> - -<p>The old woman was hurt by this treatment, -and came home weeping, and said to the two -men: "My sons, see how she left the marks -of her fingers on my face."</p> - -<p>And the prince was hopeless and sad, but -the very clever counsellor's son took him aside -and said: "My friend, do not be sad. She -was only keeping the secret when she scolded -the old woman, and put ten fingers white with -camphor on her face. She meant that you -must wait before seeing her, for the next ten -nights are bright with moonlight."</p> - -<p>So the counsellor's son comforted the prince, -took a little gold ornament and sold it in the -market, and bought a great dinner for the old -woman. So they two took dinner with the -old woman. They did this for ten days, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -then the counsellor's son sent her to Lily again, -to find out something more.</p> - -<p>And the old woman was eager for dainty -food and drink. So to please him she went -to Lily's house, and then came back and said: -"My children, I went there and stayed with -her for some time without speaking. But she -spoke herself of my naughtiness in mentioning -you, and struck me again on the chest with -three fingers stained red. So I came back in -disgrace."</p> - -<p>Then the counsellor's son whispered to the -prince: "Don't be alarmed, my friend. When -she left the marks of three red fingers on the -old woman's heart, she meant to say very -cleverly that there were three dangerous days -coming." So the counsellor's son comforted the -prince.</p> - -<p>And when three days were gone, he sent -the old woman to Lily again. And this time -she went and was very respectfully entertained, -and treated to wine and other things the whole -day. But when she was ready to go back in -the evening, a terrible shouting was heard -outside. They heard people running and -crying: "Oh, oh! A mad elephant has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> -escaped from his stable and is running around -and stamping on people."</p> - -<p>Then Lily said to the old woman: "Mother, -you must not go through the street now where -the elephant is. I will put you in a swing -and let you down with ropes through this -great window into the garden. Then you -can climb into a tree and jump on the wall, -and go home by way of another tree." So she -had her servants let the old woman down from -the window into the garden by a rope-swing. -And the old woman went home and told the -prince and the counsellor's son all about it.</p> - -<p>Then the counsellor's son said to the prince: -"My friend, your wishes are fulfilled. She -has been clever enough to show you the road. -So you must follow that same road this very -evening to the room of your darling."</p> - -<p>So the prince went to the garden with the -counsellor's son by the road that the old -woman had shown them. And there he saw -the rope-swing hanging down, and servants -above keeping an eye on the road. And when -he got into the swing, the servants at the -window pulled at the rope and he came to his -darling. And when he had gone in, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -counsellor's son went back to the old woman's -house.</p> - -<p>But the prince saw Lily, and her face was -beautiful like the full moon, and the moonlight -of her beauty shone forth, like the night when -the moon shines in secret because of the dark. -And when she saw him, she threw her arms -around his neck and kissed him. So he married -her and stayed hidden with her for some days.</p> - -<p>One day he said to his wife: "My dear, -my friend the counsellor's son came with me, -and he is staying all alone at the old woman's -house. I must go and see him, then I will -come back."</p> - -<p>But Lily was shrewd and said: "My dear, -I must ask you something. Did you understand -the signs I made, or was it the counsellor's -son?" And the prince said to her: "My -dear, I did not understand them all, but my -friend has wonderful wisdom. He understood -everything and told me." Then the sweet -girl thought, and said: "My dear, you did -wrong not to tell me before. Your friend is -a real brother to me. I ought to have sent -him some nuts and other nice things at the -very first."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then she let him go, and he went to his -friend by night by the same road, and told all -that his wife had said. But the counsellor's -son said: "That is foolish," and did not think -much of it. So they spent the night talking.</p> - -<p>Then when the time for the twilight sacrifice -came, a friend of Lily's came there with cooked -rice and nuts in her hand. She came and -asked the counsellor's son about his health and -gave him the present. And she cleverly tried -to keep the prince from eating. "Your wife -is expecting you to dinner," she said, and a -moment later she went away.</p> - -<p>Then the counsellor's son said to the prince: -"Look, your Majesty. I will show you something -curious." So he took a little of the -cooked rice and gave it to a dog that was there. -And the moment he ate it, the dog died. And -the prince asked the counsellor's son what this -strange thing could mean.</p> - -<p>And he replied: "Your Majesty, she knew -that I was clever because I understood her -signs, and she wanted to kill me out of love -for you. For she thought the prince would -not be all her own while I was alive, but -would leave her for my sake and go back to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -his own city. So she sent me poisoned food -to eat. But you must not be angry with her. -I will think up some scheme."</p> - -<p>Then the prince praised the counsellor's -son, and said: "You are truly the body -of wisdom." And then suddenly a great -wailing of grief-stricken people was heard: -"Alas! Alas! The king's little son is dead."</p> - -<p>When he heard this, the counsellor's son -was delighted, and said: "Your Majesty, go -to-night to Lily's house, and make her drink -wine until she loses her senses and seems to be -dead. Then as she lies there, make a mark on -her hip with a red-hot fork, steal her jewels, -and come back the old way through the window. -After that I will do the right thing."</p> - -<p>Then he made a three-pronged fork and -gave it to the prince. And the prince took -the crooked, cruel thing, hard as the weapon -of Death, and went by night as before to -Lily's house. "A king," he thought, "ought -not to disregard the words of a high-minded -counsellor." So when he had stupefied her -with wine, he branded her hip with the fork, -stole her jewels, returned to his friend, and told -him everything, showing him the jewels.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then the counsellor's son felt sure that his -scheme was successful. He went to the -cemetery in the morning, and disguised himself -as a hermit, and the prince as his pupil. -And he said: "Take this pearl necklace from -among the jewels. Go and sell it in the -market-place. And if the policemen arrest -you, say this: 'It was given to me to sell by -my teacher.'"</p> - -<p>So the prince went to the market-place and -stood there offering the pearl necklace for -sale, and he was arrested while doing it by -the policemen. And as they were eager to -find out about the theft of the jewels from -Bite's daughter, they took the prince at once -to the chief of police. And when he saw -that the culprit was dressed like a hermit, he -asked him very gently: "Holy sir, where did -you get this pearl necklace? It belongs to -Bite's daughter and was stolen." Then the -prince said to them: "Gentlemen, my teacher -gave it to me to sell. You had better go and -ask him."</p> - -<p>Then the chief of police went and asked -him: "Holy sir, how did this pearl necklace -come into your pupil's hand?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> - -<p>And the shrewd counsellor's son whispered -to him: "Sir, as I am a hermit, I wander -about all the time in this region. And as I -happened to be here in this cemetery, I saw -a whole company of witches who came here -at night. And one of the witches split open -the heart of a king's son, and offered it to -her master. She was mad with wine, and -screwed up her face most horribly. But when -she impudently tried to snatch my rosary as -I prayed, I became angry, and branded her -on the hip with a three-pronged fork which -I had made red-hot with a magic spell. And -I took this pearl necklace from her neck. -Then, as it was not a thing for a hermit, I -sent it to be sold."</p> - -<p>When he heard this, the chief of police -went and told the whole story to the king. -And when the king heard and saw the evidence, -he sent the old woman, who was reliable, to -identify the pearl necklace. And he heard -from her that Lily was branded on the hip.</p> - -<p>Then he was convinced that she was really -a witch and had devoured his son. So he -went himself to the counsellor's son, who was -disguised as a hermit, and asked how Lily -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>should be punished. And by his advice, she -was banished from the city, though her parents -wept. So she was banished naked to the -forest and knew that the counsellor's son had -done it all, but she did not die.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_031.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">They took her body to the cemetery and burned it.</p> -</div> - -<p>And at nightfall the prince and the counsellor's -son put off their hermit disguise, mounted -on horseback, and found her weeping. They -put her on a horse and took her to their own -country. And when they got there, the -prince lived most happily with her.</p> - -<p>But Bite thought that his daughter was eaten -by wild beasts in the wood, and he died of -grief. And his wife died with him.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When he had told this story, the goblin asked -the king: "O King, who was to blame for -the death of the parents: the prince, or the -counsellor's son, or Lily? You seem like a -very wise man, so resolve my doubts on this -point. If you know and do not tell me the -truth, then your head will surely fly into a -hundred pieces. And if you give a good -answer, then I will jump from your shoulder -and go back to the sissoo tree."</p> - -<p>Then King Triple-victory said to the goblin:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -"You are a master of magic. You surely -know yourself, but I will tell you. It was -not the fault of any of the three you -mentioned. It was entirely the fault of King -Ear-lotus."</p> - -<p>But the goblin said: "How could it be -the king's fault? The other three did it. -Are the crows to blame when the geese eat -up the rice?"</p> - -<p>Then the king said: "But those three are -not to blame. It was right for the counsellor's -son to do his master's business. So he is not -to blame. And Lily and the prince were -madly in love and could not stop to think. -They only looked after their own affairs. -They are not to blame.</p> - -<p>"But the king knew the law-books very -well, and he had spies to find out the facts -among the people. And he knew about the -doings of rascals. So he acted without thinking. -He is to blame."</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this, he wanted to -test the king's constancy. So he went back -by magic in a moment to the sissoo tree. -And the king went back fearlessly to get him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>SECOND GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Three Lovers who brought the Dead Girl -to Life. Whose wife should she be?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> King Triple-victory went back -under the sissoo tree to fetch the -goblin. And when he got there and -looked about, he saw the goblin fallen on the -ground and moaning. Then, when the king -put the body with the goblin in it on his -shoulder and started to carry him off quickly -and silently, the goblin on his shoulder said to -him: "O King, you have fallen into a very -disagreeable task which you do not deserve. -So to amuse you I will tell another story. -Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>On the bank of the Kalindi River is a farm -where a very learned Brahman lived. And -he had a very beautiful daughter named Coral. -When the Creator fashioned her fresh and -peerless loveliness, surely he must have despised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -the cleverness he showed before in fashioning -the nymphs of heaven.</p> - -<p>When she had grown out of childhood, there -came from the city of Kanauj three Brahman -youths, endowed with all the virtues. And -each of them asked her father for her, that she -might be his own. And though her father -would rather have died than give her up to -anyone, he made up his mind to give her to -one of them. But the girl would not marry -any one of them for some time, because she -was afraid of hurting the feelings of the other -two. So they stayed there all three of them -day and night, feasting on the beauty of her -face, like the birds that live on moonbeams.</p> - -<p>Then all at once Coral fell sick of a burning -fever and died. And when the Brahman -youths saw that she was dead, they were -smitten with grief. But they adorned her -body, took it to the cemetery, and burned it.</p> - -<p>And one of them built a hut there, slept on -a bed made of her ashes, and got his food by -begging. The second took her bones and went -to dip them in the sacred Ganges river. And -the third became a monk and wandered in -other countries.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> - -<p>And as he wandered, the monk came to a -village called Thunderbolt, and was entertained -in the house of a Brahman. But when he had -been honoured by the master of the house and -had begun to eat dinner there, the little boy -began to cry and would not stop even when -they petted him. So his mother took him on -her arm, and angrily threw him into the blazing -fire. And being tender, he was reduced to -ashes in a moment.</p> - -<p>When the monk saw this, his hair stood on -end, and he said: "Alas! I have come into the -house of a devil. I will not eat this food. It -would be like eating sin." But the master of -the house said to him: "Brahman, I have -studied to good purpose. See my skill in bringing -the dead to life." So he opened a book, -took out a magic spell, read it, and sprinkled -water on the ashes. And the moment the -water was sprinkled, the boy stood up alive -just as before. Then the monk was highly -delighted and finished his dinner with pleasure.</p> - -<p>And the master of the house hung the book -on an ivory peg, took dinner with the monk, -and went to bed. When he was asleep, the -monk got up quietly, and tremblingly took the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -book, hoping to bring his darling Coral back to -life. He went away and travelled night and -day, until he finally reached the cemetery. -And he caught sight of the second youth, who -had come back after dipping the bones in the -Ganges. And he also found the third youth, -who had made a hut and lived there, sleeping -on the girl's ashes.</p> - -<p>Then the monk cried: "Brother, leave your -hut. I will bring the dear girl back to life." -And while they eagerly questioned him, he -opened the book, and read the magic spell, and -sprinkled holy water on the ashes. And Coral -immediately stood up, alive. And the girl was -more beautiful than ever. She looked as if -she were made of gold.</p> - -<p>When the three youths saw her come back -to life like that, they went mad with love, -and fought with one another to possess her.</p> - -<p>One said: "I brought her to life by my -magic spell. She is my wife."</p> - -<p>The second said: "She came to life because -of my journey to the sacred river. She is my -wife."</p> - -<p>The third said: "I kept her ashes. That -is why she came to life. She is my dear wife."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> - -<p>O King, you are able to decide their dispute. -Tell me. Whose wife should she be? If you -know and say what is false, then your head -will split.</p> - -<p>When the king heard this, he said to the -goblin: "The man who painfully found the -magic spell and brought her back to life, he -did only what a father ought to do. He is -not her husband. And the man who went to -dip her bones in the sacred river, he did only -what a son ought to do. He is not her -husband. But the man who slept with her -ashes and lived a hard life in the cemetery, he -did what a lover ought to do. He deserves to -be her husband."</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this answer of King -Triple-victory, he suddenly escaped from his -shoulder and went back. And the king wished -to do as the monk had asked him; so he -decided to go back and get him. Great-minded -people do not waver until they have -kept their promises, even at the cost of life.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>THIRD GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Parrot and the Thrush. Which are -worse, men or women?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back to the -sissoo tree to fetch the goblin. When -he got there, he took the body with -the goblin in it on his shoulder, and started off -in silence. And as he walked along, the -goblin said to him again: "O King, you must -be very tired, coming and going in the night. -So to amuse you I will tell another story. -Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There is a city called Patna, the gem of the -earth. And long ago a king lived there whose -name was Lion-of-Victory. Fate had made -him the owner of all virtues and all wealth. -And he had a parrot called Jewel-of-Wisdom, -that had divine intelligence and knew all the -sciences, but lived as a parrot because of a curse.</p> - -<p>This king had a son called Moon, and by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -the advice of the parrot this prince married the -daughter of the king of the Magadha country; -and her name was Moonlight. Now this -princess had a thrush named Moony, who was -like the parrot, because she had learning and -intelligence. And the parrot and the thrush -lived in one cage in the palace.</p> - -<p>One day the parrot eagerly said to the -thrush: "My darling, love me, and share my -bed and my chair and my food and my -amusements."</p> - -<p>But the thrush said: "I will have nothing -to do with men. Men are bad and ungrateful."</p> - -<p>Then the parrot said: "Men are not bad. -It is only women who are bad and cruel-hearted." -And they quarrelled.</p> - -<p>Then the two birds wagered their freedom -with each other and went to the prince to have -their quarrel decided. And the prince mounted -his father's judgment throne, and when he had -heard the cause of the quarrel, he asked the -thrush: "How are men ungrateful? Tell the -truth." Then she said, "Listen, O Prince," -and to prove her point she started to tell this -story illustrating the faults of men.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> - -<p>There is a famous city called Kamandaki, -where a wealthy merchant lived named -Fortune. And in time a son was born to -him and named Treasure. Then when the -father went to heaven, the young man became -very unruly because of gambling and other -vices. And the rascals came together, and -ruined him. Association with scoundrels is -the root from which springs the tree of -calamity.</p> - -<p>So in no long time he lost all he had through -his vices, and being ashamed of his poverty, he -left his own country and went to wander in -other places. And during his travels he came -to a city called Sandal City, and entered the -house of a merchant, seeking something to -eat. When the merchant saw the youth, he -asked him about his family, and finding that -he was a gentleman, he entertained him. And -thinking that Fate had sent the young man, -he gave him his own daughter Pearl, together -with some money. And when Treasure was -married, he lived in his father-in-law's house.</p> - -<p>As time passed, he forgot his former miseries -in the comforts of his life, and longed for the -old vices, and wanted to go home. So the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -rascal managed to persuade his father-in-law, -who had no other children, took his wife -Pearl with her beautiful ornaments, and an old -woman, and started for his own country. -Presently he came to a wood where he said -he was afraid of thieves, so he took all his -wife's ornaments. Perceive, O Prince, how -cruel and hard are the ungrateful hearts of -those who indulge in gambling and other vices. -And the scoundrel was ready, just for money, -to kill his good wife. He threw her and the -old woman into a pit. Then the rascal went -away and the old woman perished there.</p> - -<p>But Pearl, with the little life she had left, -managed to get out by clinging to the grass -and bushes, and weeping bitterly, and bleeding, -she asked the way step by step, and painfully -reached her father's house by the way she had -come. And her mother and father were surprised -and asked her: "Why did you come -back so soon, and in this condition?"</p> - -<p>And that good wife said: "On the road -we were robbed, and my husband was forcibly -carried off. And the old woman fell into a -pit and died, but I escaped. And a kind-hearted -traveller pulled me from the pit."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> -Then her father and mother were saddened, -but they comforted her, and Pearl stayed -there, true to her husband.</p> - -<p>Then in time Treasure lost all his money in -gambling, and he reflected: "I will get more -money from the house of my father-in-law. -I will go there and tell my father-in-law that -his daughter is well and is at my house."</p> - -<p>So he went again to his father-in-law. -And as he went, his ever-faithful wife saw -him afar off. She ran and fell at the rascal's -feet and told him all the story that she had -invented for her parents. For the heart of a -faithful wife does not change even when she -learns that her husband is a rogue.</p> - -<p>Then that rascal went without fear into the -house of his father-in-law and bowed low -before his feet. And his father-in-law rejoiced -when he saw him and made a great -feast with his relatives, for he said: "My -son is delivered alive from the robbers. -Heaven be praised!" Then Treasure enjoyed -the wealth of his father-in-law and lived with -his wife Pearl.</p> - -<p>Now one night this worst of scoundrels did -what I ought not to repeat, but I will tell it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -or my story would be spoiled. Listen, O -Prince. While Pearl lay asleep trusting him, -that wretch killed her in the night, stole all -her jewels, and escaped to his own country. -This shows how bad and ungrateful men are.</p> - -<p>When the thrush had told her story, the -prince smiled and said to the parrot: "It is -your turn now."</p> - -<p>Then the parrot said: "Your Majesty, -women are cruel and reckless and bad. To -prove it, I will tell a story. Listen."</p> - -<p>There is a city called Joyful, where lived a -prince of merchants named Virtue, who owned -millions of money. He had a daughter -named Fortune, peerless in beauty, dearer to -him than life. And she was given in marriage -to a merchant's son from Copper City, whose -name was Ocean. He was her equal in -wealth, beauty, and family; a delight to the -eyes of men.</p> - -<p>One day when her husband was away from -home, she saw from the window a handsome -young man. And the moment she saw him, -the fickle girl went mad with love, and secretly -sent a messenger to invite him in, and made -love to him in secret. Thus her heart was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -fixed on him alone, and she was happy with -him.</p> - -<p>But at last her husband came home and -delighted the hearts of his parents-in-law. -And when the day had been spent in feasting, -Fortune was adorned by her mother, and -sent to her husband's room. But she was -cold toward him and pretended to sleep. And -her husband went to sleep, too, for he was -weary with his journey, and had been drinking -wine.</p> - -<p>When everyone in the house had gone to -sleep after their dinner, a thief made a hole in -the wall and came into that very room. And -just then the merchant's daughter got up without -seeing him, and went out secretly to a -meeting with her lover. And the thief was -disappointed, and thought: "She has gone out -into the night wearing the very jewels that I -came to steal. I must see where she goes." -So the thief went out and followed her.</p> - -<p>But she met a woman friend who had -flowers in her hand, and went to a park not -very far away. And there she saw the man -whom she came to meet hanging on a tree. -For the policeman had thought he was a thief,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -had put a rope around his neck and hanged -him.</p> - -<p>And at the sight she went distracted, and -lamented pitifully: "Oh, oh! I am undone," -and fell on the ground and wept. Then she -took her lover down from the tree and made -him sit up, though he was dead, and adorned -him with perfumes and jewels and flowers.</p> - -<p>But when in her love-madness she lifted his -face and kissed him, a goblin who had come -to live in her dead lover, bit off her nose. -And she was startled and ran in pain from -the spot. But then she came back to see if -perhaps he was alive after all. But the goblin -had gone, and she saw that he was motionless -and dead. So she slowly went back home, -frightened and disgraced and weeping.</p> - -<p>And the concealed thief saw it all and -thought: "What has the wicked woman -done? Alas! Can women be so dreadful -as this? What might she not do next?" -So out of curiosity the thief still followed her -from afar.</p> - -<p>And the wretched woman entered the house -and cried aloud, and said: "Save me from my -cruel enemy, my own husband. He cut off -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>my nose and I had done nothing." And her -servants heard her cries and all arose in excitement. -Her husband too awoke. Then her -father came and saw that her nose was cut -off, and in his anger he had his son-in-law -arrested.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_048.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">The thrush suddenly became a goddess.</p> -</div> - -<p>And the poor man did not know what to -do. Even when he was being bound, he -remained silent and said nothing. Then they -all woke up and heard the story, but the thief -who knew the whole truth, ran away. And -when day came, the merchant's son was haled -before the king by his father-in-law. And -Fortune went there without her nose, and the -king heard the whole story and condemned -the merchant's son to death for mistreating -his wife.</p> - -<p>So the innocent, bewildered man was led to -the place of execution and the drums were -beaten. Just then the thief came up and said -to the king's men: "Why do you kill this -man without any good reason? I know how -the whole thing happened. Take me to the -king, and I will tell all."</p> - -<p>So all the king's men took him to the king. -And the thief told the king all the adventures<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -of the night, and said: "Your Majesty, if you -cannot trust my word, you may find the nose -at this moment between the teeth of the dead -body."</p> - -<p>Then the king sent men to investigate, and -when he found it was true, he released the -merchant's son from the punishment of death. -As for wretched Fortune, he cut off her ears, -too, and banished her from the country. And -he took from her father, the merchant, all his -money, and made the thief the chief of police. -He was pleased with him.</p> - -<p>O Prince, this shows how cruel and false -women are by nature.</p> - -<p>As he spoke these words, the parrot changed -into a god, for the curse was fulfilled, and -went to heaven like a god. And the thrush -suddenly became a goddess, for her curse was -at an end, and flew up likewise to heaven. So -their dispute was never settled at that court.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he -asked the king: "O King, tell me. Are men -bad, or women? If you know and do not -tell, your head will fly to pieces." And when -the king heard these words of the goblin on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -his shoulder, he said to that magic goblin: -"O goblin! Here and there, now and then, -there is an occasional bad man like that. But -women are usually bad. We hear about -many of them."</p> - -<p>Then the goblin disappeared from the king's -shoulder as before. And the king tried again -to catch him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>FOURTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>King Shudraka and Hero's Family. Which -of the five deserves the most honour?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> King Triple-victory went back -under the sissoo tree and caught the -goblin, who gave a horse-laugh. But -the king without fear put him on his shoulder -as before and started toward the monk. And -as he walked along, the goblin on his shoulder -said to him again: "O King, why do you -take such pains for that wretched monk? -Have you no sense about this fruitless task? -Well, after all, I like your devotion. So, to -amuse the weary journey, I will tell you -another story. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There is a city called Beautiful, and it -deserves the name. There lived a king named -Shudraka, of tremendous power and mighty -courage. He was so used to victory that the -fire of his courage was kept blazing by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -wind from the fans in the hands of the wives -of his vanquished foes. Under his rule the -earth was rich and always good, as in the -days of old. And he was fond of brave -men.</p> - -<p>Now one day a Brahman named Hero -came from Malwa to pay his homage to this -king. He had a wife named Virtue, a son -named Trusty, and a daughter named Heroic. -And he had just three servants, a dagger at -his hip, a sword in his hand, and a shield in -his other hand. These were all the servants -he had when he asked the king for five -hundred gold-pieces a day as his wages.</p> - -<p>And the king thought from his appearance -that he was a remarkably brave man, so he -gave him the wages he asked. But out of -curiosity he put spies on his track, to learn -what he did with all the money.</p> - -<p>Now Hero called on the king in the morning, -and at noon he took his sword and stood -at the palace gate and divided his daily salary. -One hundred gold-pieces he gave to his wife -for food and household expenses. And with -another hundred he bought clothes and -perfumes and nuts and such things. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -another hundred he devoted to the worship -of Vishnu and Shiva, after taking the -ceremonial bath. And the two hundred -which were left he gave to Brahmans and -the unhappy and the poor. This was the -way he divided and spent the money every -day. Then after he had sacrificed and eaten -dinner, he stood every night alone at the -palace gate with his sword and shield. All -this King Shudraka learned from his spies -and was greatly pleased and forbad the spies -to follow him again. For he thought him a -wonderful man, worthy of especial honour.</p> - -<p>Then one day a veil of clouds covered the -sky and poured down rain in streams day and -night, so that the highway was quite deserted. -Only Hero was at his post as usual by the -palace gate. And when the sun set and -dreadful darkness was spread abroad and the -rain fell in sheets, the king wished to test -Hero's behaviour. So at night he climbed to -the palace roof and cried: "Who is there -at the gate?" And Hero answered: "I am -here." And the king thought: "How steadfast -this man Hero is, and how devoted to -me! I must surely give him a greater post."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> -And he descended from the roof and entered -the palace and went to bed.</p> - -<p>The next night it rained again in sheets -and the world was wrapped in the darkness -of death. And again the king thought to -test his behaviour, and climbing to the roof -he called out toward the palace gate: "Who -is there?" And when Hero said: "I am -here, your Majesty," the king was greatly -astonished.</p> - -<p>Just then he heard at a distance a sweet-voiced -woman crying. And he thought: -"Who is this who laments so piteously, as if -in deep despair? In my kingdom there is no -violence, no poor man and none distressed. -Who can she be?" And being merciful, he -called to Hero, who stood below: "Listen, -Hero. A woman is weeping at some distance. -Go and learn why she weeps and who she -is." And Hero said "Certainly," arranged his -dagger, took his sword in his hand, and started. -He did not even think of the pelting hail, the -flashing lightning, or the rain and darkness. -And when the king saw him setting out alone -in a night like that, he was filled with pity and -curiosity, and descending from the palace roof,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> -took his sword and followed all alone, without -being seen.</p> - -<p>As Hero traced the sound of crying, he came -to a beautiful lake outside the city, and there -he saw a woman in the midst of the water, -lamenting in these words: "Alas for you, -brave and merciful and generous! How shall -I live without you?"</p> - -<p>And Hero was amazed, and timidly asked -her: "Who are you, and why do you weep?" -And she replied: "O Hero, I am the Goddess -of the Earth, and now my lord, this virtuous -King Shudraka, is going to die in three days. -How shall I find another such master? So I -am distracted with grief, and I lament."</p> - -<p>When Hero heard this, he was frightened -and said: "Goddess, is there any remedy for -this, any way in which the king might be -saved?" And the goddess answered: "There -is just one remedy, my son, and it is -in your hands." And Hero said: "Goddess, -tell me quickly, that I may adopt it -at once. What good would life be to us -otherwise?"</p> - -<p>Then the goddess said: "My son, there is -no other man devoted to his master as you are:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -so you may learn how to save him. There is -a temple to the Dreadful Goddess built by that -king near his palace. If you sacrifice your son -to her at once, then the king will not die. He -will live another hundred years. If you do it -this very night, then the blessing will come, -not otherwise."</p> - -<p>And Hero, the hero, replied: "Then I will -go, Goddess, and do it this moment." And -the Goddess of the Earth said: "Good fortune -go with you," and she vanished. And the -king, who had followed secretly, heard it all. -So he still followed to find out how Hero -would behave.</p> - -<p>But Hero went straight home, woke his -wife Virtue, and told her all that the Goddess -of the Earth had said. And his wife said: -"My dear, if so much depends on it, wake -the boy and tell him." Then Hero woke the -little boy, told him all, and said: "My boy, -if you are sacrificed to the Dreadful Goddess, -our king will live. If not, he will die in three -days."</p> - -<p>And the boy was true to his name. Without -fear and without hesitation he said: "My -dear father, I am a lucky boy if the king lives -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>at the cost of my life. Besides, that would -pay for the food we have eaten. Why then -delay? Take me quickly and sacrifice me to -the goddess. May the king's evil fate be -averted by my death!" And Hero was -delighted and congratulated him, saying: -"Well said! You are indeed my son."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_060.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">Trusty worshipped the goddess and bravely saluted her.</p> -</div> - -<p>So Hero's wife Virtue and his daughter -Heroic went through the night with Hero and -Trusty to the temple of the Dreadful Goddess. -The king too followed them, disguised and -unnoticed. Then the father took Trusty from -his shoulder in the presence of the goddess. -And Trusty worshipped the goddess, and -bravely saluted her, and said: "O Goddess, by -the sacrifice of my head may the king live -another hundred years and rule a thornless -kingdom."</p> - -<p>And as he prayed, Hero cut off his head -and offered it to the Dreadful Goddess, saying: -"May the king live at the cost of my son's -life!" Then a voice cried from heaven: "O -Hero, who else is devoted to his master as you -are? You have given life and royal power to -the king at the cost of your only son, and such -a son." All this the king himself saw and heard.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then Hero's daughter Heroic kissed the lips -of her dead brother, and was blinded with -sorrow, and her heart broke, and she died.</p> - -<p>Then Hero's wife Virtue said: "My dear, -we have done our duty by the king. And you -see how my daughter died of grief. So now -I say: What good is life to me without my -children? I was a fool before. I should have -given my own head to save the king. So now -permit me to burn myself at once."</p> - -<p>And when she insisted, Hero said: "Do -so. What happiness is there in a life of -constant mourning for your children? And -as for your giving your own life instead, do -not grieve about that. If there had been any -other way, I should of course have given my -life. So wait a moment. I will build you -a funeral pile out of these logs." So he built -the pile and lighted it.</p> - -<p>And Virtue fell at her husband's feet, then -worshipped the Dreadful Goddess, and prayed: -"O Goddess, may I have the same husband -in another life, and may this same King -Shudraka be saved at the cost of my son's -life." And she died in the blazing fire.</p> - -<p>Then Hero thought: "I have done my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -duty by the king, as the heavenly voice admitted. -And I have paid for the king's food -which I have eaten. So now why should I -want to live alone? It is not right for a -man like me to go on living at the expense -of all the family which I ought to support. -Why should I not please the goddess by -sacrificing myself?"</p> - -<p>So Hero first approached the goddess with -a hymn of praise: "O Demon-slayer! -Saviour! Devil-killer! Trident-holder! -Joy of the wise! Protectress of the universe! -Victory to thee, O best of mothers, whose -feet the world adores! O fearless refuge of -the pious! Kali of the dreadful ornaments! -Honour and glory to thee, O kindly goddess! -Be pleased to accept the sacrifice of my head -in behalf of King Shudraka." Then he -suddenly cut off his own head with his -dagger.</p> - -<p>King Shudraka beheld this from his hiding-place, -and was filled with amazement and -grief and admiration. And he thought: "I -have never seen or heard the like of this. -That good man and his family have done a -hard thing for me. In this strange world who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -else is so brave as that, to give his son, his -family, and his life for his king? If I should -not make a full return for his kindness, my -kingdom would mean nothing to me, and my -life would be the life of a beast. If I lost my -virtue, it would all be a disgrace to me."</p> - -<p>So the king drew his sword and approached -the goddess and prayed: "O Goddess, I have -always been devoted to you. Now be pleased -with the sacrifice of my body, and grant my -prayer. Bring back to life this virtuous man -Hero and his family, who gave their lives -for me."</p> - -<p>But when he started to cut off his own -head, there came a voice from heaven: "My -son, do nothing rash. I am well pleased with -your character. The Brahman Hero and his -children and his wife shall come back to life." -And when the voice ceased, Hero stood up -alive and uninjured with his son and his -daughter and his wife. Then the king hid -himself again and looked on with eyes filled -with tears of joy, and could not see enough -of them.</p> - -<p>Now Hero, like a man awaking from a -dream, gazed at his son and his wife and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -his daughter, and was greatly perplexed. He -spoke to each by name, and asked them how -they had come to life after being reduced to -ashes. "Is this a fancy of mine? Or a -dream? Or an illusion? Or the favour of -the goddess?" And his wife and children -said to him: "By the favour of the goddess -we are alive."</p> - -<p>At last Hero believed it, and having worshipped -the goddess, he went home happy -with his children and his wife. And when -he had seen his son and his wife and daughter -safe at home, he went back that same night -to the palace gate.</p> - -<p>And King Shudraka saw all this and went -back without being seen himself, and climbed -to the roof, and called: "Who is there -at the gate?" And Hero replied: "Your -Majesty, I, Hero, am here. At your command -I followed the woman who cried. She -must have been a witch, for she vanished the -moment I saw her and spoke to her."</p> - -<p>When the king heard this, he was astonished -beyond measure, for he had seen what really -happened. And he thought: "Ah, the hearts -of brave men are deep as the sea, if they do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -not boast after doing an unparalleled action." -So the king descended from the roof, entered -the palace, and passed the rest of the night -there.</p> - -<p>Then when the court was held in the morning, -Hero came to see the king. And as he -stood there, the delighted king told all his -counsellors and the others the story of the -night. And all were amazed and confounded -at hearing of Hero's virtues, and they praised -him, crying: "Well done! Well done!"</p> - -<p>Then the king and Hero lived happily -together, sharing the power equally.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he -asked King Triple-victory: "O King, which -of all these was the most worthy? If you -know and will not tell, then the curse I told -you of will be fulfilled."</p> - -<p>And the king said to the goblin: "O -magic creature, King Shudraka was the most -noble of them all."</p> - -<p>But the goblin said: "Why not Hero, the -like of whom as a servant is not to be found in -the whole world? Or why should not his wife -receive the most praise, who did not waver<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -when she saw her son killed like a beast before -her eyes? Or why is not the boy Trusty the -most worthy, who showed such wonderful manhood -when only a little boy? Why do you -say that King Shudraka was the best among -them?"</p> - -<p>Then the king answered the goblin: "Not -Hero. He was a gentleman born, so it was -his duty to save his king at the cost of life, wife -and children. And his wife was a lady, a -faithful wife who only did what was right -in following her husband. And Trusty was -their son, and like them. For the cloth is -always like the threads. But the king has a -right to use his subjects' lives to save his own. -So when Shudraka gave his life for them, he -proved himself the best of all."</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this, he jumped from -the king's shoulder and went back to his -home without being seen. And the king was -not disturbed by this magic, but started back -through the night to catch him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>FIFTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Brave Man, the Wise Man, and the -Clever Man. To which should the girl -be given?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> King Triple-victory went back -to the sissoo tree and saw the body -with the goblin in it hanging there just -as before. He took it down without being -frightened by all its twistings and writhings, -and quickly set out again. And as he walked -along in silence as before, the goblin said: "O -King, you are obstinate, and you are pleasing -to look at. So to amuse you, I will tell -another story. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There is a city called Ujjain, famous throughout -the world. There lived a king named -Merit, who had as counsellor a Brahman -named Hariswami, adorned with all noble -virtues. The counsellor had a worthy wife, -and a son named Devaswami was born to her,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -and was as good as she. And they had one -daughter named Moonlight, who was worthy -of her name, for she was famous for her matchless -beauty and charm.</p> - -<p>When the girl had grown out of childhood, -she was proud of her wonderful beauty, and -she told her mother, her father, and her brother: -"I will marry a brave man or a wise man or a -clever man. I should die if I were married to -anyone else."</p> - -<p>Now while her father was busy looking for -such a husband for her, he was sent by King -Merit to another king in the southern country -to make a treaty for war and peace. When he -had finished his business, a Brahman youth, -who had heard of his daughter's beauty, came -and asked him for her.</p> - -<p>And he said: "My daughter will not marry -anyone unless he is a clever man or a wise man -or a brave man. Which of these are you? -Tell me." And the Brahman said: "I am a -clever man." "Show me," said the father, and -the clever man made a flying chariot by his -skill. Then he took Hariswami in this magic -chariot, and carried him to the sky. And he -took the delighted father to the camp of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -king of the southern country where he had -been on business. Then Hariswami appointed -the marriage for the seventh day.</p> - -<p>At this time another Brahman youth in -Ujjain came to the girl's brother and asked him -for her. And when he was told that she -would marry only a wise man or a clever man -or a brave man, he said he was a brave man. -Then when he had shown his skill with -weapons, the brother promised his sister to the -brave man. And without telling his mother, -he consulted the star-gazers and appointed the -marriage for the seventh day.</p> - -<p>At the same time a third Brahman youth -came to the girl's mother and asked for the -girl. And the mother said: "My son, a wise -man or a clever man or a brave man shall -marry my daughter, but no one else. Which -of these are you? Tell me." And he said: -"I am a wise man." So she asked him about -the past and the future, and found that he -was a wise man. Then she promised to give -him her daughter on the seventh day.</p> - -<p>The next day Hariswami came home and -told his wife and his son all that he had done. -And she and he each told him all that she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -or he had done. So Hariswami was greatly -perplexed, because three bridegrooms had been -invited. Then the seventh day came and -the three bridegrooms came to Hariswami's -house.</p> - -<p>Strange to say, at that moment Moonlight -disappeared. Then the wise man said: "A -giant named Smoke-tail has carried her to his -den in the Vindhya forest."</p> - -<p>When Hariswami heard this from the wise -man, he was frightened and asked the clever -man to find a remedy for the trouble. And -the clever man made a chariot as before, full of -all kinds of weapons, and brought Hariswami -with the wise man and the brave man in a -moment to the Vindhya forest. And the wise -man showed them the giant's den.</p> - -<p>When the giant saw what had happened, he -came out in anger, and the brave man fought -with him. Then came a famous duel with -strange weapons between a man and a giant -for the sake of a woman, like the ancient fight -between Rama and Ravana. Though the -giant was a terrible fighter, the brave man -presently cut off his head with an arrow shaped -like a half-moon. When the giant was killed, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>they found Moonlight in the den and all went -back to Ujjain in the clever man's chariot.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_075.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">The giant came out in anger and the brave man fought with him.</p> -</div> - -<p>Then when the proper time for the wedding -came, there arose a great dispute among the -three in Hariswami's house.</p> - -<p>The wise man said: "If I had not discovered -her by my wisdom, how could you -have found her hiding-place? She should be -given to me."</p> - -<p>The clever man said: "If I had not made a -flying chariot, how could you have gone there -in a moment and come back like the gods, or -how could you have had a chariot-fight with -him? She should be given to me."</p> - -<p>The brave man said: "If I had not killed -the giant in the fight, who would have saved -her in spite of all your pains? The girl -should be given to me."</p> - -<p>And as they quarrelled, Hariswami stood -silent, confused, and perplexed.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he -said to the king: "O King, do you say to -which of them she should be given. If you -know and will not tell, then your head will -split into a hundred pieces."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then the king broke silence and said: -"She should be given to the brave man, who -risked his life and killed the giant and saved -the girl. The wise man and the clever man -were only helpers whom Fate gave him. A -star-gazer and a chariot-maker work for other -people, do they not?"</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this answer, he -suddenly escaped from the king's shoulder -and went back. And the king determined to -get him, and went again to the sissoo tree.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>SIXTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Girl who transposed the Heads of her -Husband and Brother. Which combination -of head and body is her husband?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back to the -sissoo tree, put the goblin on his -shoulder as before, and started in -silence toward the monk. And the goblin -said to him: "O King, you are wise and -good, so I am pleased with you. To amuse -you, therefore, I will tell you another story -with a puzzle in it. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Long ago there was a king named Glory-banner -in the world. His city was named -Beautiful. And in this city was a splendid -temple to the goddess Gauri. And to the -right of the temple was a lake called Bath of -Gauri. And on a certain day in each year -a great crowd of people came there on a pilgrimage -from all directions to bathe.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> - -<p>One day a laundryman named White came -there from another village to bathe. And the -youth saw a maiden who had also come there -to bathe. Her name was Lovely, and her -father's name was Clean-cloth. She robbed -the moon of its beauty and White of his heart. -So he inquired about her name and family and -went home lovesick.</p> - -<p>When he got there, he was ill and could not -eat without her. And when his mother asked -him, he told her what was in his heart, but -did not change his habits. But she went -and told her husband, whose name was -Spotless.</p> - -<p>So Spotless went and saw how his son was -acting, and said: "My son, why should you -be downcast? Your desire is not hard to -obtain. For if I ask Clean-cloth, he will -surely give you his daughter. We are not -inferior to him in birth, wealth, or social -position. I know him and he knows me. -So there is no difficulty about it." Thus -Spotless comforted his son, made him eat and -take care of himself, went with him the next -day to Clean-cloth's house, and asked that the -girl might be given to his son White. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> -Clean-cloth graciously promised to give her -to him.</p> - -<p>Then when the time came, Clean-cloth gave -White his charming daughter, a wife worthy -of him. And when he was married, White -went happily to his father's house with his -sweet bride.</p> - -<p>Now as he lived there happily, Lovely's -brother came to visit. And when they had -all asked him about his health and his sister -had greeted him with a kiss, and after he had -rested, he said: "My father sent me to invite -Lovely and White to a festival in our house." -And all the relatives said it was a good plan -and entertained him that day with appropriate -things to drink and eat.</p> - -<p>The next morning White set out for his -father-in-law's house, together with his brother-in-law -and Lovely. And when he came to -the city Beautiful, he saw the great temple of -Gauri. And he said to Lovely and her -brother: "We will see this goddess. I will -go first and you two stay here." So White -went in to see the goddess. He entered the -temple and bowed before the goddess whose -eighteen arms had killed the horrible demons,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -whose lotus-feet were set upon a giant that she -had crushed.</p> - -<p>And when he had worshipped her, an idea -suddenly came to him. "People honour this -goddess with all kinds of living sacrifices. -Why should I not win her favour by sacrificing -myself?" And he fetched a sword from a -deserted inner room, cut off his own head, and -let it fall on the floor.</p> - -<p>Presently his brother-in-law entered the -temple to see why he delayed so long. And -when he saw his brother-in-law with his head -cut off, he went mad with grief, and cut off -his own head in the same way with the same -sword.</p> - -<p>Then when he failed to come out, Lovely -was alarmed and entered the temple. And -when she saw her husband and her brother -in that condition, she cried: "Alas! This -is the end of me!" and fell weeping to the -floor. But presently she rose, lamenting for -the pair so unexpectedly dead, and thought: -"What is my life good for now?"</p> - -<p>Before killing herself, she prayed to the -goddess: "O Goddess! One only deity of -happiness and character! Partaker of the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>life of Shiva! Refuge of all women-folk! -Destroyer of grief! Why have you killed -my husband and my brother at one fell -swoop? It was not right, for I was always -devoted to you. Then be my refuge when -I pray to you, and hear my one pitiful prayer. -I shall leave this wretched body of mine on -this spot, but in every future life of mine, -O Goddess, may I have the same husband -and brother." Thus she prayed, praised, and -worshipped the goddess, then tied a rope to -an ashoka tree which grew there.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_082.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">"Do nothing rash, my daughter, leave the rope alone."</p> -</div> - -<p>But while she was arranging the rope about -her neck, a voice from heaven cried: "Do -nothing rash, my daughter. Leave the rope -alone. Though you are young, I am pleased -with your unusual goodness. Place the two -heads on the two bodies and they shall rise -up again and live through my favour."</p> - -<p>So Lovely left the rope alone and joyfully -went to the bodies. But in her great hurry -and confusion she made a mistake. She put -her husband's head on her brother's body and -her brother's head on her husband's body. -Then they arose, sound and well, like men -awaking from a dream. And they were all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -delighted to hear one another's adventures, -worshipped the goddess, and went on their -way.</p> - -<p>Now as she walked along, Lovely noticed -that she had made a mistake in their heads. -And she was troubled and did not know -what to do.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he -asked the king: "O King, when they were -mingled in this way, which should be her -husband? If you know and do not tell, then -the curse I spoke of will be fulfilled."</p> - -<p>And the king said to the goblin: "The -body with the husband's head on it is her -husband. For the head is the most important -member. It is by the head that we recognize -people."</p> - -<p>Then the goblin slipped from the king's -shoulder as before, and quickly disappeared. -And the king went back, determined to -catch him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>SEVENTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Mutual Services of King Fierce-lion and -Prince Good. Which is the more deserving?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back to the -sissoo tree, put the goblin on his -shoulder as before, and started. And -as he walked along, the goblin said: "O King, -I will tell you a story to amuse your weariness. -Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>On the shore of the Eastern Ocean is -Copper City. There a king named Fierce-lion -lived. He turned his back to other men's -wives, but not to fighting men. He destroyed -his enemies, but not other men's wealth.</p> - -<p>One day a popular prince named Good came -from the south to the king's gate. He introduced -himself, but did not get what he wanted -from the king. And he thought: "If I am -born a prince, why am I so poor? And if -I am to be poor, why did God give me so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -many desires? For this king pays no attention -to me, though I wait upon him and -grow weary and faint with hunger."</p> - -<p>While he was thinking, the king went -hunting. He went with many horsemen and -footmen, and the prince ran along in the -dress of a pilgrim with a club in his hand. -And during the hunt the king chased a great -boar a long distance, and so came into another -forest. There he lost sight of the boar, for -the trail was covered with leaves and grass. -And the king was tired and lost his way in -the forest. Only the pilgrim-prince thought -nothing of his life, and hungry and thirsty -as he was, he followed on foot the king who -rode a swift horse.</p> - -<p>And when the king saw him following, he -spoke lovingly: "My good man, do you perhaps -know the way we came?"</p> - -<p>And the pilgrim bowed low and said: "I -know, your Majesty. But first rest yourself a -moment. The blazing sun, the middle jewel -in the girdle of heaven's bride, is terribly hot." -Then the king said eagerly: "See if there is -water anywhere."</p> - -<p>And the pilgrim agreed and climbed a high<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> -tree and looked around. And he saw a river -and climbed down and took the king to it. -He unsaddled the horse, gave him water and -grass, and let him rest. And when the king -had bathed, the pilgrim took two fine mangoes -from his skirt, washed them and gave them to -the king.</p> - -<p>"Where did you get these?" asked the king, -and the pilgrim bowed and said: "Your -Majesty, I have lived on such food for ten -years. While I was serving your Majesty, I -had to live like a monk." And the king said: -"What can I say? You deserve your name of -Good." And he was filled with pity and shame, -and thought: "A curse on kings, who do not -know whether their servants are happy or not! -And a curse on their attendants, who do not -tell them this and that!" And when the -pilgrim insisted, the king was prevailed on to -take the two mangoes. He rested there with -the pilgrim and ate the mangoes and drank -water with the pilgrim, who was accustomed to -eat mangoes and drink water.</p> - -<p>Then the pilgrim saddled the horse and went -ahead to show the way, and at last, at the -king's command, mounted behind on the horse;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -so the king found his soldiers and went safely -home. And when he got there, he proclaimed -the devotion of the pilgrim, and made him a -rich man, but could not feel that he had paid -his debt. So Good stayed there happily with -King Fierce-lion and stopped living as a -pilgrim.</p> - -<p>One day the king sent Good to Ceylon to -ask for the hand of the daughter of the King -of Ceylon. So he set out after sacrificing to -the proper god, and entered a ship with some -Brahmans chosen by the king. And when the -ship had safely reached the middle of the -ocean, there suddenly arose from the waves a -very large flag-pole made of gold, with a top -that touched the sky. It was adorned with -waving banners of various colours and was quite -astonishing.</p> - -<p>At the same moment the clouds gathered, it -began to rain violently, and a mighty wind -blew. And the ship was driven by the storm -winds and caught on the flag-pole. Then the -pole began to sink, dragging the ship with it -into the raging waves. And the Brahmans -who were there were overcome with fear and -cursed the name of their king Fierce-lion.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_091.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">Good sank into the ocean, and when he looked about -he saw a wonderful city.</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> - -<p>But Good could not endure that because of -his devotion to his king. He took his sword -in his hand, girt up his garment, and threw -himself after the flag-pole into the sea. He -had no fear of the pole which seemed a refuge -from the ocean. Then as he sank, the ship -was battered by the winds and waves and -broke up. And all in it fell into the mouths of -sharks.</p> - -<p>But Good sank into the ocean, and when he -looked about he saw a wonderful city. There -he entered a shrine to Gauri, tall as the -heavenly mountain, with great gem-sprinkled -banners on walls made of different kinds of -jewels, in a golden temple blazing with jewelled -pillars, with a garden that had a pool, the -stairs to which were made of splendid gems. -After he had bowed low and praised and -worshipped the goddess there, he sat down -before her in amazement, wondering if it was -all a conjuror's trick.</p> - -<p>Just then the door was suddenly opened -by a heavenly maiden. Her eyes were like -lotuses, her face like the moon. She had -a smile like a flower and a body soft as lotus-stems. -And a thousand women waited upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -her. She entered the shrine of the goddess -and the heart of Good at the same moment. -And when she had worshipped the goddess -there, she went out from the shrine, but not -from the heart of Good.</p> - -<p>She entered a circle of light, and Good -followed her. And he saw another splendid -house, that seemed like a place of meeting for -all riches and all enjoyments. And he saw -the girl sitting on a jewelled couch, and he -approached and sat beside her. He was like -a man painted in a picture, for his eyes were -fastened on her face.</p> - -<p>Now a servant of the maiden saw that his -body was thrilled, that he was intent upon the -maiden, that he was in love. She understood -his feelings and said to him: "Sir, you are -our guest. Enjoy the hospitality of my -mistress. Arise. Bathe. Eat." And he felt a -little hope at her words and went to a pool -in the garden which she showed him.</p> - -<p>He plunged into the pool, and when he -rose to the surface, he found himself in the -pool of King Fierce-lion in Copper City. And -when he saw that he had come there so -suddenly, he thought: "Oh, what does it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -mean? Where is that heavenly garden? -What a difference between the sight of that -girl which was like nectar to me, and this -immediate separation from her which is like -terrible poison! It was no dream. I was -awake when the serving-maid deceived me -and made a fool of me."</p> - -<p>He was like a madman without the girl. -He wandered in the garden and mourned in -a lovelorn way. He was surrounded by -wind-blown flower-pollen which seemed to -him the yellow flames of separation. And -when the gardener saw him in this state, he -went and told the king.</p> - -<p>And the king was troubled. He went -himself to see Good, and asked him soothingly: -"What does this mean? Tell me, -my friend. Where did you go? And where -did you come? And where did you stay? -And what did you fall into?"</p> - -<p>Then Good told him the whole adventure. -And the king thought: "Ah, it is fortunate -for me that this brave man is lovelorn. For -now I have a chance to pay my debt to him." -So the king said to him: "My friend, give -over this vain grief. I will go with you by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -the same road, and bring you to the heavenly -maiden." So he comforted Good, and made -him take a bath.</p> - -<p>The next day he transferred his royal duties -to his counsellors and entered a ship with -Good. Good showed the way through the -sea and they saw the flag-pole with its banners -rising as before in the middle of the ocean. -Then Good said to the king: "Your Majesty, -here is the magic flag-pole standing up. -When I sink down there, you must sink too -along the flag-pole." So when they came near -the sinking pole, Good jumped first, and -the king followed him.</p> - -<p>They sank down and came to the heavenly -city. And the king was astonished, and after -he had worshipped the goddess, he sat down -with Good. Then the girl, like Beauty -personified, came out of the circle of light -with her friends. "There she is, the lovely -creature," said Good, and the king thought: -"He is quite right to love her." But when -she saw the king looking like a god, she -wondered who the strange and wonderful man -might be, and entered the shrine to worship -the goddess.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - -<p>But the king took Good and went into -the garden to show how little he cared about -her. A moment later the girl came from the -shrine; she had been praying for a good -husband. And she said to a girl friend: "My -friend, I wonder where I could see the man -who was here. Where is the great man? -You girls must hunt for him and ask him -to be good enough to come and accept our -hospitality. For he is a wonderful man, and -we must be polite to him."</p> - -<p>So the girl found him in the garden and -gave him her mistress' message very respectfully. -But the brave king spoke loftily to -her: "Your words are hospitality enough. -Nothing else is necessary."</p> - -<p>Now when her mistress had heard what -he said, she thought he was a noble character, -better than anybody else. She was attracted -by the courage of the king in refusing a sort -of hospitality which was almost too much to -offer a mere man, and thought about the -fulfilment of her prayer for a husband. So -she went into the garden herself. She drew -near to the king and lovingly begged him -to accept her hospitality.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> - -<p>But the king pointed to Good and said: -"My dear girl, he told me of the goddess -here, and I came to see her. And by following -the flag-pole I saw the goddess and her -very marvellous temple. It was only afterwards -that I happened to see you."</p> - -<p>Then the girl said: "O King, you may -be interested in seeing a city which is the -wonder of the three worlds." And the king -laughed and said: "He told me about that, -too. I believe there is a pool for bathing -there." And the girl said: "O King, do -not say that. I am not a deceitful girl. Why -should I deceive an honourable man, especially -as your noble character has made me feel like -a servant? Pray do not refuse me."</p> - -<p>So the king agreed and went with Good -and the girl to the edge of the circle of light. -There a door opened and he entered and saw -another heavenly city like a second hill of -heaven; for it was built of gems and gold, -and the flowers and fruits of every season -grew there at the same time.</p> - -<p>And the princess seated the king on a -splendid throne and brought him gifts and -said: "Your Majesty, I am the daughter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -of the great god Black-wheel. But Vishnu -sent my father to heaven. And I inherited -these two magic cities where one has everything -he wants. There is no old age or death -to trouble us here. And now you are in the -place of my father to rule over the cities and -over me." So she offered him herself and -all she had. But the king said: "In that -case you are my daughter and I give you -in marriage to my brave friend Good."</p> - -<p>In the king's words she saw the fulfilment -of her prayer, and being sensible and modest, -she agreed. So the king married them and -gave all the magic wealth to happy Good, -and said: "My friend, I have paid you now -for one of the two mangoes which I ate. But -I remain in your debt for the second."</p> - -<p>Then he asked the princess how he could -get back to his city. And she gave the king -a sword called Invincible, and the magic -fruit which wards off birth, old age, and death. -And the king took the sword and the fruit, -plunged into the pool which she showed him, -and came up in his own country, feeling -completely successful. But Good ruled happily -over the kingdom of the princess.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he -asked the king: "O King, which of these -two deserves more credit for plunging into -the sea?"</p> - -<p>And the king was afraid of the curse, so -he gave a true answer: "Good seems to me -the more deserving, for he did not know the -truth beforehand, but plunged without hope -into the sea, while the king knew the truth -when he jumped."</p> - -<p>And as soon as the king broke silence, the -goblin slipped from his shoulder as before -without being seen and went to the sissoo tree. -And the king tried as before to catch him. -Brave men do not waver until they have -finished what they have begun.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>EIGHTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Specialist in Food, the Specialist in Women, -and the Specialist in Cotton. Which is -the cleverest?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">So</span> the king went back under the sissoo -tree, caught the goblin just as before, -put him on his shoulder, and started -toward the monk. And as he walked along, -the goblin on his shoulder spoke and said: -"O King, listen once more to the following -story to beguile your weariness."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In the Anga country there is a great region -called Forest. There lived a great Brahman, -pious and wealthy, whose name was Vishnuswami. -To his worthy wife three sons were -born, one after another. When they had -grown to be young men, specialists in matters of -luxury, they were sent one day by their father -to find a turtle for a sacrifice which he had begun.</p> - -<p>So the brothers went to the ocean and there -they found a turtle. Then the eldest said to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -the two younger: "One of you take this -turtle for Father's sacrifice. I cannot carry a -slimy thing that smells raw."</p> - -<p>But when the eldest said this, the two -younger said: "Sir, if you feel disgust, why -shouldn't we?"</p> - -<p>When the eldest heard this, he said: "You -take the turtle, otherwise Father's sacrifice will -be ruined on your account. Then you and -Father too will surely go to hell."</p> - -<p>When they heard him, the two younger -brothers laughed and said: "Sir, you seem to -know our common duty, but not your own."</p> - -<p>Then the eldest said: "What! Are you -not aware that I am a connoisseur in food? -For I am a specialist in foods. How can I -touch this loathsome thing?"</p> - -<p>When he heard these words, the second -brother said: "But I am even more of a connoisseur. -I am a specialist in women. So -how can I touch it?"</p> - -<p>After this speech, the eldest said to the -youngest: "Do you then, being younger than -we, carry the turtle."</p> - -<p>Then the youngest frowned and said to them: -"Fools! I am a great specialist in cotton."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> - -<p>So the three brothers quarrelled, and arrogantly -leaving the turtle behind them, they -went to have the matter decided at Pinnacle, -the capital of a king called Conqueror. When -they came there, and had been announced and -introduced by the door-keeper, they told their -story to the king. And when the king had -heard all, he said: "Stay here. I will examine -you one after another." So they agreed and -all stayed there.</p> - -<p>Then the king invited them in at his own -dinner hour, seated them on magnificent seats, -and set before them sweet dishes of six flavours, -fit for a king. While all the rest ate, one of -the Brahmans, the specialist in food, disgustedly -shook his head and refused to eat. And when -the king himself asked him why he would not -eat food that was sweet and savoury, he respectfully -replied: "Your Majesty, in this food -there is the odour of smoke from a burning -corpse. Therefore, I do not wish to eat it, -however sweet it may be."</p> - -<p>Then at the king's command all the rest -smelt of it and declared it the best of winter -rice, and perfectly sweet. But the food-critic -held his nose and would not touch it. Now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -when the king reflected and made a careful -investigation, he learned from the commissioners -that the dish was made of rice grown near -a village crematory. Then he was greatly -astonished and pleased, and said: "Brahman, -you are certainly a judge of food. Pray take -something else."</p> - -<p>After dinner the king dismissed them to -their rooms, and sent for the most beautiful -woman of his court. And at night he sent -this lovely creature, all adorned, to the second -brother, the specialist in women. She came -with a servant of the king to his chamber, -and when she entered, she seemed to illuminate -the room. But the judge of women almost -fainted, and stopping his nose with his left -hand, he said to his servants: "Take her away! -If not, I shall die. A goaty smell issues from her."</p> - -<p>So the servants, in distress and astonishment, -conducted her to the king and told him what -had happened. Then the king sent for the -specialist in women, and said: "Brahman, she -has anointed herself with sandal, camphor, and -aloes, so that a delightful perfume pervades -her neighbourhood. How could this woman -have a goaty smell?" But in spite of this -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>the specialist in women would not yield. And -when the king endeavoured to learn the truth, -he heard from her own lips that in her infancy -she had been separated from her mother and -had been brought up on goat's milk. Then the -king was greatly astonished and loudly praised -the critical judgment of the specialist in women.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_104.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">The brothers went to the ocean, and there they found a turtle.</p> -</div> - -<p>Quickly he had a couch prepared for the -third brother, the specialist in cotton. So the -critic of cotton went to sleep on a bed with -seven quilts over the frame and covered with -a pure, soft coverlet. When only a half of -the first watch of the night was gone, he -suddenly started from the bed, shouting and -writhing with pain, his hand pressed to his -side. And the king's men who were stationed -there saw the curly red outline of a hair deeply -imprinted on his side.</p> - -<p>They went at once and informed the king, -who said to them: "See whether there is -anything under the quilts or not." So they -went and searched under each quilt, and under -the last they found one hair, which they -immediately took and showed to the king. -And the king summoned the specialist in -cotton, and finding the mark exactly corre<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>sponding -to the hair, was filled with extreme -astonishment. And he spent that night -wondering how the hair could sink into his -body through seven quilts.</p> - -<p>Now when the king arose in the morning, -he was delighted with their marvellous critical -judgment and sensitiveness, so that he gave -each of the three specialists a hundred thousand -gold-pieces. And they were contented and -stayed there, forgetting all about the turtle, -and thus incurring a crime through the failure -of their father's sacrifice.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When he had told this remarkable story, -the goblin on the king's shoulder said: "O -King, remember the curse I spoke of and -declare which of these three was the cleverest."</p> - -<p>When he heard this, the wise king answered -the goblin: "Without doubt I regard the -specialist in cotton as the cleverest, on whose -body the imprint of the hair was seen to -appear visibly. The other two might possibly -have found out beforehand."</p> - -<p>When the king had said this, the goblin slipped -from his shoulder as before. And the king went -back under the sissoo tree again to fetch him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>NINTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Four Scientific Suitors. To which should -the girl be given?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back to the -sissoo tree, put the goblin on his -shoulder, and started. And the goblin -spoke to him again: "O King, why do -you go to such pains in this cemetery at -night? Do you not see the home of the -ghosts, full of dreadful creatures, terrible in -the night, wrapped in darkness as in smoke? -Why do you work so hard and grow weary -for the sake of that monk? Well, to amuse -the journey, listen to a puzzle which I will -tell you."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In the Avanti country is a city built by -the gods at the beginning of time, adorned -with wonderful wealth and opportunities for -enjoyment. In the earliest age it was called -Lotus City, then Pleasure City, then Golden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -City, and now it is called Ujjain. There -lived a king named Heroic. And his queen -was named Lotus.</p> - -<p>One day the king went with her to the -sacred Ganges river and prayed to Shiva that -he might have children. And after long -prayer he heard a voice from heaven, for -Shiva was at last pleased with his devotion: -"O King, there shall be born to you a -brave son to continue your dynasty, and a -daughter more beautiful than the nymphs of -heaven."</p> - -<p>When he heard the heavenly voice, the -king was delighted at the fulfilment of his -wishes, and went back to his city with the -queen. And first Queen Lotus bore a son -called Brave, and then a daughter named -Grace who put the god of love to shame.</p> - -<p>When the girl grew up, the king sought -for a suitable husband for her, and invited -all the neighbouring princes by letter, but -not one of them seemed good enough for -her. So the king tenderly said to his -daughter: "My dear, I do not see a husband -worthy of you, so I will summon all the -kings hither, and you shall choose." But the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>princess said: "My dear father, such a choice -would be very embarrassing. I would rather -not. Just marry me to any good-looking -young man, who understands a single science -from beginning to end. I wish nothing more -nor less than that."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_111.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">"I understand the cries of all beasts and birds."</p> -</div> - -<p>Now while the king was looking for such -a husband, four brave, good-looking, scientific -men from the south heard of the matter and -came to him. And when they had been -hospitably received, each explained his own -science to the king.</p> - -<p>The first said: "I am a working-man, and -my name is Five-cloth. I make five splendid -suits of clothes a day. One I give to some -god and one to a Brahman. One I wear -myself, and one I shall give to my wife -when I have one. The fifth I sell, to buy -food and things. This is my science. Pray -give me Grace."</p> - -<p>The second said: "I am a farmer, and my -name is Linguist. I understand the cries of -all beasts and birds. Pray give me the -princess."</p> - -<p>The third said: "I am a strong-armed -soldier, and my name is Swordsman. I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -no rival on earth in the science of swordsmanship. -O King, pray give me your -daughter."</p> - -<p>The fourth said: "O King, I am a Brahman, -and my name is Life. I possess a -wonderful science. For if dead creatures are -brought to me, I can quickly restore them to -life. Let your daughter find a husband in -a man who has such heroic skill."</p> - -<p>When they had spoken, and the king had -seen that they all had wonderful garments and -personal beauty, he and his daughter swung in -doubt.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he said -to the king: "Remember the curse I mentioned, -and tell me to which of them the girl should be -given."</p> - -<p>And the king said to the goblin: "Sir, you -are merely trying to gain time by making me -break silence. There is no puzzle about that. -How could a warrior's daughter be given to -a working-man, a weaver? Or to a farmer, -either? And as to his knowledge of the -speech of beasts and birds, of what practical -use is it? And what good is a Brahman who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -neglects his own affairs and turns magician, -despising real courage? Of course she should -be given to the warrior Swordsman who had -some manhood with his science."</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this, he escaped by -magic from the king's shoulder, and disappeared. -And the king followed him as before. Discouragement -never enters the brave heart of a -resolute man.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>TENTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Three Delicate Wives of King Virtue-banner. -Which is the most delicate?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went to the sissoo tree, -put the goblin on his shoulder once -more, and started toward the monk. -And as he walked along, the goblin on his -shoulder said: "O King, I will tell you a -strange story to relieve your weariness. -Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There once was a king in Ujjain, whose -name was Virtue-banner. He had three -princesses as wives, and loved them dearly. -One of them was named Crescent, the second -Star, and the third Moon. While the king -lived happily with his wives, he conquered all -his enemies, and was content.</p> - -<p>One day at the time of the spring festival, -the king went to the garden to play with his -three wives. There he looked at the flower-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>laden -vines with black rows of bees on them; -they seemed like the bow of the god of love, -all ready for service. He heard the songs of -nightingales in the trees; they sounded like -commands of Love. And with his wives he -drank wine which seemed like Love's very -life-blood.</p> - -<p>Then the king playfully pulled the hair of -Queen Crescent, and a lotus-petal fell from her -hair into her lap. And the queen was so delicate -that it wounded her, and she screamed and -fainted. And the king was distracted, but -when servants sprinkled her with cool water -and fanned her, she gradually recovered consciousness. -And the king took her to the -palace and waited upon his dear wife with -a hundred remedies which the physicians -brought.</p> - -<p>And when the king saw that she was made -comfortable for the night, he went to the palace -balcony with his second wife Star. Now while -she slept on the king's breast, the moonbeams -found their way through the window and fell -upon her. And she awoke in a moment, and -started up, crying "I am burned!" Then the -king awoke and anxiously asked what the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>matter was, and he saw great blisters on her -body. When he asked her about it, Queen -Star said: "The moonbeams that fell on me -did it." And the king was distracted when he -saw how she wept and suffered. He called the -servants and they made a couch of moist lotus-leaves, -and dressed her wounds with damp -sandal-paste.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_118.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">She gradually recovered consciousness.</p> -</div> - -<p>At that moment the third queen, Moon, left -her room to go to the king. And as she -moved through the noiseless night, she clearly -heard in a distant part of the palace the sound -of pestles grinding grain. And she cried: -"Oh, oh! It will kill me!" She wrung her -hands and sat down in agony in the hall. -But her servants returned and led her to her -room, where she took to her bed and wept. -And when the servants asked what the matter -was, she tearfully showed her hands with -bruises on them, like two lilies with black -bees clinging to them. So they went and -told the king. And he came in great distress, -and asked his dear wife about it. She showed -her hands and spoke, though she suffered: -"My dear, when I heard the sound of the -pestles, these bruises came." Then the king<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -made them give her a cooling plaster of sandal-paste -and other things.</p> - -<p>And the king thought: "One of them was -wounded by a falling lotus-petal. The second -was burned by the moonbeams. The third -had her hands terribly bruised by the sound -of pestles. I love them dearly, but alas! -The very delicacy which is so great a virtue, -is positively inconvenient."</p> - -<p>And he wandered about in the palace, and -it seemed as if the night had three hundred -hours. But in the morning the king and his -skilful physicians took such measures that -before long his wives were well and he -was happy.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When he had told this story, the goblin -asked: "O King, which of them was the -most delicate?" And the king said: "The -one who was bruised by the mere sound of -the pestles, when nothing touched her. The -other two who were wounded or blistered by -actual contact with lotus-petals or moonbeams, -are not equal to her."</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this, he went back, and -the king resolutely hastened to catch him again.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>ELEVENTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The King who won a Fairy as his Wife. -Why did his counsellor's heart break?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went as before to -the sissoo tree, put the goblin on -his shoulder, and started back. And -the goblin said once more: "O King, I like -you wonderfully well because you are not -discouraged. So I will tell you a delightful -little story to relieve your weariness. -Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In the Anga country was a young king -named Glory-banner, so beautiful that he -seemed an incarnation of the god of love. -He had conquered all his enemies by his -strength of arm, and he had a counsellor -named Farsight.</p> - -<p>At last the king, proud of his youth and -beauty, entrusted all the power in his quiet -kingdom to his counsellor, and gradually de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>voted -himself entirely to pleasure. He spent -all his time with the ladies of the court, and -listened more attentively to their love-songs -than to the advice of statesmen. He took -greater pleasure in peeping into their windows -than into the holes in his administration. But -Farsight bore the whole burden of public -business, and never wearied day or night.</p> - -<p>Then the people began to murmur: "The -counsellor Farsight has seduced the king, and -now he alone has all the kingly glory." And -the counsellor said to his wife, whose name -was Prudence: "My dear, the king is devoted -to his pleasures, and great infamy is -heaped upon me by the people. They say I -have devoured the kingdom, though in fact -I support the burden of it. Now popular -gossip damages the greatest man. Was not -Rama forced to abandon his good wife by -popular clamour? So what shall I do now?"</p> - -<p>Then his clever wife Prudence showed that -she deserved her name. She said: "My -dear, leave the king and go on a pilgrimage. -Tell him that you are an old man now, -and should be permitted to travel in foreign -countries for a time. Then the gossip will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -cease, when they see that you are unselfish. -And when you are gone, the king will bear -his own burdens. And thus his levity will -gradually disappear. And when you come back, -you can assume your office without reproach."</p> - -<p>To this advice the counsellor assented, and -said to the king in the course of conversation: -"Your Majesty, permit me to go on a -pilgrimage for a few days. Virtue seems of -supreme importance to me."</p> - -<p>But the king said: "No, no, counsellor. -Is there no other kind of virtue except in -pilgrimages? How about generosity and that -kind of thing? Isn't it possible to prepare for -heaven in your own house?"</p> - -<p>Then the counsellor said: "Your Majesty, -one gets worldly prosperity from generosity -and that kind of thing. But a pilgrimage -gives eternal life. A prudent man should -attend to it while he has strength. The -chance may be lost, for no one can be sure -of his health."</p> - -<p>But the king was still arguing against it -when the door-keeper came in and said: -"Your Majesty, the glorious sun is diving -beneath the pool of heaven. Arise. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -hour for your bath is slipping away." And -the king went immediately to bathe.</p> - -<p>The counsellor went home, still determined -on his pilgrimage. He would not let his wife -go with him, but started secretly. Not even -his servants knew.</p> - -<p>He wandered alone through many countries -to many holy places, and finally came to the -Odra country. There he saw a city near -the ocean, where he entered a temple to Shiva -and sat down in the court. There he sat, -hot and dusty from long travel, when he was -seen by a merchant named Treasure who had -come to worship the god. The merchant -gathered from his dress and appearance that -he was a high-born Brahman, and invited him -home, and entertained him with food, bathing, -and the like.</p> - -<p>When the counsellor was rested, the merchant -asked him: "Who are you? Whence -do you come? And where are you going?" -And the other replied: "I am a Brahman -named Farsight. I came here on a pilgrimage -from the Anga country."</p> - -<p>Then the merchant Treasure said to him: -"I am preparing for a trading voyage to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -Golden Island. Do you stay in my house. -And when I come back, and you are wearied -from your pilgrimage, rest here for a time -before going home." But Farsight said: "I -do not want to stay here. I would rather go -with you." And the good merchant agreed. -And the counsellor slept in the first bed he -had lain in for many nights.</p> - -<p>The next day he went to the seashore with -the merchant, and entered the ship loaded -with the merchant's goods. He sailed along, -admiring the wonders and terrors of the sea, -till at last he reached Golden Island. There -he stayed for a time until the merchant had -finished his buying and selling. Now on the -way back, he saw a magic tree suddenly rising -from the ocean. It had beautiful branches, -boughs of gold, fruits of jewels, and splendid -blossoms. And sitting on a jewelled couch in -the branches was a lovely maiden of heavenly -beauty. And while the counsellor wondered -what it all meant, the maiden took her lute in -her hand, and began to sing:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">Whatever seed of fate is sown,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The fruit appears—'tis strange!</div> - <div class="verse">Whatever deed a man has done,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Not God himself can change.</div> -</div></div></div> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> -<p>And when she had made her meaning clear, -the heavenly maiden straightway sank with -the magic tree and the couch. And Farsight -thought: "What a wonderful thing I have -seen to-day! What a strange place the ocean -is for the appearance of a tree with a fairy in -it! And if this is a usual occurrence at sea, -why do not other goddesses arise?"</p> - -<p>The pilot and other sailors saw that he -was astonished, and they said: "Sir, this -wonderful maiden appears here regularly, -and sinks a moment after, but the sight is -new to you." Then the counsellor, filled -with amazement, came to the shore with -Treasure, and disembarked. And when the -merchant had unloaded his goods and caused -his servants to rejoice, the counsellor went -home with him and spent many happy days -there.</p> - -<p>At last he said to Treasure: "Merchant, -I have rested happily for a long time in your -house. Now I wish to go to my own country. -Peace be with you!" And in spite of -urging from the merchant, Farsight took his -leave, and started with no companion except -his own courage. He went through many -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>countries and at last reached the Anga -country. And scouts who had been sent by -King Glory-banner saw him before he reached -the city. When the king learned of it, he -went himself out of the city to meet him, -for he had been terribly grieved by the -separation. He drew near, embraced and -greeted the counsellor and took him, all -worn and dusty with the weary journey, -into an inner room.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_129.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">When he saw that she was saved, the king cried -"Come, come to me!"</p> -</div> - -<p>And as soon as the counsellor was refreshed, -the king said: "Counsellor, why did you -leave us? How could you bring yourself -to do so harsh and loveless a thing? But -after all, who can understand the strange -workings of stern necessity? To think that -you should decide all at once to wander off -on a pilgrimage! Well, tell me what countries -you visited, and what new things you saw."</p> - -<p>Then the counsellor told him the whole -story truthfully and in order, the journey -to Golden Island and the fairy who rose -singing from the sea, her wonderful beauty -and the magic tree.</p> - -<p>But the king immediately fell in love so -hopelessly that his kingdom and his life<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -seemed worthless to him without her. He -took the counsellor aside and said: "Counsellor, -I simply must see her. Remember that -I shall die if I do not. I bow to my fate. I -will take the journey which you took. You -must not refuse me nor accompany me. I -shall go alone and in disguise. You must -rule the kingdom, and not dispute my words. -Swear to do it on your life."</p> - -<p>So he spoke, and would not listen to advice, -but dismissed the counsellor. Then Farsight -was unhappy though a great festival was made -for him. How can a good counsellor be -happy when his master devotes himself to -a vice?</p> - -<p>The next night King Glory-banner threw -the burden of government on that excellent -counsellor, assumed the dress of a hermit, -and left his city. And as he travelled, he -saw a monk named Grass, who said when the -king bowed before him as a holy man: "My -son, if you sail with a merchant named -Fortune, you will obtain the maiden you -desire. Go on fearlessly."</p> - -<p>So the king bowed again and went on -rejoicing. After crossing rivers and mountains<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -he came to the ocean. And on the shore -he met at once the merchant Fortune whom -the monk had mentioned, bound for Golden -Island. And when the merchant saw the -king's appearance and his signet ring, he -bowed low, took him on the ship, and set -sail.</p> - -<p>When the ship reached the middle of the -sea, the maiden suddenly arose, sitting in the -branches of the magic tree. And as the king -gazed eagerly at her, she sang as before to -her lute:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">Whatever seed of fate is sown,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The fruit appears—'tis strange!</div> - <div class="verse">Whatever deed a man has done,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Not God himself can change.</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">Whatever, how, for whom, and where</div> - <div class="verse indent2">'Tis fated so to be,</div> - <div class="verse">That thing, just so, for him, and there</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Must happen fatally.</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>This song she sang, hinting at what was -to happen. And the king gazed at her -smitten by love, and could not move. Then -he cried: "O Sea, in hiding her, you deceive -those who think they have your treasures. -Honour and glory to you! I seek your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -protection. Grant me my desire!" And as -the king prayed, the maiden sank with the -tree. Then the king jumped after her into -the sea.</p> - -<p>The good merchant Fortune thought he -was lost and was ready to die of grief. But -he was comforted by a voice from heaven -which said: "Do nothing rash. There is -no danger when he sinks in the sea. For -he is the king Glory-banner, disguised as a -hermit. He came here for the sake of the -maiden; she was his wife in a former life. -And he will win her and return to his -kingdom in the Anga country." So the -merchant sailed on to complete his business.</p> - -<p>But King Glory-banner sank in the sea, -and all at once he saw a heavenly city. He -looked in amazement at the balconies with -their splendid jewelled pillars, their walls bright -with gold, and the network of pearls in their -windows. And he saw gardens with pools -that had stairways of various gems, and magic -trees that yielded all desires. But rich as it -was, the city was deserted.</p> - -<p>He entered house after house, but did not -find the maiden anywhere. Then he climbed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -a high balcony built of gems, opened a door, -and entered. And there he saw her all alone, -lying on a jewelled couch, and clad in splendid -garments. He eagerly raised her face to see -if it was really she, and saw that it was indeed -the maiden he sought. At the sight of her he -had the strange feeling of the traveller in a -desert in summer at the sight of a river.</p> - -<p>And she opened her eyes, saw that he was -handsome and loveable, and left her couch in -confusion. But she welcomed him and with -downcast eyes that seemed like full-blown -lotuses she did honour to his feet. Then she -slowly spoke: "Who are you, sir? How did -you come to this inaccessible under-world? -And what is this hermit garb? For I see -that you are a king. Oh, sir, if you would do -me a kindness, tell me this."</p> - -<p>And the king answered her: "Beautiful -maiden, I am King Glory-banner of the Anga -country, and I heard from a reliable person -that you were to be seen on the sea. To see -you I assumed this garb, left my kingdom, -and followed you hither. Oh, tell me who -you are."</p> - -<p>Then she said to him with bashful love:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -"Sir, there is a king of the fairies named -Moonshine. I am his daughter, and my name -is Moonlight. Now my father has left me -alone in this city. I do not know where he -went with the rest of the people, or why. -Therefore, as my home is lonely, I rise through -the ocean, sit on a magic tree, and sing about -fate."</p> - -<p>Then the king remembered the words of -the monk, and urged her with such gentle, -tender words that she confessed her love and -agreed to marry him. But she made a condition: -"My dear, on four set days in each -month you must let me go somewhere -unhindered and unseen. There is a reason." -And the king agreed, married her, and lived -in heavenly happiness with her.</p> - -<p>While he was living in heavenly bliss, -Moonlight said to him one day: "My dear, -you must wait here. I am going somewhere -on an errand. For this is one of the set days. -While you stay here, sweetheart, you must not -go into that crystal room, nor plunge into this -pool. If you do, you will find yourself at -that very moment in the world again." So she -said good-bye and left the city.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> - -<p>But the king took his sword and followed, -to learn her secret. And he saw a giant -approaching with a great black cave of a mouth -that yawned like the pit. The giant fell down -and howled horribly, then took Moonlight into -his mouth and swallowed her.</p> - -<p>And the king's anger blazed forth. He -took his great sword, black as a snake that has -sloughed its skin, ran up wrathfully, and cut -off the giant's head. He was blinded by his -madness, he did not know what to do, he was -afflicted by the loss of his darling. But Moonlight -split open the stomach of the giant, and -came out alive and unhurt, like the brilliant, -spotless moon coming out from a black cloud.</p> - -<p>When he saw that she was saved, the king -cried: "Come, come to me!" and ran forward -and embraced her. And he asked her: "What -does it mean, dearest? Is this a dream, or an -illusion?" And the fairy answered: "My -dear, listen to me. It is not a dream, not an -illusion. My father, the king of the fairies, -laid this curse upon me. My father had many -sons, but he loved me so that he could not eat -without me. And I used to come to this -deserted spot twice a month to worship Shiva.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> - -<p>"One day I came here and it happened that -I spent the whole day in worship. That day -my father waited for me and would not eat or -drink anything, though he was hungry and -angry with me. At night I stood before him -with downcast eyes, for I had done wrong. -And he forgot his love and cursed me—so -strong is fate. 'Because you have despised -me and left me hungry a whole day, a giant -named Terror-of-Fate will swallow you four -times a month when you leave the city. And -each time you will split him open and come -out. And you shall not remember the curse -afterwards, nor the pain of being swallowed -alive. And you must live here alone.'</p> - -<p>"But when I begged him, he thought awhile -and softened the curse. 'When Glory-banner, -King of the Angas, shall become -your husband, and shall see you swallowed -by the giant, and shall kill the giant, then -the curse shall end, and you shall remember -all your magic arts.' Then he left me here, -and went with his people to the Nishadha -mountain. But I stayed here because of the -curse. And now the curse is ended, and I -remember everything. So now I shall go<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> -to the Nishadha mountain to see my father. -Of course now I remember how to fly. And -you are at liberty to stay here, or to go back -to your own kingdom."</p> - -<p>Then the king was sad, and he begged -her thus: "My beautiful wife, do not go -for seven days. Be as kind as you are beautiful. -Let me be happy with you in the -garden, and forget my longings. Then you -may go to your father, and I will go home." -So he persuaded her, and was happy with -her for six days in the garden. And the -lilies in the ponds looked like longing eyes, -and the ripples like hands raised to detain -them, and the cries of swans and cranes -seemed to say: "Do not leave us and go -away."</p> - -<p>On the seventh day the king cleverly led -his wife to the pool from which one could -get back to the world. There he threw his -arms about her and plunged into the pool, -and came up with her in the pool in the -garden of his own palace.</p> - -<p>The gardeners saw that the king had come -back with a wife, and they joyfully ran and -told the counsellor Farsight. He came and fell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> -at the king's feet, and then led the king -and the fairy into the palace. And the -counsellor and the people thought: "Wonderful! -The king has won the fairy whom -others could see only for a moment like the -lightning in the sky. Whatever is written -in one's fate, that comes true, however impossible -it may be."</p> - -<p>But when Moonlight saw that the king -was in his own country, and the seven days -were over, she thought she would fly away -like other fairies. But she could not remember -how. Then she became very sad, -like a woman who has been robbed.</p> - -<p>And the king said: "Why are you so sad, -my dear? Tell me." And the fairy said: -"The curse is over. Yet because I have been -bound so long in the fetters of your love, I -have lost my magic arts. I cannot fly." -Then the king thought: "The fairy is really -mine," and he was happy and made a great -feast.</p> - -<p>When the counsellor Farsight saw this, he -went home, and lay down on his bed, and -his heart broke, and he died. Then the king -governed the kingdom himself, and lived for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -a long time in heavenly happiness with -Moonlight.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When he had told this story, the goblin -said: "O King, when the king was so -happy, why should the counsellor's heart -break? Was it from grief because he did -not win the fairy himself? Or from sorrow -because the king came back, and he could no -longer act as king? If you know and will -not tell me, then you will lose your virtue, -and your head will go flying into a hundred -pieces."</p> - -<p>And the king said to the goblin: "O -magic creature, neither of these reasons would -be possible for a high-minded counsellor. -But he thought: 'The king used to neglect -his duties for the sake of ordinary women. -What will happen now, when he loves a -fairy? In spite of all my efforts, a terrible -misfortune has happened.' I think that was -why his heart broke."</p> - -<p>Then the magic goblin went back to his -tree in a moment. And the king was still -determined to catch him, and went once -more to the sissoo tree.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>TWELFTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Brahman who died because Poison from -a Snake in the Claws of a Hawk fell into -a Dish of Food given him by a Charitable -Woman. Who is to blame for his -death?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back under the -sissoo tree, put the goblin on his -shoulder, and started as before. And -as he walked along, the goblin said to him -again: "O King, listen to a very condensed -story."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There is a city called Benares. In it lived -a Brahman named Devaswami, whom the king -honoured. He was very rich, and he had -a son named Hariswami. This son had a -wonderful wife, and her name was Beautiful. -No doubt the Creator put together in her -the priceless elements of charm and loveliness -after his practice in making the nymphs of -heaven.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> - -<p>One night Hariswami was sleeping on a -balcony cooled by the rays of the moon. -And a fairy prince named Love-speed was -flying through the air, and as he passed he -saw Beautiful asleep beside her husband. He -took her, still asleep, and carried her off -through the air.</p> - -<p>Presently Hariswami awoke, and not seeing -the mistress of his life, he rose in anxiety. -And he wondered: "Oh, where has my -wife gone? Is she angry with me? Or is -she playing hide-and-seek with me, to see -how I will take it?" So he roamed anxiously -all over the balcony during the rest of the -night. But he did not find her, though he -searched as far as the garden.</p> - -<p>Then he was overcome by his sorrow -and sobbed convulsively. "Oh, Beautiful, my -darling! Fair as the moon! White as the -moonlight! Was the night jealous of your -beauty; did she carry you away? Your -loveliness shamed the moon who refreshed me -with beams cool as sandal; but now that you -are gone, the same beams torment me like -blazing coals, like poisoned arrows!"</p> - -<p>And as Hariswami lamented thus, the night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -came to an end, but his anguish did not end. -The pleasant sun scattered the darkness, but -could not scatter the blind darkness of -Hariswami's madness. His pitiful lamentations -increased a hundredfold, when the nightly -cries of the birds ended. His relatives tried -to comfort him, but he could not pluck up -courage while his loved one was lost. He -went here and there, sobbing out: "Here -she stood. And here she bathed. And here -she adorned herself. And here she played."</p> - -<p>His relatives and friends gave him good -advice. "She is not dead," they said. "Why -should you make way with yourself? You -will surely find her. Pluck up courage and -hunt for her. Nothing is impossible to the -brave and determined man." And when -they urged him, Hariswami after some days -plucked up heart.</p> - -<p>He thought: "I will give all my fortune -to the Brahmans, and then wander to holy -places. Thus I will wear away my sins, and -when my sins are gone, perhaps I shall find -my darling in my wanderings." So he arose -and bathed.</p> - -<p>On the next day he provided food and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -drink, and made a great feast for the -Brahmans, and gave them all he had except -his piety. Then he started to wander to holy -places, hoping to find his wife.</p> - -<p>As he wandered, the summer came on him -like a lion, the blazing sun its mouth, and the -sunbeams its mane. And the hot wind blew, -made hotter yet by the sighs of travellers -separated from their wives. And the yellow -mud dried and cracked, as if the lakes were -broken-hearted at the loss of their lotuses. -And the trees, filled with chirping birds, -seemed to lament the absence of the spring, -and their withering leaves seemed like lips that -grow dry in the heat.</p> - -<p>At this time Hariswami was distressed by -the heat and the loss of his wife, by hunger, -thirst, and weariness. And as he sought for -food, he came to a village. There he saw -many Brahmans eating in the house of a -Brahman named Lotus-belly, and he leaned -against the doorpost, speechless and motionless.</p> - -<p>Then the good wife of that pious Brahman -pitied him, and she thought: "Hunger is a -heavy burden. It makes anyone light. Look -at this hungry man standing with bowed head -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>at the door. He looks like a pious man who -has come from a far country, and he is tired. -Therefore he is a proper person for me to -feed."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_146.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">The summer came on him like a lion.</p> -</div> - -<p>So the good woman took in her hands a dish -filled with excellent rice, melted butter, and -candied sugar, and courteously gave it to him. -And she said: "Go to the edge of our pond, -and eat it."</p> - -<p>He thanked her, took the dish, went a little -way, and set it down under a fig-tree on the -edge of the pond. Then he washed his hands -and feet in the pond, rinsed his mouth, and -joyfully drew near to eat the good food.</p> - -<p>At that moment a hawk settled on the tree, -carrying a black snake in his beak and claws. -And the snake died in the grasp of the hawk, -and his mouth opened, and a stream of poison -came out. This poison fell into the dish of -food.</p> - -<p>But Hariswami did not see it. He came up -hungry, and ate it all. And immediately he -felt the terrible effects of the poison. He -stammered out: "Oh, when fate goes wrong, -everything goes wrong. Even this rice and -the milk and the melted butter and the candied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -sugar is poison to me." And he staggered up -to the Brahman's wife and said: "Oh, Brahman's -wife, I have been poisoned by the food -you gave me. Bring a poison-doctor at once. -Otherwise you will be the murderer of a -Brahman."</p> - -<p>And the good woman was terribly agitated. -But while she was running about to find a -poison-doctor, Hariswami turned up his eyes -and died. Thus, though she was not to blame, -though she was really charitable, the poor wife -was reproached by the angry Brahman who -thought she had murdered her guest. She was -falsely accused for a really good action. So -she was dejected and went on a pilgrimage.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When he had told this story, the goblin -said: "O King, who murdered the Brahman? -the snake, or the hawk, or the woman who -gave him the food, or her husband? This -was discussed in the presence of the god of -death, but they could not decide. Therefore, O -King, do you say. Who killed the Brahman? -Remember the curse, if you know and do not -tell the truth."</p> - -<p>Then the king broke silence and said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> -"Who did the murder? The snake cannot be -blamed, because he was being eaten by his -enemy and could not help himself. The hawk -was hungry and saw nothing. He was not to -blame. And how can you blame either or -both of the charitable people who gave food -to a guest who arrived unexpectedly? They -were quite virtuous, and cannot be blamed. I -should say that the dead man himself was to -blame, for he dared to accuse one of the -others."</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this, he jumped from -the king's shoulder and escaped to the sissoo -tree. And the king ran after him again, determined -to catch him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>THIRTEENTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Girl who showed Great Devotion to the -Thief. Did he weep or laugh?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back to the sissoo -tree, put the goblin on his shoulder, -and started. And as he walked along, -the goblin said to him: "O King, I will tell -you another story. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There is a city called Ayodhya, which was -once the capital of Rama the exterminator of -giants. In this city lived a strong-armed king -named Hero-banner who protected the world -as a wall protects a city. During his reign a -great merchant named Jewel lived in the -city. His wife was named Pleasing, and a -daughter named Pearl was given to her -prayers.</p> - -<p>As the girl grew up in her father's house, -her natural virtues grew too: beauty, charm, -and modesty. And thus she became a young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> -woman. Now in her young womanhood she -was asked in marriage not only by great -merchants, but even by kings. But she was -prudent and did not like men. She would not -have loved a god if he had been her husband. -She was ready to die at merely hearing talk of -her marriage. So her father was silent on the -subject, though his tender love for her made -him sad. And the story was known everywhere -in Ayodhya.</p> - -<p>At this time all the citizens were being -plundered by thieves, and they petitioned King -Hero-banner in these words: "O King, we -are plundered every night by thieves, and cannot -catch them. Your Majesty must decide -what to do." So the king stationed night-watchmen -in hiding about the city, to search -out the thieves.</p> - -<p>When the watchmen failed to catch the -thieves for all their searching, the king himself -took his sword, and wandered about alone at -night. And he saw a man creeping along a -wall with noiseless steps, often casting a fearful -glance behind him. The king concluded that -this was the thief who all alone robbed the -city, and went up to him. And the thief<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -asked him who he was. The king replied: -"I am a thief."</p> - -<p>Then the thief said joyfully: "Good! You -are my friend. Come to my house. I will -treat you like a friend." So the king agreed -and went with the thief to a house hidden in -a grove and guarded by a wall, full of delightful -and beautiful things, and bright with shining -gems. There the thief offered the king a seat, -and went into an inner room.</p> - -<p>At that moment a serving-maid came into -the room and said to the king: "Your Majesty, -why have you come into the jaws of death? -This wonderful thief has gone out, intending -to do you a mischief. He is certainly -treacherous. Go away quickly."</p> - -<p>So the king quickly went away, returned to -the city, and drew up a company of soldiers. -With these soldiers he went and surrounded -the house where the serving-maid had been.</p> - -<p>When the thief saw that the house was -surrounded, he knew that he was betrayed, -and came out to fight and die like a man. -He showed more than human valour. He cut -off the trunks of elephants, the legs of horses, -and the heads of men; and he was all alone,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> -with only his sword and shield. When the -king saw that his army was destroyed, he ran -forward himself.</p> - -<p>The king was a scientific swordsman, so -with a turn of his wrist he sent the sword and -the dagger flying from the thief's hand. Then -he threw away his own sword, wrestled with -the thief, threw him, and took him alive.</p> - -<p>The next morning the thief was led to the -place of execution to be impaled, and the drums -were beaten. And Pearl, the merchant's -daughter, saw him from her balcony. All -bloody and dusty as he was, she went mad with -love, found her father, and said to him: "Father, -I am going to marry that thief who is being led -to execution. You must save him from the -king. Otherwise I shall die with him."</p> - -<p>But her father said: "What do you mean, -my daughter? That thief stole everything -the citizens had, and the king's men are going -to kill him. How can I save him from the -king? Besides, what nonsense are you talking?" -But the more he scolded, the more -determined she became. And as he loved his -daughter, he went to the king and offered all -he had for the release of the thief.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_157.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">With a turn of the wrist he sent the dagger flying -from the chief's hand.</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> - -<p>But the king would not be tempted by -millions. He would not release the thief who -stole everything, whom he had captured at the -risk of his life. So the father returned home -sadly. And the girl, not heeding the arguments -of her relatives, took a bath, entered a -litter, and went to the death-scene of the rogue, -to die with him. Her parents and her relatives -followed her, weeping.</p> - -<p>At that moment the executioners impaled -the thief. As his life ebbed away, he saw the -girl and the people with her, and learned her -story. Then the tears rolled down his cheeks, -but he died with a smile on his lips.</p> - -<p>The faithful girl took the thief's body from -the stake, and mounted the pyre to burn -herself. But the blessed god Shiva was staying -invisibly in the cemetery, and at that moment -he spoke from the sky: "O faithful wife, I -am pleased with your constancy to the husband -of your choice. Choose whatever boon you -will from me."</p> - -<p>The girl worshipped the gracious god and -chose her boon: "O blessed one, my father has -no son. May he have a hundred. Otherwise -his childless life would end when I am gone."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> - -<p>And the god spoke again from the sky: -"O faithful wife, your father shall have a -hundred sons. But choose another boon. A -woman faithful as you are deserves more than -the little thing you asked."</p> - -<p>Then she said: "O god, if I have won -your favour, may this my husband live and -always be a good man."</p> - -<p>The invisible Shiva spoke from the sky: -"So be it. Your husband shall be made alive -and well. He shall be a good man, and King -Hero-banner shall be pleased with him."</p> - -<p>Then the thief arose at once, alive and well. -And the merchant Jewel was overjoyed and -astonished. He took Pearl and the thief, -his son-in-law, went home with his rejoicing -relatives, and made a feast great as his own -delight, in honour of the sons he was to have.</p> - -<p>And the king was pleased when he learned -the story, and in recognition of the stupendous -courage of the thief, he appointed him general -at once. The thief reformed, married the -merchant's daughter, and lived happily with -her, devoted to virtue.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -reminded the king of the curse, and said: -"O king, when the thief on the stake saw -the merchant's daughter approaching with her -father, did he weep or laugh? Tell me."</p> - -<p>And the king answered: "He thought: -'I can make no return to this merchant for -his unselfish friendship.' Therefore he wept -from grief. And he also thought: 'Why -does this girl reject kings and fall in love with -a thief like me? How strange women are!' -Therefore he laughed from astonishment."</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this, he immediately -slipped from the king's shoulder and escaped -to his home. But the king was not discouraged. -He followed him to the sissoo -tree.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>FOURTEENTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Man who changed into a Woman at -Will. Was his wife his or the other man's?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">So</span> the king went back as before under -the sissoo tree, put the goblin on his -shoulder, and started toward the monk. -And as he walked along, the goblin told the -king a story.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There was a city called Shivapur in Nepal. -Long ago a king named Glory-banner lived -there, and he deserved the name. He laid -the burden of government on his counsellor -named Ocean-of-Wisdom, and devoted himself -to a life of pleasure with his wife Moonbright.</p> - -<p>In course of time a daughter named Moonlight -was born to them, pleasing as the -moonlight to the eyes of men. When she -grew up, she went one day in spring with -her servants to a festival in the garden.</p> - -<p>There she was seen by a Brahman youth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> -named Master-mind, the son of Rich, who -had come there to the festival. When he saw -her plucking flowers with one arm uplifted, -he went mad with love. His heart was taken -captive by the gay maiden, and he was no -longer master of his mind.</p> - -<p>He thought: "Is she the goddess of love, -plucking the spring flowers in person? Or -is she a forest goddess, come here to worship -the spring-time?"</p> - -<p>Then the princess saw him, like a new god -of love incarnate. The moment her eyes fell -on him, she fell in love, forgetting her flowers -and even her own limbs. While they looked -at each other, lost in love like people in a -picture, a great wail of anguish arose. They -lifted their heads to learn what the matter was, -and just then an elephant that had broken his -chain, maddened by the scent of another mad -elephant, came by, crushing the people in his -path. He had thrown off his driver and the -ankus hung from him as he ran. And everyone -fled in terror.</p> - -<p>But the youth Master-mind ran up in a -hurry and took the princess in his arms. -And with a mixture of fear and love and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>modesty she half embraced him as he carried -her far out of the elephant's path. Then her -people gradually gathered, and she went to -the palace, looking at the youth, and burning -over the flame of love.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_164.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">An elephant came by, crushing the people in his path.</p> -</div> - -<p>And the youth went home from the garden, -and thought: "I cannot live, I cannot exist -a moment without her. I must seek help -from my teacher Root, who is a thorough -rogue." And so the day slowly passed.</p> - -<p>The next morning he went to his teacher -Root, and found him with his constant friend -Moon. He drew near, bowed, and told his -desire. And the teacher laughed and promised -to help him.</p> - -<p>So that wonderful rogue put a magic pill -in his mouth, and thus changed himself into -an old Brahman. He put a second pill into -Master-mind's mouth, which changed him -into a lovely girl. Then that prince of rogues -took him to the king and said: "O King, -this maiden has come a long distance to marry -my only son. But my son has gone away, -and I am going to look for him. Please keep -the girl. For you are a protector to be trusted -while I am looking for my son."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> - -<p>The king was afraid of a curse, so he -promised to do it. And summoning his -daughter, he said: "Daughter, keep this -maiden in your chamber, and let her live -with you." So the girl took the Brahman -youth Master-mind in his girl form to her -own apartments.</p> - -<p>When Root had gone away, Master-mind -in his girl form lived with his belovèd, and -in a few days came to know her in an intimate -and loving way, as girl friends do. Then -when he saw that she was pining away and -tossing on her couch, he asked the princess -one evening: "My dear girl, why do you -grow pale and thin day by day, grieving as -if separated from your love? Tell me. Why -not trust a loving, innocent girl like me? If -you will not tell me, I shall starve myself."</p> - -<p>And the princess trusted him and said after -a little hesitation: "My dear girl, why should -I not trust you? Listen. I will tell you. -One day I went to the spring festival in the -garden. There I saw a handsome Brahman -youth, fair as the moon but not so cold, the -sight of whom kindled my love. For he -adorned the garden as the spring-time does.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> -While my eager eyes were feasting on his face, -a great mad elephant that had broken his -chain came charging and thundering past like -a black cloud in the dry season. My servants -scattered in terror, and I was helpless. But -the Brahman youth took me in his arms and -carried me far away. I seemed to be in a -sandal bath, in a stream of nectar. I cannot -tell how I felt as I touched him. Presently -my servants gathered around, and I was -brought here helpless. I felt as if I had fallen -from heaven to earth. From that day I see -in my thoughts my dear preserver beside me. -I embrace him in my dreams. What need of -more words? I wear away the time, thinking -constantly of him and only him. The fire -of separation from the lord of my life devours -me day and night."</p> - -<p>When Master-mind heard these welcome -words, he rejoiced and counted himself happy. -And thinking the time to reveal himself had -come, he took the pill from his mouth, and -disclosed his natural form. And he said: -"Beautiful maiden, I am he whom you -bought and enslaved with a kindly glance -in the garden. I was sick at the separation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -from you; so I took the form of a girl, and -came here. So now bring heaven in a loving -glance to my love-tortured heart."</p> - -<p>When the princess saw that the lord of her -life was beside her, she was torn between love -and wonder and modesty, and did not know -what she ought to do. So they were secretly -married and lived there in supreme happiness. -Master-mind lived in a double form. By day -he was a girl with the pill in his mouth, by -night a man without the pill.</p> - -<p>After a time the brother-in-law of King -Glory-banner gave his daughter with great -pomp to a Brahman, the son of the counsellor -Ocean-of-Wisdom. And the princess Moonlight -was invited to her cousin's wedding and -went to her uncle's house. And Master-mind -went with her in his girl form.</p> - -<p>When the counsellor's son saw Master-mind -in his lovely girl form, he was -terribly smitten with the arrows of love. -His heart was stolen by the sham girl, and -he went home feeling lonely even with his -wife. It made him crazy to think of -that lovely face. When his father tried to -soothe him, he woke from his madness and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -stammered out his insane desire. And his -father was terribly distressed, knowing that -all this depended on another.</p> - -<p>Then the king learned the story and came -there. When the king saw his condition -and perceived that he was seven parts gone -in love, he said: "How can I give him the -girl who was intrusted to me by the Brahman? -Yet without her he will be ten parts -gone in love, and will die. And if he dies, -then his father, the counsellor, will die too. -And if the counsellor perishes, my kingdom -will perish. What shall I do?"</p> - -<p>He consulted his counsellors, and they said: -"Your Majesty, the first duty of a king is -the preservation of the virtue of his people. -This is the fundamental principle, and is -established as such among counsellors. If the -counsellor is lost, the fundamental principle -is lost; how then can virtue be preserved? -So in this case it would be sinful to destroy -the counsellor through his son. You must -by all means avoid the loss of virtue which -would ensue. Give the Brahman's girl to the -counsellor's son. And when the Brahman returns, -further measures will suggest themselves."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> - -<p>To this the king agreed, and promised to -give the sham girl to the counsellor's son. -So Master-mind in his girl form was brought -from the chamber of the princess, and he -said to the king: "Your Majesty, I was -brought here by somebody for a given -purpose. If you give me to somebody else, -well and good. You are the king. Right -and wrong depend on you. I will marry him -to-day, but only on one condition. My -husband shall go away immediately after the -marriage and not return until he has been -on a pilgrimage for six months. Otherwise -I shall bite out my tongue."</p> - -<p>So the counsellor's son was summoned, and -he joyfully assented. He made the man his -wife at once, put the sham wife in a guarded -room and started on a pilgrimage. So Master-mind -lived there in his woman form.</p> - -<p>When he realized that the counsellor's son -would soon return, Master-mind fled by night. -And Root heard the story, and again assumed -the form of an old Brahman. He took his -friend Moon, went to Glory-banner, and said -respectfully: "Your Majesty, I have brought -my son. Pray give me my daughter-in-law."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> - -<p>The king was afraid of a curse, so he -said: "Brahman, I do not know where your -daughter-in-law has gone. Be merciful. To -atone for my carelessness, I will give your -son my own daughter."</p> - -<p>The prince of rogues in the form of an -old Brahman angrily refused. But the king -finally persuaded him, and with all due form -married his daughter Moonlight to Moon, -who pretended to be the old Brahman's son. -Then Root went home with the bride and -bridegroom.</p> - -<p>But then Master-mind came, and in the -presence of Root a great dispute arose between -him and Moon.</p> - -<p>Master-mind said: "Moonlight should be -given to me. I married the girl first with -my teacher's permission."</p> - -<p>Moon said: "Fool! What rights have -you in my wife? Her father gave her to -me in regular marriage."</p> - -<p>So they disputed about the princess whom -one had won by fraud and the other by -force. But they could reach no decision.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>O King, tell me. Whose wife is she?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -Resolve my doubts, and remember the agreement -about your head.</p> - -<p>Then the king said: "I think she is the -rightful wife of Moon. For she was married -to him in the regular way by her father in -the presence of her relatives. Master-mind -married her secretly, like a thief. And when -a thief takes things from other people, it is -never right."</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this, he went back -home as before. And the king stuck to his -purpose. He went back again, put the -goblin on his shoulder, and started from the -sissoo tree.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>FIFTEENTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Fairy Prince Cloud-chariot and the -Serpent Shell-crest. Which is the more -self-sacrificing?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">So</span> the king walked along with the goblin. -And the goblin said: "O king, listen -to a story the like of which was never -heard."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There is a mountain called Himalaya where -all gems are found. It is the king of -mountains. Its proud loftiness is everywhere -the theme of song. The sun himself has not -seen its top.</p> - -<p>On its summit is a city called Golden City, -brilliant like a heap of sunbeams left in trust -by the sun. There lived a glorious fairy-king -named Cloud-banner. In the garden of his -palace was a wishing-tree which had come -down to him from his ancestors.</p> - -<p>King Cloud-banner had worshipped the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -tree which was really a god, and by its grace -had obtained a son named Cloud-chariot. -This son remembered his former lives. He -was destined to be a Buddha in a future -life. He was generous, noble, merciful to all -creatures, and obedient to his parents.</p> - -<p>When he grew up, the king anointed -him crown prince, persuaded thereto by his -counsellors as well as by the remarkable -virtues of the youth. While Cloud-chariot -was crown prince, his father's counsellors came -to him one day and kindly said: "Crown -prince, you must always honour this wishing-tree -in your garden; for it yields all desires, -and cannot be taken away by anybody. As -long as it is favourably disposed to us, the -king of the gods could not conquer us, and -of course nobody else could."</p> - -<p>Then Cloud-chariot thought: "Alas! The -men of old had this heavenly tree, yet they -did not pluck from it any worthy fruit. They -were mean-spirited. They simply begged it -for some kind of wealth. And so they -degraded themselves and the great tree too. -But I will get from it the wish which is in -my heart."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> - -<p>With this thought the noble creature went -to his father. He showed such complete -deference as to delight his father, then when his -father was comfortably seated, he whispered: -"Father, you know yourself that in this sea -of life all possessions, including our own -bodies, are uncertain as a rippling wave. -Especially is money fleeting, uncertain, fickle -as the twilight lightning. The only thing -in life which does not perish is service. This -gives birth to virtue and glory, twin witnesses -through all the ages to come. Father! Why -do we keep such a wishing-tree for the sake -of transient blessings? Our ancestors clung -to it, saying: 'It is mine, it is mine.' And -where are they now? What is it to them, -or they to it? Then, if you bid me, I will -beg this generous wishing-tree for the one -fruit that counts, the fruit of service to -others."</p> - -<p>His father graciously assented, and Cloud-chariot -went to the wishing-tree, and said: -"O god, you have fulfilled the wishes of our -fathers. Fulfil now my one single wish. -Remove poverty from the world. A blessing -be with you. Go. I give you to the needy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -world." And as Cloud-chariot bowed reverently, -there came a voice from the tree: -"I go, since you give me up." And the -wishing-tree immediately flew from heaven and -rained so much money on the earth that nobody -was poor. And Cloud-chariot's reputation for -universal benevolence was spread abroad.</p> - -<p>But all the relatives were jealous and envious. -They thought that they could easily conquer -Cloud-chariot and his father without the -wishing-tree, and they prepared to fight to -take away his kingdom. But Cloud-chariot -said to his father: "Father, how can you -take your weapons and fight? What high-minded -man would want a kingdom after -killing his relatives just for the sake of this -wretched, perishable body? Let us abandon -the kingdom, and go away somewhere to -devote ourselves entirely to virtue. Then we -shall be blessed in both worlds. And let these -wretched relatives enjoy the kingdom which -they hanker after."</p> - -<p>And Cloud-banner said: "My son, I only -want the kingdom for you, and if you give it -up from benevolent motives, what good is it -to me? I am an old man."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> - -<p>So Cloud-chariot left the kingdom and went -with his father and mother to the Malabar hills. -There he built a hermit's retreat, and waited on -his parents.</p> - -<p>One day, as he wandered about, he met -Friend-wealth, the son of All-wealth, who -lived there as king of the Siddhas. And -Cloud-chariot spoke to him and made friends -with him.</p> - -<p>Then one day Cloud-chariot saw a shrine to -the goddess Gauri in the grove, and entered -there. And he saw a slender, lovely maiden -surrounded by her girl friends and playing on -a lute, in honour of Gauri. The deer listened -to her music and her song, motionless as -if ashamed because her eyes were lovelier -than their own. When Cloud-chariot saw the -slender maiden, his heart was ravished.</p> - -<p>And he seemed to her to make the garden -beautiful like the spring-time. A strange longing -came over her. She became so helpless -that her friends were alarmed.</p> - -<p>Then Cloud-chariot asked one of her friends: -"My good girl, what is your friend's sweet -name? What family does she adorn?"</p> - -<p>And the friend said: "This is Sandal, sister<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -of Friend-wealth, and daughter of the king of -the Siddhas." Then she earnestly asked for -the name and family of Cloud-chariot from a -hermit's son who had come with him. And -then she spoke to Sandal with words punctuated -by smiles: "My dear, why do you not show -hospitality to the fairy prince? He is a guest -whom all the world would be glad to honour."</p> - -<p>But the bashful princess remained silent with -downcast eyes. Then the friend said: "She -is bashful. Accept a hospitable greeting from -me." And she gave him a garland.</p> - -<p>Cloud-chariot, far gone in love, took the -garland and put it around Sandal's neck. And -the loving, sidelong glance which she gave him -seemed like another garland of blue lotuses. -So they pledged themselves without speaking a -word.</p> - -<p>Then a serving-maid came and said to the -princess: "Princess, your mother remembers -you. Come at once." And she went slowly, -after drawing from her lover's face a passionate -glance, for which Love's arrow had wedged a -path. And Cloud-chariot went to the hermitage, -thinking of her; while she, sick with the -separation from the lord of her life, saw her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> -mother, then tottered to her bed and fell upon -it. Her eyes were blinded as if by smoke from -the fire of love within her, her limbs tossed in -fever, she shed tears. And though her friends -anointed her with sandal and fanned her with -lotus-leaves, she found no rest on her bed or in -the lap of a friend or on the ground.</p> - -<p>Then when the day fled away with the -passionate red twilight, and the moon drew -near to kiss the face of the laughing East, she -despaired of life, and her modesty would not -let her send a message in spite of all her love. -But somehow she lived through the night. -And Cloud-chariot too was in anguish at the -separation. Even in his bed he was fallen into -the hand of Love. Though his passion was -so recent, he had already grown pale. Though -shame kept him silent, his looks told of the -pangs of love. And so he passed the night.</p> - -<p>In the morning he arose and went to the -shrine of Gauri. And his friend, the hermit's -son, followed him and tried to comfort him. -At that moment the lovelorn Sandal came out -of her house alone, for she could not endure -the separation, and crept to that lonely spot to -end her life there.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> - -<p>She did not see her lover behind a tree, and -with eyes brimming with tears she prayed to -the goddess Gauri: "O goddess, since I could -not in this life have Cloud-chariot as my -husband, grant that in another life at last -he may be my husband."</p> - -<p>Then she tied her garment to the limb of -an ashoka tree before the goddess and cried: -"Alas, my lord! Alas, Cloud-chariot! They -say your benevolence is universal. Why did -you not save me?"</p> - -<p>But as she fastened the garment about her -neck, a voice from the sky was heard in the -air: "My daughter, do nothing rash. Cloud-chariot, -the future king of the fairies, shall be -your husband."</p> - -<p>And Cloud-chariot heard the heavenly voice, -and with his friend approached his rejoicing -sweetheart. The friend said to the girl: -"Here is the gift which the goddess grants -you." And Cloud-chariot spoke more than -one tender word and loosed the garment from -her neck with his own hand.</p> - -<p>Then a girl friend who had been gathering -flowers there and had seen what was happening, -came up joyfully and said, while Sandal's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> -modest eyes seemed to be tracing a figure on -the ground: "My dear, I congratulate you. -Your wish is granted. This very day Prince -Friend-wealth said in my presence to King -All-wealth, your father: 'Father, the fairy -prince Cloud-chariot, who deserves honour -from all the world, who gave away the wishing-tree, -is here, and we should treat him as an -honoured guest. We could not find another -bridegroom like him. So let us welcome him -with the gift of Sandal who is a pearl of a -girl.' And the king agreed, and your brother -Friend-wealth has this moment gone to the -hermitage of the noble prince. I think your -marriage will soon take place. So go to your -chamber, and let the noble prince go to his -hermitage."</p> - -<p>So she went slowly and happily and lovingly. -And Cloud-chariot hastened to the hermitage. -There he greeted Friend-wealth and heard his -message, and told him about his own birth and -former life. Then Friend-wealth was delighted -and told Cloud-chariot's parents who were -also delighted. Then he went home and made -his own parents happy with the news.</p> - -<p>That very day he invited Cloud-chariot to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -his home. And they made a great feast as -was proper, and married the fairy prince and -Sandal on the spot. Then Cloud-chariot was -completely happy and spent some time there -with his bride Sandal.</p> - -<p>One day he took a walk for pleasure about -the hills with Friend-wealth, and came to the -seashore. There he saw great heaps of bones, -and he asked Friend-wealth: "What creatures -did these heaps of bones belong to?" His -brother-in-law Friend-wealth said to the -merciful prince: "Listen, my friend. I will -tell you the story briefly."</p> - -<p>Long ago Kadru, the mother of the serpents, -made a wager with her rival Vinata, the -mother of the great bird Garuda. She won -the wager and enslaved her rival. Now -Garuda's anger continued even after he had -freed his mother from slavery. He kept going -into the underworld where Kadru's offspring, -the serpents, live, to eat them. Some he killed, -others he crushed.</p> - -<p>Then Vasuki, king of the serpents, feared -that in time all would be lost if the serpents -were all to be slain thus. So he made an -agreement with Garuda. He said: "O king<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -of birds, I will send one serpent every day to -the shore of the southern sea for you to eat. -But you are never to enter the underworld -again. What advantage would it be to you -if all the serpents were slain at once?" And -Garuda agreed, with an eye to his own -advantage.</p> - -<p>Since that time Garuda every day eats the -snake sent by Vasuki here on the seashore. -And these heaps of bones from the serpents -that have been eaten, have in time formed a -regular mountain.</p> - -<p>When Cloud-chariot heard this story from -the lips of Friend-wealth, he was deeply -grieved and said: "My friend, wretched indeed -is that king Vasuki who deliberately sacrifices -his own subjects to their enemy. He is a -coward. He has a thousand heads, yet could -not find a single mouth to say: 'O Garuda, -eat me first.' How could he be so mean as to -beg Garuda to destroy his own race? Or how -can Garuda, the heavenly bird, do such a -crime? Oh, insolent madness!"</p> - -<p>So the noble Cloud-chariot made up his -mind that he would use his poor body that -day to save the life of one serpent at least.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -At that moment a door-keeper, sent by Friend-wealth's -father, came to summon them home. -And Cloud-chariot said: "Do you go first. -I will follow." So he dismissed Friend-wealth, -and remained there himself.</p> - -<p>As he walked about waiting for the thing -he hoped for, he heard a pitiful sound of weeping -at a distance. He went a little way and -saw near a lofty rock a sorrowful, handsome -youth. He was at that moment abandoned -by a creature that seemed to be a policeman, -and was gently persuading his old, weeping -mother to return. And Cloud-chariot wished -to know who it might be. So he hid himself -and listened, his heart melting with pity.</p> - -<p>The old mother was bowed down by -anguish, and started to lament over the -youth. "Oh, Shell-crest! Oh, my virtuous -son, whom I fondled, not counting the labour -and the pain! Oh, my son, my only son! -Where shall I see you again? Oh, my darling! -When your bright face is gone, your -old father will fall into black despair. How -can he live then? Your tender form is hurt -by the rays of the sun. How can it bear -the pangs of being eaten by Garuda? Oh,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> -my unhappy fate! Why did the Creator -and the serpent-king choose my only son -from the broad serpent-world, and seize upon -him?"</p> - -<p>And as she lamented, the youth, her son, -said: "Mother, I am unhappy enough. Why -torture me yet more? Return home. For -the last time I bow before you. It is time -for Garuda to come."</p> - -<p>And the mother cried: "Alas, alas for me! -Who will save my son?" And she gazed -about wildly and wept aloud.</p> - -<p>All this Cloud-chariot, the future Buddha, -saw and heard. And with deep pity he -thought: "Alas! This is a serpent named -Shell-crest, sent here by Vasuki for Garuda -to eat. And this is his mother, following -him out of her great love. He is her only -son, and she is mourning in pain and bitter -anguish. I should forever curse my useless -life if I did not save one in such agony at -the cost of a body which must perish anyway -some day."</p> - -<p>So Cloud-chariot joyfully approached and -said to the old mother: "Serpent-mother, I -will save your son. Do not weep."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> - -<p>But the old mother thought that this was -Garuda, and she screamed: "O Garuda, eat -me! Eat me!"</p> - -<p>Then Shell-crest said: "Mother, this is -not Garuda. Do not be alarmed. What a -difference between one who soothes our feelings -like the moon, and the fearful Garuda!"</p> - -<p>And Cloud-chariot said: "Mother, I am a -fairy, come to save your son. I will put on -his garment and offer my own body to the -hungry bird. Do you take your son and -go home."</p> - -<p>But the old mother said: "No, no. You -are more than a son to me. To think that -such as you should feel pity for such as -we!"</p> - -<p>And Cloud-chariot answered: "Mother, I -beg you not to disappoint me." But when he -insisted, Shell-crest said: "Noble being, you -have certainly shown compassion, but I do -not wish to save my body at the expense of -yours. Who would save a common stone at -the cost of a pearl? The world is full of -creatures like me, who are merciful only to -themselves. But creatures like you, who are -merciful to all the world, are very rare. Oh, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>pious being, I could not stain the pure family -of Shell-guard, as the dark spot stains the -disk of the moon."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_188.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">He climbed the rock of sacrifice, eager to give his life for another.</p> -</div> - -<p>Then Shell-crest said to his mother: -"Mother, return from this desolate place. -Do you not see the rock of sacrifice wet with -the blood of serpents, the terrible plaything -of Death? I will go for a moment to the -shore and worship the god Shiva there. -And I will return quickly before Garuda -comes."</p> - -<p>So Shell-crest took leave of his mother and -went to worship Shiva. And Cloud-chariot -thought: "If Garuda should come in this -interval, I should be happy."</p> - -<p>Then he saw the trees stiffening themselves -against the wind made by the sweeping -wings of the king of birds. "Garuda is -coming," he thought, and climbed the rock -of sacrifice, eager to give his life for -another.</p> - -<p>And Garuda straightway pounced upon the -noble creature and lifted him from the rock -in his beak. While Cloud-chariot's blood -flowed in streams and the gem fell from his -forehead, Garuda carried him off and began<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> -to eat him on the summit of the Malabar -hills. And while he was being eaten, Cloud-chariot -thought: "In every future life of -mine may my body do some good to somebody. -I would not attain heaven and salvation -without doing some good first." Then -a shower of flowers fell from heaven on the -fairy prince.</p> - -<p>At that moment the blood-stained gem from -his forehead fell in front of his wife Sandal. -She was in anguish at the sight, and as her -parents-in-law were near, she tearfully showed -it to them. And they were alarmed at the -sight of their son's gem and wondered what -it meant. Then King Cloud-banner discovered -the truth by his magic arts, and he -and his queen started to run with Cloud-chariot's -wife Sandal.</p> - -<p>At that moment Shell-crest returned from -his worship of Shiva. He saw the rock -stained with blood, and cried: "Alas for -me, poor sinner! Surely that noble, merciful -creature has given his body to Garuda in -place of mine. I must find him. Where has -the great being been carried by my enemy? -If I find him alive, then I shall not sink into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> -the slough of infamy." So he followed weeping -the broad trail of blood.</p> - -<p>Now Garuda noticed that Cloud-chariot -was happy while being eaten, and he thought: -"This must be some strange, great being, for -he is happy while I am eating him. He does -not die, and what remains of him is thrilled -with delight. And he turns a gracious, benevolent -look upon me. Surely, he is no -serpent, but some great spirit. I will stop -eating him and ask him."</p> - -<p>But while he reflected, Cloud-chariot said: -"O king of birds, why do you stop? There -is still some flesh and blood on me, and I see -that you are not satisfied. Pray continue to eat."</p> - -<p>When the king of birds heard these remarkable -words, he said: "You are no serpent. -Tell me who you are."</p> - -<p>But Cloud-chariot continued to urge him: -"Certainly I am a serpent. What does the -question mean? Continue your meal. What -fool would begin a thing and then stop?"</p> - -<p>At that moment Shell-crest shouted from -afar: "O Garuda, do not commit a great -and reckless crime. What madness is this? -He is not a serpent. I am the serpent."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> - -<p>And he ran between them and spoke again -to the agitated bird: "O Garuda, what -madness is this? Do you not see that I have -the hood and the forked tongue? Do you -not see how gentle his appearance is?"</p> - -<p>While he was speaking, Cloud-chariot's -wife Sandal and his parents hurried up. And -when his parents saw how he was lacerated, -they wept aloud and lamented: "Alas, my -son! Alas, Cloud-chariot! Alas for my -merciful darling, who gave his life for -others!"</p> - -<p>But when they cried: "Alas, Garuda! -How could you do this thoughtless thing?" -then Garuda was filled with remorse and -thought: "Alas! How could I be mad -enough to eat a future Buddha? This must -be Cloud-chariot, who gives his life for others, -whose fame is trumpeted abroad through all -the world. If he is dead, I am a sinner, and -ought to burn myself alive. Why does the -fruit of the poison-tree of sin taste sweet?"</p> - -<p>While Garuda was thus deep in anxious -thought, Cloud-chariot saw his relatives -gathered, fell down, and died from the pain -of his wounds. Then, while his grief-stricken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -parents were loudly lamenting, while Shell-crest -was accusing himself, Sandal looked up -to heaven and, in a voice stammering with -tears, reproached the goddess Gauri who had -graciously given her this husband: "Oh, -Mother! You told me that the fairy prince -should be my husband, but it is my fate that -you spoke falsely."</p> - -<p>Then Gauri appeared in a visible form, -and said: "Daughter, my words are not -false." And she sprinkled Cloud-chariot with -nectar from a jar. And straightway he stood -up alive, unhurt and more beautiful than -before.</p> - -<p>As they all bent low in worship, and Cloud-chariot -rose only to bend again, the goddess -said: "My son, I am pleased with your gift -of your own body. With my own hand I -anoint you king of the fairies." And she -anointed Cloud-chariot with liquor from the -jar, and then disappeared, followed by the -worship of the company. And showers of -heavenly blossoms fell from the sky, and the -drums of the gods were joyfully beaten in -heaven.</p> - -<p>Then Garuda reverently said to Cloud-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>chariot: -"O King, I am pleased with your -more than human character. For you have -done a strange thing of unparalleled nobility, -to be marvelled at throughout the universe, -to be written upon the walls of heaven. -Therefore I am at your service. Choose from -me what boon you will."</p> - -<p>The noble creature said to Garuda: "O -Garuda, you must repent and eat no more -serpents. And you must restore to life those -that you ate before, who now are nothing -but bones."</p> - -<p>And Garuda said: "So be it. I will eat -no serpents hereafter. And those that I have -eaten shall come to life."</p> - -<p>Then all the serpents who had been eaten -down to the bones, suddenly stood up. And -through the grace of Gauri all the leading -fairies learned immediately the wonderful deed -of Cloud-chariot. So they all came and -bowed at his feet and took him, freshly -anointed by the very hand of Gauri, with his -rejoicing relatives and friends to the Himalaya -mountain. There Cloud-chariot lived happily -with his father and his mother and his wife -Sandal and Friend-wealth and the generous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -Shell-crest. And he ruled the fairy world -radiant with gems.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this long, strange -story, he said to the king: "O King, tell -me. Which was the more self-sacrificing, -Cloud-chariot or Shell-crest? If you know -and do not tell, then the curse I mentioned -before will be fulfilled."</p> - -<p>And the king said: "There was nothing -remarkable in what Cloud-chariot did. He -was prepared for it by the experiences of -many past lives. But Shell-crest deserves -praise. He was saved from death. His enemy -had another victim, and was far away. Yet -he ran after and offered his body to Garuda."</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this, he went back -to the sissoo tree. And the king returned to -catch him again.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>SIXTEENTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The King who died for Love of his General's -Wife; the General follows him in Death. -Which is the more worthy?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back under the -sissoo tree, put the goblin on his -shoulder as before, and started. And -the goblin said to him: "O King, I will -tell you another little story to relieve your -weariness. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Long ago there was a city named Golden -City on the bank of the Ganges, where a -quarter of the old perfect virtue still lingers -in these evil days. There was a king named -Glorious, and he deserved the name. His -bravery kept the world from being overflowed, -like the shore of the sea.</p> - -<p>In this king's city lived a great merchant, -who had a daughter named Passion. Everyone -who saw her fell in love and went mad -with passion.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> - -<p>When she grew to be a young woman, the -virtuous merchant went to King Glorious -and said: "Your Majesty, I have a daughter, -the gem of the three worlds, and she is -old enough to marry. I could not give her -to anyone without consulting your Majesty. -For you are the master of all gems in the -world. Pray marry her and thus lay me -under obligations."</p> - -<p>So the king sent his own Brahmans to -examine her qualities. But when the Brahmans -saw her supreme loveliness, they were -troubled and thought: "If the king should -marry her, his kingdom would be ruined. -He would think only of her, and would -doubtless neglect the kingdom. Therefore we -must not report her good qualities to the -king."</p> - -<p>So they returned to the king and said: -"Your Majesty, she has bad qualities." So -the king did not marry the merchant's -daughter. But he bade the merchant give -his daughter to a general named Force. And -she lived happily with her husband in his -house.</p> - -<p>After a time the lion of spring came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> -dancing through the forest and slew the -elephant of winter. And King Glorious went -forth on the back of an elephant to -see the spring festival. And the drum was -beaten to warn virtuous women to stay -within doors. Otherwise they would have -fallen in love with his beauty, and lovesickness -might be expected.</p> - -<p>But when Passion heard the drum, she did -not like to be left alone. She went out on -the balcony, that the king might see her. -She seemed like the flame of love which the -spring-time was fanning with southern breezes. -And the king saw her, and his whole being -was shaken. He felt her beauty sinking -deep in his heart like a victorious arrow of -Love, and he fainted.</p> - -<p>His servants brought him back to consciousness, -and he returned to the city. There -he made inquiries and learned that this was -Passion whom he had rejected before. So -he banished from the country the Brahmans -who had said that she had bad qualities, and -he thought longingly of her every day.</p> - -<p>And as he thought of her, he burned -over the flame of love, and wasted away day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -and night. And though from shame he tried -to conceal it, he finally told the reason of -his anguish to responsible people who asked -him.</p> - -<p>They said: "Do not suffer. Why do you -not seize her?" But the virtuous king would -not do it.</p> - -<p>Then General Force heard the story. He -came and bowed at the feet of the king and -said: "Your Majesty, she is the wife of your -slave, therefore she is your slave. I give her -to you of my own accord. Pray take my -wife. Or better yet, I will leave her here in -the palace. Then you cannot be blamed if -you marry her." And the general begged -and insisted.</p> - -<p>But the king became angry and said: "I -am a king. How can I do such a wicked -thing? If I should transgress, who would be -virtuous? You are devoted to me. Why do -you urge me to a sin which is pleasant for -the moment, but causes great sorrow in the -next world? If you abandon your wedded -wife, I shall not pardon you. How could a -man in my position overlook such a transgression? -It is better to die." Thus the king<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> -argued against it. For the truly great throw -away life rather than virtue. And when all -the citizens came together and urged him, he -was steadfast and refused.</p> - -<p>So he slowly shrivelled away over the -fever-flame of love and died. There was -nothing left of King Glorious except his -glory. And the general could not endure -the death of his king. He burned himself -alive. The actions of devoted men are -blameless.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin on the king's shoulder -had told this story, he asked the king: "O -King, which of these two, the king and the -general, was the more deserving? Remember -the curse before you answer."</p> - -<p>The king said: "I think the king was the -more deserving."</p> - -<p>Then the goblin said reproachfully: "O -King, why was not the general better? He -offered the king a wife like that, whose charms -he knew from a long married life. And -when his king died, he burned himself like -a faithful man. But the king gave her up -without really knowing her attractions."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then the king laughed and said: "True -enough, but not surprising. The general was -a gentleman born, and acted as he did from -devotion to his superior. For servants must -protect their masters even at the cost of their -own lives. But kings are like mad elephants -who cannot be goaded into obedience, who -break the binding-chain of virtue. They -are insolent, and their judgment trickles from -them with the holy water of consecration. -Their eyes are blinded by the hurricane of -power, and they do not see the road. From -the most ancient times, even the kings who -conquered the world have been maddened by -love and have fallen into misfortune. But -this king, though he ruled the whole world, -though he was maddened by the girl Passion, -preferred to die rather than set his foot on -the path of iniquity. He was a hero. He -was the better of the two."</p> - -<p>Then the goblin escaped by magic from -the king's shoulder and went back. And -the king pursued him, undiscouraged. No -great man stops in the middle of the hardest -undertaking.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_205.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">"Shall I go into the fire or go home?"</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>SEVENTEENTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Youth who went through the Proper -Ceremonies. Why did he fail to win the -magic spell?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back through -the night to the cemetery filled with -ghouls, terrible with funeral piles that -seemed like ghosts with wagging tongues of -flame. But when he came to the sissoo tree, -he was surprised to see a great many bodies -hanging on the tree. They were all alike, and -in each was a goblin twitching its limbs.</p> - -<p>And the king thought: "Ah, what does -this mean? Why does that magic goblin -keep wasting my time? For I do not know -which of all these I ought to take. If I -should not succeed in this night's endeavour, -then I would burn myself alive rather than -become a laughing-stock."</p> - -<p>But the goblin understood the king's -purpose, and was pleased with his character.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> -So he gave up his magic arts. Then the -king saw only one goblin in one body. He -took him down as before, put him on his -shoulder, and started once more.</p> - -<p>And as he walked along, the goblin said: -"O King, if you have no objections, I will -tell you a story. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There is a city called Ujjain, whose people -delight in noble happiness, and feel no longing -for heaven. In that city there is real darkness -at night, real intelligence in poetry, real -madness in elephants, real coolness in pearls, -sandal, and moonlight.</p> - -<p>There lived a king named Moonshine. He -had as counsellor a famous Brahman named -Heaven-lord, rich in money, rich in piety, -rich in learning. And the counsellor had a -son named Moon-lord.</p> - -<p>This son went one day to a great resort of -gamblers to play. There the dice, beautiful -as the eyes of gazelles, were being thrown -constantly. And Calamity seemed to be -looking on, thinking: "Whom shall I -embrace?" And the loud shouts of angry -gamblers seemed to suggest the question:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> -"Who is there that would not be fleeced here, -were he the god of wealth himself?"</p> - -<p>This hall the youth entered, and played -with dice. He staked his clothes and everything -else, and the gamblers won it all. Then -he wagered money he did not have, and lost -that. And when they asked him to pay, he -could not. So the gambling-master caught -him and beat him with clubs.</p> - -<p>When he was bruised all over by the clubs, -the Brahman youth became motionless like a -stone, and pretended to be dead, and waited. -After he had lain thus for two or three days, -the heartless gambling-master said to the -gamblers: "He lies like a stone. Take him -somewhere and throw him into a blind well. -I will pay you the money he owes."</p> - -<p>So the gamblers picked Moon-lord up and -went far into the forest, looking for a well. -Then one old gambler said to the others: "He -is as good as dead. What is the use of throwing -him into a well now? We will leave him -here and go back and say we have left him -in a well." And all the rest agreed, and left -him there, and went back.</p> - -<p>When they were gone, Moon-lord rose and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> -entered a deserted temple to Shiva. When he -had rested a little there, he thought in great -anguish: "Ah, I trusted the rascally gamblers, -and they cheated me. Where shall I go now, -naked and dusty as I am? What would my -father say if he saw me now, or any relative, -or any friend? I will stay here for the -present, and at night I will go out and try to -find food somehow to appease my hunger."</p> - -<p>While he reflected in weariness and nakedness, -the sun grew less hot and disappeared. -Then a terrible hermit named Stake came -there, and he had smeared his body with -ashes. When he had seen Moon-lord and -asked who he was and heard his story, he -said, as the youth bent low before him: "Sir, -you have come to my hermitage, a guest -fainting with hunger. Rise, bathe, and partake -of the meal I have gained by begging."</p> - -<p>Then Moon-lord said to him: "Holy sir, -I am a Brahman. How can I partake of -such a meal?"</p> - -<p>Then the hermit-magician went into his hut -and out of tenderness to his guest he thought -of a magic spell which grants all desires. And -the spell appeared in bodily form, and said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -"What shall I do?" And the hermit said: -"Treat that man as an honoured guest."</p> - -<p>Then Moon-lord was astonished to see a -golden palace rise before him and a grove with -women in it. They came to him from the -palace and said: "Sir, rise, come, bathe, eat, -and meet our mistress." So they led him in -and gave him a chance to bathe and anoint -himself and dress. Then they led him to -another room.</p> - -<p>There the youth saw a woman of wonderful -beauty, whom the Creator must have made to -see what he could do. She rose and offered -him half of her seat. And he ate heavenly -food and various fruits and chewed betel leaves -and sat happily with her on the couch.</p> - -<p>In the morning he awoke and saw the -temple to Shiva, but the heavenly creature was -gone, and the palace, and the women in it. -So he went out in distress, and the hermit in -his hut smiled and asked him how he had -spent the night. And he said: "Holy sir, -through your kindness I spent a happy night, -but I shall die without that heavenly creature."</p> - -<p>Then the hermit laughed and said: "Stay -here. You shall have the same happiness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> -again to-night." So Moon-lord enjoyed those -delights every night through the favour of -the hermit.</p> - -<p>Finally Moon-lord came to see what a -mighty spell that was. So, driven on by his -fate, he respectfully begged the hermit: "Holy -sir, if you really feel pity for a poor suppliant -like me, teach me that spell which has such -power."</p> - -<p>And when he insisted, the hermit said: -"You could never win the spell. One has to -stand in the water to win it. And it weaves -a net of magic to bewilder the man who is -repeating the words, so that he cannot win it. -For as he mumbles it, he seems to lead another -life, first a baby, then a boy, then a youth, -then a husband, then a father. And he falsely -imagines that such and such people are his -friends, such and such his enemies. He forgets -his real life and his desire to win the spell. -But if a man mumbles it constantly for twenty-four -years, and remembers his own life, and is -not deceived by the network of magic, and -then at the end burns himself alive, he comes -out of the water, and has real magic power. -It comes only to a good pupil, and if a teacher<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> -tries to teach it to a bad pupil, the teacher loses -it too. Now you have the real benefit through -my magic power. Why insist on more? If I -lost my powers, then your happiness would -go too."</p> - -<p>But Moon-lord said: "I can do anything. -Do not fear, holy sir." And the hermit -promised to teach him the spell. What will -holy men not do out of regard to those who -seek aid?</p> - -<p>So the hermit went to the river bank, and -said: "My son, mumble the words of the -spell. And while you are leading an imaginary -life, you will at last be awakened by my -magic. Then plunge into the magic fire -which you will see. I will stand here on the -bank while you mumble it."</p> - -<p>So he purified himself and purified Moon-lord -and made him sip water, and then he -taught him the magic spell. And Moon-lord -bowed to his teacher on the bank, and plunged -into the river.</p> - -<p>And as he mumbled the words of the spell -in the water, he was bewildered by its magic. -He forgot all about his past life, and went -through another life. He was born in another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> -city as the son of a Brahman. Then he -grew up, was consecrated, and went to school. -Then he took a wife, and after many experiences -half pleasant, half painful, he found himself -the father of a family. Then he lived for -some years with his parents and his relatives, -devoted to wife and children, and interested in -many things.</p> - -<p>While he was experiencing all these labours -of another life, the hermit took pity on him -and repeated magic words to enlighten him. -And Moon-lord was enlightened in the midst -of his new life. He remembered himself and -his teacher, and saw that the other life was -a network of magic. So he prepared to enter -the fire in order to win magic power.</p> - -<p>But older people and reliable people and his -parents and his relatives tried to prevent him. -In spite of them he hankered after heavenly -pleasures, and went to the bank of a river -where a funeral pile had been made ready. -And his relatives went with him. But when -he got there he saw that his old parents and -his wife and his little children were weeping.</p> - -<p>And he was perplexed, and thought: -"Alas! If I enter the fire, all these my own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> -people will die. And I do not know whether -my teacher's promise will come true or not. -Shall I go into the fire, or go home? No, -no. How could a teacher with such powers -promise falsely? Indeed, I must enter the -fire." And he did.</p> - -<p>And he was astonished to feel the fire as -cool as snow, and lost his fear of it. Then -he came out of the water of the river, and -found himself on the bank. He saw his -teacher standing there, and fell at his feet, -and told him the whole story, ending with -the blazing funeral pile.</p> - -<p>Then his teacher said: "My son, I think -you must have made some mistake. Otherwise, -why did the fire seem cool to you? -That never happens in the winning of this -magic spell."</p> - -<p>And Moon-lord said: "Holy sir, I do not -remember making any mistake." Then his -teacher was eager to know about it, so he -tried to remember the spell himself. But it -would not come to him or to his pupil. So -they went away sad, having lost their magic.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -asked the king: "O King, explain the matter -to me. Why did they lose their magic, when -everything had been done according to -precept?"</p> - -<p>Then the king said: "O magic creature, I -see that you are only trying to waste my time. -Still, I will tell you. Magic powers do not -come to a man because he does things that are -hard, but because he does things with a pure -heart. The Brahman youth was defective at -that point. He hesitated even when his mind -was enlightened. Therefore he failed to win -the magic. And the teacher lost his magic -because he taught it to an unworthy pupil."</p> - -<p>Then the goblin went back to his home. -And the king ran to find him, never hesitating.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>EIGHTEENTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Boy whom his Parents, the King, and the -Giant conspired to Kill. Why did he laugh -at the moment of death?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went to the sissoo tree, -put the goblin on his shoulder as before, -and started in silence. And the -goblin on his shoulder saw that he was silent -and said: "O King, why are you so obstinate? -Go home. Spend the night in rest. You -ought not to take me to that rascally monk. -But if you insist, then I will tell you another -story. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There is a city called Brilliant-peak. There -lived a glorious king named Moon, who delighted -the eyes of his subjects. Wise men -said that he was brave, generous, and the very -home of beauty. But in spite of all his wealth, -he was very sad at heart. For he found no -wife worthy of him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> - -<p>One day this king went with soldiers on -horseback into a great wood, to hunt there and -forget his sorrow. There he split open many -boars with his arrows as the sun splits the black -darkness, and made fierce lions into cushions -for his arrows, and slew mountainous monsters -with his terrible darts.</p> - -<p>As he hunted, he spurred his horse and beat -him terribly. And the horse was so hurt by -the spur and the whip that he could not tell -rough from smooth. He dashed off quicker -than the wind, and in a moment carried the -king into another forest a hundred miles away.</p> - -<p>There the king lost his way, and as he -wandered about wearily, he saw a great lake. -He stopped there, unsaddled his horse, let him -bathe and drink, and found him some grass in -the shade of the trees. Then he bathed and -drank himself, and when he had rested, he -looked all about him.</p> - -<p>And he saw a hermit's daughter of marvellous -beauty under an ashoka tree with another girl. -She had no ornaments but flowers. She was -charming even in a dress made of bark. She -was particularly attractive because of her thick -masses of hair arranged in a girlish way.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_218.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">The giant laughed aloud, spit fire in his wrath, and - showed his dreadful fangs.</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> - -<p>And the king fell in love with her and -thought: "Who is she? Is she a goddess -come to bathe in these waters? Or Gauri, -separated from her husband Shiva, leading a -hard life to win him again? Or the lovely -moon, taking a human form, and trying to -be attractive in the daytime? I will go to her -and find out."</p> - -<p>So he drew near to her. And when she saw -him coming, she was astonished at his beauty -and dropped her hands, which had been weaving -a garland of flowers. And she thought: -"Who can he be in this forest? Some fairy -perhaps. Blessèd are my eyes this day."</p> - -<p>So she rose, modestly looking another way, -and started to go away, though her limbs failed -her. Then the king approached and said: -"Beautiful maiden, I have come a long distance, -and you never saw me before. I ask -only to look at you, and you should welcome -me. Is this hermit manners, to run away?"</p> - -<p>Then her clever friend made the king sit -down and treated him as an honoured guest. -And the king respectfully asked her: "My -good girl, what happy family does your friend -adorn? What are the syllables of her name,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> -which must be a delight to the ear? Or why -at her age does she torture a body as delicate as -a flower with a hermit's life in a lonely wood?"</p> - -<p>And the friend answered: "Your Majesty, -she is the daughter of the hermit Kanva and -the heavenly nymph Menaka. She grew up -here in the hermitage, and her name is Lotus-bloom. -With her father's permission she came -here to the lake to bathe. And her father's -hermitage is not far from here."</p> - -<p>Then the king was delighted. He mounted -his horse and rode to the hermitage of holy -Kanva, to ask for the girl. And he entered -the hermitage in modest garb, leaving his -horse outside. Then he was surrounded by -hermits with hoary crowns and bark garments -like the trees, and saw the sage Kanva radiant -and cool like the moon. And he drew near -and fell at his feet.</p> - -<p>And the wise hermit greeted him and let -him rest, then said: "My son Moon, I will -tell you something to your advantage. Listen. -I know what fear of death there is in mortal -creatures. Why then do you uselessly kill the -wild beasts? Warriors were made by the -Creator to protect the timid. Therefore pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>tect -your subjects in righteousness, and root -out evil. As Happiness flees before you, -strive to overtake her with all your means, -elephants and horses and things. Enjoy your -kingship. Be generous. Become glorious. -Abandon this vice of hunting, this sport of -Death. For slayer and slain are equally deceived. -Why spend your time in such an evil -pursuit?"</p> - -<p>The sensible king was pleased and said: -"Holy sir, I am instructed. And great is my -gratitude for this instruction. From now on I -hunt no more. Let the wild animals live without -fear."</p> - -<p>Then the hermit said: "I am pleased with -your protection of the animals. Choose any -boon you will."</p> - -<p>Then the quick-witted king said: "Holy -sir, if you are kindly disposed, give me your -daughter Lotus-bloom."</p> - -<p>So the hermit gave him his daughter, the -child of the nymph, who then came up after -her bath. So they were married, and the king -wore cheerful garments, and Lotus-bloom was -adorned by the hermits' wives. And the weeping -hermits accompanied them in procession to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> -the edge of the hermitage. Then the king -took his wife Lotus-bloom, mounted his horse, -and started for his city.</p> - -<p>At last the sun, seeing the king tired with -his long journeying, sank wearily behind the -western mountain. And fawn-eyed night appeared, -clad in the garment of darkness, like -a woman going to meet her lover. And the -king saw an ashvattha tree on the shore of a -pond in a spot covered with grass and twigs, -and he decided to spend the night there.</p> - -<p>So he dismounted, fed and watered his horse, -brought water from the pond, and rested with -his belovèd. And they passed the night there.</p> - -<p>In the morning he arose, performed his -devotions, and prepared to set out with his wife -to rejoin his soldiers. Then, like a cloud -black as soot with tawny lightning-hair, there -appeared a great giant. He wore a chaplet of -human entrails, a cord of human hair, he was -chewing the head of a man, and drinking blood -from a skull.</p> - -<p>The giant laughed aloud, spit fire in his -wrath, and showed his dreadful fangs. And -he scolded the king and said: "Scoundrel! I -am a giant named Flame-face. This tree is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> -my home; even the gods do not dare to trespass -here. But you and your wife have trespassed -and enjoyed yourselves. Now swallow -your own impudence, you rascal! You are -lovesick, so I will split open your heart and eat -it, and I will drink your blood."</p> - -<p>The king was frightened when he saw that -the giant was invincible, and his wife was -trembling, so he said respectfully: "I trespassed -ignorantly. Forgive me. I am your guest, -seeking protection in your hermitage. And I -will give you a human sacrifice, so that you -will be satisfied. Be merciful then and forget -your anger."</p> - -<p>Then the giant forgot his anger, and thought: -"Very well. Why not?" And he said: "O -King, I want a noble, intelligent Brahman -boy seven years old, who shall give himself up -of his own accord for your sake. And when -he is killed, his mother must hold his hands -tightly to the ground, and his father must hold -his feet, and you must cut off his head with -your own sword. If you do this within seven -days, then I will forgive the insult you have -offered me. If not, I will kill you and all -your people."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> - -<p>And the king was so frightened that he -consented. Then the giant disappeared.</p> - -<p>Then King Moon mounted his horse with -his wife Lotus-bloom and rode away sad at -heart, seeking for his soldiers. And he -thought: "Alas! I was bewildered by hunting -and by love, and I find myself ruined. Where -can I find such a sacrifice for the giant? Well, -I will go to my own city now, and see what -happens."</p> - -<p>So he continued his search, and found his -soldiers and his city Brilliant-peak. There -his subjects were delighted because he had -found a wife worthy of him, and they made a -great feast. But it was a day of despondency -and dreadful agony for the king.</p> - -<p>On the next day he told his counsellors the -whole story. And one counsellor named Wise -said: "Your Majesty, do not despair. I will -find a victim for the sacrifice. The world is a -strange place."</p> - -<p>Thus the counsellor comforted the king, and -made a statue of a boy out of gold. And he -sent the statue about the land, with constant -beating of drums and this proclamation: "We -want a noble Brahman boy seven years old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> -who will offer himself as a sacrifice to a giant -with the permission of his parents. And when -he is killed, his mother must hold his hands, -and his father must hold his feet. And as a -reward, the king will give his parents a -hundred villages and this statue of gold and -gems."</p> - -<p>Now there was a Brahman boy on a farm, -who was only seven years old, but wonderfully -brave. He was of great beauty, and even in -childhood he was always thinking about others. -He said to the heralds: "Gentlemen, I will -give you my body. Wait a moment. I will -hurry back after telling my parents."</p> - -<p>So they told the boy to go. And he went -into the house, bowed before his parents, and -said: "Mother! Father! I am going to give -this wretched body of mine in order to win -lasting happiness. Pray permit me. And I -will take the king's gift, this statue of myself -made of gold and gems, and give it to you -together with the hundred villages. Thus I -will pay my debt to you, and do some real -good. And you will never be poor again, and -will have plenty more sons."</p> - -<p>But his parents immediately said: "Son,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -what are you saying? Have you the rheumatism? -Or are you possessed by a devil? If -not, why do you talk nonsense? Who would -sacrifice his child for money? And what child -would give his body?"</p> - -<p>But the boy said: "I am not mad. Listen. -My words are full of sense. The body is the -seat of unnameable impurities, it is loathsome -and full of pain. It perishes in no long time -at best. If some good can be done with the -worthless thing, that is a great advantage in -this weary life, so wise men say. And what -good is there except helping others? If anyone -can serve his parents so easily, then how -lightly should the body be esteemed!"</p> - -<p>Thus the boy, with his bold words and his -firm purpose, persuaded his grieving parents. -And he went and got from the king's men -the golden statue and the hundred villages, -and gave them to his parents.</p> - -<p>So the boy with his parents followed the -king's men to the city Brilliant-peak. And -the king looked upon the brave boy as a -magic jewel for his own preservation, and -rejoiced greatly. He adorned the boy with -garlands and perfumes, put him on an elephant,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> -and took him with his parents to the home -of the giant.</p> - -<p>There the priest traced a magic circle beside -the tree, and reverently lit the holy fire. -Then the horrible giant Flame-face appeared, -mumbling words of his own. He staggered, -for he was drunk with blood, and snorted and -yawned. His eyes flashed fire and his shadow -made the whole world dark.</p> - -<p>And the king said respectfully: "Great -being, here is the human sacrifice you -asked for, and this is the seventh day since -I promised it. Be merciful. Accept this -sacrifice."</p> - -<p>And the giant licked his chops, and looked -the boy over, who was to be the sacrifice. -Then the noble boy thought: "I have done -some good with this body of mine. May I -never rest in heaven or in eternal salvation, -but may I have many lives in which to do -some good with my body." And the air -was filled with the chariots of gods who -rained down flowers.</p> - -<p>Then the boy was laid before the giant. -His mother held his hands, and his father -held his feet. When the king drew his sword<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> -and was ready to strike, the boy laughed so -heartily that all of them, even the giant, forgot -what they were doing, looked at the boy's -face, and bowed low before him.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this strange story, -he asked the king: "O King, why did the -boy laugh at the moment of death? I have a -great curiosity about this point. If you know -and will not tell, then your head will fly into -a hundred pieces."</p> - -<p>And the king said: "Listen. I will tell -you why the boy laughed. When danger -comes to any weak creature, he cries for life -to his mother and father. If they are not -there, he begs protection from the king, whom -heaven made his protector. Failing the king, -he cries to a god. Some one of these should -be his protector. But in the case of this boy -everything was contrary. His parents held -his hands and feet because they wanted money. -And the king was ready to kill him with his -own hand, to save his own life. And the -giant, who is a kind of a god, had come there -especially to eat him. So the boy thought: -'They are ridiculously fooled about their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -bodies, which are fragile, worthless, the seat -of pain and suffering. The bodies of the -greatest gods perish. And such creatures as -these imagine that their bodies will endure!' -So when he saw their strange madness, and -felt that his own wishes were fulfilled, the -Brahman boy laughed in astonishment and -delight."</p> - -<p>Then the goblin slipped from the king's -shoulder and went back to his home. And -the king followed with determination. The -heart of a good man is like the heart of the -ocean. It cannot be shaken.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>NINETEENTH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Man, his Wife, and her Lover, who all -died for Love. Which was the most foolish?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back under the -sissoo tree, took the goblin on his -shoulder, and set out in haste. And -as he walked along, the goblin on his shoulder -said: "O King, I will tell you a story about -a great love. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There is a city called Ujjain, which seems -like a divine city made by the Creator for the -pious who have fallen from heaven. In this -city there was a famous king named Lotus-belly. -He delighted the good, and defeated -the king of the demons.</p> - -<p>While he was king, a merchant named -Fortune, richer than the god of wealth, lived -in the city. He had one daughter named -Love-cluster, who seemed the model from -whom the Creator had made the nymphs of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> -heaven. This merchant gave his daughter to -a merchant named Jewel-guard from Copper -City.</p> - -<p>As he was a tender father and had no other -children, the merchant stayed with his daughter -Love-cluster and her husband. Now Love-cluster -came to hate Jewel-guard as a sick man -hates a pungent, biting medicine. But the -beautiful woman was dearer than life to her -husband, dear as long-gathered wealth to a -miser.</p> - -<p>One day Jewel-guard started for Copper -City to pay a loving visit to his parents. -Then the hot summer came, and the roads -were blocked for travellers by the sharp arrows -of the sun. The winds blew soft with the -fragrance of jasmine and trumpet-flower, like -sighs from the mouths of mountains separated -from the spring-time. And wind-swept dust-clouds -flew to the sky like messengers from -the burning earth begging for clouds. And -the feverish days moved slowly like wayfarers -who cling to the shade of trees. And the -nights clad in pale yellow moonlight became -very feeble without the invigorating embrace of -winter.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_235.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">A merchant named Fortune, richer than the God of Wealth.</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> - -<p>At this time Love-cluster, anointed with -cooling sandal, and clad in thin garments, -stood at her lattice-window. And she saw -a handsome youth with a friend whom he -trusted. He seemed the god of love born -anew and seeking his bride. He was the son -of the king's priest, and his name was Lotus-lake.</p> - -<p>And when Lotus-lake saw the lovely girl, -he expanded with delight as lotuses in a lake -expand at the sight of the moon. When the -two young people saw each other, their hearts -embraced each other at the bidding of Love, -their teacher.</p> - -<p>So Lotus-lake was smitten with love, and -was led home with difficulty by his friend. -And Love-cluster was equally maddened by -love. First she learned from her friend his -name and home, then slowly withdrew to her -room. There she thought of him and became -feverish with love, simply tossing on her -couch, seeing nothing and hearing nothing.</p> - -<p>After two or three days spent in this way, -she felt bashful and fearful, pale and thin from -the separation, and hopeless of union with her -lover. So, as if drawn on by the moonbeam<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> -which shone through her window, she went -out at night when her people were asleep, -determined to die. And she came to a pool -under a tree in her garden.</p> - -<p>There stood a family image of the goddess -Gauri, set up by her father. She drew near -to this image, bowed before the goddess, -praised her, and said: "O Goddess, since I -could not have Lotus-lake as my husband -in this life, may he be my husband in some -other life!" And she made a noose of her -garment, and tied it to the ashoka tree before -the goddess.</p> - -<p>At that moment her trusty friend awoke, -and not finding her in the room, hunted about -and came luckily into the garden. There -she saw the girl fastening the noose about -her neck, and she cried, "No, no!" And -running up, she cut the noose.</p> - -<p>When Love-cluster saw that it was her own -friend who had run up and taken the noose -away, she fell to the ground in great agony. -But her friend comforted her and asked the -reason of her sorrow. Then she arose and -said: "Jasmine, my friend, I cannot be united -with him I love. I am dependent on my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> -father and other people. Death is the happiest -thing for me."</p> - -<p>And as she spoke, she was terribly scorched -by the fiery darts of love, and determined -to feel no more hope, and fainted. And her -friend Jasmine lamented: "Alas! Love is a -hard master. It has reduced her to this condition." -But she gradually brought her back -to life with cool water and fans and things. -She made an easy bed of lotus-leaves. She -put pearls cool as snow on her heart.</p> - -<p>Then Love-cluster came to herself and -slowly said to her weeping friend: "My dear, -the fire within me cannot be quenched by such -things as pearls. If you want to save my life, -be clever enough to bring my lover to me."</p> - -<p>And the loving Jasmine said: "My dear, -the night is almost over. In the morning I -will bring your lover here to meet you. Be -brave and go now to your room."</p> - -<p>Love-cluster was contented. She took the -pearls from her neck and gave them to her -friend as a present. And she said: "Let us -go now. Then in the morning you must -keep your promise." So she went to her -room.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the morning Jasmine crept out without -being seen to hunt for the house of Lotus-lake. -When she got there, she found Lotus-lake -under a tree in the garden. He was -lying on a couch of lotus-leaves moistened -with sandal, and the friend who knew his -secret was fanning him with plantain-leaf fans, -for he was tortured by the flames of love. -And Jasmine hid, to find out whether this -was lovesickness for her friend or not.</p> - -<p>Then the friend said to Lotus-lake: "My -friend, comfort your heart by glancing a -moment at this charming garden. Do not -be so troubled."</p> - -<p>But he said to his friend: "My heart has -been stolen by Love-cluster. It is no longer -in my body. How can I comfort it? Love -has made an empty quiver of me. So invent -some plan by which I may meet the thief of -my heart."</p> - -<p>Then Jasmine came out joyfully and without -fear and showed herself. And she said: "Sir, -Love-cluster has sent me to you, and I am -the bearer of a message to you. Is it good -manners to enter the heart of an innocent girl -by force, steal her thoughts, and run away?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> -It is strange, but the sweet girl is ready to give -her person and her life to you, her charmer. -For day and night she heaves sighs hot as the -smoke from the fire of love that burns in her -heart. And teardrops carry her rouge away -and fall, like bees longing for the honey of -her lotus-face. So, if you wish it, I will tell -you what is good for both of you."</p> - -<p>And Lotus-lake said: "My good girl, the -words which tell me that my love is lonely -and longing, frighten me and comfort me. -You are our only refuge. Devise a plan."</p> - -<p>And Jasmine answered: "This very night -I will bring Love-cluster secretly to the garden. -You must be outside. Then I will cleverly -let you in, and so you two will be united." -Thus Jasmine delighted the Brahman's son, and -went away successful to please Love-cluster -with the news.</p> - -<p>Then the sun and the daylight fled away, -pursuing the twilight. And the East adorned -her face with the moon. And the white night-blooming -lotuses laughed, their faces expanding -at the thought of the glory that was coming -to them. At that hour the lover Lotus-lake -came secretly, adorned and filled with longing,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> -to the garden-gate of his belovèd. And Jasmine -led Love-cluster secretly into the garden, -for she had lived through the day somehow.</p> - -<p>Then Jasmine made her sit down under the -mango trees, while she went and let Lotus-lake -in. So he entered and looked upon Love-cluster -as the traveller looks upon the shade of -trees with thick foliage. And as he drew near, -she saw him and ran to him, for love took -away her modesty, and she fell on his neck. -"Where would you go? I have caught you, -thief of my heart!" she cried. Then excessive -joy stopped her breathing, and she died. She -fell on the ground like a vine broken by the -wind. Strange are the mysterious ways of -Love.</p> - -<p>When Lotus-lake saw that terrible fall, he -cried: "Oh, what does it mean?" And he -fainted and fell down. Presently he came to -himself, and took his darling on his lap. He -embraced her and kissed her and wept terribly. -He was so borne down by the terrible burden -of grief that his own heart broke. And when -they were both dead, the night seemed to die -away in shame and fear.</p> - -<p>In the morning the relatives heard the story<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> -from the gardeners, and came there filled with -timidity and wonder and grief and madness. -They did not know what to do, but stood a -long time with downcast eyes. Unfaithful -women disgrace a family.</p> - -<p>Presently the husband Jewel-guard came -back from his father's house in Copper City, -filled with love for Love-cluster. When he -came to his father-in-law's house and saw the -business, he was blinded by tears and went -thoughtfully into the garden. There he saw -his wife dead in another man's arms, and his -body was scorched by the flames of grief, and -he died immediately.</p> - -<p>Then the whole household shouted and -screamed so that all the citizens heard the story -and came there. The demi-gods themselves -were filled with pity and prayed to the goddess -Gauri whose image had been set up there -before by Love-cluster's father: "Oh, Mother, -the merchant who set up this statue was always -devoted to you. Show mercy to him in his -affliction."</p> - -<p>And the gracious goddess heard their prayer. -She said: "All three shall live again, and -shall forget their love." Then through her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> -grace they all arose like people waking from -sleep. They were alive, and their love was -gone. While all the people there rejoiced at -what had happened, Lotus-lake went home, -bending his head in shame. And the merchant -took his shamefaced daughter and her husband -and went into the house and made a feast.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story on -the road in the night, he said: "O King, -which was the most foolish among those who -died for love? If you know and do not tell, -you must remember the curse I spoke of -before."</p> - -<p>Then the king answered: "O magic -creature, Jewel-guard was the most foolish of -them. When he saw that his wife had died -for love of another man, he should have been -angry. Instead, he was loving, and died of -grief."</p> - -<p>Then the goblin slipped from the king's -shoulder and quickly set out for his home. -And the king ran after him again, eager as -before.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>TWENTIETH GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Four Brothers who brought a Dead Lion -to Life. Which is to blame when he kills -them all?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back to the -sissoo tree, took the goblin, put him -on his shoulder, and started for the -place he wished to reach. And as he walked -along the road, the goblin began to talk -again: "Bravo, King! You are a remarkable -character. So I will tell you another -story, and a strange one. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There is a city called Flower-city. There -lived a king named Earth-boar. In his kingdom -was a farm where a Brahman lived -whose name was Vishnuswami. His wife was -named Swaha. And four sons were born to -them.</p> - -<p>After a time the father died, and the -relatives took all the money. So the four<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> -brothers consulted together: "There is nothing -for us to do here. Suppose we go somewhere." -And after a long journey they came to the -house of their maternal grandfather in a -village called Sacrifice. The grandfather was -dead, but their uncles sheltered them, and they -continued their studies.</p> - -<p>But they did not amount to much, so in -time their uncles became scornful in such -matters as food and clothing. And they -were troubled.</p> - -<p>Then the eldest took the others aside and -said: "Brothers, no man can do anything -anywhere on earth. Now I was wandering -about discouraged, and I came to a wood. -There I saw to-day a dead man whose limbs -lay relaxed on the ground. And I wished -for the same fate, and I thought: 'He is -happy. He is free from the burden of woe.' -So I made up my mind to die, and hanged -myself with a rope from a tree. I lost consciousness, -but before the breath of life was -gone, the cord was cut and I fell to the -ground. And when I came to myself, I saw -a compassionate man who had happened by -at that moment, and he was fanning me with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> -his garment. And he said to me: 'My friend, -you are an educated man. Tell me why -you are so despondent. The righteous man -finds happiness, the unrighteous man finds -unhappiness because of his unrighteousness, -and for no other reason. If you made up -your mind to this because of unhappiness, -practise righteousness instead. Why seek the -pains of hell by suicide?' Thus the man -comforted me and went away. And I gave -up the idea of suicide and came here. You -see I could not even die when fate was unwilling. -Now I shall burn my body at some -holy place, that I may not again feel the -woes of poverty."</p> - -<p>Then the younger brothers said to him: -"Sir, why is an intelligent man sad for lack -of money? Do you not know that money -is uncertain as an autumn cloud? No matter -how carefully won and guarded, three things -are fickle and bring sorrow at the last: evil -friendships, a flirt, and money. The resolute -and sensible man should by all means acquire -that virtue which brings him Happiness a -captive in bonds."</p> - -<p>So the eldest brother straightway plucked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> -up heart, and said: "What virtue is it which -we should acquire?"</p> - -<p>Then they all reflected, and took counsel -together: "We will wander over the earth, -and each of us will learn some one science." -So they appointed a place for meeting, and -the four brothers started in four different -directions.</p> - -<p>After a time they all gathered at the -meeting-place, and asked one another what -they had learned. The first said: "I have -learned a science by which I can take the -skeleton of any animal whatever and put the -proper kind of flesh on it."</p> - -<p>The second said: "I have learned a science -by which I can put on the flesh-covered -skeleton the proper hair and skin."</p> - -<p>The third said: "My science is this. When -the skin and the flesh and the hair are there, -I can put in the eyes and the other organs -of sense."</p> - -<p>The fourth said: "When the organs are -there, I can give the creature the breath of -life."</p> - -<p>So all four went into the forest to find a -skeleton and test their various sciences. As -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>fate would have it, they found the skeleton -of a lion there. And they took that, not -knowing the difference.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_248.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">The lion arose and killed his four creators.</p> -</div> - -<p>The first fitted out the skeleton with appropriate -flesh. The second added the skin -and hair. The third provided all the organs. -The fourth gave life to the thing, and it was -a lion. The lion arose with terrible massive -mane, dreadful teeth in his mouth, and curving -claws in his paws. He arose and killed -his four creators, then ran into the forest.</p> - -<p>Thus the Brahman youths all perished because -they did wrong to make a lion. Who -could expect a good result from creating a bad-tempered -creature? Thus, if fate opposes, even -a virtue that has been painfully acquired does -not profit, but rather injures. But the tree of -manhood, with the water of intelligence poured -into its watering-trench of conduct about the -vigorous root of fate, generally bears good fruit.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he -asked the king who was walking through the -night: "O King, remember the curse I -mentioned, and tell me which of them was -most to blame for creating the lion?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> - -<p>And the king reflected in silence: "He -wants to escape again. Very well. I will -catch him again." So he said: "The one -who gave life to the lion, is the sinner. The -others did not know what kind of an animal it -was, and just showed their skill in creating flesh -and skin and hair and organs. They were not -to blame because they were ignorant. But the -one who saw that it was a lion and gave it life -just to exhibit his skill, he was guilty of the -murder of Brahmans."</p> - -<p>Then the goblin went home. And the king -followed him again, and came to the sissoo -tree.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>TWENTY-FIRST GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Old Hermit who exchanged his Body for -that of the Dead Boy. Why did he weep -and dance?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">Then</span> the king went back to the sissoo -tree, put the goblin on his shoulder in -spite of all its writhings, and set out in -silence. And the goblin on his shoulder said: -"O king of kings, you are terribly obstinate -about this impossible task. So to amuse the -weary journey I will tell a story. Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In the Kalinga country was a city called -Beautiful, where people lived as happily as in -heaven. There ruled a famous king named -Pradyumna. And in a part of this city was a -region set apart by the king, where many -Brahmans lived. Among them was a learned, -wealthy, pious, hospitable Brahman named -Sacrifice.</p> - -<p>In his old age a single son was born to him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> -and his worthy wife. The boy grew under -the fostering care of his father, and showed -signs of excellence. He was called Devasoma -by his father, and his parents were entirely devoted -to him.</p> - -<p>In his sixteenth year the boy attracted everyone -by his learning and modesty. Then he -suddenly fell ill of a fever and died. When -his father and mother saw that he was really -dead, they embraced the body and wept aloud. -But their love for him would not permit them -to burn the body.</p> - -<p>So the old relatives gathered, and said to -the father: "Brahman, life is imaginary like -a city in the sky. Do you not know this, -you who know things above and things -below? The kings who enjoyed themselves -like gods upon the earth, they have gone one -by one to cemeteries filled with processions of -weeping ghosts. Their bodies were burned -by the flesh-devouring fire and eaten by -jackals. No one could prevent it in their -case. How much less in the case of others? -Therefore, as you are a wise man, tell us -what you mean by embracing this dead -body?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> - -<p>So at last the relatives persuaded him to -let his son go, and they put the body in a -litter and brought it to the cemetery with -weeping and wailing.</p> - -<p>At that time a hermit was fulfilling a hard -vow, and was living in a hut in the cemetery. -He was very thin because of his age and his -hard life. His veins stuck out like cords to -bind him, as if afraid that he would break -in pieces. His hair was tawny like the -lightning.</p> - -<p>This hermit heard the wailing of the people, -and turned to his pupil who begged food -for him. Now this pupil was proud and -arrogant. And the hermit said: "My boy, -what is this wailing we hear? Go outside -and find out, then return and tell me why -this unheard-of commotion is taking place."</p> - -<p>But the pupil said: "I will not go. Go -yourself. My hour for begging is passing -by."</p> - -<p>Then the teacher said: "Fool! Glutton! -What do you mean by your hour for begging? -Only one half of the first watch of the day -is gone."</p> - -<p>Then the bad pupil became angry and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> -said: "Decrepit old man! I am not your -pupil. And you are not my teacher. I am -going away. Do your begging yourself." -And he angrily threw down his staff and -bowl before the old man, and got up, and -went away.</p> - -<p>Then the hermit laughed. He left his -hut and went to the place where the dead -Brahman boy had been brought to be burned. -He saw how the people mourned over such -youthful freshness dead, and felt his own age -and weakness. So he made up his mind to -exchange his body for the other by magic.</p> - -<p>He went aside and wept at the top of his -voice. Then he danced with all the proper -gestures.</p> - -<p>After that, full of the longing to enjoy the -happiness of youth, he left his own withered -body by magic and entered the body of the -Brahman youth. So the Brahman youth -came to life on the funeral pyre and stood -up. And a cry of joy arose from all the -relatives: "See! The boy is alive! He is -alive!"</p> - -<p>Then the magician in the body of the -Brahman boy said to the relatives: "I went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> -to the other world, and Shiva gave me life -and directed me to perform a great vow. So -now I am going off to perform the vow. If -I do not, my life will not last. Do you -then go home, and I will come later."</p> - -<p>So he spoke to those gathered there, having -made up his mind what to do, and sent them -home full of joy and grief. He went himself -and threw his old body into a pit, and then -went off, a young man.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he -said to King Triple-victory, who was walking -through the night: "O King, when the -magician entered another person's body, why -did he weep before doing it, or why did he -dance? I have a great curiosity about this -point."</p> - -<p>And the king was afraid of the curse, so he -broke silence and said: "Listen, goblin. He -thought: 'I am leaving to-day this body with -which I won magic powers, the body which -my parents petted when I was a child.' So -first he wept from grief, and from love of -his body which he found it hard to leave. -Then he thought: 'With a new body I can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> -learn more magic.' So he danced from joy -at getting youth."</p> - -<p>When the goblin heard this answer, he -returned quickly to the sissoo tree. And the -king pursued him, undismayed.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>TWENTY-SECOND GOBLIN</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><em>The Father and Son who married Daughter -and Mother. What relation were their -children?</em></p> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">The</span> king paid no attention to the -terrible witch of night, clad in black -darkness, with the funeral piles as -flaming eyes. He bravely went through the -dreadful cemetery to the sissoo tree, put the -goblin on his shoulder, and started as before. -And as he walked along, the goblin said to -him: "O King, I am very tired with these -comings and goings, but you do not seem -to be. So I will tell you my Great Puzzle. -Listen."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Long ago there was a king named Virtue -in the southern country. He was the best -of righteous men, and was born in a great -family. His wife came from the Malwa -country, and her name was Moonlight. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -they had one daughter, whom they named -Beauty.</p> - -<p>When this daughter was grown up, the -relatives conspired to wreck the kingdom and -drive King Virtue out. But he escaped by -night, took a great many jewels, and fled from -his kingdom with his beautiful wife and his -daughter. He started for his father-in-law's -house in Malwa, and came with his wife and -daughter to the Vindhya forest. There they -spent a weary night.</p> - -<p>In the morning the blessèd sun arose in -the east, stretching out his rays like hands -to warn the king not to go into the forest -where robbers lived. The king went on foot -with his trembling daughter and his wife, -and their feet were wounded by the thorny -grass. So they came to a fortified village. -It was like the city of Death; for there were -no righteous people there, and it was filled with -robber-men who killed and robbed other people.</p> - -<p>As the king drew near with his fine -garments and his gems, many robbers saw -him from a distance, and ran out armed to -rob him. When the king saw them coming, -he said to his wife and daughter: "These are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> -wild men. They must not touch you. Go -into the thick woods." So the queen with -her daughter Beauty fled in fear into the -middle of the forest.</p> - -<p>But the brave king took his sword and -shield and killed many of the wild men as -they charged down, raining arrows on him. -Then their leader gave an order, and all the -robbers fell on the king at once, wounded -every limb in his body, and killed him; for -he was all alone. So the robbers took the -jewels and went away.</p> - -<p>Now the queen had hidden in a thicket, -and had seen her husband killed. Then she -fled a long distance in fear and came with her -daughter into another thick wood. The rays -of the midday sun were so fierce that travellers -had to sit in the shade. So Queen Moonlight -and Princess Beauty sat down under an ashoka -tree near a lotus-pond in terrible weariness and -fear and grief.</p> - -<p>Now a gentleman named Fierce-lion who -lived near came on horseback with his son -into that wood to hunt. The son's name was -Strong-lion. And the father saw the footprints -of the queen and the princess, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> -said to his son: "My son, these footprints are -clean-cut and ladylike. Let us follow them. -And if we find two women, you shall marry -one of them, whichever you choose."</p> - -<p>And the son Strong-lion said: "Father, the -one who has the little feet in this line of -footprints, seems to be the wife for me. The -one with the bigger feet must be older. She -is the wife for you."</p> - -<p>But Fierce-lion said: "My son, what do -you mean? Your mother went to heaven -before your eyes. When so good a wife is -gone, how could I think of another?"</p> - -<p>But his son said: "Not so, Father. A -householder's house is an empty place without -a wife. Besides, you have surely heard what -the poet says:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">'What fool would go into a house?</div> - <div class="verse indent4">'Tis a prisoner's abode,</div> - <div class="verse">Unless a buxom wife is there,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Looking down the road.'</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>So, Father, I beg you on my life to marry -the second one, whom I have chosen for you."</p> - -<p>Then Fierce-lion said "Very well," and -went on slowly with his son, following the -footprints. And when he came to the pond,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> -he saw Queen Moonlight, radiant with beauty -and charm. And with his son he eagerly -approached her. But when she saw him, she -rose in terror, fearing that he was a robber.</p> - -<p>But her sensible daughter said: "There is -no reason to fear. These two men are not -robbers. They are two well-dressed gentlemen, -who probably came here to hunt." Still the -queen swung in doubt.</p> - -<p>Then Fierce-lion dismounted and stood -before her. And he said: "Beautiful lady, -do not be frightened. We came here to hunt. -Pluck up heart and tell me without fear who -you are. Why have you come into this lonely -wood? For your appearance is that of ladies -who wear gems and sit on pleasant balconies. -And why should feet fit to saunter in a court, -press this thorny ground? It is a strange -sight. For the wind-blown dust settles on -your faces and robs them of beauty. It hurts -us to see the fierce rays of the sun fall upon -such figures. Tell us your story. For our -hearts are sadly grieved to see you in such a -plight. And we cannot see how you could -live in a forest filled with wild beasts."</p> - -<p>Then the queen sighed, and between shame<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> -and grief she stammered out her story. And -Fierce-lion saw that she had no husband to -care for her. So he comforted her and soothed -her with tender words, and took care of her -and her daughter. His son helped the two -ladies on horseback and led them to his own -city, rich as the city of the god of wealth. -And the queen seemed to be in another life. -She was helpless and widowed and miserable. -So she consented. What could she do, poor -woman?</p> - -<p>Then, because the queen had smaller feet, -the son Strong-lion married Queen Moonlight. -And Fierce-lion, the father, married -her daughter, the princess Beauty, because of -the bigness of her feet. Who would break -a promise that had been made solemnly?</p> - -<p>Thus, because of their inconsistent feet, the -daughter became the wife of the father and -the mother-in-law of her own mother. And -the mother became the wife of the son and -the daughter-in-law of her own daughter. -And as time passed, sons and daughters were -born to each pair.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the goblin had told this story, he -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>asked the king: "O King, when children -were born to the father and daughter, and -other children to the son and mother, what -relation were those children to one another? -If you know and do not tell, then remember -the curse I spoke of before."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_264.jpg" alt="" /> -<p class="caption">He comforted her and soothed her with tender words.</p> -</div> - -<p>When the king heard the goblin's question, -he turned the thing this way and that, but -could not say a word. So he went on in -silence. And when the goblin saw that he -could not answer the question, he laughed in -his heart and thought: "This king cannot -give an answer to my Great Puzzle. So he -just walks on in silence. And he cannot -deceive me because of the power of the curse. -Well, I am pleased with his wonderful character. -So I will cheat that rogue of a monk, -and give the magic power he is striving after -to this king."</p> - -<p>So the goblin said aloud: "O King, you -are weary with your comings and goings in -this dreadful cemetery in the black night, yet -you seem happy, and never hesitate at all. -I am astonished and pleased at your perseverance. -So now you may take the dead -body and go ahead. I will leave the body.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> -And I will tell you something that will do -you good, and you must do it. The monk -for whom you are carrying this body, is a -rogue. He will call upon me and worship -me, and he will try to kill you as a sacrifice. -He will say: 'Lie flat on the ground in an -attitude of reverence.' O King, you must say -to that rascal: 'I do not know this attitude -of reverence. Show me first, and then I will -do likewise.' Then when he lies on the -ground to show you the attitude of reverence, -cut off his head with your sword. Then you -will get the kingship over the fairies which -he is trying to get. Otherwise, the monk will -kill you and get the magic power. That is -why I have delayed you so long. Now go -ahead, and win magic power."</p> - -<p>So the goblin left the body on the king's -shoulder and went away. And the king reflected -how the monk Patience was planning -to hurt him. He took the body and joyfully -went to the fig-tree.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>CONCLUSION</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap-simple"><span class="smcap">So</span> King Triple-victory came to the monk -Patience with the body on his shoulder. -And he saw the monk alone in the -dark night, sitting under the cemetery tree and -looking down the road. He had made a -magic circle with yellow powdered bones in a -spot smeared with blood. In it he had put a -jug filled with blood and lamps with magic oil. -He had kindled a fire and brought together -the things he needed for worship.</p> - -<p>The monk rose to greet the king who came -carrying the body, and he said: "O King, -you have done me a great favour, and a hard -one. This is a strange business and a strange -time and place for such as you. They say -truly that you are the best of kings, for you -serve others without thinking of yourself. -This is the very thing that makes the greatness -of a great man, when he does not give a thing -up, though it costs his very life."</p> - -<p>So the monk felt sure that he was quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> -successful, and he took the body from the -king's shoulder. He bathed it and put garlands -on it, and set it in the middle of the -circle. Then he smeared his own body with -ashes, put on a cord made of human hair, -wrapped himself in dead men's clothes, and -stood a moment, deep in thought. And the -goblin was attracted by his thought into the -body, and the monk worshipped him.</p> - -<p>First he offered liquor in a skull, then he -gave him human teeth carefully cleaned, and -human eyes and flesh. So he completed his -worship, then he said to the king: "O King, -fall flat on the ground before this master -magician in an attitude of reverence, so that -he may give you what you want."</p> - -<p>And the king remembered the words of the -goblin. He said to the monk: "Holy sir, I -do not know that attitude of reverence. -Do you show me first, and afterwards I will -do it in the same way."</p> - -<p>And when the monk fell on the ground to -show the attitude of reverence, the king cut -off his head with a sword, and cut out his -heart and split it open. And he gave the head -and the heart to the goblin.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then all the little gods were delighted and -cried: "Well done!" And the goblin was -pleased and spoke to the king from the body -he was living in: "O King, this monk was -trying to become king of the fairies. But you -shall be that when you have been king of the -whole world."</p> - -<p>And the king answered the goblin: "O -magic creature, if you are pleased with me, I -have nothing more to wish for. Yet I ask -you to make me one promise, that these -twenty-two different, charming puzzle-stories -shall be known all over the world and be -received with honour."</p> - -<p>And the goblin answered: "O King, so be -it. And I will tell you something more. -Listen. When anyone tells or hears with -proper respect even a part of these puzzle-stories, -he shall be immediately free from sin. And -wherever these stories are told, elves and giants -and witches and goblins and imps shall have -no power."</p> - -<p>Then the goblin left the dead body by -magic, and went where he wanted to. Then -Shiva appeared there with all the little gods, -and he was well pleased. When the king<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> -bowed before him, he said: "My son, you did -well to kill this sham monk who tried by -force to become king of the fairies. Therefore -you shall establish the whole earth, and -then become king of the fairies yourself. And -when you have long enjoyed the delights of -heaven and at last give them up of your own -accord, then you shall be united with me. So -receive from me this sword called Invincible. -While you have it, everything you say will -come true."</p> - -<p class="mb4">So Shiva gave him the magic sword, received -his flowery words of worship, and -vanished with the gods.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_001-274.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<div class='transnote mt4'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> - -<p>Minor punctuation and printer errors repaired.</p> - -<p>Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and other inconsistencies.</p> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Twenty-Two Goblins, by Arthur W. 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