Page:Barlaam and Josaphat. English lives of Buddha.djvu/67

Rh unintelligible form, and in the smallest of legible type, in several cases they take up a whole page, without any claim to be exhaustive. It would, obviously, be impossible to discuss here all, or even a majority, of these parables, ample information about which can be obtained in the critical treatment of them, for which I give references in Appendix II. under the section of "Literature." But it seems desirable to treat at greater length a few of the more important parables, whether their importance depends upon their illustrious derivates or their folklore interest. Of these there can be no doubt which comes first in every way in deserving special notice.

I. The Four Caskets.—To find an integral part of the plot of one of Shakspere's best-known plays to be derived from Indian parable is one of those curiosities of literature which cannot fail to strike even the most vacant mind. But that the Caskets Story of the Merchant of Venice can ultimately be derived from a Buddhistic legend there is no manner of doubt, even if the immediate source whence Shakspere drew it cannot at present be ascertained. We can at least trace the