Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/123

115 To which Hiranayaka replied:—You are fickle-minded. It is not advisable to make an everlasting friendship with the fickle-minded. To add to this, you are my enemy. It is not good to be on terms of intimacy with an enemy, however good he may be. I cannot, therefore, be intimate with you." To which Laghupathanaka replied:—"Why talk so much without understanding my disposition? Hear my last word. I have seen Chitragriva enjoying the pleasure of your company. I desire to be on terms of friendship with you. It is well if you fulfil my prayers. If not, I shall voluntarily starve myself to death and die." Hiranayaka hearing this came out of the hole and said:—"Laghupathanaka, I am very much pleased with you. I shall do what you desire me to do." Thus saying Hiranayaka pleased the crow by his good deeds, let him depart, and entered the hole. From that time forward, the rat and the crow spent their days in friendly intercourse.

Some time after the crow seeing the rat said:—"Comrade, it is very difficult to eke