Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/105

 divided the donkey, placed the jackal to guard it, and being fatigued, went away to bathe. And in the meanwhile the deceitful jackal devoured the heart and ears of that donkey, to gratify his appetite. The lion, after bathing, came back, and perceiving the donkey in this condition, asked the jackal where its ears and heart were. The jackal answered him; " The creature never possessed ears or a heart,— otherwise how could he have returned when he had once escaped?" When the lion heard that, he believed it, and ate his flesh, and the jackal devoured what remained over.

When the ape had told this tale, he said again to the porpoise; " I will not come again, why should I behave like the jackass." When the porpoise heard this from the monkey, he returned home, grieving that he had through his folly failed to execute his wife's commission, while he had lost a friend. But his wife recovered her former tranquillity, on account of the termination of her husband's friendship with the ape. And the ape lived happily on the shore of the sea.

" So a wise person should place no confidence in a wicked person. How can he, who confides in a wicked person or a black cobra, enjoy prosperity?" When Gomukha had told this story, he again said to Naraváhanadatta, to amuse him; " Now hear in succession about the following ridiculous fools. Hear first about the fool who rewarded the minstrel."

Story of the fool who gave a verbal reward to the musician.* :— A certain musician once gave great pleasure to a rich man, by singing and playing before him. He thereupon called his treasurer, and said in the bearing of the musician, " Give this man two thousand panas." The treasurer said, " I will do so," and went out. Then the minstrel went and asked him for those panas. But the treasurer, who had an understanding with his master, refused to give them.

Then the musician came and asked the rich man for the panas, but he said; " What did you give me, that I should make you a return? You gave a short-lived pleasure to my ears by playing on the lyre, and I gave a short-lived pleasure to your ears by promising you money." When the musician heard that, he despaired of his payment, laughed, and went home.

" Would not that speech of the miser's make even a stone laugh? And now, prince, bear the story of the two foolish pupils."