Page:Panchatantra.djvu/135

126 The common phrase 'a dog's life' has
 * A most persuasive ring:

But dogs can do the things they like;
 * A slave obeys his king.

He must be chaste, sleep hard, grow thin,
 * And eat a meager dinner:

The servant lives as lives the saint,
 * Yet is not saint, but sinner.

He cannot do the things he would;
 * He serves another's mind;

He sells his body. How can such
 * A wretch contentment find?

According to the lesser distance, A servant uses more persistence In watching for his master's whim And trembling at the sight of him: And this because a fire, a king, Are double name for single thing, A burning thing that men can stand Afar, but not too close at hand.

What flavor has a tidbit, though
 * It be as good as good,

Soft, dainty, melting in the mouth,
 * If bought by servitude?

To sum it all up:

After listening to this, Lively said, perceiving that Victor had a hidden purpose in mind: "Tell me, my