Page:Potipharswifeoth00arnoiala.djvu/114

 Dipping deeply in the salt waves

Bushy tail, and then besprinkling

On the shore the gathered water.

Quoth the God, "What art thou doing,

Little gray, insensate Squirrel!

Dipping in the mighty ocean

Tail so insignificant?"

And the Squirrel meekly answered:

"Oh, Creator of all living,

Glorious Shiva! I am trying

To bale dry the Indian Sea;

For there came a furious tempest

Which laid low this lofty palm-tree

Where I built my happy nest;

And the palm has fallen seaward,

And the nest lies in the water,

And my wife and pretty children

In the nest will float away;

Therefore, all the night and day here,

Do I dip my tail and shake it,

Hoping, if I labor stoutly,