Page:Sacred Books of the Buddhists Vol 1.djvu/369

 more confidence, asked him for a share, supporting his demand with a proper benediction after the manner of mendicants.

12. Much good may it do thee, lord of the quadrupeds, who procurest thy livelihood by thy prowess ! I beg thee to honour a mendicant, which is an instrument for thee to gather good repute and merit.'

But the lion disregarding this kind blessing, unacquainted as he was with the behaviour of the pious (ârya), owing to his habitual cruelty and selfishness, fixed a sidelong look on the Bodhisattva, as if he were willing to burn him down with the flame of the anger blazing out of his fiery eyes, and said: 'No more of this.

13. 'Is it not enough that thou art alive, after entering the mouth of a creature like me, a devourer of fresh killed deer who does not know of unmanly mercy?

14. Is it to insult me that thou darest molest me thus another time with a demand. Art thou weary of thy life? Thou wishest to see the world hereafter, I suppose.'

This refusal and the harsh words expressing it, filled the Bodhisattva with shame. He few directly upward to the sky, telling him in the language of his extended wings he was a bird, and went his way.

Now some forest-deity who was indignant at this injury, or who wanted to know the extent of his virtuous constancy, mounted also to the sky, and said to the Great Being : 'Excellent one among birds, for what reason dost thou suffer this injury inflicted by that scoundrel on thee, his benefactor, though thou dost possess the power of revenge? What is the profit of overlooking that ungrateful one in this manner?

15. 'He may be ever so strong, thou art still able to blind him by a sudden assault on his face. Thou mayst also rob the flesh of his repast from between his very teeth. Why then dost thou suffer his insolence ?'

At that moment the Bodhisattva, though having