Page:The Enchanted Parrot.djvu/127

Rh sciences make cowards of them." So Prabhâvati said to her husband —

" Sir ! your place has been well supplied, for in this house dwells a Parrot, who seems to have come direct from the abode of the gods, and who speaks words of wisdom. He has been even as a husband and son to me."

The Parrot at these words felt a little ashamed of himself, for it did not seem to him that he had merited such compliments. So Madana turned to Prabhâvatî and said: " Pray, what were the words of wisdom with which the Parrot consoled you ? "

She replied: " My lord ! a speaker of truth may be found, but it is not so easy to find a listener, for it has been said — " ' Men who say what is pleasant are always welcome:

But those who tell unpalatable truths, will not find an audience.

Women are unstable; they have little or no affection for their husbands; they think much of themselves; they are ignorant; weak; careless in the performance of their duties. Women exercise their powers of attraction, and then when they have caught a man they draw him out like a fish in a net. They are as changeable