Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/346

 338 FOLK-TALES OF INDIA.

secrated as king, and tlicy determined to put him to the proof before proceeding to the ceremony of inauguration.

On a certain day they decorated the city, and prepared a court of justice, and set apart a throne in it. Then they went before the prince and said, '' Sire ! you must go to the law-court." " Good ! " said the prince, who, with a great retinue, went and sat on the throne prepared for him. While he was sitting there the ministers brought to the court a wild monkey they had caused to be caught, disguised like a learned professor, and walking upright like a man. " Sire ! " they said, " this person, in the time of the great king your father, was a learned scholar, versed in all sciences. He detects a flaw in the seven precious jewels, though hidden in the earth. He had a position assigned him in the household of the royal family. Let the king take him into his favour, and give him a post."

The prince, looking at him from top to toe, saw that it was a monkey, and thought " Monkeys, of a truth, know how to destroy whatever is done, but are unable to do what is undone, or to carry out any undertaking." Then he addressed the ministers in the following gdthd : —

" Full well I trow of houses he knows naught, For he a monkey is, as I now see, And would undo the works he found well done, Of such a kind his household customs are."

The ministers acknowledged the truth of the king's decision, and removed him. After a day or two they e'en dressed the monkey up again, brought him to the court of justice, and said, " Sire ! this person, in the time of the late great king, was a minister of justice, and settled law-suits. You must take him into your favour and let him administer justice."

The prince looked at him, and thought, " A person endowed w<ith mind and intellect has not, indeed, hair of this kind on his body; this witless monkey can't settle law-suits." Then he uttered the fol- lowing gdthd : —

No law-suit can this hairy brute decide ; My father Janasandha did me teach That apes forsooth know naught that's good for aught."
 * Not hair like this have men with minds, I ween.