Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/350

342 see the king," he replied. "The king is reported to be a sage; take a case (for decision) from me." And she went on to say—"I used, formerly, to get a good deal of money, but now I can't get enough to provide myself with betel. No one, indeed, comes near me. Ask the king what's the reason of it, and then tell me what he says."

Then, further on, at the entrance of another village, a young married woman saw him, and thus spake to him: "I cannot live in my husband's house, or in that where my family dwell. Ask the king why this is so, and let me know his answer." Then, further on, a snake, living in an ant-hill near the high road, saw Gâmini, and inquired where he was going. "To see the king," he replied. "They say the king is a sage; take a message for me. When I go out from the ant-hill (in the morning) in search of food, hungry and thin, yet my body fills the hole, and, dragging my body through, I get out only with great difficulty. But when I return from my rounds, filled with food, and my body distended, entering my hole, I get into it in no time, without even touching the walls of it. Ask the king what is the reason of this, and tell me by-and-by what he says."

Then, further on, a deer saw him, and said, "I cannot eat grass anywhere except at the foot of a certain tree. Ask the king the reason of this, and bring me back his answer."

Then further on a partridge saw him and said, "When I am sitting at the foot of a certain ant-hill singing, I am able to sing and produce a pleasant note, but when sitting in other places I cannot. Ask the king the reason of this," &c. Then further on a tree-sprite saw him and said, "Gâmini, where are you going?" "To the king," he made answer. "The king is reported to be a sage. I was formerly treated with respect, but now I don't get even a mere handful of leaves. Ask the king the reason of this," &c.

But further on a certain naga-king saw him, and, after questioning him as the others had done, said, "The king is reported to be a sage. Formerly the water in this lake used to be as clear as crystal, but now it is turbid and mantled with scum. Ask the king the reason of this," &c.

Then further on some hermits, living in a garden near the city,