Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/65

Rh After some days had passed he took the gold and hid it in a certain place on the road (outside the village), then he returned and stayed on in the hermitage. The next day, having taken his meals in his friend's house, he said to him, "I have, sir, lived a long time dependent upon you; but since to those dwelling too long in one place there is association with men, and this fellowship is indeed a sin in those devoted to a religious life, I shall therefore take leave of you and go (elsewhere)."

Though the landowner besought him again and again to stay on, he did not wish to remain. Then said he, "Since such is the case, sir, take your departure." He accompanied him as far as the entrance to the village, and then turned back. The ascetic, going on a little way, thought to himself, "I must outwit this yeoman." Having placed a single blade of grass in his long, matted hair, he made his way back. "How is it, reverend sir, that you have come back?" asked the landowner. "Sir," he replied, "a blade of grass from the roof of your house clung to my hair. Ascetics must not take anything that is not given them (not even a single blade of grass), therefore I've come back with it."

The landowner said, "Go, sir, since you have given it up." Then he thought, "This holy man seems to me to be very sensitive, for he does not take even a blade of grass belonging to another." He was much pleased with the ascetic, saluted him and bade him good-bye. At that time the Bodhisat, on his way to a border village to transact business, took up his abode in that quarter. On hearing what the ascetic had been saying he thought, "Surely this depraved ascetic intends to carry something off." He inquired of the yeoman, "Have you, sir, entrusted anything to the care of that ascetic?" "Yes, sir," he replied, "a hundred gold pieces." "Well then you had better go after him and question him about it," said the Bodhisat. He went to the hermitage, but, not finding him there, speedily returned, saying, "It is not there, sir."

"Well, since your gold has not been taken by any one else, it must have been taken by that deceitful ascetic. Come let's follow after him and seize him." Rushing after him, they caught that artful ascetic,