🧚 Opening, part 6

Then the Crab said: “But see how much bigger you are; if you were as small as I am, you would probably not travel any more quickly than I do.1 Perhaps I am very slow and very stupid, but if you will allow me to hang a weight on that fine tail of yours, to hold it down, I challenge you to as long a race as you care to run.”2

The Fox thought he might just as well teach the stupid Crab a lesson, so, in a voice filled with contempt, he said: “When you ask me to race with you, even with any handicap you like, you show how little understanding you have.3 You have many legs and no sense, while I have four legs and am known to be the wisest inhabitant of the forest.4 Even human beings refer to me as the slyest of the sly.”5

But again the Crab offered to race with him if he would but allow him to hang a weight on his tail, so that it would stay down.6 The Fox laughed at him, saying that he was foolish to think that he could win a race between them under any conditions; but as the Crab repeated the offer, the Fox at last consented.7

So the Crab said: “When I have secured it to your tail, I will say ‘Ready!’ and that will be the signal to start, then go as fast as you like.”8

With this the Crab went behind the Fox, and firmly gripped his tail with his pincers.9 Then he called out, “Ready!”10

The Fox began to run; he ran until he was tired, and then stopped to rest.11 To his surprise he heard the Crab say: “Well, Mr. Fox, with all your boasting, you haven’t beaten me yet!”12

“This is very strange,” said the Fox to himself, “but if I am tired, I know the Crab must be a great deal more so.”13 He started off again, and ran until he was almost out of breath.14 Feeling sure that the Crab was now far behind, he lay down on the ground, panting.15

If he had been surprised to hear the Crab’s voice when he stopped before, how much more so was he now, when the Crab said: “Ha, ha!16 Mr. Braggart, you seem to be winded.17 Come, let us go on with the race.”18 He got upon his feet, and the Crab, who had released his grip from the Fox’s tail, crawled up in front of him, looking just as fresh as when they began the race.19

The Fox looked at him, and then, without a word, slunk away, his head bowed in shame.20

INGRATITUDE21

Once upon a time a certain king had as his Chief Counsellor a man who was proud and oppressive to those under him.22

Not far from the royal palace, in which this man dwelt, was a forest well stocked with game.23 By his order various pits were dug there, and covered with leaves, for the purpose of catching wild beasts.24

One day, while riding in the forest, he was so overcome by the thought of his own greatness, that he exclaimed aloud: “There is no man in all this empire more powerful than I am.”25

Scarcely had the braggart spoken than he fell into one of the pitfalls that he had ordered to be made and he immediately disappeared from view.26

When his eyes became accustomed to the dim light of the hole, he was horrified to find that he had as fellow prisoners a lion, a monkey, and a serpent.27 He was stricken with terror, and cried out at the top of his voice.28

Not far from the pit was lying asleep a poor man called Guido, who had come with his ass to the forest to gather firewood, by the sale of which he made a poor living.29 The noise made by the great man awakened him, and he hastened to give what aid he could to whoever might be in trouble.30

The cries guided him to the mouth of the pit and there he was promised a great sum of money by the Prime Minister if he would rescue him from his perilous position.31

Guido told him that his living depended upon the collecting of faggots, and if he neglected this for a single day, he would be thrown into great difficulties.32 The captive again promised him a large reward, so Guido went back to the city, and returned with a long cord, which he let down into the pit, telling the great man to bind it around his waist, and he would then pull him out.33

But before he could do this, the lion leaped forward, and seizing upon the cord, was drawn up in his stead, and showing signs of the greatest pleasure, ran off into the wood.34

Guido again let down the rope, and this time the monkey, who had noted the lion’s success, jumped over the man’s head and, shaking the cord, was in like manner set at liberty, and hastened to his own haunts.35

A third time Guido lowered the rope, and this time the serpent, twining around it, was drawn up, and showing signs of gratitude to the peasant, escaped.36

“Oh, my good friend,” exclaimed the Counsellor, “the beasts are gone, now draw me up quickly, I beseech you.”37 This Guido did, and afterwards succeeded in pulling up his horse, which had fallen into the pit with him.38 Then without another word, the man who had been saved mounted his horse, and rode back to the palace.39

When Guido returned to his home his wife saw that he had come without wood, and inquired the cause.40 He told her all that had happened, and the great reward he was to receive, and then his wife’s countenance brightened.41

Early the next morning Guido went to the palace, but to his surprise the Prime Minister not only denied all knowledge of him, but had him beaten for his presumption, and this so severely that the porter who carried out his orders left him half dead.42

As soon as Guido’s wife heard of this she saddled their ass, and going to the palace, carefully placed her husband upon its back, and took him home, where he lay sick for a long time.43 This illness took all of their savings, but as soon as he was able he returned to his usual occupation in the forest.44

One day, while thus employed, he saw afar off ten asses laden with packs, and a lion following close on them.45 They were coming towards him, and when close enough Guido noticed that the beast was the same which he had freed from the pit.46

The lion signified with his foot that Guido should take the loaded asses, and go home.47 This he did, and the lion followed.48 Having reached his own door, the noble beast fawned upon him, and wagging his tail as if in triumph, ran back into the woods.49

Guido was very honest, and even though he was poor he made no attempt to open the packages until he had caused notice to be given throughout the city that if any asses had been lost, the owners should come to him.50

He waited for some time, but as no one came to demand them be undid the packs, and to his great joy found them to be full of money.51

The next time Guido went to the forest he forgot to take the axe with which to chop the wood, but there appeared before him the monkey he had liberated, and the grateful animal, with his teeth and nails, cut the wood for him.52

The following day he went to collect firewood as usual, and as the head of his axe had become loose, he sat down to tighten it.53 While thus engaged he saw the serpent, whose escape he had aided, gliding towards him, carrying in its mouth a stone of three colors, white, black, and red.54 It opened its mouth, dropped the stone into Guido’s lap, and departed.55

Guido took the stone to a well-known dealer in jewels, who at once offered him a considerable sum of money for it, but this he refused.56 He kept the stone and through its magic qualities gained wealth and military command.57

In time the fame of this wonderful stone reached the Emperor, who desired to see it.58 Guido accordingly took it to the palace, and his Majesty was so struck by its beauty that he wished to purchase it.59

Guido had no desire to part with the stone, and the Emperor, noticing his unwillingness to sell it, threatened him with banishment from the kingdom if he refused.60

Then Guido said: “My lord, I will sell the stone; but let me say one thing—if the price be not given, it shall be returned to me.”61 He then named a price so high that he hoped the Emperor would not give it.62 But the ruler was determined to have it at any cost, and so the stone changed hands.63

Full of admiration, the Emperor exclaimed: “Tell me where you procured this beautiful stone.”64

Then Guido narrated from the beginning the Prime Minister’s accident and later ingratitude.65 He told how severely he had been injured by his order, and the benefits he had received from the lion, the monkey, and the serpent.66

The Emperor was greatly touched by the story, and sending for his Chief Counsellor, asked him if what Guido said was true.67

The Prime Minister was unable to reply, and the Emperor said: “You wretched monster of ingratitude!68 Guido saved you from great danger, and in return you nearly destroyed him.69 Even the beasts of the forest rendered him good for the help he gave them, but you returned only evil for good.70 For this I will strip you of all your wealth and dignities, and bestow them upon your benefactor, and you shall be cast into prison.”71

The Prime Minister was so hated by the people for his cruelty and oppression that there was general rejoicing in the land at this judgment of the Emperor.72

This story was used by King Richard the Lion Hearted of England in reproving such nobles and princes as refused to engage in the Crusades, thus showing their ingratitude to God.73

THE PAPER BAG74

There were once two brothers, the elder of whom, named Musai, was honest and kind, but poor.75 He was just the opposite of his younger brother, called Chô, who was cruel, stingy, dishonest and rich.76

Musai was in need of seed-rice and silkworms’ eggs.77 The past season had been an unfortunate one for him, and it was necessary for him to have these.78 Knowing that his brother had an abundance of good rice-seed and splendid eggs, he begged him to lend him some.79

Now, Chô hated to lend anyone anything, but he didn’t see how he could very well refuse his brother’s request, so he picked out some musty rice-seed and dead eggs, and gave them to him, feeling sure that they were worthless.80

Musai thanked him for his kindness, and took them home.81 He put plenty of mulberry leaves with the eggs, so that the silkworms should have plenty of food when they should arrive.82 And strange to say the worms came, and throve splendidly, much to Chô’s disappointment, because he was too mean to wish good-fortune to visit anyone but himself.83

He took it as a personal insult that the dead eggs he had let his brother have should hatch so well, so one day, when Musai was out, he went to his home, and cut every silkworm in two.84

When Musai returned, he was filled with dismay on seeing all of his silkworms killed, but he didn’t think of suspecting his own brother.85 He had placed a good supply of mulberry leaves for them only the day before, and each piece of worm came to life, and throve.86

Now he had twice as many silkworms as before, and they spun double the amount of silk that he had expected; so his brother Chô had really done him a good turn when he tried to ruin him.87

Musai began to prosper, much to the disgust of Chô, who proceeded to cut all of his own silkworms in half, thinking that of course the same good fortune would be his.88 But instead of coming to life again the worms died, which meant the loss of much money for him.89 This made him very jealous of his brother.90

The musty rice-seed which he had given his brother, and which Musai had planted, also turned out well, for it flourished better than any of his own had done.91 This only added to his jealousy.92

The time to cut and harvest the rice approached, when clouds of birds came and devoured it.93 Musai hastened to drive them away, and this he did again and again, but each time they returned.94

Chasing them away was very tiring work, so he finally pursued them to a distant field, and then they disappeared.95 Here he lay down to rest, and soon fell asleep.96

There came to him a dream in which he was surrounded by a band of merry children.97 They danced and sang and played games.98

In the last of these the eldest of the children lifted up a stone which lay near Musai’s head and from beneath it drew a paper bag.99 With this in his hand he went to the center of the ring, and asked each child in turn, “What would you like to have out of the bag?”100

One child answered, “A kite.”101 The bag was shaken, and out came a beautiful kite, string, tail and all.102 The next one said she would like a doll.103 The bag was again shaken and there was one, beautifully dressed, ready for her to hold in her arms.104

Each child in turn was asked what he or she desired, and the bag granted every wish.105 At last they went home, but before leaving the field the boy who had taken the magic bag from beneath the stone carefully replaced it.106

Soon Musai awoke, and so clear was the dream to him that he turned around to look for the stone, and there it was, close by his head.107 “How very strange,” he thought.108 Then, without really expecting to find anything, he raised the stone, and underneath it was the paper bag.109

Holding this carefully in his hand, he returned to his home, and there he did as he had seen the children do in his dream.110 He called out “Gold,” or “Silver,” or whatever he thought of, shook the bag, and out came that which he had named.111

Musai now became rich and prosperous.112 He told his brother how this good fortune had come to him in a dream, and this made Chô more jealous of him than before.113