🧚 Opening, part 8

The husbandman was in a great rage at thus being outwitted, and threw his club at the fleeing Deer with all his might.1 But instead of hitting the Deer, it struck Small-wit, the Jackal, who was hiding close by, and killed him.2

PIGEON-KING AND MOUSE-KING3

A fowler, seeking to snare some birds, set a trap with which he might catch them.4 He fixed a net, scattered grains of rice about, and then hid himself in a place where he could watch.5

Very soon “Speckle-neck,” King of the Pigeons, accompanied by his followers, flew that way.6 Of course he saw the rice-grains, and thought it very unusual that they should be lying on the ground in so lonely a spot as this was.7 He did not like the look of it, and so decided to take counsel with his followers before permitting them to eat the rice.8

They were all hungry, and the younger ones did not wish to wait while the older and wiser pigeons took counsel together, but this they had to do.9 At length one of them laughed at the others, and taunted them with being afraid without any reason, and dared them to at once eat the rice which they all wanted.10 At this they all settled on the ground, and soon were caught in the net.11

They then began to abuse the pigeon who had dared them, saying that it was through him they were all caught.12 But King Speckle-neck said they were all to blame, and the thing to do now was to find some way of escape, and not to waste precious time by quarreling.13 He thought carefully for a few moments, and then said.14

“Many small things added together make a large one.15 Let us all rise under the net at the same instant and between us we will fly off with it.”16

They decided to try this means of escape, and it happened just as the King said.17 They rose together, and flew away with the net.18 The fowler, who had hidden himself at some distance, saw the pigeons flying away with his net and hastened to stop them, but was too late, and soon they were out of sight.19

The pigeons, seeing that they were safely away from the fowler, asked the King what they should do next.20

Speckle-neck said, “A friend of mine named ‘Golden-skin,’ King of the Mice, lives near by.21 We will go to him, and he will cut these bonds.”22 They accordingly directed their flight to the hole of Golden-skin.23

They soon arrived at the home of the Mouse-king, and Speckle-neck called to his friend to come out.24 Golden-skin came to the entrance, and told his friend how pleased he was to see him.25 “But what does this mean?” he exclaimed, looking at the pigeons all tangled up in the net.26

Speckle-neck told him what had happened to them, and without a word the Mouse-king began to gnaw at the strings which held his friend.27 But the worthy Pigeon-king bade him to release the others first, and leave him until the last.28

To this Golden-skin objected, but King Speckle-neck said that he could not bear to see those who depended upon him in such distress.29 Such heroism made the Mouse-king’s fur bristle up for pure pleasure.30

“Nobly spoken!” said he.31 “Such tenderness for those who are dependent upon you makes me proud to be your friend.”32 With this, he set himself to the great task of cutting all their bonds, and in time all were free.33

The Mouse-king then entertained them as hospitably as he could.34 The Pigeon-king and his followers thanked him for his great kindness, and Golden-skin embraced them all, after which he returned to his hole and the pigeons departed.35

You may be sure that the young pigeons decided that the older ones were wiser in counsel than they, and to be more careful when “daring” their fellows.36

HE WISHED TO LIVE FOREVER37

A long time ago there lived in Japan a man named Opulo who was quite rich.38 There was really nothing about which he need worry, but one day the thought came to him that he might fall sick and die.39 Probably the only reason for this was because he didn’t have to earn his living, and so had very little to occupy his time.40

“It seems to me,” said he to himself, “that a man ought to live a much longer life than he does.41 I am very comfortable here, with all I want to eat and drink, and plenty of money to spend, so why should I not enjoy life for hundreds of years without sickness or worry?”42

He had heard of men in times gone by who had lived as long as that, and recalled the story of a certain Princess who had reached the age of five hundred years.43 Then he thought of that powerful Chinese King, Shiko, who built the great wall of China and many wonderful palaces, but who, in spite of his greatness and the luxury in which he lived, was never happy because he knew that some time he must die and give it all up.44

This great ruler had heard that in a country called Horazai, far away across the seas, there lived certain hermits who possessed the secret of the “Draught of Life,” and that whoever should drink of this wonderful elixir would never die.45 So he ordered Jofuku, a courtier in whom he placed great confidence, to set out for the land of Horazai, and to bring back with him a phial of this magic fluid.46

The Emperor had his finest junk made ready for a long voyage, and loaded it with rich gifts for the hermits.47 The courtier sailed away, but was never heard of again.48 Mount Fuji was supposed to be Horazai, and ever since then Jofuku has been worshipped as their god.49

The story of the Emperor Shiko made such an impression on Opulo that he made up his mind to seek the hermits who held the secret of this marvelous water of life, and if possible to become one of them; so he started out on his quest.50

He traveled, and traveled, climbing to the peaks of the highest mountains, and wandering through unknown regions, but meeting with no success.51

At last it seemed to him that he was wasting time, so he decided to go straight to the shrine of Jofuku, to whom he would pray for assistance in his search.52

He went to the temple devoted to this deity, and every day for a month he knelt there, and made his entreaty.53

At the end of this time, while kneeling before the shrine, he was suddenly enveloped in a cloud, and when this cleared away he saw Jofuku himself standing before him.54

Opulo bowed his head to the ground, and Jofuku said to him, “Your request is selfish and therefore hard to grant.55 You imagine that you would like to become a hermit such as those you seek, and so partake of the Elixir of Life.56 A hermit’s life is a hard one and not suited to an idle man who is used to enjoy every possible comfort.57 To be a hermit one must obey strict rules; he must eat only fruit and berries, and cut himself off from the ways of the world, so that he may become pure and free from unworthy desire.58

“You, Opulo, have always been a lazy man, and have been too fond of good living.59 Do you think you could go barefoot and wear only one thin dress during the cold of winter?60 No, the life of a hermit is not for you!61