On seeing him come she joyfully exclaimed:—
"Just as a king full glad would be,
Did he a kingdom get,
So I to-day rejoice to see
My husband with his prey."
Having uttered this gâthâ, she inquired what means he had used to secure his booty—
"How now did you that land-born are
A river fish obtain?
I ask you, sir, pray tell me how
Your booty you did gain."
The jackal, informing her of the device he had used, spake the following gâthâ:—
"By litigation they are lean,
Their fish they have quite lost.
The otters now their suit have lost;
Enjoy the fish, my dear."
"Thus when disputes 'mong men arise
To law they have recourse.
The judge their suit full soon decides.
And fees they have to pay;
And though their means get less and less
The king's chest fuller gets."
The Dûta Jâtaka.[1]
The Messenger of Lust.
Very long ago, when Brahmadatta reigned at Benares, the Bodhisat was re-born as his son. When he grew up he studied sciences at Takkasilâ, and, after the death of his father, he ascended the throne.
He was very particular as to his food ; they therefore called him King Dainty. It is said that he partook of his food with such ceremonies and costly array as to expend a hundred thousand pence upon one dish of food ; for when he took his meals he did not par-
- ↑ Jâtaka Book, vol. ii. No. 216, p. 319.
