himself, he let himself believe that the money had been taken away by his sons and in his misery there was nothing left for him except to call himself an insect. While he continued to feel miserable, he tasted, on this reversal of his fortunes, a portion of the bitter gall of defeat.
But anon he turned his defeat into victory. He raised his right hand, and with great strength, slapped his mouth twice. Followed a stinging sensation and a bit of pain. After this slapping, his heart felt consoled and his temper assuaged, for it seemed as if he himself had done the slapping and that another himself had received the slapping, and so it was not long before he felt as if he were hitting some one else — despite the fact that his lips were still smarting. He lay down fully satisfied in heart that he had gained a victory.
Presently he fell asleep.
