idge, and amazed at its
agility. The desire of walking in the same manner fixed itself in his
mind, and the insane longing to step proudly, after this fascinating
fashion, made its appearance. He forthwith girt his loins in
attendance on the Partridge, and abandoning sleep and food, gave
himself up to that arduous occupation, and kept continually running in
the traces of the Partridge and gazing on its progress.

One day the Partridge said: "O crazy, black-faced one! I observe that
thou art ever hovering about me, and art always watching my motions.
What is it that thou dost want?"

The Crow replied: "O thou of graceful manners and sweet smiling face,
know that having conceived a desire to learn thy gait, I have followed
thy steps for a long time past, and wish to acquire thy manner of
walking, in order that I may place the foot of preeminence on the head
of my fellows."

The Partridge uttered a merry laugh, and said: "Alack! alack! My
walking gracefully is a thing implanted in me by nature, and thy style
of going is equally a natural characteristic. My going is in one way,
and thy mode of procedure is quite another. Leave off this fancy and
relinquish this idea."

The Crow replied: "Since I have plunged into this affair, no idle
stories shall make me give it up; and until I grasp my wished-for
object, I will not turn back from this road."

So the unfortunate Crow for a long time ran after the Partridge, and
having failed to learn his method of going, forgot his own too, and
could in nowise recover it.

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA

"This work entitled Hitopadesa, or Friendly Instructor, affordeth
elegance in the Sanskrit idioms, in every part variety of language, and
inculcateth the doctrine of prudence and policy."

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA

The Traveller and the Tiger

A traveller, through lust of gold, being plunged into an inextricable
mire, is killed and devoured by an old tiger.

As I was travelling on the southern road, once upon a time, I saw an
old Tiger seated upon the bank of a large river, with a bunch of kusa
grass in his paw, calling out to every one who passed: "Ho! ho!
traveller, take this golden bracelet," but every one was afraid to
approach him to receive it. At length, however, a certain wayfarer,
tempted by avarice, regarded it as an instance of good fortune; but,
said he, in this there is personal danger, in which we are not
warranted to proceed. Yet, said he, there