WH CHAPTER V. Account of the Horse. HEN the man heard all these words of the hare, he said, "Enough, be silent; thou hast reproached the horse enough; if thou hadst but known that he is the best of all animals, and that he is obedient to man, thou wouldst not have babbled so stupidly." The King asked the man what the horse's superiority was, and he answered, "Your Majesty, the good qualities and excellences of the horse are numerous. His form is good, every limb is appropriate, his appearance is handsome, his instincts sound, his colour is fine, he excels in intelligence, he is swift in running, he is obedient to his rider, for he quickly turns right or left, forwards or backwards, or wherever his rider may direct him. He does not flinch from galloping, and he is so well trained that whilst his rider is seated on his back, he neither stales nor dungs; and if his tail ever gets wet in mud or water, he does not shake it, lest his rider should be sprinkled. His strength is like an elephant's, for he trots along carrying his rider with his helmet, mail and armour, as well as his own saddle, bridle, and armour, altogether a load of five hundred maunds. He is so patient and enduring that on the battlefield he receives wounds from spears and arrows in his breast and in his vitals, and yet remains quiet. His speed is such that the wind cannot overtake the dust of his heels. In his 1 Some read "seers," which is nearer, though also above the mark. proud walk he is like a stately bull, his jumping is like a leopard's. If his rider lays a wager, then he runs quickly, and brings his rider in first. In whom except the horse are all these merits to be found?” The hare said, "With all these merits there is also one great fault under which all these merits are hidden.” The King asked what it was, and told him to explain. The hare said, "He is very stupid and ignorant, and does not know friend from foe. If he passes under the thighs of an enemy, he becomes submissive to him; and in the battle-field he will, at the direction of this enemy, his new master, charge and attack the man in whose house he was born, and by whom he has been nourished all his days. This trait of his is like the nature of the sword, but that is inanimate, and is unable to distinguish between friend and foe; just as it cuts its enemy and opponent, so also when it falls upon the neck of its owner or maker, it severs his head from his body without hesitation, and knows no difference between friends and strangers. "The same trait of character is found in men, who war against their parents, brothers, sisters, and relations, and bring into operation all kinds of tricks and stratagems. That treatment which ought to be practised against enemies they employ against their friends. In infancy they drink the milk of their parents, and are nourished in their bosoms, but in early manhood they become their enemies. In the same way they drink the milk of animals, and are benefited by making garments of their skin and hair, but after all they slaughter those same animals, strip off their skins, rip up their bellies, and make them taste the flavour of fire. In their barbarity and cruelty they altogether forget the obligations and benefits received from them.” When the hare ceased from his censure of the man and horse, the ass said to him, "Enough; so great condemnation is not seemly. What person is that whom God Almighty has blessed with ever so many virtues and favours, and yet has not debarred him from some one favour which exceeds them all? Or who is the person that He has debarred from all these blessings, and upon whom He has not bestowed some one blessing which He has given to no other? There is no one in the world on whom all talents and blessings are bestowed. The bounties of the great disinterested Giver are not confined to any one species. His mercy is over all His works, but to one much, to another little. To one He has granted the rank of lordship, but on that same one also He has affixed the stigma of subjection. What dignity He has bestowed on the sun and moon-light, conspicuity, greatness, altitude—all these excellences and distinctions He has bestowed upon them, to such a degree, indeed, that some people, in their ignorance, have deemed them gods. Still He has not preserved them from the infirmity of eclipses, in order that this might be conclusive to men of intelligence; for if they were gods they would never become dark nor wane. In the same way He has given light and brightness to all the stars; but at the same time He has also made this provision, that they are lost in the effulgence of the sun, and that all day and night they remain in revolution, so that the marks of the creature may be manifest in them. The condition of the Jins, men, and angels, is just the same; for if any one of them possesses very great talents, there is still some little defect. Perfection belongs to God only, to no other." When the ass finished this speech, the bull said, "When God has imparted to some one person great blessings which He has given to no other, it behoves that person to show his gratitude for them—that is, he ought to let others share in those blessings. Thus God Almighty has given light to the sun, and it by its light carries comfort to all creation, and does not make an obligation of it to any one. So also the moon and all the stars, each in their respective degrees, diffuse light over the world, and hold it no obligation upon any one. The same duty is incumbent on men, for God Almighty has conferred many blessings upon them, which they should impart to the animals, and make no favour thereof." When the bull finished speaking, all the animals gnashed their teeth, wept, and began to say, "O just King, have mercy on us, and grant us deliverance from the tyranny of these oppressors!" When the King heard this, he looked towards all the doctors and sages of the Jins who were present, and asked if they had heard the statement made by the animals of the tyranny, cruelty, and violence of men. They replied, "We have heard, and it is all true. We see it by night and by day. Their tyranny is not hidden from any intelligent or sensible person. For the same reason the Jins also have left their (the men's) country, and have fled into the woods and wilds, and have hidden themselves in hills, mountains, and rivers. Through their bad conduct and evil character the Jins have entirely given up visiting inhabited places. But with all this even we get no deliverance from their malignity. So suspicious and mistrustful are they of us, that if any child, woman, or man is stupid, foolish, or sick, they say directly that the evil eye, or shadow of a Jin, has fallen on him. They have always got mistrust in their hearts, and are praying for protection against the malice of the Jins. But still no one has ever seen a Jin kill a man, or wound him, rob him of his clothes or commit a theft, break into any one's house, pick pockets, tear sleeves, break open the lock of any one's shop, slay a traveller, rebel against a king, plunder any one, or make any one captive. On the other hand, all these habits are to be found among them, and they remain intent upon one or other of them night and day. |