double armour, felt and helmets, so that the claws and teeth of the beasts may never take effect upon their bodies. They practise many wiles and stratagems in order to catch the savage and other wild animals. They make nets and snares, and digging ditches, pits, and holes, they cover the mouths lightly with dirt and grass; when the animals unwittingly walk upon them, they fall in, and then it is impossible for them to get out. But before the King of the Jins there is no mention of these characteristics; there they bring forward proofs and arguments for eloquence of statement, activity of tongue, and superiority of intellect and judgment, (in fine), for all these things."

When the king heard (this) from the mouth of the messenger, after pondering for an hour, he gave his orders, saying, “Yes, let all the wild beasts of my army come." In accordance with this command, many varieties of wild beasts-lions, wolves, different sorts of monkeys, weasels, and, in fine, carnivorous and lacerating1animals of every sort and kind- came to wait upon him. The king related to them everything which he had heard from the tongue of the messenger, and said, "Who2 is there among you who will go there and be the coadjutor of the animals? Whenever any one proceeds thither and prevails with evidence and reasoning, then whatsoever he shall desire of me I will grant, and I will confer greatness upon him." When the wild beasts heard this they meditated in thought for an hour, as to whether any one was fit for the business or not. The leopard, who was minister, then said to the king, "Thou art our king and chief, and we are your dependants and subjects. It behoves the king that in every matter he should consult carefully and deliberately with the wise, and then issue his orders. And it behoves the subjects that they should listen to the orders of the king with the ear of 1 Changul-márne-háre-lit. "claw-strikers." 2 Lit. "Who is such a one?"

their hearts, and in every point should show obedience to him. Because the king stands in the exalted position of the head and the subjects in the places of the limbs (of the animal frame). When the king and the subjects each keep to their respective positions and courses, all affairs are adjusted, and due order prevails in the kingdom."

The king asked the leopard what sort of qualities those are which are meet for the king and for the subject, and told him to detail them. The leopard said, "It behoves a king to be just, brave, and wise; in every transaction he should carefully deliberate; he should show kindness and affection to his subjects, just as parents show affection and kindness to their offspring; (and) he should occupy himself in whatever may be for the welfare and comfort of his subjects. And it is incumbent on the subject that in every way he should be ready in obedience, service, and devotion to the king; and whatever skill and art he may possess he should make known to the king, and inform him of its defects and merits; the duties of his service he should discharge in a befitting manner; and, making his wants known to the king, he should seek from him aid and assistance."

The lion said, "You speak truly; but now, what advice do you give in this matter?" The leopard said, "May the star of prosperity ever continue bright and resplendent, and may the king be always victorious and triumphant. If there be any need there of strength and vigour, courage and ambition, then deign to give me permission that I may go there and effectually provide for it." The king said, "For these matters there is indeed no one there." The ounce said, “If there be any need there of leaping, jumping, keeping and seizing; then I am bail for it." The wolf said, “If there be any need there of attacking, plundering, and devastating, I will provide for it." The fox said, "If there be any need there of craft and trickery, I am the one for it." The weasel

said, "If there be any use there for ferreting, stealing, and keeping concealed, I am bail for it." The monkey said, “If there be any need there of dancing, jumping, and mimicry, I am the one for it." The cat said, "If there be any need there of flattery, fawning, and begging, I will provide for it." The dog said, “If there be any need there of watching, barking, and tail-wagging, I am the one for it." The rat said, “If there be need there of burning, kindling, and damaging, I am ready for it."

The king said, "There is no one there for these requirements." Afterwards turning towards the leopard, he said, "All these qualifications which these animals have mentioned are necessary for the armies of the kings and nobles of men ; and they indeed are fit for these matters, because although in outward appearance their shapes and figures are like unto those of the angels, still their dispositions are like unto those of wild beasts and brutes; but of such of them as are learned theologians, and discreet, the morals and virtues are like those of the angels. Who, then, is the one to send that he may go there and contend on the side of the animals?"

The leopard said, "It is true; but now the learned and the theologians among men, having cast off this course which they call angelic morality,' have adopted devilish dispositions. Night and day they continue in strife and contention, and in slandering and maligning each other. In the same way rulers and kings also having turned aside from the practice of justice and equity, have chosen the way of tyranny and oppression." The king said, "You speak truly; still it is necessary that the king's messenger should be virtuous and noble; from his duty he should not deviate. Then who is the one whom we ought to send, in whom all the qualifications of a messenger may be found? Is there any one in this assembly who may be worthy to go there?"

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CHAPTER XI.

Delineation of a Messenger.

'HE leopard inquired of the lion what sort of qualifications are requisite in a messenger? The king said, "It is necessary that a messenger should be a wise man' and a good speaker. He should forget nothing that he hears, but retain it carefully in memory. He should not tell the secret of his heart to any one. The duties of his trust and covenant he should fulfil as they ought to be fulfilled. He should not be a great talker, nor upon any matter should he go too far for his own side. What has been told him, that alone should he speak. He should strive and exhibit devotion for whatever may turn to the welfare of his principal. 2 If the opposite side should offer him any bribe,3 he should not be such a person that, from desire for it, he should waver from the course of trustworthiness and righteousness, and fall headlong into the pit of treachery and perdition. If in a strange city he should in any way find gratification, he should not remain there for the sake of it, but he should return (home) quickly, and communicate to his lord whatever he may have seen or heard. He should render to his master whatever the responsibilities of counsel-giving and trustiness require. He should not for fear of anything The writer here forgets his apologue. 2 Lit." sender." 3 This signification of tama and tama dena is not in the dictionaries.

fail a jot in the duties of a messenger, because it is incumbent upon a messenger to deliver all his message."

After this he said to the leopard, "In your opinion is there any one in this assemblage who may possess ability for this business?" The leopard said, "There is no one better fitted for this work than the brother of Kalíla and Damna."1 The lion said to the jackal, "You have heard what the leopard has declared in respect of you, what do you say to it?" The jackal said, “The leopard speaks the truth; may God give him a good reward, and bring him to the object of his hopes." The king said, "If you go there and contend on the side of your fellows, when you return you shall be advanced in dignity and shall receive reward." The jackal said, "I am the obedient servant of the king, still there are many foes of my species there-what plan can I devise against this?" The king inquired who they were. The jackal said, "Dogs have an inveterate animosity against me. Is not the king aware that they are very friendly and familiar with men, and assist them in catching wild beasts?"

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The king said, "What is the reason that they have become so attached to men, and make attacks upon wild beasts? Why, having left their own fellows, have they become the coadjutors of a different species?" No one knew anything about this matter except the bear, and he said, I know the reason of this." The king directed him to state it. The bear said, "The dogs have struck up a friendship with men in consequence of a similarity of disposition and affinity of taste, and besides this, they get many nice things to eat and drink there. And in their natures there is greediness and avarice and evil inclinations, like as in men-this is a stronger reason for their intimacy. And the wild beasts abstain from these vices. The reason of this is, that dogs eat flesh, raw and cooked, lawful and unlawful, fresh or dried, salted or un1 Kalila and Damna were two crafty jackals celebrated in story.