with him to a Potter's shed; and there he lay down in the shade, staff in hand, among the pots. As he thus reclined, he began to meditate after the following fashion:
"I can sell this flour for at least ten Cowrie-shells, and with them I can purchase some of these pots and sell them at a profit. With all that money I can buy a stock of betel-nuts and body-cloths and make a new profit by selling them; and so I can go on buying and trading until I get a Lakh of Rupees—what's to prevent me? Then I shall marry four young wives—at least, one of them shall be both young and beautiful, and she shall be my favourite. Of course the other three will be jealous; but if they quarrel and talk too much and make themselves troublesome, I shall beat them like this—and this—and this—" And so saying, he flourished his staff with such vigour that he not only smashed his own meal-dish, but also broke several of the Potter's jars. The Potter, rushing in, caught him by the throat and threw him out of the shed, and so ended the Brahman's dreams of a Lakh of Rupees.
Who, e'er he makes a gain has spent it.
Like the Pot-breaker, will repent it.
(Hitopadeça. Book IV. Fable 7. Adapted from the translation by Sir Edwin Arnold.)
THE BRAHMAN AND THE THREE GOATS
A CERTAIN Brahman, or holy priest, who lived in the forest of Gautama, had gone to buy a goat for a sacrifice, and was returning home with it hanging across his shoulders when he was seen by three rogues.
"If we could only get that goat," said the three rogues to one
