Page:An argosy of fables.djvu/265

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HINDOO FABLES
209

we are in a pond he will dash forward over the precipice, and be killed."

It was all done just as Thunder-Throat had planned. The Fly buzzed sweetly; the Elephant closed his eyes in pleasure; he was blinded by the Woodpecker; and as he dashed about, wild with pain and thirst, he followed the voice of the Frogs, fell over the precipice, and was dashed to pieces.

Moral. In union there is strength.

(Panchatantra. Vol. I. Chapter 16.)


THE MOUSE METAMORPHOSED INTO A GIRL

ONCE on the bank of the River Ganges, a certain Holy Man, named Yajnavalkya, was bathing and purifying himself, when a Mouse, escaping from the beak of a Falcon, dropped into the palm of his hand. When the Holy Man saw the Mouse, he placed it upon a fig leaf, bathed himself once more, and performed other acts of purification, and by the force of his austerity and holiness succeeded in changing the Mouse into a little Girl. Upon returning home, Yajnavalkya gave the little Girl to his Wife, who had no children of her own, and said to her:

"Dear Wife, take this little Girl and bring her up with tender care, as though she were in truth our own daughter." So the Girl was brought up lovingly and with watchful care, until she had reached a marriageable age. When Yajnavalkya's Wife saw that the Girl was old enough to marry, she said to her husband:

"Dear husband, do you not see that it is high time that our daughter was given in marriage?"

"That is well said," answered Yajnavalkya, "and I shall give her