together, for no one is the friend or the enemy
 of any one; by behaviour alone are friends and
enemies produced.'
"Early the next morning they all went to the
 place they liked best. One day the Jackal said,
in a whisper:
"'Friend Deer, in one part of the forest I have
seen a field full of corn, and I am come to lead
thee to it.'
"The Deer went, and for some days fed upon
 the corn. At last the owner of the field having
 watched, set a snare for the Deer. The next
day the Deer, going as ususal, was caught in the
snare. By and by the Jackal coming to the
spot, thought within himself, when he saw the
Deer in a snare,
"'Ah, ah! our deep-laid plot is successful;
 for the bones of him being cut up, and smeared
 with blood and flesh, will be for my share.'
"The Deer seeing him, called out joyfully:
"'In good time art thou come. Sever these
 bonds with thy teeth and release me.'
"The Jackal examined the snare again and
 again, and thought to himself:
"'The Deer is quite fast in the snare.'
"Then he said aloud: 'The snares, O my friend,
 are made of sinews, how can I on this day, a
 Sunday, touch them with my teeth? Such a
 thought be far from us both, my friend; but
tomorrow morning, whatever may be suggested
by thee shall be done.'
"Meanwhile the old crow Intelligence, seeing
 that the Deer had not returned in the evening,
 went to seek for him, and finding him in this
 sad plight, he said:
"'Friend, what is this?'
"' This,'  said the Deer, 'comes from my having
 slighted the counsel of a friend.'
"'But where is the Jackal?' said the Crow.
"'He stands there,' said the Deer, 'watching
 for my flesh.'
"'I said as much,' observed the Crow. Then
 the Crow, fetching a long-drawn sigh, ejaculated:
'O deceitful wretch! What, has been
 done by thee, agent of wickedness? What
 mighty achievement is it in this world to
circumvent, hoping and confiding friends, who have
been talked over by honeyed words, and charmed
 by pretended services? "O Goddess Earth! how
 canst thou bear the treacherous man who
practises evil on an unsuspecting and pure-minded
benefactor!'
"The next morning the owner of the field
 came, staff in hand, and was seen from afar by
 the Crow.  The Crow then said:
"'Friend Deer, do thou, filling thy belly with
 wind and and stiffening thy legs, appear as one dead.
Lie still; and when l make a noise, start up
 quickly and run away.'
"The Deer did as the Crow desired him, and
 the owner of the field perceiving him, said, with
his eyes expanding for joy:
"'Ah! he has died of himself.'
"So saying, he unfastened the snare, and
 began to bundle his nets together. The Crow
 called out, and the Deer starting up quickly,
 ran away at full speed. The farmer flung
 his staff after him, which, hitting the Jackal,
 killed him. For thus it is written, Within
 years, three months, three days, or three
fortnights, a man reaps even in this world the fruit
 of his vices or virtues.
"It was recollecting this story which caused
me to say to thee that there can be no friendship
betwixt food and the feeder.
"The Crow having listened, replied:
"'Even if I were to devour thee, thou art not
 sufficient for a meal; in thee living, I live also.
I am as harmless as Speckled-Neck. Thou
 mayst place confidence in those animals whose
 deeds are innocent; for the mind of a good
 man, when he is moved to anger, undergoes no
change: the waters of the ocean cannot be
heated by a torch of straw.'
"'Thou art unsteady,' said Hiranyaka, 'and
 with one who is unsteady, friendship may on
 no account be formed. Water, though well
 warmed, nevertheless quenches the fire that
 warmed it.'
"'I have listened to all you say,' said the
 crow Light-Falling, 'nevertheless, I am
 absolutely determined to have thee for my friend, or
 else I will lie down before thy door and die of
 fasting. For though one of evil character, like
 a pot of clay, may be easily broken but is
reunited with difficulty, a good person, like a
 vessel of gold, though difficult to break, may be
 quickly joined again. Even upon an interruption
of friendship, the principles of the good
 undergo no change. When the stalks of a lotus
 are broken the fibres remain connected. Purity,
 liberality, heroism, participation in joy and
 sorrow, rectitude, attachment, and truthfulness
 are the qualities of a friend. What friend
besides yourself am I likely to find endowed with
 all these qualities?'
"Upon hearing this discourse, and much more
 to the same effect, the heart of Hiranyaka was
 moved. He came forth out of his hole, and
 said:
"'I am refreshed by the nectar of your
discourse. Let it be as you will have it.'
"Saying this, Hiranyaka having formed a
 friendship, and regaled the Crow with the
choicest of provisions, entered his hole. The
 Crow also departed to his own place.
"After this, some time passed away in making
 presents of food to one another, in inquiries
 each other's health, and in confidential discourse.
 One day the Crow said to Hiranyaka that he
 found it difficult to procure food for himself in
 that neighbourhood, and therefore requested the
 Mouse to remove elsewhere. To this Hiranyaka
demurred  but after a debate, in which
 each uttered many wise sayings, the good-
natured Hiranyaka yielded, and only asked
 whither the Crow wished to go.
"On this the Crow said:
"'In the forest of Dandaka there is a
 pool called White-as-Camphor, where dwells a
 dear friend of mine, acquired long ago— a
Tortoise of innate virtue, named Manthara; he
would regale me with the choicest fish and
other food.'
Dickens Journals Online ![]()