The fables of Pilpay

Front matter

iww

I

THE

CHAPTER I. The Story of Dabschelim and Pilpay .... 7

Fable I.

The travelling Pigeon . . . . . .18

Fable II.

The Falcon and the Raven . , . . . .26

Fable III.

The greedy and ambitious Cat ..... 28

Fable IV.

The poor Man who became a great King ... 33

Fable V.

The Leopard and the Lion . . . . .37

CHAPTER II. Fable I

The Merchant and his Lewd Children . . .43

CONTENTS. VII

PAGE Fable II.

The King and his Two Sons 46

Fable III.

The Dervise, the Falcon, and the Raven . . .49

Fable IV.

The Countryman and several Rats . . . .51

Fable V.

The Carpenter and the Ape ..... 56

Fable VI.

The two Travellers, and the Lion carved in Stone . 57

Fable VII.

The Fox and the Hen 66

Fable VIII.

The Dervise that left his Habitation . . . .71

Fable IX.

The Sparrow and the Sparrow-hawk . . . .80

Fable X.

The King who, from a savage Tyrant, became benign and just 83

Fable XI.

A Raven, a Fox, and a Serpent 85

Fable XII.

The Crane and the Cray-fish 86

Fable XIII.

The Rabbit, the Fox, and the Wolf .... 90

VIll CONTENTS.

PAGE Fable XIV,

The Lion and the Rabbit 93

Fable XV.

The two Fishermen and the three Fishes ... 98

Fable XVL The Scorpion and the Tortoise 100

Fable XVII.

The Falcon and the Hen 106

Fable XVIII.

The Nightingale and the Countryman . . . .108

Fable XIX.

The Hunter, the Fox, and the Leopard . . .110

Fable XX.

The Wolf, the Fox, the Raven, and the Camel . . Ill

Fable XXI.

The Angel, Ruler of the Sea, and two Birds called Gerandi 118

Fable XXII.

The Tortoise and two Ducks . . . . .119

Fable XXIII.

Two young Merchants, the one crafty, and the other

without deceit 123

Fable XXIV.

The Frog, the Cray-fish, and the Serpent . . . 126

CONTENTS. IX

PAGE

Fable XXV.

The Gardener and the Bear 129

Fable XXVI.

The Merchant and his Friend 131

CHAPTER III. Fable I

The Fox, the Wolf, and the Raven .... 137

Fable II.

The Ass and the Gardener . . . . .138

Fable III.

The Prince and his Minister 141

Fable IV.

A Hermit who quitted the Desert to live at Court . 145

Fable V.

The Blind Man who travelled with one of his Friends . 149

Fable VI.

A religious Doctor and a Dervise . . . .153

Fable VII.

The Merchant's Wife and the Painter . . .158

Fable VIII.

Three envious Persons that found Money . . .161

X CONTENTS.

PAGE Fable IX.

The ignorant Physician . . . . . .167

Fable X.

The virtuous Woman and the young Falconer . .173

CHAPTER IV. Fable I

The Raven, the Hat, and the Pigeons . . .181

Fable II.

The Partridge and the Falcon 185

Fable III.

The Man and the Adder 189

Fable IV.

The Adventures of Zirac 196

Fable V.

A Husband and his Wife 198

Fable VI. l)ie Hunter and the Wolf 199

Fable VII.

The ravenous Cat 205

CONTENTS. XI

PAGE Fable VIII.

The two Friends 207

CHAPTER V. Fable I

The Ravens and the Owls 216

Fable II.

The King and his Mistress 220

Fable III.

The Original of the Hatred between the Ravens and the Owls 224

Fable IV.

The Elephants and the Rabbits 226

Fable V.

The Cat and the two Birds 232

Fable VI.

The Dervise and the four Robbers .... 235

Fable VII.

The Merchant, his Wife, and the Robber . . . 239

Fable VIII.

The Dervise, the Thief, and the Devil . . .241

Fable IX.

The Joiner and his Wife 244

XII CONTENTS.

PAGE

Fable X.

The Monkeys and the Bears 248

Fable XI.

The Mouse that was changed into a little Girl . .258

Fable XII.

The Serpent and the Frogs 261

The Conclusion 263

THE

FABLES OF PILPAY.

INTRODUCTION,

Towards the eastern confines of China there once reigned a Monarch, whose renown, as well for arms as wisdom and virtue, spread far and near through all the countries of the East, and made him the admiration of all that part of the world. The greatest Princes of the East were subject to his dominion, and admirers of his virtues. He was attended like Cohadan, and lodged like Poashti ; * potent as Alexander, and armed like Darius. His council was composed of persons of integrity and learning ; his riches were immense, his arms numerous, and himself both valiant and

* Cohadan and Poashti were two Eastern princes, famous for their conquests and magnificence through all that part of the world.

B

'/ INTRODUCTION.

just. Rebels felt his anger, and his soldiers imitated his valour; his justice humbled the pride of tyrants, while his goodness succoured the miserable. In a word, under the empire of Humayonfal, for so this virtuous Prince was called, the people were happy, because everywhere throughout his vast dominions the most strict search was made after the wicked, and care taken to punish them as enemies to the public tranquillity.

Justice ought to be the rule of every Prince's actions, who desires his kingdom and his throne should be established like the residence of the Supreme ; and whatever Monarch omits to administer punishments to vice, and rewards to virtue, let him be assured his dominions will not be long secure from ruin.

Good kings generally make good servants, and so it happened to this excellent Monarch ; for he had a Vizir, or Prime Minister, who loved the people like a real father ; he was merciful and compassionate ; and his counsels, like tapers, gave light into the most hidden secrets. His name was Gnogestehrai, that is to say, successful counsel, and very properly was he so called, since by his understanding he had rendered the kingdom happy. The King never undertook any enterprise without first consulting him. He did everything by his advice, for he found that without it nothing prospered.

It happened that once as the Monarch, attended

INTRODUCTION. 3

by his Vizir, had been hunting, after the pleasure and sport of their exercise were over, the King was for returning to his palace : but the heat of the sun was so violently scorching, that he told the Vizir he was not able to endure it : to which the Vizir answered, ** That if it were his Majesty's pleasure, he might go to the foot of a certain neiorhbourino- mountain where he would be sure of cool shade, and the refreshing breezes of the wind ; and there they might pleasantly spend the heat of the day/' The King followed his advice, and in a little time they got to the place, where the coolness, caused by the shade of several trees that nature seemed to have taken delight to plant by the sides of a number of winding brooks and fountains, made them forget the heat which they had endured upon the open road. The King finding the covert very delightful, sat down upon the grass, and falling into a contemplation of the works of the great Creator of all things, admired the inimitable painting of the flowers and other productions of nature that offered themselves to his sight.

As he was, with this most laudable view, looking about him, he spied at some little distance the trunk cf a tree, which the rottenness of the wood declared to be decayed and very old, in which there was a swarm of bees that were makins: honey : upon this, having never seen an object of this kind before, he could not avoid askino^ the

4 IT^TRODUCTION.

Vizir, what those little creatures were. ** Most sovereign Monarch/' replied that Minister, **those little creatures are very beneficial, and of a thousand uses in society ; and are in the highest degree remarkable for the order of their government. They have a king among them, who is bigger than the rest, and whom they all obey ; he resides in a little square apartment, and has his vizirs, his porters, his Serjeants, and his guards ; the industry of these, and all his other officers, and people in general, is such, that they frame every one for themselves a little six-cornered chamber of wax, the angles of which differ not at all in shape or dimensions, but are so exactly made to answer one another, that the most expert geometrician could not range them w^ith more regularity. These little chambers finished, the vizir takes of them an oath of fidelity that they are never to defile themselves. According to which promise, they never light but upon the branches of rose-bushes or odoriferous flowers, so that their food, which is aerial, and of the quintessence of flowers, is digested in a little time, and changed into a substance of a sweet and pleasing taste. When they return home the porters smell to them, and if they have no ill scent about them they are permitted to enter ; but if they have any ungrateful smell they kill them : or if they negligently suffer any one that has an ill scent to enter, and the king happens to smell it, he sends for the porters, and

INTRODUCTION. O

puts them and the offender to death at the same time. If any stranger fly endeavours to enter this community, the porters oppose him, and if he seeks to come in by violence he is put to death. Historians also report to us, great Emperor, that Poashti learned to build his palace, to have vizirs, porters, guards, and officers, from these little creatures/'

When the King had heard the Vizir thus discourse, he went near the tree, stood still to behold the little animals at work, and after he had well considered them, declared aloud his admiration to see a society of insects so well governed. His Vizir beholding him rapt up in astonishment, addressed himself to him in this manner : " Sir," said he, *' all this good order depends only upon the good counsel and prudent conduct of wise and able ministers, well affected to their prince, and lovers of the public peace ; these are the persons that always preserve an empire in a flourishing condition : and, whenever these things are mentioned, we ought to remember the strongest instance of this maxim ever known, which was in the conduct of the great Dabschelim, who wholly intrusted the government of his kingdoms to the good counsels of that miracle of wisdom the Bramin Pilpay ; insomuch, that by the guidance of that Minister, he reigned in peace and the greatest prosperity and earthly happiness, while he lived, and dying left to his posterity a

B 2 b INTRODUCTION.

name for ever to be remembered with esteem and honour/^

When the King heard him pronounce the names of Dabschelim and Pilpay, he felt in himself the motions of a more than ordinary joy. " I have," said he to the Vizir, *' for a long time most earnestly desired to hear the story of that Bramin's government, but never yet could meet with an opportunity to satisfy myself, nor ever imagined that you knew their history. I am now more happy than I could expect, and desire you will immediately relate to me the story, that my kingdom may be established in happiness by the maxims of that venerable philosopher." On this command of the Monarch, the Vizir thus entered on the history.

Chapter I. Fortune Favours The Bold

THE STORY OF DABSCHELIM AND PILPAY.

On the banks of Indus, towards the sea-coast, and over a vast extent of country thereabouts, there reigned a Prince, whose ministers (persons of justice, wisdom, and understanding), by their counsels rendered the subjects happy, and always successfully brought to pass the just designs of the Sovereign. This excellent prince was an enemy of oppression ; nor could the wicked ever gain their ends in his dominions. He was called Dabschelim (a name most proper for such a Prince, as signifying, in their language, a Great King). His puissance was such, that he undertook none but extraordinary enterprises, and those always just, and on honest and honourable grounds ; to relieve the distressed, or punish the proud oppressor, were the only occasions of his entering on war. His army was composed of ten

8 CHAPTER I.

thousand elephants, valiant and experienced soldiers he had about him in great numbers, and his treasuries were kept full to support them. This rendered him formidable to his enemies, and procured the repose of his people, of whom he took a particular care, hearing their complaints and differences, composing their quarrels, and making himself the arbitrator of their disputes, without any respect to his greatness or superior rank. He never forsook the interests of his people, but referred their affairs, when of too long and intricate a nature to come under his own cognisance, to the debates and decisions of men of justice and equity. When he had taken this good order for the government of his dominions, he lived in tranquillity, and spent his days with happiness and content. It happened that this wise and glorious Monarch, one day, when he had been for a long time entertained with divers discourses upon the several sciences, and the use they, and the principles of equity and honour, must be of in the well governing a people, laid himself down upon his bed to give some relaxation to his mind; which he had no sooner done, but he saw in a dream, a figure full of light and majesty, which approaching toward him with a look of benevolence, and the highest favour, spoke in the following manner : " You have done this day as a good Prince ought to do, and you shall be rewarded for it* To-morrow by break of day get on horse-

CHAPTER I. 9

back, and ride towards the east, where you shall find an inestimable treasure, by the means of which you shall, as you deserve, exceed in glory and honour all other men/' Immediately the figure disappeared, and Dabschehm, awaking with a heart full of joy and gratitude, mounted one of his best horses, and rode directly eastward. He passed, in his way, through several inhabited places, but at length arrived in a desert, where, viewing the country, and casting his eyes on every side, to discover his expected happiness, he per ceived, at a little distance before him, a mountain that reached above the clouds, at the foot of which he spied a cave, obscure, dark, and black within, as the hearts of wicked men. Without it he saw sitting a man, whose aspect sufficiently showed the austerity of his life. The King had a great desire to ride up to him, when the old man, understanding his intention, came forward, and breaking silence, addressed himself to the Monarch in these words: '* Sir," said he, 'though my small cottage be nothing like to your magnificent palace, yet it is an ancient custom for kings, out of their goodness, to come and visit the poor. The looks of great men, cast down upon the mean, augment their own grandeur. I joy to see the greatest and the wisest Monarch in the East not forget this ancient custom. And, O ! supreme and magnificent Prince, let it not raise a blush in thee to cast thy royal looks on ray low

10 CHAPTER I.

estate, when thou rememberest that Solomon, in the midst of all his glory and magnificence, vouchsafed to cast his eyes upon the little ants.''

Dabschelim was pleased with the old man's civility, and alighted from his horse to discourse with him. After he had talked to him of divers things, he was going to take his leave ; the venerable sage surprised him with the following words : ** Sir," said he, " it is not for a poor man, as I am, to offer any refreshment to so great a Prince as you ; but permit me to tell you that I have a present, if your Majesty pleases to accept it, which has descended to me from father to son, and which is appointed for you ; it is a treasure which I have here by me, though 1 know not myself exactly the place where it now lies ; but if your Majesty thinks it worth your acceptance, command your servants to seek for it," Dabschelim, hearing these words, recounted his dream to the good old man, who rejoiced extremely to find that his intentions in bestowing his treasure were conformable to the will of the supreme power by whom he was intrusted with it.

The King now commanded his servants to search for the treasure round about the cave, and in a little time they discovered it, and brought before the King a vast number of chests and coffers full of gold, silver, and jewels. Among the rest, there was one chest of a smaller size than the others, which was bound about with several bars

ClIAPTEIl I. 11

of iron, and fastened with a multitude of padlocks, the keys of which were not to be found, notwithstanding all the care and diligence that were used to seek them. This highly increased the Monarch's curiosity. " There must be something," said he, '* in this little casket much more precious than jewels, since it is so strongly and carefully barred and locked.'* A smith was now procured, and the casket being broken open, there was found within it another small trunk of gold, set all over with precious stones, and within that yet another lesser box ; this the King ordered to be delivered into his own hands. When this little box was opened, he found therein a piece of white satin, upon which were written some lines in the Syriac language. Dabschelim was astonished at the accident, and in great perplexity to know what the words might signify. Some said, it was the will of the owner of the treasure ; and others, that it was a talisman, or some charm for the preservation of it. After every one had delivered his opinion, it was the King's pleasure that inquiry should be made for some person who was able to interpret the meaning of the lines; and after long search, a person was found who perfectly understood all the Oriental languages, who, when he had looked over it, said to the King, *' Sir, this writing is to a Prince, indeed, an inestimable treasure ; it contains the rules, admonitions, and instructions of a great King, for the l2 CHAPTER I.

well-governing a people ; and how nearly it particularly concerns yourself, oh King ! permit me to show, by reading to you what it contains/^ The King bidding him read aloud, he then began as follows : —

The Writing of the great King Houschenk, left with his Treasures.

I, King Houschenk, have disposed of this treasure for the use of the great King Dabschelim, understanding, by a visionary revelation, him to be the person for whom it is designed; and, among the precious stones, I have concealed this my last Will and Testament, by way of instruction to him, to let him know that it is not for men of reason and understanding to be dazzled with the lustre of glittering treasures. Riches are but borrowed conveniences, and are to be repaid to our successors. The pleasures of this world are charming, but they are not eternal. This Testament is a thing of much more real use than all these treasures : it is an abridgment of the good rules proper to regulate the conduct of Kings ; and he must be a wise Prince who regulates his conduct by these instructions, which are in number fourteen.

I. That he never discard his domestic servants at the solicitation of other persons. For he that is near the person of a King, will never want

CHAPTER I. 13

some who will be envious and jealous of his happiness ; and when they see that the King has any affection for him, will not cease, by a thousand calumnies, if it can be done, to render him odious to his master.

II. That he never suffer in his presence flatterers nor railers ; for these people are always seeking occasions of disturbance. It is better to exterminate such people from the earth, than to let them be a trouble to human society.

III. That he always preserve his ministers and grandees, if it be possible, in a right understanding with one another ; to the end that they may unanimously labour for the good and welfare of the state.

IV. That he never trust to the submissions of his enemies. The more affection they testify, and the louder protestations they make of their services, the more artifices and villanies are to be mistrusted in them. There is no relying upon the friendship of an enemy ; he is to be shunned when he approaches with the countenance of a friend, as the siren who puts on charms but with an intent to destroy.

V. When a man has once acquired what he has diligently sought after, let him preserve it carefully ; for we have not every day the same opportunity to gain what we desire. And when we have not preserved what we have once acquired,

c

14 CHAPTER I.

we have nothing left us but the vexation of having lost it. We cannot fetch the arrow back which we have once let fly, though we should eat our fingers for madness.

VI. That we ought never to be too hasty in business; but, on the other side, before we put any enterprise into execution, it behoveth us to weigh and examine what we are going to do. Things done in haste, and with a precipitate rashness, come frequently to a mischievous conclusion. He repents in vain who cannot recall what he has done amiss.

Vir. Th.at a man never despise good counsel and prudence. If there be a necessity for him to make peace with his enemies, in order to deliver himself out of their hands, let him do it without delay.

VIII. To avoid the company of dissemblers, and never to hearken to their smooth speeches ; for, as in their bosoms they carry nothing but the plants of enmity, they can never bring forth the fruits of friendship.

IX. To be merciful. Never let a Monarch inflict a punishment on his subjects or servants for faults committed through infirmity: for a merciful Prince upon earth is as an angel in heaven. We ought to consider the weakness of men, and in charity and goodness to conceal their defects. Subjects have always committed faults, and Kings

CHAPTER I. 15

have always pardoned them, when they Iiave only committed the faults which the common frailties of human nature have betrayed them into.

X. Not to procure the harm or injury of any person. On the other hand, we ought to do our neighbour all the good we can. If you do good, good will be done to you ; but if you do evil, the same will be measured back to you again.

XI. That a King seek not after any thing that may be below his dignity, or a subject what is contrary to his genius or nature. There are many persons who let alone their own affairs, to intrude themselves into other people's business, and at last do nothing at all. The crow would needs learn to fly like the partridge ; it was a way of flying which he could never attain ; and in attempting to learn it, he forgot his own.

XII. To be of a mild and affable temper. Mildness in society is like salt in our food : as salt seasons and gives a relish to all meat, the other gives content to everybody. The sword of steel is not so sharp as the sword of mildness ; it vanquishes even invincible armies.

XIII. For a King to seek out faithful mmisters, and never to admit into his service or councils knaves and deceivers. By wise and honest ministers the kingdom will be kept safe, and the King's secrets will never be revealed.

XIV. Never to be disturbed at the accidents of the world. A man of resolution and true courage

16 CHAPTER I.

suffers all adversities with a settled fortitude, and relies upon the providence of Heaven, while a fool minds nothing but his pastime and his pleasure.

There are several Fables of excellent instruction founded on every one of these heads, which if the King will hear, he must go to the mountain Serandib,* which was the mansion of our fathers, and there all the histories composed to illustrate and explain these admonitions will be related to him ; and every question that can come into his heart to ask, concerning the making his people happy, will be answered as from an oracle of heaven.

When the learned man had done reading, Dabschelim caught him in his arms, and eagerly embraced him ; and having received back again the piece of satin, which he took with the most profound respect, he tied it about his arm, saying, at the same time, " I was promised indeed a worldly treasure, but beside, I have found a treasure of secrets. Heaven has favoured me with plenty of its blessings, for which my grateful soul now offers its most humble adorations and praises." Having said this, he ordered the gold and silver to be distributed to the poor, and returned to his palace, where all that night he did nothing but ruminate

* A vast mountain, famous for the residence of many of the learned men of the East.

CHAPTER T. 17

upon the journey wliich lie was to make to Serandib.

The next morning, by sun-rise, Dabschelim sent for two of his principal ministers, in whom he had a great confidence : to these he discovered his dream, and what had afterwards befallen him, and told them he had a most earnest inclination to make a journey to Serandib. '' I have for a long time," said he, '' taken this course, to advise with my council before I undertook any of my enterprises, and in this also I am willing to refer myself to your judgments. And now I have told you my intentions, and the reason of them, I conjure you by your honours, and the esteem I have for you, to tell me what you think, as a Prince who knows his duty to be the care of his subjects, I ought to do on this occasion/' The two ministers desired the remainder of the day and the night following, to consider the whole matter, that they might not without due deliberation give their answer in a thing of so high concernment. Dabschelim granted their request, and the next day they came to wait upon the King ; and every one being seated in their places, so soon as the Monarch made them the sign to speak, the Grand Vizir fell upon his knees, and thus began :

" Sir, in my opinion, this journey is like to be

more painful than profitable. Your Majesty is to consider that the person who undertakes long

c 2 journeys, renounces at the same time his repose ; and to this your Majesty is not ignorant of the dangers and hazards to which the roads are subject. It is not for a person of discretion to change his quiet and ease for labour and disturbance. Permit me on this occasion to call to your Majesty's remembrance the Fable of the Pigeon that would needs be a traveller, and the dangers which he met with.''

THE TRAVELLING PIGEON.

There were once in a certain part of your Majesty's dominions two Pigeons, a male and a female, which had been hatched from the same brood of eggs, and bred up together afterwards in the same nest, under the roof of an old building, in which they lived together in mutual content and perfect happiness, safely sheltered from all the injuries of the weather, and contented with a little water and a few tares. It is a treasure to live in a desert when we enjoy the happiness of a friend ; and there is no loss in quitting for the sake of such a one all other company in the world. But it seems too often the peculiar business of destiny to separate friends. Of these Pigeons the one was called the Beloved, the other the Lover. One day the Lover, having^ an eager desire to travel, iaiparted his design to his companion. ** Must we always/' said he, ** live confined to a hole ? No ; be it with you as you please, but for my part I am resolved to take a tour about the world. Travellers every day meet with new things, and acquire experience ; and all the great and learned among our ancestors have told us, that travelling is the only means to acquire knowledge. If the sword be never unsheathed, it can never show the valour of the person that wears it ; and if the pen takes not its run through the extent of a page, it can never show the eloquence of the author that uses it. The heavens, by reason of their perpetual motion, exceed in glory and delight the regions beneath them ; and the dull brute earth is the solid place for all creatures to tread upon, only because it is immoveable. If a tree could remove itself from one place to another, it would neither be afraid of the saw nor the wedge, nor exposed to the ill usage of the wood>mongers."