"
Then they got down, tied the beast's legs to a pole, and carried him
thus till they came to a bridge. As they went, the children shouted so
loudly that the ass took fright--kicked his legs free, and jumped over
the bridge into the river.
Thus having lost his ass, the man went home, crying, "Try to please
everybody and you will please nobody, not even yourself!"
* * * * *
FABLES OF INDIA
ADAPTED BY P. V. RAMASWAMI RAJU
* * * * *
THE CAMEL AND THE PIG
A camel said, "Nothing like being tall! See how tall I am." A pig who
heard these words said, "Nothing like being short; see how short I
am!"
The camel said, "Well, if I fail to prove the truth of what I said, I
will give you my hump."
The pig said, "If I fail to prove the truth of what I have said, I
will give up my snout."
"Agreed!" said the camel.
"Just so!" said the pig.
They came to a garden inclosed by a low wall without any opening. The
camel stood on this side the wall, and, reaching the plants within
by means of his long neck, made a breakfast on them. Then he turned
jeeringly to the pig, who had been standing at the bottom of the wall,
without even having a look at the good things in the garden, and said,
"Now, would you be tall or short?"
Next they came to a garden inclosed by a high wall, with a wicket gate
at one end.
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