The Language of Animals

　　Once upon a time when a king named Senaka was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was Sakka. The king Senaka was friendly with a certain naga king. This naga king, they say, left the naga world and ranged the earth seeking food. The village boys seeing him said, "This is a snake," and struck him with clods and other things.

　　The king, going to amuse himself in his garden, saw them, and being told they were beating a snake, said, "Don”t let them beat him. Drive them away." And this was done.

　　So the naga king got his life, and when he went back to the naga world. He took many jewels, and coming at midnight to the king”s bedchamber he gave them to him, saying, "I got my life through you." So he made friendship with the king and came again and again to see him. He appointed one of his naga girls, insatiate in pleasures, to be near the king and protect him, and he gave the king a charm, saying, "If ever you do not see her, repeat this charm."

　　One day the king went to the garden with the naga girl and was amusing himself in the lotus tank. The naga girl seeing a water snake quitted her human shape and made love with him. The king not seeing the girl said, "Where is she gone

　　" and repeated the spell. Then he saw her in her misconduct and struck her with a piece of bamboo.

　　She went in anger to the naga world, and when she was asked, "Why are you come

　　" she said, "Your friend struck me on the back because I did not do his bidding," showing the mark of the blow.

　　The naga king, not knowing the truth, called four naga youths and sent them with orders to enter Senaka”s bedchamber and destroy him like chaff by the breath of their nostrils. They entered the chamber at the royal bedtime.

　　As they came in, the king was saying to the queen, "Lady, do you know where the naga girl has gone

　　"

　　"King, I do not."

　　"Today when we were bathing in the tank, she quitted her shape and misconducted herself with a water snake. I said, ”Don”t do that,” and struck her with a piece of bamboo to give her a lesson. And now I fear she may have gone to the naga world and told some lie to my friend, destroying his goodwill to me."

　　The young nagas hearing this turned back at once to the naga world and told their king. He being moved went instantly to the king”s chamber, told him all and was forgiven. Then he said, "In this way I make amends," and gave the king a charm giving knowledge of all sounds. "This, O king, is a priceless spell. If you give anyone this spell you will at once enter the fire and die."

　　The king said, "It is well," and accepted it. From that time he understood the voice even of ants.

　　One day he was sitting on the dais eating solid food with honey and molasses, and a drop of honey, a drop of molasses, and a morsel of cake fell on the ground. An ant seeing this comes crying, "The king”s honey jar is broken on the dais, his molasses cart and cake cart are upset. Come and eat honey and molasses and cake."

　　The king hearing the cry laughed. The queen being near him thought, "What has the king seen that he laughs

　　"

　　When the king had eaten his solid food and bathed and sat down cross-legged, a fly said to his wife, "Come, lady, let us enjoy love."

　　She said, "Excuse me for a little, husband. They will soon be bringing perfumes to the king. As he perfumes himself some powder will fall at his feet. I will stay there and become fragrant, then we will enjoy ourselves lying on the king”s back."

　　The king hearing the voice laughed again. The queen thought again, "What has he seen that he laughs

　　"

　　Again when the king was eating his supper, a lump of rice fell on the ground. The ants cried, "A wagon of rice has broken in the king”s palace, and there is none to eat it."

　　The king hearing this laughed again. The queen took a golde…

《The Language of Animals》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…