Chương Chương 19 · The Ass in the Lion's Skin

. The Ass in the Lion's Skin

[Illustration:]

At the same time, when Brahma-datta was reigning in Benares, the

future Buddha was born one of a peasant family; and when he grew up,

he gained his living by tilling the ground.

At that time a hawker used to go from place to place, trafficking in

goods carried by an ass. Now at each place he came to, when he took

the pack down from the ass's back, he used to clothe him in a lion's

skin, and turn him loose in the rice and barley fields. And when the

watchmen in the fields saw the ass, they dared not go near him, taking

him for a lion.

So one day the hawker stopped in a village; and whilst he was getting

his own breakfast cooked, he dressed the ass in a lion's skin, and

turned him loose in a barley-field. The watchmen in the field dared

not go up to him; but going home, they published the news. Then all

the villagers came out with weapons in their hands; and blowing

chanks, and beating drums, they went near the field and shouted.

Terrified with the fear of death, the ass uttered a cry--the bray of

an ass!

And when he knew him then to be an ass, the future Buddha pronounced

the First Verse:

"This is not a lion's roaring,

Nor a tiger's, nor a panther's;

Dressed in a lion's skin,

'Tis a wretched ass that roars!"

But when the villagers knew the creature to be an ass, they beat him

till his bones broke; and, carrying off the lion's skin, went away.

Then the hawker came; and seeing the ass fallen into so bad a plight,

pronounced the Second Verse:

"Long might the ass,

Clad in a lion's skin,

Have fed on the barley green.

But he brayed!

And that moment he came to ruin."

And even whilst he was yet speaking the ass died on the spot!