Tale XVII.

[1.] Probably it was some version of this story that had travelled to Spain, which suggested to Yriarte the following one of his many fables directed against ignorant writers and bad critics.

1. Esta fabulilla, Salga bien ó mal, Me he occorrida ahora Por casualidad. 2. Cerca de unos prados Que hay en mi lugar, Passaba un borrico Por casualidad. 3. Una flauta en ellos Halló que un zagal, Se dexó olvidado Por casualidad. 4. Acercóse á olerla, El dicho animal Y dió un resoplido Por casualidad. 5. En la flauta el ayre Se hubo de colar Y sonó la flauta Por casualidad. 6. “O!” dixó el borrico “Que bien sé tocar! Y diran que es mala La musica asnal.” 7. Sin reglas del arte Borriquitos hay Que una vez aciertan Por casualidad! 1. This fablette I know it Is not erudite; It occurr’d to my mind now By accident quite. 2. Through a meadow whose verdure Fresh, seem’d to invite, A donkey pass’d browsing By accident quite. 3. A flute lay in the grass, which A swain over night Had left there forgotten By accident quite. 4. Approaching to smell it This quadruped wight Just happen’d to bray then By accident quite. 5. The air ent’ring the mouthpiece Pass’d through as of right, And gave forth a cadence By accident quite. 6. “Only hear my fine playing!” Cries Moke in delight, “That dull folks vote my braying A nuisance, despite.” 7. It may happen some once, thus Although they can’t write, Human asses may hit off By accident quite!

[2.] The woman invents a name to frighten, and also as a trap for, her husband. “Sûrja, is Sanskrit, and Bagatur, Mongolian for a ‘Hero.’ Such combinations are not infrequent.” (Jülg.)

“Shura means a Hero in Sanscrit, agreeing not only in sense with the Greek word ἥρως, but also in derivation; thus revealing a primeval agreement in the estimation in which hero-nature was held. It is more properly written Sura, because it comes from Svar, heaven, and means literally ‘heavenly.’ It is used in that form as an appellation of the Sun. Heroes are so called, because when they fell in battle, Svarga, the heaven of deified kings, was given them for their dwelling-place. ‘Indra shall give to those who fall in battle the world where all wishes are fulfilled, for their portion. Neither by sacrifices, nor offerings to the Brahmans, nor by contemplation, nor knowledge can mortals attain to Svarga as securely as do heroes falling in battle.’ Mahâ Bhârata, xi. 2, v. 60.” (Lassen, i. 69.)

[3.] “The women of Tibet are not indeed taught the use of the bow and the matchlock, but in riding they are as expert and fearless as the men, yet it is only on occasion that they mount a horse, such as when travelling; or when there chances to be no man about the place to look after a stray animal.” (Abbé Huc’s “Travels in China and Tibet,” vol. i. ch. iii.)

[4.] A very similar story may be found in Barbazan’s, “Fabliaux et Contes des Poètes Français des XI–XV Siècles,” in 4 vols., Paris 1808, vol. iv. pp. 287–295. (Jülg.)