[16] Benfey (Panchatantra, Vol. I, p. 231) quotes the following passage from John of Capua’s version, “Dicitur autem, melior omnium regum est qui aquilæ similatur in cujus circuitu sunt cadavera, pejor vero omnium est qui similatur cadaveri in cujus circuitu sunt aquilæ.” It is wanting in De Sacy’s edition of the Arabic version, and in the old Greek translation. This looks as if the Hebrew version, from which John of Capua translates, was the best representation of the original Indian work.
[17] This corresponds to the 2nd Fable in the IVth book of the Hitopadeśa, Johnson’s translation, page 99. Benfey considers that the fable of Æsop, which we find in Babrius, 115, is the oldest form of it. He supposes that it owes its present colouring to the Buddhists. It appears in the Arabic version (Wolff. I, 91, Knatchbull, 146), Symeon Seth, p. 28, John of Capua d., 5, b., German translation (Ulm., 1483) F., VIII, 6, Spanish translation, XIX a, Firenzuola, 65, Doni 93, Anvár-i-Suhaili, 159, Livre des Lumières, 124, Cabinet des Fées, XVII, 309. (Benfey’s Panchatantra, Vol. I, pp. 239, 240). See also Weber, Indische Studien, III, 339. This story is found in the Avadánas translated from the Chinese by Stanislas Julien No. XIV, Vol. I, pp. 71–73, (Liebrecht, Zur Volkskunde, p. 111.) It is the 3rd in La Fontaine’s tenth book. The original source is probably the Kachchhapa Játaka; see Rhys Davids’ Introduction to his Buddhist Birth stories, p. viii. In Coelho’s Contos Portuguezes, p. 15, the heron, which is carrying the fox, persuades it to let go, in order that she may spit on her hand. (A similar incident on page [112] of this volume.) Gosson in his School of Abuse, Arber’s Reprints, p. 43, observes, “Geese are foolish birds, yet, when they fly over mount Taurus, they shew great wisdom in their own defence for they stop their pipes full of gravel to avoid gagling, and so by silence escape the eagles.”
[18] i. e., the provider for the future, the fish that possessed presence of mind, and the fatalist, who believed in kismat. This story is found in the Hitopadeśa, Book IV, Fable 11, Johnson’s translation. Benfey has discovered it in the Mahábhárata, XII, (III, 538) v. 4889, and ff. He compares Wolff., I, 54, Knatchbull, 121, Symeon Seth, p. 20, John of Capua, c., 6, b., German translation (Ulm., 1483), E. III, a., Spanish, XV, b, Firenzuola, 47, Doni, 73, Anvár-i-Suhaili, 130, Livre des Lumières, 105, Cabinet des Fées, XVII, 250. (Benfey, Vol. I, pp. 241 and 242)
[19] For the story of the pair of ṭiṭṭibha birds, cp. Hitopadeśa, Book II, fable X, Johnson’s translation, p. 65. Benfey compares Wolff, I, 84, Knatchbull 145, Symeon Seth, 28, John of Capua d., 5, a., German translation (Ulm 1483) F., VII, a., Spanish, XIX, a., Firenzuola, 63, Doni, 92, Anvár-i-Suhaili, 158, Livre des Lumières, 123, Cabinet des Fées, XVII, 307, (Benfey’s Panchatantra, Vol. I, p. 235) Benfey adduces evidence in favour of its Buddhistic origin.
[20] The following story is the 17th in the 1st Book of the Panchatantra, Benfey’s translation. He compares the Arabic version (Wolff, I, 91, Knatchbull, 150,) Symeon Seth, 31, John of Capua e., 1., German translation (Ulm 1483) G., IV., Spanish translation, XX, a., Firenzuola, 70, Doni, 98, Anvár-i-Suhaili, 170; Cabinet des Fées, XVII, 329. Symeon Seth has for the firefly λίθον στίλβοντα: the Turkish version in the Cabinet des Fées “Un morceau de crystal qui brillait.” (Benfey’s Panchatantra, Vol. I, pp. 269, 270).
[21] Benfey compares the Arabic version, (Wolff, I, 93, Knatchbull, 151,) Symeon Seth, 31, John of Capua, o., 2., German translation (Ulm 1483) G., VI, b., Spanish, XXI, a., Firenzuola, 73, Doni, 104, Anvár-i-Suhaili, 172, Livre des Lumières, 129, Cabinet des Fées, XVII, 333, Baldo, Fab. XIX, in Edéléstand du Méril. Benfey points out that that Somadeva agrees wholly or partly with the Arabic version in two points. The judges set the tree on fire (or apply smoke to it,) not Dharmabuddhi, (as in Panchatantra, Benfey, Vol. II, pp. 114 & ff.) Secondly, in the Panchatantra the father dies and the son is hanged, in De Sacy’s Arabic and the old Greek version both remain alive, in Somadeva, and John of Capua, and the Anvár-i-Suhaili, the father dies and the son is punished. Here we have a fresh proof that the Hebrew version, from which John of Capua translated, is the truest representative of the oldest Arabic recension. (Benfey’s Panchatantra, Vol. I, p. 275 and ff.) This story has been found in Tibet by the Head Master of the Bhútia School, Darjiling, Babu Śarat Chandra Dás.
[22] I read with the Sanskrit College MS. asadvyayi.
[23] i. e., “Virtuously-minded.” His brother’s name means—“Evil-minded.”
[24] Cp. Hitopadeśa, Johnson’s translation, Fable, VIII, p. 60. Benfey appears not to be aware that this story is in Somadeva. It corresponds to the sixth in his 1st Book, Vol. II, p. 67. He thinks that Somadeva must have rejected it though it was in his copy. Benfey says it is of Buddhistic origin. It is found in the Arabic version (Wolff, p. 40, Knatchbull, p. 113), Symeon Seth, (Athenian edition, p. 16), John of Capua, e., 4, a., German translation, Ulm, 1483 D., IV. b., Spanish, XIII, 6, Firenzuola, 38, Doni, 57, Anvár-i-Suhaili, p. 116, Livre des Lumières, 91, Cabinet des Fées, XVII, 220. It is connected with the 20th of the 1st book in Benfey’s translation, in fact it is another form of it. (Somadeva’s fable seems to be a blending of the two Panchatantra stories). Cp. also Phædrus, I, 28, Aristophanes, Aves, 652. (Benfey’s Panchatantra, Vol. I. pp. 167–170.)
[25] This corresponds to the 21st of the first book in Benfey’s translation, Vol. II, p. 120. Cp. Arabic version (Wolff, I, 98, Knatchbull, 156.), Symeon Seth, 33, John of Capua, e., 4, German translation (Ulm, 1483) H., II, b., Firenzuola, 82, Doni, 113, Anvár-i-Suhaili, 187, Livre des Lumières, 135, Cabinet des Fées, XVII, 353, Robert, Fables inédites, II, 193–196. (Benfey, I, 283). It is the 1st of the IXth Book of La Fontaine’s Fables, Le depositaire infidèle.