“In this way rogues by means of imposture live on foolish sovereigns. Now hear the story of a man who shewed his cleverness by recovering half a paṇa.”
Story of the man who recovered half a paṇa from his servant.[31]
There was once on a time a man living in a town, who was vain of his wisdom. And a certain villager, who had served him for a year, being dissatisfied with his salary, left him and went home. And when he had gone, the town-bred gentleman said to his wife,—“My dear, I hope you did not give him anything before he went?” She answered, “Half a paṇa.” Then he spent ten paṇas in provisions for the journey, and overtook that servant on the bank of a river, and recovered from him that half paṇa. And when he related it as a proof of his skill in saving money, he became a public laughing-stock.
“Thus men, whose minds are blinded with wealth, fling away much to gain little. Now hear the story of the man who took notes of the spot.”
Story of the fool who took notes of a certain spot in the sea.[32]
A certain foolish person, while travelling by sea, let a silver vessel fall from his hand into the water. The fool took notes of the spot, observing the eddies and other signs in the water, and said to himself: “I will bring it up from the bottom, when I return.” He reached the other side of the sea, and as he was re-crossing, he saw the eddies and other signs, and thinking he recognized the spot, he plunged into the water again and again to recover his silver vessel. When the others asked him what his object was, he told them, and got well laughed at and abused for his pains.
“Now hear the story of the king who wished to substitute other flesh for what he had taken away.”