Story of the man who asked for nothing at all.
A certain foolish man, as he was going along the road, was asked by a carter to do something to make his cart balance evenly. He said, “If I make it right, what will you give me?” The carter answered; “I will give you nothing at all.” Then the fool put the cart even, and said, “Give me the nothing-at-all you promised.” But the carter laughed at him. “So you see, king, fools are for ever becoming the object of the scorn and contempt and reproach of men, and fall into misfortune, while the good on the other hand are thought worthy of honour.”
When the prince surrounded by his ministers, had heard at night these amusing stories from Gomukha, he was enabled to enjoy sleep, which refreshes the whole of the three worlds.
[1] This is No. 84 in Stanislas Julien’s translation of the Avadánas.
[2] This is No. 67 in Stanislas Julien’s translation of the Avadánas. This story is found in Coelho’s Contos Portuguezes, p. 112. So Ino persuaded the women of the country to roast the wheat before it was sown, Preller Griechische Mythologie, Vol. II, p. 312. To this Ovid refers, Fasti, II, 628, and III, 853–54.
[3] This is No. 70 in Stanislas Julien’s translation of the Avadánas.
[4] Cp. The Two Noble Kinsmen, Act IV, Scene 2, 1. 110,
His nose stands high, a character of honour.