Brahman. Alas! Alas! Alas! There is no help for me. [Turns homeward.]
Jackal. What’s the matter, Mr. Brahman? You look very sad.
Brahman. I am sad. As I was walking along the road I came to the tiger in his cage. He begged me to let him out to drink a little water. He said he would not harm me if I did so.
Jackal. Did you let him out?
Brahman. I did. As soon as he was out he tried to eat me. I asked him to wait till I could get the opinion of the first three things I came to whether it was right for him to kill me. I asked the tree, the buffalo, and the road. Alas!
Jackal. What did they say?
Brahman. They all said it was right.
Jackal. Who said it was right?
Brahman. Why, the tree, and the road, and the buffalo.
Jackal. Oh, it’s very confusing. Let me see! Perhaps matters are not so bad as you think. But it’s very confusing. You say the tiger said the tree and the road and the buffalo were right?