No. 235
The Monkey and the Beggar, or the Monkey Appusiññō and the Beggar Babāsiññō
A certain Beggar having gone from village to village was earning a subsistence by making a Monkey[1] dance and dance. By it those two collected a very little money. Having changed the small coins they got a pound in gold, and a rupee. During that time the Monkey was well accustomed to [visit] the royal house.
For marrying and giving the Princess of the King of the country, the King began to seek Princes. At that time royal Princes not being anywhere in those countries, he stayed without doing anything (nikan).
At that time the Monkey called Appusiññō asked Babāsiññō the Beggar, “Am I to arrange and give you an opportunity [for a marriage]?”
Then Babāsiññō said, “What is this you are saying, Appusiññō? For you and for us what [wedding] feast!”
Then Appusiññō said, “It doesn’t matter to you. I will arrange and give it from somewhere or other.”
Having said thus, Appusiññō went to the royal house. At that time the King having seen Appusiññō, asked, “What have you come for?”
Then Appusiññō said, “The Mudaliyār[2] Babāsiññō told me to go and ask for the bushel for measuring golden pounds. On that account I came.”