The caravan owner thought: “He knows, I suppose, that the pay is too little;” and wrapping a thousand pieces in a cloth, tied them up in a bundle, and hung that round his neck. And as soon as he got the bundle with a thousand inside, he went off to his “mother.”
Then the village children called out: “See! what’s that round the neck of the old woman’s Blackie?” and began to run up to him. But he chased after them, so that they took to their heels before they got near him; and he went straight to his “mother.” And he appeared with eyes all bloodshot, utterly exhausted from dragging over so many carts.
“How did you get this, dear?” said the good old woman, when she saw the bag round his neck. And when she heard, on inquiry from the herdsmen, what had happened, she exclaimed: “Am I so anxious, then, to live on the fruit of your toil, my darling! Why do you put yourself to all this pain?”
And she bathed him in warm water, and rubbed him all over with oil, and gave him to drink, and fed him up with good food. And at the end of her life she passed away according to her deeds, and the Bodisat with her.
THE HORSE THAT HELD OUT TO THE END
And it came to pass that the Buddha (to be) came to life in the shape of a Horse—a thoroughbred small horse, and he was made the King’s Destrier, surrounded by pomp and state. He was fed on exquisite three-year-old rice which was always served up to him in a golden dish worth a hundred thousand pieces of money, and the ground of his stall was perfumed with the four odors. Round his stall were hung crimson curtains, while overhead was a canopy studded with stars of gold. On the wall were festooned wreaths and garlands of fragrant flowers, and a lamp fed with scented oil was always burning there.
Now all the kings round coveted the kingdom of Benares. Once seven kings passed Benares and sent a missive to the King, saying: “Either yield up your kingdom to us or give battle.”
Assembling his ministers, the King of Benares laid the matter before them and asked what he was to do. Said they: “You ought not to go out to battle in person, Sire, in the first instance. Despatch such and such a Knight out first to fight him, and, later on, if he fall, we will decide what to do.”
Then the King sent for that Knight and said to him: “Can you fight the seven kings, my dear Knight?” Said he: “Give me but your noble Destrier, and then I could fight not only seven kings but all the kings in India.” “My dear Knight, take my Destrier or any horse you please, and do battle.” “Very good, my Sovereign Lord,” said the Knight, and with a bow he passed down from the upper chambers of the palace.