“If you will go, I will mount you on my back, and carry you over.”
The Monkey trusted him, and agreed. “Come here, then,” said the other, “up on my back with you!” and up the Monkey climbed. But when the Crocodile had swum a little way, he plunged the Monkey under the water.
“Good friend, you are letting me sink!” cried the Monkey. “What is that for?”
Said the Crocodile, “You think I am carrying you out of pure good nature? Not a bit of it! My wife has a longing for your heart, and I want to give it to her to eat!”
“Friend,” said the Monkey, “it is nice of you to tell me. Why, if our heart were inside us when we go jumping among the tree-tops, it would be all knocked to pieces!”
“Well, where do you keep it?” asked the other.
The Bodhisatta pointed out a fig-tree, with clusters of ripe fruit, standing not far off. “See,” said he, “there are our hearts hanging on yon fig-tree.”
“If you will show me your heart,” said the Crocodile, “then I won’t kill you.”
“Take me to the tree, then, and I will point it out to you hanging upon it.”
The Crocodile brought him to the place. The Monkey leapt off his back, and climbing up the fig-tree sat upon it. “O silly Crocodile!” said he, “you thought that there were creatures that kept their hearts in a tree-top! You are a fool, and I have outwitted you! You may keep your fruit to yourself. Your body is great, but you have no sense.” And then to explain this idea he uttered the following stanzas: