Concerning a Royal Princess and a Turtle
At a certain period, at the time when a King and a Minister are passing the time with great trust [in each other], the King and the Minister had a talk in this manner. The talk, indeed, was thus: To the Minister the King says, “Minister, let us two at one time contract marriage; having contracted it, and your Queen (Dēvī) having borne a daughter, should my Queen bear a son let us accomplish the wedding festival of the two children who are born first.” [This] was his speech.
Thereupon the Minister said thus, “It is good, O King; your Queen having borne a Princess, should my Queen bear a Prince, [or] my Queen having borne a Princess should your Queen bear a Prince, let us accomplish the wedding festival,” he said. At that the King having been much pleased, the two persons contracted marriage and remained passing the time in friendship.
During the time when they are [thus], the royal Queen bore a Princess endowed with much beauty. On that very day[1] the Minister’s Queen also bore a Turtle. Concerning the circumstance that the Minister’s Queen bore the Turtle, the King and the Minister also remained in much grief. During the time when they were thus, the royal Queen bore yet six Princesses. At the time when she had borne [the last of them] ten years were fulfilled for the Princess whom she bore first.
Thereupon this Minister asked the King thus, “O Lord, Your Majesty, for your Princess and my Turtle, for both of them, the age has now become equal. Because of it, now then, let us accomplish the wedding festival;” [thus] he spoke.
At that time, getting into his mind the notion (lit., word) that, breaking the word the King has said at first, should he subsequently say a word otherwise he will go into hostility, the King unwillingly said thus: “You go and ask my Princess about it,” he said.
Thereupon the Minister having gone near the Princess asked her.
The Princess said thus, “Anē! Appā! I cannot accomplish the festival of the marriage to that Turtle,” she said.
Thereupon the Minister, not even speaking anything about it, came out of the palace. Having come, while still a long time is going he remained without coming back.
Having so remained, after no long time went by they were ready to accomplish the wedding festival for the other six Princesses of the King’s, also. At that time the Minister having gone still [another] time, asked the King; the King told him in the very manner he said before that. Thereupon the Minister having gone asked the Princess.