One day, it is said, the following story happened. The Mouse had torn the clothes of Itkler (the tailor), [[66]]who then went to the Baboon, and accused the Mouse with these words:—
“In this manner I come to thee:—The Mouse has torn my clothes, but will not know anything of it, and accuses the Cat; the Cat protests likewise her innocence, and says the Dog must have done it; but the Dog denies it also, and declares the Wood has done it; and the Wood throws the blame on the Fire, and says, ‘The Fire did it;’ the Fire says, ‘I have not, the Water did it;’ the Water says, ‘The Elephant tore the clothes;’ and the Elephant says, ‘The Ant tore them.’ Thus a dispute has arisen among them. Therefore I, Itkler, come to thee with this proposition: Assemble the people and try them, in order that I may get satisfaction.”
Thus he spake, and the Baboon assembled them for trial. Then they made the same excuses which had been mentioned by Itkler, each one putting the blame upon the other.
So the Baboon did not see any other way of punishing them, save through making them punish each other; he therefore said—
“Mouse, give Itkler satisfaction.”
The Mouse, however, pleaded not guilty. But the Baboon said, “Cat, bite the Mouse.” She did so.
He then put the same question to the Cat, and when [[67]]she exculpated herself, the Baboon called to the Dog, “Here, bite the Cat.”
In this manner the Baboon questioned them all, one after the other, but they each denied the charge. Then he addressed the following words to them, and said—
“Wood, beat the Dog.
Fire, burn the Wood.