首页 >出版文学> THE VIOLET FAIRY BOOK>第7章
  THETWOFROGS
  OnceuponatimeinthecountryofJapantherelivedtwofrogs,oneofwhommadehishomeinaditchnearthetownofOsaka,ontheseacoast,whiletheotherdweltinaclearlittlestreamwhichranthroughthecityofKioto。Atsuchagreatdistanceapart,theyhadneverevenheardofeachother;but,funnilyenough,theideacameintoboththeirheadsatoncethattheyshouldliketoseealittleoftheworld,andthefrogwholivedatKiotowantedtovisitOsaka,andthefrogwholivedatOsakawishedtogotoKioto,wherethegreatMikadohadhispalace。
  SoonefinemorninginthespringtheybothsetoutalongtheroadthatledfromKiototoOsaka,onefromoneendandtheotherfromtheother。Thejourneywasmoretiringthantheyexpected,fortheydidnotknowmuchabouttravelling,andhalfwaybetweenthetwotownstherearoseamountainwhichhadtobeclimbed。Ittookthemalongtimeandagreatmanyhopstoreachthetop,buttheretheywereatlast,andwhatwasthesurpriseofeachtoseeanotherfrogbeforehim!Theylookedateachotherforamomentwithoutspeaking,andthenfellintoconversation,explainingthecauseoftheirmeetingsofarfromtheirhomes。Itwasdelightfultofindthattheybothfeltthesamewish——tolearnalittlemoreoftheirnativecountry——andastherewasnosortofhurrytheystretchedthemselvesoutinacool,dampplace,andagreedthattheywouldhaveagoodrestbeforetheypartedtogotheirways。
  ’Whatapitywearenotbigger,’saidtheOsakafrog;’forthenwecouldseebothtownsfromhere,andtellifitisworthourwhilegoingon。’
  ’Oh,thatiseasilymanaged,’returnedtheKiotofrog。’Wehaveonlygottostanduponourhindlegs,andholdontoeachother,andthenwecaneachlookatthetownheistravellingto。’
  ThisideapleasedtheOsakafrogsomuchthatheatoncejumpedupandputhisfrontpawsontheshouldersofhisfriend,whohadrisenalso。Theretheybothstood,stretchingthemselvesashighastheycould,andholdingeachothertightly,sothattheymightnotfalldown。TheKiotofrogturnedhisnosetowardsOsaka,andtheOsakafrogturnedhisnosetowardsKioto;butthefoolishthingsforgotthatwhentheystooduptheirgreateyeslayinthebacksoftheirheads,andthatthoughtheirnosesmightpointtotheplacestowhichtheywantedtogotheireyesbeheldtheplacesfromwhichtheyhadcome。
  ’Dearme!’criedtheOsakafrog,’KiotoisexactlylikeOsaka。
  Itiscertainlynotworthsuchalongjourney。Ishallgohome!’
  ’IfIhadhadanyideathatOsakawasonlyacopyofKiotoI
  shouldneverhavetravelledallthisway,’exclaimedthefrogfromKioto,andashespokehetookhishandsfromhisfriend’sshoulders,andtheybothfelldownonthegrass。Thentheytookapolitefarewellofeachother,andsetoffforhomeagain,andtotheendoftheirlivestheybelievedthatOsakaandKioto,whichareasdifferenttolookatastwotownscanbe,wereaslikeastwopeas。
  [JapanischeMarchen。]
  THESTORYOFAGAZELLE
  Onceuponatimetherelivedamanwhowastedallhismoney,andgrewsopoorthathisonlyfoodwasafewgrainsofcorn,whichhescratchedlikeafowlfromoutofadust—heap。
  Onedayhewasscratchingasusualamongadust—heapinthestreet,hopingtofindsomethingforbreakfast,whenhiseyefelluponasmallsilvercoin,calledaneighth,whichhegreedilysnatchedup。’NowIcanhaveapropermeal,’hethought,andafterdrinkingsomewateratawellhelaydownandsleptsolongthatitwassunrisebeforehewokeagain。Thenhejumpedupandreturnedtothedust—heap。’Forwhoknows,’hesaidtohimself,’whetherImaynothavesomegoodluckagain。’
  Ashewaswalkingdowntheroad,hesawamancomingtowardshim,carryingacagemadeoftwigs。’Hi!youfellow!’calledhe,’whathaveyougotinsidethere?’
  ’Gazelles,’repliedtheman。
  ’Bringthemhere,forIshouldliketoseethem。’
  Ashespoke,somemenwhowerestandingbybegantolaugh,sayingtothemanwiththecage:’Youhadbettertakecarehowyoubargainwithhim,forhehasnothingatallexceptwhathepicksupfromadust—heap,andifhecan’tfeedhimself,willhebeabletofeedagazelle?’
  Butthemanwiththecagemadeanswer:’SinceIstartedfrommyhomeinthecountry,fiftypeopleattheleasthavecalledmetoshowthemmygazelles,andwasthereoneamongthemwhocaredtobuy?Itisthecustomforatraderinmerchandisetobesummonedhitherandthither,andwhoknowswhereonemayfindabuyer?’
  Andhetookuphiscageandwenttowardsthescratcherofdust—heaps,andthemenwentwithhim。
  ’Whatdoyouaskforyourgazelles?’saidthebeggar。’Willyouletmehaveoneforaneighth?’
  Andthemanwiththecagetookoutagazelle,andhelditout,saying,’Takethisone,master!’
  Andthebeggartookitandcarriedittothedust—heap,wherehescratchedcarefullytillhefoundafewgrainsofcorn,whichhedividedwithhisgazelle。Thishedidnightandmorning,tillfivedayswentby。
  Then,asheslept,thegazellewokehim,saying,’Master。’
  Andthemananswered,’HowisitthatIseeawonder?’
  ’Whatwonder?’askedthegazelle。
  ’Why,thatyou,agazelle,shouldbeabletospeak,for,fromthebeginning,myfatherandmotherandallthepeoplethatareintheworldhavenevertoldmeofatalkinggazelle。’
  ’Nevermindthat,’saidthegazelle,’butlistentowhatIsay!
  First,Itookyouformymaster。Second,yougaveformeallyouhadintheworld。Icannotrunawayfromyou,butgiveme,I
  prayyou,leavetogoeverymorningandseekfoodformyself,andeveryeveningIwillcomebacktoyou。Whatyoufindinthedust—heapsisnotenoughforbothofus。’
  ’Go,then,’answeredthemaster;andthegazellewent。
  Whenthesunhadset,thegazellecameback,andthepoormanwasveryglad,andtheylaydownandsleptsidebyside。
  Inthemorningitsaidtohim,’Iamgoingawaytofeed。’
  Andthemanreplied,’Go,myson,’buthefeltverylonelywithouthisgazelle,andsetoutsoonerthanusualforthedust—heapwherehegenerallyfoundmostcorn。Andgladhewaswhentheeveningcame,andhecouldreturnhome。Helayonthegrasschewingtobacco,whenthegazelletrottedup。
  ’Goodevening,mymaster;howhaveyoufaredallday?IhavebeenrestingintheshadeinaplacewherethereissweetgrasswhenIamhungry,andfreshwaterwhenIamthirsty,andasoftbreezetofanmeintheheat。Itisfarawayintheforest,andnooneknowsofitbutme,andto—morrowIshallgoagain。’
  Soforfivedaysthegazellesetoffatdaybreakforthiscoolspot,butonthefifthdayitcametoaplacewherethegrasswasbitter,anditdidnotlikeit,andscratched,hopingtotearawaythebadblades。But,instead,itsawsomethinglyingintheearth,whichturnedouttobeadiamond,verylargeandbright。
  ’Oh,ho!’saidthegazelletoitself,’perhapsnowIcandosomethingformymasterwhoboughtmewithallthemoneyhehad;
  butImustbecarefulortheywillsayhehasstolenit。Ihadbettertakeitmyselftosomegreatrichman,andseewhatitwilldoforme。’
  Directlythegazellehadcometothisconclusion,itpickedupthediamondinitsmouth,andwentonandonandonthroughtheforest,butfoundnoplacewherearichmanwaslikelytodwell。
  Fortwomoredaysitran,fromdawntodark,tillatlastearlyonemorningitcaughtsightofalargetown,whichgaveitfreshcourage。
  Thepeoplewerestandingaboutthestreetsdoingtheirmarketing,whenthegazelleboundedpast,thediamondflashingasitran。
  Theycalledafterit,butittooknonoticetillitreachedthepalace,wherethesultanwassitting,enjoyingthecoolair。Andthegazellegallopeduptohim,andlaidthediamondathisfeet。
  Thesultanlookedfirstatthediamondandnextatthegazelle;
  thenheorderedhisattendantstobringcushionsandacarpet,thatthegazellemightrestitselfafteritslongjourney。Andhelikewiseorderedmilktobebrought,andrice,thatitmighteatanddrinkandberefreshed。
  Andwhenthegazellewasrested,thesultansaidtoit:’Givemethenewsyouhavecomewith。’
  Andthegazelleanswered:’Iamcomewiththisdiamond,whichisapledgefrommymastertheSultanDarai。Hehasheardyouhaveadaughter,andsendsyouthissmalltoken,andbegsyouwillgivehertohimtowife。’
  Andthesultansaid:’Iamcontent。Thewifeishiswife,thefamilyishisfamily,theslaveishisslave。Lethimcometomeempty—handed,Iamcontent。’
  Whenthesultanhadended,thegazellerose,andsaid:’Master,farewell;Igobacktoourtown,andineightdays,oritmaybeinelevendays,weshallarriveasyourguests。’
  Andthesultananswered:’Soletitbe。’
  Allthistimethepoormanfarawayhadbeenmourningandweepingforhisgazelle,whichhethoughthadrunawayfromhimforever。
  Andwhenitcameinatthedoorherushedtoembraceitwithsuchjoythathewouldnotallowitachancetospeak。
  ’Bestill,master,anddon’tcry,’saidthegazelleatlast;’letussleepnow,andinthemorning,whenIgo,followme。’
  Withthefirstrayofdawntheygotupandwentintotheforest,andonthefifthday,astheywererestingnearastream,thegazellegaveitsmasterasoundbeating,andthenbadehimstaywherehewastillitreturned。Andthegazelleranoff,andaboutteno’clockitcamenearthesultan’spalace,wheretheroadwasalllinedwithsoldierswhoweretheretodohonourtoSultanDarai。Anddirectlytheycaughtsightofthegazelleinthedistanceoneofthesoldiersranonandsaid,’SultanDaraiiscoming:Ihaveseenthegazelle。’
  Thenthesultanroseup,andcalledhiswholecourttofollowhim,andwentouttomeetthegazelle,who,boundinguptohim,gavehimgreeting。Thesultanansweredpolitely,andinquiredwhereithadleftitsmaster,whomithadpromisedtobringback。
  ’Alas!’repliedthegazelle,’heislyingintheforest,foronourwayhereweweremetbyrobbers,who,afterbeatingandrobbinghim,tookawayallhisclothes。Andheisnowhidingunderabush,lestapassingstrangermightseehim。’
  Thesultan,onhearingwhathadhappenedtohisfutureson—in—law,turnedhishorseandrodetothepalace,andbadeagroomtoharnessthebesthorseinthestableandorderawomanslavetobringabagofclothes,suchasamanmightwant,outofthechest;andhechoseoutatunicandaturbanandasashforthewaist,andfetchedhimselfagold—hiltedsword,andadaggerandapairofsandals,andastickofsweet—smellingwood。
  ’Now,’saidhetothegazelle,’takethesethingswiththesoldierstothesultan,thathemaybeabletocome。’
  Andthegazelleanswered:’CanItakethosesoldierstogoandputmymastertoshameasheliestherenaked?Iamenoughbymyself,mylord。’
  ’Howwillyoubeenough,’askedthesultan,’tomanagethishorseandalltheseclothes?’
  ’Oh,thatiseasilydone,’repliedthegazelle。’Fastenthehorsetomyneckandtietheclothestothebackofthehorse,andbesuretheyarefixedfirmly,asIshallgofasterthanhedoes。’
  Everythingwascarriedoutasthegazellehadordered,andwhenallwasreadyitsaidtothesultan:’Farewell,mylord,Iamgoing。’
  ’Farewell,gazelle,’answeredthesultan;’whenshallweseeyouagain?’
  ’To—morrowaboutfive,’repliedthegazelle,and,givingatugtothehorse’srein,theysetoffatagallop。
  Thesultanwatchedthemtilltheywereoutofsight:thenhesaidtohisattendants,’Thatgazellecomesfromgentlehands,fromthehouseofasultan,andthatiswhatmakesitsodifferentfromothergazelles。’Andintheeyesofthesultanthegazellebecameapersonofconsequence。
  Meanwhilethegazelleranontillitcametotheplacewhereitsmasterwasseated,andhisheartlaughedwhenhesawthegazelle。
  Andthegazellesaidtohim,’Getup,mymaster,andbatheinthestream!’andwhenthemanhadbatheditsaidagain,’Nowrubyourselfwellwithearth,andrubyourteethwellwithsandtomakethembrightandshining。’Andwhenthiswasdoneitsaid,’Thesunhasgonedownbehindthehills;itistimeforustogo’:soitwentandbroughttheclothesfromthebackofthehorse,andthemanputthemonandwaswellpleased。
  ’Master!’saidthegazellewhenthemanwasready,’besurethatwherewearegoingyoukeepsilence,exceptforgivinggreetingsandaskingfornews。Leaveallthetalkingtome。Ihaveprovidedyouwithawife,andhavemadeherpresentsofclothesandturbansandrareandpreciousthings,soitisneedlessforyoutospeak。’
  ’Verygood,Iwillbesilent,’repliedthemanashemountedthehorse。’Youhavegivenallthis;itisyouwhoarethemaster,andIwhoamtheslave,andIwillobeyyouinallthings。’
  ’Sotheywenttheirway,andtheywentandwenttillthegazellesawinthedistancethepalaceofthesultan。Thenitsaid,’Master,thatisthehousewearegoingto,andyouarenotapoormananylonger:evenyournameisnew。’
  ’WhatISmyname,eh,myfather?’askedtheman。
  ’SultanDarai,’saidthegazelle。
  Verysoonsomesoldierscametomeetthem,whileothersranofftotellthesultanoftheirapproach。Andthesultansetoffatonce,andtheviziersandtheemirs,andthejudges,andtherichmenofthecity,allfollowedhim。
  Directlythegazellesawthemcoming,itsaidtoitsmaster:
  ’Yourfather—in—lawiscomingtomeetyou;thatisheinthemiddle,wearingamantleofsky—blue。Getoffyourhorseandgotogreethim。’
  AndSultanDaraileaptfromhishorse,andsodidtheothersultan,andtheygavetheirhandstooneanotherandkissedeachother,andwenttogetherintothepalace。
  Thenextmorningthegazellewenttotheroomsofthesultan,andsaidtohim:’Mylord,wewantyoutomarryusourwife,forthesoulofSultanDaraiiseager。’
  ’Thewifeisready,socallthepriest,’answeredhe,andwhentheceremonywasoveracannonwasfiredandmusicwasplayed,andwithinthepalacetherewasfeasting。
  ’Master,’saidthegazellethefollowingmorning,’Iamsettingoutonajourney,andIshallnotbebackforsevendays,andperhapsnotthen。ButbecarefulnottoleavethehousetillI
  come。’
  Andthemasteranswered,’Iwillnotleavethehouse。’
  Anditwenttothesultanofthecountryandsaidtohim:’Mylord,SultanDaraihassentmetohistowntogetthehouseinorder。Itwilltakemesevendays,andifIamnotbackinsevendayshewillnotleavethepalacetillIreturn。’
  ’Verygood,’saidthesultan。
  Anditwentanditwentthroughtheforestandwilderness,tillitarrivedatatownfulloffinehouses。Attheendofthechiefroadwasagreathouse,beautifulexceedingly,builtofsapphireandturquoiseandmarbles。’That,’thoughtthegazelle,’isthehouseformymaster,andIwillcallupmycourageandgoandlookatthepeoplewhoareinit,ifanypeoplethereare。
  ForinthistownhaveIasyetseennopeople。IfIdie,Idie,andifIlive,Ilive。HerecanIthinkofnoplan,soifanythingistokillme,itwillkillme。’
  Thenitknockedtwiceatthedoor,andcried’Open,’butnooneanswered。Anditcriedagain,andavoicereplied:
  ’Whoareyouthatarecrying"Open"?’
  Andthegazellesaid,’ItisI,greatmistress,yourgrandchild。’
  ’Ifyouaremygrandchild,’returnedthevoice,’gobackwhenceyoucame。Don’tcomeanddiehere,andbringmetomydeathaswell。’
  ’Open,mistress,Ientreat,Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou。’
  ’Grandchild,’repliedshe,’Ifeartoputyourlifeindanger,andmyowntoo。’
  ’Oh,mistress,mylifewillnotbelost,noryourseither;open,Iprayyou。’Sosheopenedthedoor。
  ’Whatisthenewswhereyoucomefrom,mygrandson,’askedshe。
  ’Greatlady,whereIcomefromitiswell,andwithyouitiswell。’
  ’Ah,myson,hereitisnotwellatall。Ifyouseekawaytodie,orifyouhavenotyetseendeath,thenisto—daythedayforyoutoknowwhatdyingis。’
  ’IfIamtoknowit,Ishallknowit,’repliedthegazelle;’buttellme,whoisthelordofthishouse?’
  Andshesaid:’Ah,father!inthishouseismuchwealth,andmuchpeople,andmuchfood,andmanyhorses。Andthelordofitallisanexceedinggreatandwonderfulsnake。’
  ’Oh!’criedthegazellewhenheheardthis;’tellmehowIcangetatthesnaketokillhim?’
  ’Myson,’returnedtheoldwoman,’donotsaywordslikethese;
  youriskbothourlives。Hehasputmehereallbymyself,andI
  havetocookhisfood。Whenthegreatsnakeiscomingtherespringsupawind,andblowsthedustabout,andthisgoesontillthegreatsnakeglidesintothecourtyardandcallsforhisdinner,whichmustalwaysbereadyforhiminthosebigpots。Heeatstillhehashadenough,andthendrinksawholetankfulofwater。Afterthathegoesaway。Everyseconddayhecomes,whenthesunisoverthehouse。Andhehassevenheads。Howthencanyoubeamatchforhim,myson?’
  ’Mindyourownbusiness,mother,’answeredthegazelle,’anddon’tmindotherpeople’s!Hasthissnakeasword?’
  ’Hehasasword,andasharponetoo。Itcutslikeadashoflightning。’
  ’Giveittome,mother!’saidthegazelle,andsheunhookedtheswordfromthewall,asshewasbidden。’Youmustbequick,’shesaid,’forhemaybehereatanymoment。Hark!isnotthatthewindrising?Hehascome!’
  Theyweresilent,buttheoldwomanpeepedfrombehindacurtain,andsawthesnakebusyatthepotswhichshehadplacedreadyforhiminthecourtyard。Andafterhehaddoneeatinganddrinkinghecametothedoor:
  ’Youoldbody!’hecried;’whatsmellisthatIsmellinsidethatisnotthesmellofeveryday?’
  ’Oh,master!’answeredshe,’Iamalone,asIalwaysam!Butto—day,aftermanydays,Ihavesprinkledfreshscentalloverme,anditisthatwhichyousmell。Whatelsecoulditbe,master?’
  Allthistimethegazellehadbeenstandingclosetothedoor,holdingtheswordinoneofitsfrontpaws。Andasthesnakeputoneofhisheadsthroughtheholethathehadmadesoastogetinandoutcomfortably,itcutitofsocleanthatthesnakereallydidnotfeelit。Thesecondblowwasnotquitesostraight,forthesnakesaidtohimself,’Whoisthatwhoistryingtoscratchme?’andstretchedouthisthirdheadtosee;
  butnosoonerwastheneckthroughtheholethantheheadwentrollingtojointherest。
  Whensixofhisheadsweregonethesnakelashedhistailwithsuchfurythatthegazelleandtheoldwomancouldnotseeeachotherforthedusthemade。Andthegazellesaidtohim,’Youhaveclimbedallsortsoftrees,butthisyoucan’tclimb,’andastheseventhheadcamedartingthroughitwentrollingtojointherest。
  Thentheswordfellrattlingontheground,forthegazellehadfainted。
  Theoldwomanshriekedwithdelightwhenshesawherenemywasdead,andrantobringwatertothegazelle,andfannedit,andputitwherethewindcouldblowonit,tillitgrewbetterandgaveasneeze。Andtheheartoftheoldwomanwasglad,andshegaveitmorewater,tillby—and—bythegazellegotup。
  ’Showmethishouse,’itsaid,’frombeginningtoend,fromtoptobottom,frominsidetoout。’
  Soshearoseandshowedthegazelleroomsfullofgoldandpreciousthings,andotherroomsfullofslaves。’Theyareallyours,goodsandslaves,’saidshe。
  Butthegazelleanswered,’YoumustkeepthemsafetillIcallmymaster。’
  Fortwodaysitlayandrestedinthehouse,andfedonmilkandrice,andonthethirddayitbadetheoldwomanfarewellandstartedbacktoitsmaster。
  Andwhenheheardthatthegazellewasatthedoorhefeltlikeamanwhohasfoundthetimewhenallprayersaregranted,andheroseandkissedit,saying:’Myfather,youhavebeenalongtime;youhaveleftsorrowwithme。Icannoteat,Icannotdrink,Icannotlaugh;myheartfeltnosmileatanything,becauseofthinkingofyou。’
  Andthegazelleanswered:’Iamwell,andwhereIcomefromitiswell,andIwishthatafterfourdaysyouwouldtakeyourwifeandgohome。’
  Andhesaid:’Itisforyoutospeak。Whereyougo,Iwillfollow。’
  ’ThenIshallgotoyourfather—in—lawandtellhimthisnews。’
  ’Go,myson。’
  Sothegazellewenttothefather—in—lawandsaid:’Iamsentbymymastertocomeandtellyouthatafterfourdayshewillgoawaywithhiswifetohisownhome。’
  ’Musthereallygosoquickly?Wehavenotyetsatmuchtogether,IandSultanDarai,norhaveweyettalkedmuchtogether,norhaveweyetriddenouttogether,norhaveweeatentogether;yetitisfourteendayssincehecame。’
  Butthegazellereplied:’Mylord,youcannothelpit,forhewishestogohome,andnothingwillstophim。’
  ’Verygood,’saidthesultan,andhecalledallthepeoplewhowereinthetown,andcommandedthatthedayhisdaughterleftthepalaceladiesandguardsweretoattendheronherway。
  AndattheendoffourdaysagreatcompanyofladiesandslavesandhorseswentforthtoescortthewifeofSultanDaraitohernewhome。Theyrodeallday,andwhenthesunsankbehindthehillstheyrested,andateofthefoodthegazellegavethem,andlaydowntosleep。Andtheyjourneyedonformanydays,andtheyall,noblesandslaves,lovedthegazellewithagreatlove——
  morethantheylovedtheSultanDarai。
  Atlastonedaysignsofhousesappeared,far,faroff。Andthosewhosawcriedout,’Gazelle!’
  Anditanswered,’Ah,mymistresses,thatisthehouseofSultanDarai。’
  Atthisnewsthewomenrejoicedmuch,andtheslavesrejoicedmuch,andinthespaceoftwohourstheycametothegates,andthegazellebadethemallstaybehind,anditwentontothehousewithSultanDarai。
  Whentheoldwomansawthemcomingthroughthecourtyardshejumpedandshoutedforjoy,andasthegazelledrewnearsheseizeditinherarms,andkissedit。Thegazelledidnotlikethis,andsaidtoher:’Oldwoman,leavemealone;theonetobecarriedismymaster,andtheonetobekissedismymaster。’
  Andsheanswered,’Forgiveme,myson。Ididnotknowthiswasourmaster,’andshethrewopenallthedoorssothatthemastermightseeeverythingthattheroomsandstorehousescontained。
  SultanDarailookedabouthim,andatlengthhesaid:
  ’Unfastenthosehorsesthataretiedup,andletloosethosepeoplethatarebound。Andletsomesweep,andsomespreadthebeds,andsomecook,andsomedrawwater,andsomecomeoutandreceivethemistress。’
  Andwhenthesultanaandherladiesandherslavesenteredthehouse,andsawtherichstuffsitwashungwith,andthebeautifulricethatwaspreparedforthemtoeat,theycried:
  ’Ah,yougazelle,wehaveseengreathouses,wehaveseenpeople,wehaveheardofthings。Butthishouse,andyou,suchasyouare,wehaveneverseenorheardof。’
  Afterafewdays,theladiessaidtheywishedtogohomeagain。
  Thegazellebeggedthemhardtostay,butfindingtheywouldnot,itbroughtmanygifts,andgavesometotheladiesandsometotheirslaves。Andtheyallthoughtthegazellegreaterathousandtimesthanitsmaster,SultanDarai。
  Thegazelleanditsmasterremainedinthehousemanyweeks,andonedayitsaidtotheoldwoman,’Icamewithmymastertothisplace,andIhavedonemanythingsformymaster,goodthings,andtillto—dayhehasneveraskedme:"Well,mygazelle,howdidyougetthishouse?Whoistheownerofit?Andthistown,weretherenopeopleinit?"AllgoodthingsIhavedoneforthemaster,andhehasnotonedaydonemeanygoodthing。Butpeoplesay,"Ifyouwanttodoanyonegood,don’tdohimgoodonly,dohimevilalso,andtherewillbepeacebetweenyou。"
  So,mother,Ihavedone:IwanttoseethefavoursIhavedonetomymaster,thathemaydomethelike。’
  ’Good,’repliedtheoldwoman,andtheywenttobed。
  Inthemorning,whenlightcame,thegazellewassickinitsstomachandfeverish,anditslegsached。Anditsaid’Mother!’
  Andsheanswered,’Here,myson?’
  Anditsaid,’Goandtellmymasterupstairsthegazelleisveryill。’
  ’Verygood,myson;andifheshouldaskmewhatisthematter,whatamItosay?’
  ’Tellhimallmybodyachesbadly;Ihavenosinglepartwithoutpain。’
  Theoldwomanwentupstairs,andshefoundthemistressandmastersittingonacouchofmarblespreadwithsoftcushions,andtheyaskedher,’Well,oldwoman,whatdoyouwant?’
  ’Totellthemasterthegazelleisill,’saidshe。
  ’Whatisthematter?’askedthewife。
  ’Allitsbodypains;thereisnopartwithoutpain。’
  ’Well,whatcanIdo?Makesomegruelofredmillet,andgivetoit。’
  Buthiswifestaredandsaid:’Oh,master,doyoutellhertomakethegazellegrueloutofredmillet,whichahorsewouldnoteat?Eh,master,thatisnotwell。’
  Butheanswered,’Oh,youaremad!Riceisonlykeptforpeople。’
  ’Eh,master,thisisnotlikeagazelle。Itistheappleofyoureye。Ifsandgotintothat,itwouldtroubleyou。’
  ’Mywife,yourtongueislong,’andhelefttheroom。
  Theoldwomansawshehadspokenvainly,andwentbackweepingtothegazelle。Andwhenthegazellesawheritsaid,’Mother,whatisit,andwhydoyoucry?Ifitbegood,givemetheanswer;
  andifitbebad,givemetheanswer。’
  Butstilltheoldwomanwouldnotspeak,andthegazelleprayedhertoletitknowthewordsofthemaster。Atlastshesaid:
  ’Iwentupstairsandfoundthemistressandthemastersittingonacouch,andheaskedmewhatIwanted,andItoldhimthatyou,hisslave,wereill。Andhiswifeaskedwhatwasthematter,andItoldherthattherewasnotapartofyourbodywithoutpain。
  Andthemastertoldmetotakesomeredmilletandmakeyougruel,butthemistresssaid,’Eh,master,thegazelleistheappleofyoureye;youhavenochild,thisgazelleislikeyourchild;sothisgazelleisnotonetobedoneevilto。Thisisagazelleinform,butnotagazelleinheart;heisinallthingsbetterthanagentleman,behewhohemay。’
  Andheansweredher,’Sillychatterer,yourwordsaremany。I
  knowitsprice;Iboughtitforaneighth。Whatlosswillitbetome?’
  Thegazellekeptsilenceforafewmoments。Thenitsaid,’Theelderssaid,"Onethatdoesgoodlikeamother,"andIhavedonehimgood,andIhavegotthisthattheelderssaid。Butgoupagaintothemaster,andtellhimthegazelleisveryill,andithasnotdrunkthegruelofredmillet。’