‘Well, but we must do something,’ said Karataka.

‘Yes!  How shall we break the friendship of the King with the Bull?’ asked the other.

‘It is very strong,’ observed Karataka.

‘But we can do it,’ replied the other.

    ’What force would fail to win, fraud can attain:—­
    The Crow despatched the Serpent by a chain.’

‘How did that occur?’ asked Karataka.

Damanaka related:—­

THE STORY OF THE BLACK SNAKE AND THE GOLDEN CHAIN

“A pair of Crows had their abode in a certain tree, the hollow of which was occupied by a black snake, who had often devoured their young.  The Hen-bird, finding herself breeding again, thus addressed her mate:  ’Husband, we must leave this tree; we shall never rear young ones while this black snake lives here!  You know the saw—­

    ’From false friends that breed thee strife,
    From a house with serpents rife,
    Saucy slaves and brawling wife—­
    Get thee out, to save thy life.’

‘My dear,’ replied the Crow, ’you need not fear; I have put up with him till I am tired.  Now I will put an end to him.’

‘How can you fight with a great black snake like that?’ said the Hen-bird.

‘Doubt nothing,’ answered the other—­

    ’He that hath sense hath strength; the fool is weak:—­
    The Lion proud died by the Hare so meek,’

‘How came that about?’ asked the Hen-Crow.

‘Thus,’ replied her mate:—­

THE STORY OF THE LION AND THE OLD HARE

“On the Mandara mountain there lived a Lion named Fierce-of-heart, and he was perpetually making massacre of all the wild animals.  The thing grew so bad that the beasts held a public meeting, and drew up a respectful remonstrance to the Lion in these words:—­

“Wherefore should your Majesty thus make carnage of us all?  If it may please you, we ourselves will daily furnish a beast for your Majesty’s meal.”  The Lion responded, “If that arrangement is more agreeable to you, be it so.”; and from that time a beast was allotted to him daily, and daily devoured.  One day it came to the turn of an old hare to supply the royal table, who reflected to himself as he walked along, “I can but die, and I will go to my death leisurely.”

“Now Fierce-of-heart, the lion, was pinched with hunger, and seeing the Hare so approaching he roared out, “How darest thou thus delay in coming?”

‘Sire,’ replied the Hare, ’I am not to blame.  I was detained on the road by another lion, who exacted an oath from me to return when I should have informed your Majesty.’

‘Go,’ exclaimed King Fierce-of-heart in a rage; ’show me, instantly, where this insolent villain of a lion lives.’

“The Hare led the way accordingly till he came to a deep well, whereat he stopped, and said, ‘Let my lord the King come hither and behold him.’  The Lion approached, and beheld his own reflection in the water of the well, upon which, in his passion, he directly flung himself, and so perished.”