‘I can’t see how you can venture to speak,’ objected the other, ’without an opportunity—­

    ’If Vrihaspati, the Grave,
      Spoke a sentence out of season,
    Even Vrihaspati would have
      Strong rebuke for such unreason.’

‘Pray don’t imagine I shall speak unseasonably,’ interrupted Damanaka; ‘if that is all you fear, I will start at once.’

‘Go, then,’ said Karataka; ‘and may you be as lucky as you hope.’

“Thereupon Damanaka set out for the lair of King Tawny-hide; putting on, as he approached it, the look of one greatly disconcerted.  The Rajah observed him coming, and gave permission that he should draw near; of which Damanaka availing himself, made reverential prostration of the eight members and sat down upon his haunches.

‘You have come at last, then, Sir Jackal!’ growled his Majesty.

‘Great Monarch!’ humbly replied Damanaka, ’my service is not worthy of laying at your imperial feet, but a servant should attend when he can perform a service, and therefore I am come—­

    ‘When Kings’ ears itch, they use a straw to scratch ’em;
    When Kings’ foes plot, they get wise men to match ’em.’

‘H’m!’ growled the Lion.

‘Your Majesty suspects my intellect, I fear,’ continued the Jackal,’after so long an absence from your Majesty’s feet; but, if I may say so, it is still sound.’

‘H’m!’ growled the Lion again.

’A king, may it please your Majesty, should know how to estimate his servants, whatever their position—­

    ’Pearls are dull in leaden settings, but the setter is to blame;
    Glass will glitter like the ruby, dulled with dust—­are they the same?

    ’And a fool may tread on jewels, setting in his crown mere glass;
    Yet, at selling, gems are gems, and fardels but for fardels pass.’

’Servants, gracious liege! are good or bad as they are entertained.  Is it not written?—­

    ’Horse and weapon, lute and volume, man and woman, gift of speech,
    Have their uselessness or uses in the One who owneth each.’

’And if I have been traduced to your Majesty as a dull fellow, that hath not made me so—­

    ’Not disparagement nor slander kills the spirit of the brave;
    Fling a torch down, upward ever burns the brilliant flame it gave.’

’Accept then, Sire, from the humblest of your slaves his very humble counsel—­for

    ’Wisdom from the mouth of children be it overpast of none;
    What man scorns to walk by lamplight in the absence of the sun?’

‘Good Damanaka,’ said King Tawny-hide, somewhat appeased, ’how is it that thou, so wise a son of our first minister, hast been absent all this while from our Court?  But now speak thy mind fearlessly:  what wouldst thou?’

‘Will your Majesty deign to answer one question?’ said Damanaka.  ‘Wherefore came He back from the river without drinking?’