it for anything else.  I do not covet luxurious enjoyments or the happiness that arises from them.  My conduct, again, may not agree with that of thy old servants.  If they happen to be of wicked conduct, they will produce disunion between thee and me.  Dependence upon another, even if that other happens to be possessed of splendour, is not desirable or praiseworthy.  I am of cleansed soul, I am highly blessed.  I am incapable of showing severity to even sinners.  I am of great foresight.  I have capacity for great exertion.  I do not look at small things.  I am possessed of great strength.  I am successful in acts.  I never act fruitlessly.  I am adorned with every object of enjoyment.  I am never satisfied with a little.  I have never served another.  I am, besides, unskilled in serving.  I live according to my pleasure in the woods.  All who live by the side of kings have to endure great pain in consequence of evil speeches against themselves.  Those, however, that reside in the woods pass their days, fearlessly and without anxiety, in the observance of vows.  The fear that arises in the heart of a person who is summoned by the king is unknown to persons passing their days contentedly in the woods, supporting life upon fruits and roots.  Simple food and drink obtained without effort, and luxurious food procured with fear, widely differ from each other.  Reflecting upon these two, I am of opinion that there is happiness where there is no anxiety.  A few only amongst those that serve kings are justly punished for their offences.  A large number of them, however, suffer death under false accusations.  If, notwithstanding all this, thou appointest me, O king of beasts, as thy minister, I wish to make a compact with thee in respect of the behaviour thou shouldst always adopt towards me.  Those words that I shall speak for thy good should be listened to and regarded by thee.  The provision which thou wilt make for me shall not be interfered with by thee.  I shall never consult with thy other ministers.  If I do, desirous of superiority as they are they will then impute diverse kinds of faults to me.  Meeting with thee alone and in secret I shall say what is for thy good.  In all matters connected with thy kinsmen, thou shalt not ask me what is for thy good or what is otherwise.  Having consulted with me thou shalt not punish thy other ministers afterwards, yielding to rage thou shalt not punish my followers and dependants.’  Thus addressed by the jackal, the king of beasts answered him, saying, ‘Let it be so,’ and showed him every honour.  The jackal then accepted the ministership of the tiger.  Beholding the jackal treated with respect and honoured in all his acts, the old servants of the king, conspiring together, began ceaselessly to display their hatred towards him.  Those wicked persons at first strove to gratify and win him over with friendly behaviour and make him tolerate the diverse abuses that existed in the taste.  Despoilers of other people’s property, they