Early in the morning an elephant keeper came there. Him he seized with his trunk, dashed to the ground, and slew. So, likewise, he treated a second and a third, slaying every one who came near him. So they told the king that ‘Girly-face’ had gone mad, and killed every one he caught sight of. The King sent the Bodisat, saying, “Do you go, Paṇḍit, and find out what’s the reason of his having become a Rogue!”[309] The Bodisat went there, and finding he had no bodily ailment, thought over what the reason could be; and came to the conclusion that he must have become a Rogue after overhearing some conversation or other, and thinking it was meant as a lesson for _him_. So he asked the elephant keepers, “Has there been any talking going on at night time, near the stable?” “O yes, sir! Some thieves used to come and talk together,” was the reply. The Bodisat went away, and told the king, “There is nothing bodily the matter with the elephant, your Majesty; it is simply from hearing robbers talk that he has become a Rogue.” “Well; what ought we to do now?” “Let holy devotees, venerable by the saintliness of their lives,[310] be seated in the elephant stable and talk of righteousness.” “Then do so, my friend,” said the king. And the Bodisat got holy men to sit near the elephant’s stall, telling them to talk of holy things. So, seated not far from the elephant, they began: “No one should be struck, no one killed. The man of upright conduct ought to be patient, loving, and merciful.” On hearing this, he thought, “It is me these men are teaching; from this time forth I am to be good!” And so he became tame and quiet. The king asked the Bodisat, “How is it, my friend? Is he quieted?” “Yes, my Lord! The elephant, bad as he was, has, because of the wise men, been re-established in his former character.” And so saying, he uttered the stanza: By listening first to robbers’ talk, ’Girly-face’ went about to kill. By listening to men with hearts well trained, The stately elephant stood firm once more In all the goodness he had lost. Then the king gave great honour to the Bodisat for understanding the motives even of one born as an animal. And he lived to a good old age, and, with the Bodisat, passed away according to his deeds. * * * * * The Teacher having finished this discourse, in illustration of what he had said (“Formerly also, O monk, you used to follow any one you met. When you heard what thieves said, you followed thieves; when you heard what the righteous said, you followed them”), he made the connexion, and summed up the Jātaka by saying, “He who at that time was ‘Girly-face’ was the traitor-monk, the king was Ānanda, and the minister was I myself.” END OF THE STORY ABOUT ‘GIRLY-FACE.’[311] No. 27. ABHIṆHA JĀTAKA. The Elephant and the Dog. _“No longer can he take a morsel even,” etc._--This the Master told when at Jetavana about an old monk and a lay convert.