"And therewith he called a meeting of fowls, and went with them into the presence of Gurud, the Lord of the birds. When the Master of the Mighty Wing had listened to their complaint, he conveyed it to the knowledge of the God Narayen, who keeps, and kills, and makes alive the world. The almighty mandate given, Gurud bound it upon his forehead, and bore it to the Ocean, which, so soon as it heard the will of Narayen, at once gave back the eggs. 'How, indeed,' concluded Damanaka, 'should I judge of the Bull's power, not knowing who supports him?' 'By what signs, then,' asked the King, 'may I conclude him a traitor?' 'If he comes into the presence with his horns lowered for goring, as one that expects the fight. That,' replied the Jackal, 'will convince your Majesty,' 'Thereupon Damanaka the Jackal withdrew, and betook himself towards the Bull, upon perceiving whom he approached slowly, with all the air of one greatly distressed. 'Good master Jackal,' said Lusty-life, 'what goes amiss with thee?' 'All goes amiss with such as serve wicked masters,' replied the Jackal. 'But what ails thee?' asked the Bull. 'Alas!' answered the Jackal, 'what can I say in such a strait!-- 'Even as one who grasps a serpent, drowning in the bitter sea, Death to hold and death to loosen--such is life's perplexity.' 'And therewithal the Jackal heaved a deep sigh, and squatted down. 'But, good friend,' said the Bull, 'at least tell me what is in thy mind.' 'Bull,' began Damanaka, 'it is a King's secret, and should not be spoken; but thou didst come here upon my safeguard, and as I hope for the life to come, I will tell thee of what touches thee so nearly. Listen!--the heart of the King is turned against thee! he hath sworn secretly that he will kill thee and feast upon thy flesh.' 'Then Lusty-life the Bull was sorely troubled, and he fell a-musing thus-- "Woman's love rewards the worthless--kings of knaves exalters be; Wealth attends the selfish niggard, and the cloud rains on the sea." 'Can this be the Jackal's doing?' he reflected. Going with honest folk will not make one honest-- 'Many a knave wins fair opinions standing in fair company, As the sooty soorma pleases, lighted by a brilliant eye.' Then he said aloud, 'wherein can I have angered the King? Do kings hate without cause? I can tell nothing, except that there is no happiness which abides long-- 'Where the azure lotus[15] blossoms, there the alligators hide; In the sandal-tree are serpents. Pain and pleasure live allied.' I thought his Majesty noble as the sandal-tree; but that, indeed, is not wholly noble-- 'Rich the sandal--yet no part is but a vile thing habits there; Snake and wasp haunt root and blossom; on the boughs sit ape and bear.' 'Bull,' said Damanaka, 'I knew the King of old for one whose tongue was honey and whose heart was poison.'