'But how very hard!' said the Bull, 'that he, being a lion, should attack me, an innocent eater of grass!' 'It is very hard!' said the Jackal. 'Who can have set him against me?' asked the Bull. 'Being so, it cannot be bettered,' replied the Jackal, 'whoever did it-- 'As a bracelet of crystal, once broke, is not mended; So the favor of princes, once altered, is ended.' 'Yes,' said the Bull, 'and a king incensed is terrible-- 'Wrath of kings, and rage of lightning--both be very full of dread; But one falls on one man only--one strikes many victims dead,' Still, I can but die--and I will die fighting! When death is certain, and no hope left but in battle, that is the time for war,' 'It is so,' said the Jackal. 'Having weighed all this, Lusty-life inquired of the Jackal by what signs he might conclude the King's hostile intentions. 'If he glowers upon thee,' answered Damanaka, 'and awaits thee with ears pricked, tail stiffened, paw upraised, and muzzle agape, then thou mayest get thee to thy weapons like a Bull of spirit, for 'All men scorn the soulless coward who his manhood doth forget:-- On a lifeless heap of ashes fearlessly the foot is set,' 'Then Damanaka the Jackal returned to the Lion, and said to him:-- 'If it please your Majesty, the traitor is now coming; let your Majesty be on your guard, with ears pricked and paw upraised.' 'The Bull meanwhile approached, and observing the hostile attitude of King Tawny-hide, he also lowered his horns, and prepared for the combat. A terrible battle ensued, and at the last King Tawny-hide slew Lusty-life the Bull. Now when the Bull was dead, the Lion was very sorrowful, and as he sat on his throne lamenting, he said-- 'I repent me of this deed!-- 'As when an Elephant's life-blood is spilt, Another hath the spoils--mine is the guilt.' 'Sire,' replied the Jackal, 'a King over-merciful is like a Brahman that eats all things equally. May all your Majesty's enemies perish as did this Bull.' "Thus endeth," said the Sage Vishnu-Sarman, "the 'Parting of Friends.'" "We are gratified exceedingly thereby," replied the Sons of the King. "Let me then close it thus," said their Preceptor-- 'So be friendship never parted, But among the evil-hearted; Time's sure step drag, soon or later, To his judgment, such a Traitor; Lady Lukshmi, of her grace, Grant good fortune to this place; And you, Royal boys! and boys of times to be In this fair fable-garden wander free.' [12] The white umbrella borne above the heads of Indian rajahs. [13] The deity of prudence. [14] Regal authority derives its rights from three sources: Power, Prescription or continuance, and Wisdom. [15] The lotus resembles the water-lily, but is more varied in form and color. WAR When the next day of instruction was come, the King's sons spake to the Sage, Vishnu-Sarman.