''Tis no Council where no Sage is--'tis no Sage that fears not Law; 'Tis no Law which Truth confirms not--'tis no Truth which Fear can awe.' An ambassador must speak unthreatened-- 'Though base be the Herald, nor hinder nor let, For the mouth of a king is he; The sword may be whet, and the battle set, But the word of his message is free.' Thereat the Rajah and Night-cloud resumed their composure; and the Parrot took his departure, escorted by the Minister, and presented with complimentary gifts of gold and jewels. On reaching the palace of Jewel-plume, the King demanded his tidings, and inquired of the country he had visited. 'War must be prepared, may it please you,' said the Parrot: 'the country is a country of Paradise.' 'Prepare for war, then!' said the King. 'We must not enter on it in the face of destiny,' interposed the Vulture-Minister, whose title was 'Far-sight.' 'Let the Astrologer then discover a favorable conjuncture for the expedition, and let my forces be reviewed meantime,' said the King. 'We must not march without great circumspection,' observed Far-sight. 'Minister!' exclaimed the King, 'you chafe me. Say, however, with what force we should set out.' 'It should be well selected, rather than unwieldy,' replied the Vulture-- 'Better few and chosen fighters than of shaven crowns a host, For in headlong flight confounded, with the base the brave are lost.' And its commanders must be judiciously appointed; for it is said-- 'Ever absent, harsh, unjustly portioning the captured prey-- These, and cold or laggard leaders make a host to melt away.' 'Ah!' interrupted the Rajah, 'what need of so much talk? We will go, and, if Váchaspati please, we will conquer.' Shortly afterwards the Spy returned to Camphor-island. 'King Silver-sides,' he cried, 'the Rajah, Jewel-plume, is on his way hither, and has reached the Ghauts. Let the fort be manned, for that Vulture is a great minister; and I have learned, too, that there is one among us who is in his pay.' 'King!' said the Goose, 'that must be the Crow.' 'But whence, then, did he show such willingness to punish the Parrot?' objected his Majesty. 'Besides, war was declared long after the Crow came to Court.' 'I misdoubt him,' said the Minister, 'because he is a stranger.' 'But strangers surely may be well-disposed,' replied the King. 'How say the books?-- 'Kind is kin, howe'er a stranger--kin unkind is stranger shown; Sores hurt, though the body breeds them--drugs relieve, though desert-grown.' Have you never heard of King Sudraka and the unknown Servant, who gave his son's life for the King? 'Never,' answered the Goose. THE STORY OF THE FAITHFUL RAJPOOT