All the Insects assembled and went to our Lord to seek employment. On their
arrival they said to our Lord, "Thou hast given every one his work; now give us
also a work to do, that we may have something to eat."
Our Lord attended to the request of the Insects, and said to them, "Who will give
notice that to-morrow all the Insects are to come?"
The Merchant-insect arose and said to our Lord, "The Cricket can give notice
well."
So our Lord called the Cricket and said to him when he was come, "Go and give
notice this evening, when the sun has set, that to-morrow morning all the Insects
are to come to me, for I wish to see them."
The Cricket, obeying our Lord's command, went back to his house, waited until
evening, until the sun set, and as soon as he had seen the setting of the sun, he
prepared and arose to give notice. So when the Cricket had given notice until
midnight, our Lord sent a man to him saying: "Go and tell the Cricket, that there
has been much notice, and that it is now enough; else he will have the
headache." But the Cricket would not hear, he said: "If I am out they will see
me." So he went into his hole, stretched only his head out, and began to give
notice. The Cricket went on giving notice until the day dawned; but when it was
day he became silent and stopped giving notice. Then all the Insects arose and
went to the prayer-place of our Lord, the Merchant alone being left behind. To
all the Insects who came first, our Lord gave their employment, which they all
took and went home.
Afterward also the Merchant-insect went to our Lord, and our Lord said to him:
"To all thy people who came before, I have given their work, and they are gone;
now what kept thee back that thou camest to me last?"
The Merchant-insect replied to our Lord, "My bags are many and on the day
when I took my bags and bound them up in my large travelling sacks to load
them upon my asses, then my people left me behind and came to thee first."
Our Lord said to him: "All other employments are assigned; the people who
came first took them and went away; but stop, I will also give one to thee. Go,
and having arrived at the entrance of the black ants, where are a great many ant-
heads, when thou seest these many heads of the black ants, take them, and fill
thy bags with them; then load thy bags upon thy ass, carry them to market,