set foot in that retreat.
He had lived much time in that wild, according to his wish, and had never seen
the form of disappointment in the mirror of existence. He had a young one
whose countenance made the world seem bright to him, and his intention was
that when that young one came to years he would commit that solitude to his
charge, and pass the rest of his life at ease in the corner of retirement. The
blossom of his wish had not yet expanded on the stem of desire when the autumn
of death gave the fruit of the garden of his existence to the mind of destruction.
And when this Tiger was seized by the claw of the Lion, Death, several wild
beasts who for a long time entertained a desire for that wilderness made a
unanimous movement and set about appropriating it. The young Tiger saw that
he possessed not the strength to resist. He went voluntarily into exile, and
amongst the wild beasts a huge contest arose. A blood-spilling Lion overcame
all the others and brought the island into his own possession, and the young
Tiger, having for some time endured distress in the mountains and wastes,
conveyed himself to another haunt, and disclosed his affliction to the wild beasts
of that district, asking their aid to find a remedy.
They, having received intelligence of the victory of the Lion, and his
overpowering might, said: "O unfortunate! thy place is now in the possession of
a Lion such that from terror of him the wild birds will not fly over that
wilderness, and from fear of him the elephant will not approach. We have not
strength to fight with him and thou too art not able to enter with him the arena of
strife. Our opinion demands that thou shouldst betake thyself to his court, and
with perfect loyalty enter his service."
These words seemed reasonable to the young Tiger, and he looked upon his best
course to be this—that he should voluntarily enter the service of the Lion, and, to
the extent of his ability, offer the duties of attendance. Through the intervention
of one of the nobles he obtained the honour of waiting on the Lion, and, having
become the object of the imperial regard, was appointed to an office suited to his
spirit. Having tightly fastened the belt of obedience on the waist of affection the
royal favour was constantly augmented and he incessantly displayed increased
exertion in the affairs of the state.
Upon a certain time an important matter arose which called the Lion away to a
distant jungle; and at that time the heat of the oven of the sky was unmitigated,