In a certain country there was a Prince, [the son] of a poor King, it
is said. The Prince went to another country to learn letters. Having
gone there, and in no time learning his letters, he said to the
teacher, "I must go to my village." Afterwards the teacher gave
him permission.
After that, while the Prince was coming to the city, the Prince having
become hungry, remained sleeping near a tree. A man having come there
said, "What, Prince, art thou sleeping there for? It is not good to
sleep there; [be pleased] to get up," he said.
Then the Prince said, "I cannot even get up. I am hungry; because of
it, indeed, I have fallen down here."
Then the man says, "Well, then, what shall I do? In my hand also
there is not a thing to give for food. There is an Attikka tree
[37]; on that Attikka tree the fruit will be ripe. Let us go [for me]
to show it to thee."
Causing the Prince to arise, and having come near the Attikka tree,
that very man, having plucked Attikka and given it to the Prince, after
he ate said to the Prince, "Now then, go you along that path. Well,
I'm going;" and the man went away.
After that, as the Prince also was coming along the path he met
with a leopard [standing] across the path. The Prince cannot come
[on account of it]. Well then, while the Prince is there a man is
coming along in the direction in which the Prince is. Then, as the
man would drive this leopard to the Prince, he shouted, and said "Hu,"
and clapped his hands. Then the leopard bounded off and went away.
Afterwards that man having come near the Prince, asked, "Prince,
where art thou going?"
The Prince says, "Having gone in this manner to learn letters, I am
going to my city."
Then the man says, "Going to the city does not matter to you. Come,
to go with me."
The Prince says, "How shall I go in that way? My parents will seek
me. Because of it, having gone to the city, and asked at the hand of
my parents I will come," he said.
Then the man said, "I will be of the assistance that parents are
of. You come with me."
Afterwards the Prince went with the man. Having gone, they went to
a city. Staying at a resting-place at the city, and doing hired work
in the city, the two persons are getting their living.
When they were there no long time, one day the man said to the Prince,
"Child, I cannot work in this manner. You go and seeking [materials]
for food, come back."
Afterwards the Prince from the following day went [alone] for hired
work, and [after] finding [and doing] it, returned. In that way for
not many days he is getting a living.
One day, a King and soldiers came to that city from another country to
fight the King of that country, and surrounded the city. After that,
the King told the Ministers to go to the battle. The King did not go
to the battle. Afterwards the Ministers prepared to go to the battle,
taking weapons and implements.
Then this Prince said to that man, "Grandfather, I also must go to
the fight."
Then the man says, "Ane! Child, what battle [is there] for us! We poor
men, can we go to fight with a King? You remain silent, doing nothing."