In a certain country, at a King's palace there is a delightful bed
for reclining on. There was a female Louse which dwelt among the
exceedingly white sheets spread on the bed. And that female Louse,
drinking blood on the body of the King, passed the time in happiness.
At that time, one day a certain Bug walking anywhere came to the
bed. At that time the White Louse said with a displeased countenance,
"Emba! O meritorious Bug, because of what camest thou to this
place? Before anyone gets to know about it go thou quickly from here."
At that time the Bug said, "Emba! O meritorious female, although
[addressed even] to a wicked person who came to the house, speech
like this is not proper. Whether of acrid taste, bitter taste, or
sour taste, the fault of [requiring] food being the cause, various
kinds of blood of several low men were sucked and drunk by me. By
me at any time a sweet blood was not drunk. On that account, sitting
down, if thou art willing, [the desire of] very sweet food being the
cause, by sucking for myself thus, betimes, the blood--any blood,
be it inferior--on the body of this King, to-day I shall dwell in
happiness. Therefore, to me who, not having obtained food, came to
the house, may you be pleased to give this very food. The drinking
this King's blood solitarily, by thee only, is not proper," he said.
Having heard that, the Louse said, "O meritorious Bug, I suck and drink
the blood of this very King who has gone to sleep. If thou swiftly
shouldst be drinking the blood with me, thou wilt drink much blood."
Having heard that, the Bug said, "O meritorious female, I will not
do in that way; while thou drinkest the blood I will not drink. In
the presence of this excellent King I will do it till full."
While both of them were talking in this way they approached the
King's bed. Thereupon the Bug having arrived at great greediness,
bit the King.
At that time the King having arisen from the bed and gone, said,
"There are bugs in the bed; wipe it down to clean it."
The servants having come there, and at the time when they looked
having seen the White Louse, killed it. The Bug crept into a corner
of the bed [and escaped].
Uva Province.