THE MONKEY AND THE BEGGAR, OR THE MONKEY APPUSIÑÑO AND
THE BEGGAR BABASIÑÑO
A certain Beggar having gone from village to village was earning a
subsistence by making a Monkey [215] dance and dance. By it those
two collected a very little money. Having changed the small coins
they got a pound in gold, and a rupee. During that time the Monkey
was well accustomed to [visit] the royal house.
For marrying and giving the Princess of the King of the country,
the King began to seek Princes. At that time royal Princes not being
anywhere in those countries, he stayed without doing anything (nikan).
At that time the Monkey called Appusiñño asked Babasiñño the Beggar,
"Am I to arrange and give you an opportunity [for a marriage]?"
Then Babasiñño said, "What is this you are saying, Appusiñño? For
you and for us what [wedding] feast!"
Then Appusiñño said, "It doesn't matter to you. I will arrange and
give it from somewhere or other."
Having said thus, Appusiñño went to the royal house. At that time
the King having seen Appusiñño, asked, "What have you come for?"
Then Appusiñño said, "The Mudaliyar [216] Babasiñño told me to go
and ask for the bushel for measuring golden pounds. On that account
I came."
Then the King thinking, "Who is it, Bola, who is a rich man to that
degree?" told him to ask a servant for it, and go. So Appusiñño,
asking a servant for it, went back [with it].
[Afterwards] taking the golden pound which, having changed [their small
coins for it], they were hiding, and having glued it in the bushel
so as not to be noticed, he handed over the bushel, with the golden
pound also, at the royal house. Thereupon the King, having looked
at the bushel, said, "Look here. A golden pound has been overlooked
[217] in this. Appusiñño, take it away."
Thereupon Appusiñño said, "Golden pounds like that are swept
up into the various corners of the house of our Lord Mudaliyar
Babasiñño. Because of it, what of that one!"