CONCERNING THE PRINCE WITH HIS LIFE IN HIS SWORD

In a certain country there was a King. There were seven Princes for

the King. Having instructed the whole seven, the King tried to fit

them [for their position]. The party without wanting to do anything

whatever passed the days in amusement.

The King thought when he looked [at their idleness], "From this party

of seven persons there is not an advantage," and having punished

(dada gahala) the whole seven, "Go to any kingdom you can; don't stay

in this country," he said.

The seven persons speaking [together] said, "Our father the King told

us to go!" and the whole of them went.

Out of them, the eldest Prince, took six flower seeds. The whole seven

having arrived at a kingdom, to the youngest Prince the eldest Prince

said, "Getting any livelihood you can, remain in this country. At the

place where you stay plant this flower seed for yourself. It having

sprouted, when the flower tree has grown, on the tree a flower will

blossom. At the time when the flower has faded come seeking me." Having

told him thus he made the Prince stay in that country.

In that very way he made the other five stay in five countries. Having

given to those persons five flower seeds, he told them [about them]

in the very way he told that Prince.

To the last country the eldest Prince went. When he was living in

that country doing cultivation work, one day he went to walk in the

midst of the forest. In the midst of the forest there is a house. The

Prince saw it. Having gone to that rock house (cave), when he looked

a Princess was [there].

Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon, Volume 3 (of 3) · 第 273 / 390 题