In a certain country there was a blind man. The man had married a
fine handsome woman. While the two persons were staying a little
time begging, and seeking and getting a living, having said that
country was not good and having thought of going to another country,
one day the blind man said to his wife, "While we are staying in
this country we have much inconvenience. Because of it let us go to
another country." Thereupon the woman, too, said of it, "It is good."
After that the two persons having set off, journeyed through the
middle of a forest wilderness. At that time a Hettiya, also, of that
city having quarrelled with his father, he also, as he was going to
another country travelled on the path in the midst of the forest on
which this blind man and his wife are going. The Hettiya encountered
that blind man and his wife on the road. Thereupon, while this Hettiya
was talking with the two persons he asked, "Where are you two going
in the jungle in this forest wilderness?"
Then this blind man and his wife said, "We are going to another
country for the sake of a livelihood."
The Hettiya said, "It is good, if so. I also having quarrelled with
our father am going to another country. If so, let us all three go
[together]."
Thereupon all three having said, "It is good," while they were talking
and journeying, because the blind person's wife is beautiful to the
Hettiya his mind became attached to her, like marrying her. Because
the Hettiya was a young man to the blind person's wife, also, her
mind became attached to him.
When these two persons, thinking in this manner, were going a little
far, the Hettiya spoke to that woman, unknown to the blind person,
[316] "Let us two go [off together]." Thereupon the woman gave her
word, "It is good."
To drop the blind person and go, the scheme which the woman told
the blind person [was this]: "Ane! Husband, there is a kind of
fruit-tree fruits in this forest wilderness which it gratifies me to
eat. Therefore you must give permission to me to eat them and come
back." Having said [this] she made obeisance.
At that time the blind man, thinking it is true, said, "It is good. I
will remain beneath this tree; you go, and having eaten the fruit come
quickly." Thereupon the woman, saying, "It is good," while the blind
person was continuing to stay there went with the Hettiya somewhere
or other to a country.
This blind man remained night and day in hunger beneath the tree,
for six days. After that, yet [another] Hettiya, while going to the
village of the woman who had married that Hettiya, tying up a packet
of cooked rice also, to eat for the road, travelled with his wife by
the middle of that forest wilderness.
Thereupon the Hettiya met with that blind-eyed man. So the Hettiya
spoke to his wife, "There is a man near that tree. Let us go near,
and [after] looking let us go." The woman said, "It is good."
Then the two persons having gone near that blind person, asked,
"Who are you?"
Then the blind person made many lamentations to that Hettiya:
"Ane! Friend, I am a blind person. I having spoken with my wife about
going to another country, while we were going in the middle of this
forest wilderness, my wife got hid and went off with yet [another]
man. I am now staying six days without any food. You arrived through
my good luck. Ane! Friend, having gone, calling me, to the country
to which you are going, send me to an asylum. [317] If not, in this
forest wilderness there is not any all-refuge." [318]
Thereupon the Hettiya, having become much grieved, unfastened the
cooked rice that the party brought to eat for the road, and having
given the blind person to eat, as they were going, inviting the
blind person, to the city to which the party are going, he told
that Hettiya's (his own) wife to come holding [one end of] the blind
person's walking-stick (to guide him).
Then the Hetti woman said, "Ane! O Lord, should I go holding this
blind person's leading stick they will say I am the blind man's
wife. I have heard that kind of story before this. But if you, Sir,
say so, I will come holding it."