It is related that in a pool whose pure water reflected every image
like a clear mirror, once resided two Geese and a Tortoise, and in
consequence of their being neighbours, the thread of their
circumstances had been drawn out into sincere friendship, and they
passed their lives contentedly.
In that water which was the source of their life and the support of
their existence, however, a complete failure began to manifest itself,
and a glaring alteration became evident. When the Geese perceived that
state of things they withdrew their hearts from the home to which they
were accustomed and determined on emigrating. Therefore with hearts
full of sorrow and eyes full of tears, they approached the Tortoise,
and introduced the subject of parting.
The Tortoise wept at the intelligence and piteously exclaimed, "What
words are these, and how can existence be supported without
sympathizing friends? And since that I have not power even to take
leave, how can I endure the load of separation?"
The Geese replied: "Our hearts, too, are wounded by the sharp points of
absence, but the distress of being without water is impossible to
endure, and therefore of necessity we are about to forsake our friend
and country."
The Tortoise rejoined: "O friends! ye know that the distress of the
want of water affects me more, and that without water I cannot support
myself. At this crisis the rights of ancient companionship demand that
ye should take me with you, and not leave me alone in the sorrowful
abode of separation."
The Geese answered: "O esteemed comrade! the pang of parting from thee
is sharper than that of exile, and wherever we go, though we should
pass our time in the utmost comfort, yet, deprived of seeing thee, the
eye of our rejoicing would be darkened; but for us to proceed on the
earth's surface and so to traverse a great and long distance is
impossible, and for thee, too, to fly through the expanse of air and
accompany us is impracticable; and such being the case, how can we
travel together?"
The Tortoise answered: "Your sagacity will be able to devise a remedy
for this matter, and what plan can develop while my spirit is broken by
the thought of parting?"
The Geese replied: "O friend! during this period of our friendship we
have observed in thee somewhat of hastiness and rashness; perhaps thou
wilt not act upon what we say, nor keep firm to thy promise after thou
hast made it."
The Tortoise rejoined; "How can it be that ye should speak with a view
to my advantage, and I fail to perform a compact which is for my own
good?"
Said the Geese: "The condition is that when we take thee up and fly
through the air thou wilt not utter a single syllable, for any one who
may happen to see us will be sure to throw in a word, and say something
in reference to us directly or indirectly. Now, how many soever
allusions thou mayest hear, or whatever manoeuvres thou mayest observe,
thou must close the path of reply, and not loose thy tongue."
The Tortoise answered: "I am obedient to your commands, and I will
positively place the seal of silence on my lips, so that I shall not be
even disposed to answer any creature."
The Geese then brought a stick, and the Tortoise laid hold of the
middle of it firmly with his teeth, and they, lifting the two ends of
the stick, bore him up. When they got to a height in the air, they
happened to pass over a village, and the inhabitants thereof having
discovered them, were astonished at their proceedings, and came out to
look at the sight, and raised a shout from left and right, "Look! how
two geese are carrying a tortoise!"
And as in those days the like of it had never been witnessed by that
people, their cries and exclamations increased every moment. The
Tortoise was silent for a time, but at length the cauldron of his
self-esteem began to boil, and his patience being exhausted, he
exclaimed: "You who are shouting to others to look at what is plain
enough to every one, hold your peace!" No sooner had he opened his
lips, however, than he fell from on high, and the Geese exclaimed, "It
is the part of friends to give advice and of the well-disposed to
listen to it."
And the moral of this story is, that whoever listens not to the
admonition of friends, with the hearing of acceptance, will have
hastened his own destruction.