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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
FOCTOBER, 1884.
had read their lessons side by side in the same ance of their song. They thought that as their school under the same teachers. Fortune so sons were grown-up men they need not fear ordained that the prince's mind should take for their safety. such a bent, while the mind of the minister's The two friends chased the deer and found Bon turned in a crooked way.
themselves in the midst of a thick forest in the Nor was Darbuddhi insensible to the disgust evening. Except a slight breakfast in the early and dislike which every one manifested towards morning they had tasted no other food. Hunger him. He was well aware of all that was going was pinching them severely. The hot chase on around. Still he would not change. "I have had awakened a severe thirst, to quench which no friend in this world excepting yourself, my they were not able to find a drop of water. In dear Sabuddhi," exclaimed Durbuddhi one utter hopelessness of life they resigned themday to his royal friend while they were riding selves to the course of their steeds. The beasts together. "Fear nothing. I shall ever stand seemed very well to understand the wants of by you as your true friend," replied Subud- their royal riders. They went on trotting, and dhi: "My very father hates me. Who else at last, about midnight, stopped on the banks would like me then? On the contrary, every of a large tank. one likes you. You may soon get yourself The riders, who were almost dead with thirst, married to some beautiful lady, while I must opened their closed eyes when the horses remain a bachelor; for no girl would marry me. stopped. All on a sudden and to their great You may soon rise to the place of a king; but I joy they found themselves on the banks of a I cannot become your minister, as the people do large tank. Their joy knew no bounds. not like me. What can I do P" so said the "Surely God takes care of His children. minister's son, and hong down his head, as if Had it not been for His kind care how could conscious for a time of the utter hatred with we have come to this tank, when we had which the people regarded him. Subuddhi resigned ourselves to the course of our horses P" replied, " Heed # not, I will make you my
thought Subuddhi to himself, and got down minister, give you everything you want, and from his horse. The minister's son, who had see you well provided for." "If so, will you become more exhausted by that time than his give me your wife one day, at least, if you companion, also alighted. Subuddhi, true to happen to get married before me, and if I the nobility of his mind, took both the steeds remain bachelor after you," were the words
first to water, and after satisfying their thirst which the wretched Durbuddhi shamelessly
and loosening them to graze by the side of a uttered to the face of his only friend. These grasy meadow he went into the water to quench words were enough in themselves to enrage his thirst. The minister's son also followed. the prince's mind. But he was of so good After a short prayer Subuddhi took some hand# nature that instead of becoming angry, he fuls of water, and returned to the bank. Dur. smiled at the stupidity of his companion, and
buddhi also returned. They chose a clean spot, agreed that he would thus give him his wife and sat down to rest during the remaining part one day in case he got married first. Thus of the night. The prince when taking his seat took place an agreement between Subuddhi pronounced his usual motto, "Charity alone and Durbuddhi when they were quite young. conquers." And the minister's son also repeated
Several years passed after this agreement, his-"Absence of Charity alone conquers." when one day the prince went to hunt in a These words fell like venom into the ears neighbouring forest. His inseparable com- of the prince at that time. He could not control panion, the minister's son, and several hunters his anger then, notwithstanding his mild disposifollowed him to the wood. The prince and the tion. The hardships of the day, their fortuminister's son both gave chase to a deer. They nato arrival on a tank in the dead of night rode so much in advance of the hunters that to have their thirst quenched, were fresh in they lost themselves in a thick jungle, where Subuddhi's mind, and the prayers that he was the latter could neither see nor follow them. offering to God were not yet over. That the The hunters returned after dark, and informed minister's son should never think of these, the king and the minister about the disappear and go on with his own stupid motto even at
