10 Brahman and the Goat

“A Brahman that lived in the forest of Gautama, your Majesty. He had purveyed a goat to make pooja,[^11] and was returning home with it on life shoulder when he was descried by three knaves. ‘If we could but obtain that goat,’ said they, ‘it would be a rare trick’; and they ran on, and seated themselves at the foot of three different trees upon the Brahman’s road. Presently he came up with the first of them, who addressed him thus: ‘Master! why do you carry that dog on your shoulder?’ ‘Dog!’ said the Brahman, ‘it is a goat for sacrifice!’ With that he went on a coss,[^12] and came to the second knave; who called out—‘What doest thou with that dog, Master?’ The Brahman laid his goat upon the ground, looked it all over, took it up again upon his back, and walked on with his mind in a whirl; for—

‘The good think evil slowly, and they pay
A price for faith—as witness “Crop-ear” may.’

‘Who was Crop-ear?’ asked the King of the Peacocks.