Monday, April 6, 2020

Reading Notes: More of Babbitt's Jataka Tales Part B


  • The Red-Bud Tree
    • Once upon a time...4 young princes heard a story about a certain wonderful tree, called a Red-Bud Tree, and each prince wished to be the first to see one
      • The eldest prince asked the driver of the king's chariot to take him deep into the woods where the tree grew.
        • It was early spring and the tree had no leaves nor buds - it was black and bare
      • The next son went with the driver later in the spring
        • It was actually covered in red buds
      • The third went into the woods a little later
        • The tree was covered with green leaves
      • The youngest went some time after this
        • It was covered with little bean-pods
    • They all compared notes, and found their experiences did not match
      • The king heard them and waited for them to stop talking. He then said, my sons, each of you have seen the same tree, but at different times of the year
  • The Brave Little Bowman
    • Once upon a time...there was a little man with a crooked back who was called the wise little bowman because he used his bow and arrow very well
      • He wanted to join the army, but was sure the king would ask what a little man like him was good for. So he must find some great big man who will take him as a page, and ask the king to take both of them
        • So the little bowman went into the city and saw a big, strong man digging a ditch. The big man was convinced he could make money no other way, so the little man recruited him to ask the king to join the army. The king would take him because he's big and strong. The little man will do the work he is given to do, and they will divide a pay so both can make a good living.
          • Together they set out to see the king. When they arrive they are sent before the king. The king looks at the big man and asks, what brings you here? The big man responds, I want to be in your army. The king asks who the little man with him is, and the big man says it's his page. The king asks what pay he wants, and the big man says a thousand pieces a month for himself and his page.
            • The king takes them on - so the big man and the little bowman join the kings army!
    • They solved many problems
      • There was a tiger in the forest who carried off many people; the king sent for the big man to kill him, and the little bowman did
      • There was a buffalo running up and down a certain road, so the king called the big man to kill the buffalo; so the little man did
        • The king and all the people praised the big man and gave him money and gifts, so the big man said to the little man one day, "I can get on without you. Do you think there's no bowman but yourself?" He said other harsh and unkind things as well
    • But a few days later the king received a challenge from a far away country
      • He at once sent his army, with the big man armed and mounted on a war-elephant at the front
        • But the little man knew that the big man couldn't shoot for shit, so he took his bow and seated himself behind the big man
          • They rolled out - but at the first beat of the drums the big man shook with fear. The little bowman told him to hold on tight, because if he fell off he would be killed, but not to be afraid because the little bowman was there
            • But the big man was so afraid that he slipped off the war-elephant's back and ran back into the city, back home
              • So the little bowman leads the charge, driving the army to break into the camp of the enemy king, and driving them back to their own country.
                • Then the little bowman led the army back to the city, and everyone called him "the brave little bowman", the king made him the chief of the army, and showered him with rich gifts
  • Bibliography: More Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt (link)
War Elephant (Phila Museum, link)

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