Sunday, April 26, 2020

Reading Notes: Rouse's "Giant Crab", Part B


  • Lacknose (aka Paduma Jataka)
    • There was once a Gardener who had no nose, and he had a very nice garden full of every kind of beautiful flowers
      • Three little boys thought they would like a bunch of flowers, but didn't know how to get it
        • The first went in and greeted the Gardener, and tried to flatter him with a verse of poetry
          • "Cut, and cut, and cut again, hair and whiskers grow amain:
          • And your nose will grow like these: Give me a little posy, please!"
            • The Gardener knew well that his nose would not grow again and thought it was rude of the little boy to mention it, so he got angry and told the boy to go away
        • The second boy thought he would try his luck, and also wrote a verse of poetry and recited it after greeting the Gardener:
          • "In the autumn seeds are sown, and ere long they're fully grown;
          • May your nose sprout up like these! Give me a little posy, please!"
            • The boy thought the old fellow would like that, because he is a Gardener, but the Gardener saw through the trick, was angrier, and sent him away
        • The third little boy was honest, and decided to see what truth could do. He greets the Gardener, who is already grumpy, and recites,
          • "Babbling fools! To think that they, Can get a posy in this way!
          • Say they yes, or say they no, Noses cut no more will grow.
          • See, I ask you honestly: Give a posy, sir, to me!"
            • The Gardener was so pleased to find a straightforward and honest little boy, and he took his scissors and cut the most beautiful bunch of flowers, which he gave to the boy with a smile.
              • The boy thanked him and went away delighted
  • Bibliography: The Giant Crab, and Other Tales from Old India by W.H.D. Rouse (link)
Beautiful Bouquet of Flowers (Madhutvin, link)

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