artful, but be is not aware of our wiles and cleverness in plotting. I'll talk him over by telling him that I'll be his wife, and when I get him into my power I'll eat him." Then the cat went to the root of a tree on which the cock was sitting, and in coaxing terms spake this gâtha:—
"O lovely bird, with feathers bright of hue!
Thy crest is red and high, thou fowl of heaven!
From those tree-tops come down, my love, I pray,
I'll be thy wife, thou shalt have nought to pay."
After listening to her the cock thought, "This cat has eaten all my kith and kin, and now by cajoling intends to make a meal of me, but I'll send her packing." Then he replies in the following gâtha:—
"Four feet hast thou, my charmer sweet,
Two feet have I, thou seest, my dear!
We birds pair not with quadrupeds,
Go seek another mate elsewhere."
Then thought the cat, "This fellow is very sly, but I'll get over him somehow and eat him." Then she gave utterance to the following gâtha:—
"Oh! thy chaste wife full true I'll be,
You'll find me kind in word and deed.
Me wed by holy Vedas' rites,
Thy will and every wish I'll do."
Then thought the cock, "I must rebuke this cat and cause her to go elsewhere." So he uttered the following gâtha:—
"O eater of birds and drinker of blood,
Foul thief art thou, killer of cocks;
Thou seek'st not me, sly one, to wed
By holy scripture's sacred rites."
On hearing this the cat made off, and did not again dare to look the cock in the face.
A gâtha of the Buddha says:—
"Many wiles have women clever, good men they will deceive
With soft and oily words, so cat would cheat the cock.
When danger does arise put all your wits to work,
Or else you'll come to grief and after dear it rue.
The wise will be aware, when ought that's harmful's near,
As cock did 'scape the cat, they will from foes get free."
