Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/108

you. It is not possible that you, who must know the law of strangers, could think of slaying me. Without doubt you know what the book says about the householder:—

Bar not thy door to the stranger, be he friend or be he foe,
For the tree will shade the woodman while his axe doth lay it low.

"Also:—

Greeting fair, and room to rest in; fire, and water from the well—
Honor him for thine own honor—better is he than the best.

"Then there is the rebuke:—

Pity them that ask thy pity; who art thou to stint thy hoard,
When the beauteous moon shines equal on the lowly and the lord!

"To all of which the Vulture said: 'Your words have much weight, but cats are very fond of meat, and as there are young birds here I told you to go.'

"Then the Cat bowed his head to the