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    The Monkey and the Crocodile: and Other Fables from the Jataka Tales of India
    The Monkey and the Crocodile: and Other Fables from the Jataka Tales of India
    The Monkey and the Crocodile: and Other Fables from the Jataka Tales of India
    Ebook163 pages1 hour

    The Monkey and the Crocodile: and Other Fables from the Jataka Tales of India

    By Ellen C. Babbitt and Ellsworth Young

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    About this ebook

    Children will be enchanted by the quaint humor and timeless wisdom of these age-old fables drawn from Buddhist texts. Timid rabbits, noble deer, quarrelsome quails, greedy merchants, and other memorable animal and human characters populate the tales, all of which offer thought-provoking morals.
    "The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking" illustrates the folly of offering a reply when silence is the best answer; "The Ox Who Won the Forfeit" testifies to the effectiveness of kindness rather than brute force; and "The Golden Goose" and "The Penny-Wise Monkey" demonstrate how greed can ruin good fortune. These and dozens of other captivating stories are further enhanced by charming silhouette images.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDover Publications
    Release dateJun 29, 2015
    ISBN9780486806280
    The Monkey and the Crocodile: and Other Fables from the Jataka Tales of India

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      Book preview

      The Monkey and the Crocodile - Ellen C. Babbitt

      THE

      MONKEY

      AND THE

      CROCODILE

      and Other Fables from the Jataka Tales of India

      Dover Publications, Inc.

      Mineola, New York

      Copyright

      Copyright © 2015 by Dover Publications, Inc.

      All rights reserved.

      Bibliographical Note

      The Monkey and the Crocodile and Other Fables from the Jataka Tales of India, first published by Dover Publications, Inc., in 2015, is a republication of Jataka Tales, originally published by The Century Co., New York, in 1918 and More Jataka Tales, originally published by The Century Co., New York, in 1922. The original Publishers Note from Jataka Tales is included in the Dover edition.

      International Standard Book Number

      eISBN-13: 978-0-486-80628-0

      Manufactured in the United States by Courier Corporation

      79614001 2015

      www.doverpublications.com

      CONTENTS

      JATAKA TALES

      MORE JATAKA TALES

      JATAKA TALES

      Dedicated

      to

      DOT

      FOREWORD

      Long ago I was captivated by the charm of the Jataka Tales and realized the excellent use that might be made of them in the teaching of children. The obvious lessons are many of them suitable for little people, and beneath the obvious there are depths and depths of meaning which they may learn to fathom later on. The Oriental setting lands an additional fascination. I am glad that Miss Babbitt has undertaken to put together this collection, and commend it freely to teachers and parents.

      FELIX ALDER.

      CONTENTS

      PUBLISHER’S NOTE

      The Jatakas, or Birth-stories, form one of the sacred books of the Buddhists and relate to the adventures of the Buddha in his former existences, the best character in any story being identified with the Master.

      These legends were continually introduced into the religious discourses of the Buddhist teachers to illustrate the doctrines of their faith or to magnify the glory and sanctity of the Buddha, somewhat as medieval preachers in Europe used to enliven their sermons by introducing fables and popular tales to rouse the flagging interest of their hearers.

      Sculptured scenes from the Jatakas, found upon the carved railings around the relic shrines of Sanchi and Amaravati and of Bharhut, indicate that the Birth-stories were widely known in the third century B.C., and were then considered as part of the sacred history of the religion. At first the tales were probably handed down orally, and it is uncertain when they were put together in systematic form.

      ORIGIN OF THE JATAKAS

      While some of the stories are Buddhistic and depend for their point on some custom or idea peculiar to Buddhism, many are age-old fables, the floatsam and jetsam of folk-lore, which have appeared under various guises throughout the centuries, as when they were used by Boccaccio or Poggio, merry tales, or by Chaucer, who unwittingly puts a Jataka story into the mouth of his pardoners when he tells the tale of the Ryotoures three.

      Quaint humor and gentle earnestness distinguish these legends and they teach many wholesome lessons, among them the duty of kindness to animals.

      Dr. Felix Adler in his Moral Instruction of Children, says:

      The Jataka Tales contain deep truths, and are calculated to impress lessons of great moral beauty. The tale of the Merchant of Seri, who gave up all that he had in exchange for a golden dish, embodies much the same idea as the parable of the priceless Pearl, in the New Testament. The tale of the Measure of Rice illustrates the importance of a true estimate of values. The tale of the Banyan Deer, which offered its life to save a roe and her young, illustrates self-sacrifice of the noblest sort. The tale of the Sandy Road is one of the finest in the collection.

      And he adds that these tales are, as everyone must admit, nobly conceived, lofty in meaning, and many a helpful sermon might be preached from them as texts.

      JATAKA TALES

      Jataka Tales

      I

      THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE

      PART I

      AMONKEY lived in a great tree on a river bank.

      In the river there were many Crocodiles. A Crocodile watched the Monkeys for a long time, and one day she said to her son: My son, get one of those Monkeys for me. I want the heart of a Monkey to eat.

      How am I to catch a Monkey? asked the little Crocodile. I do not travel on land, and the Monkey does not go into the water.

      Put your wits to work, and you’ll find a way, said the mother.

      And the little Crocodile thought and thought.

      At last he said to himself: I know what I’ll do. I’ll get that Monkey that lives in a big tree on the river bank. He wishes to go across the river to the island where the fruit is so ripe.

      So the Crocodile swam to the tree where the Monkey lived. But he was a stupid Crocodile.

      Oh, Monkey, he called, come with me over to the island where the fruit is so ripe.

      How can I go with you? asked the Monkey. I do not swim.

      No—but I do. I will take you over on my back, said the Crocodile.

      The Monkey was greedy, and wanted the ripe fruit, so he jumped down on the Crocodile’s back.

      Off we go! said the Crocodile.

      This is a fine ride you are giving me! said the Monkey.

      Do you think so? Well, how do you like this? asked the Crocodile, diving.

      Oh, don’t! cried the Monkey, as he went under the water. He was afraid to let go, and he did not know what to do under the water.

      When the Crocodile came up, the Monkey sputtered and choked. Why did you take me under water, Crocodile? he asked.

      I am going to kill you by keeping you under water, answered the Crocodile. My mother wants Monkey-heart to eat, and I ‘m going to take yours to her.

      Why did you take me under water, Crocodile? he asked.

      I wish you had told me you wanted my heart, said the Monkey, then I might have brought it with me.

      How queer! said the stupid Crocodile. Do you mean to say that you left your heart back there in the tree?

      That is what I mean, said the Monkey. If you want my heart, we must go back to the tree and get it. But we are so near the island where the ripe fruit is, please take me there first.

      No, Monkey, said the Crocodile, I’ll take you Straight back to your tree. Never mind the ripe fruit. Get your heart and bring it to me at once. Then we’ll see about going to the island.

      Very well, said the Monkey.

      But no sooner

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