he who bath sense hath strength. where hath he strength who wanteth judgment? see how a lion, when intoxicated with anger, was overcome by a rabbit.

upon a certain mountain there lived a lion, whose name was durganta,[1] who was perpetually sacrificing animals to his gods; so that, at length, all the different species assembled, and, in a body, represented that, as by his present mode of proceeding the forest would be cleared all at once; if it pleased his highness, they would, each of them in his turn, provide him an animal for his daily food; and the lion gave, his consent accordingly. so every beast delivered his stipulated provision, till at length, in coming to the rabbit's turn he began to meditate in this manner: "policy should be practised by him who would save his life; and i myself shall lose mine, if i do not take care. suppose i lead him after another lion? who knows how that may turn out for me? then i will approach him slowly, as if fatigued."

the lion by this time began to be very hungry; so, seeing the rabbit coming toward him, he called out in a great passion: "what is the reason thou comest so late?" "please your highness," said the rabbit "as i was coming along, i was forcibly detained by another of your species; but having given him my word that i would return immediately i came here to represent it to your highness." "go quickly," said the lion in a rage, "and show me where this vile wretch may be found?"

accordingly the rabbit conducted the lion to the brink of a deep well, where being arrived, "there," said the rabbit, "look down and behold him"; at the same time he pointed to the reflected image of the lion in the water; who swelling with pride and resentment, leaped into the well, as he thought, upon his adversary, and thus put an end to his own life. i repeat, therefore: "he who hath sense, hath strength."