the snare, and sat down in his hut looking for the parrots to come. The parrot king came amidst all his flock; and he being by no means greedy, [279] came down in the same place as yesterday, with his foot right in the noose. When he found his foot fast he thought, "Now if I cry out the cry of the captured, my kinsfolk will be so terrified, they will fly away foodless. I must endure until they have finished their food." When at last he perceived that they had taken their fill, being in fear of his life, he thrice cried the cry of the captured. All the birds flew off. Then the king of the parrots said, "All these my kith and kin, and not one to look back at me! What sin have I done?" And upbraiding them he uttered a stanza:

"They ate, they drank, and now away they hasten every one,
I only caught within a snare: what evil have I done?"

The watchman heard the cry of the parrot king, and the sound of the other parrots flying through the air. "What is that?" thought he. Up he got from his hut, and went to the place of his snare, and there he saw the king of the parrots. "The very bird I set the snare for is caught!" he cried, in high delight. He took the parrot out of the snare, and tied both his feet together, and making his way to Salindiya village, he delivered the bird to the brahmin. The brahmin in his strong affection for the Great Being, caught hold of him tight in both hands, and seating him on his hip, bespoke him in these two stanzas:

"The bellies of all others are outbellied far by you:
First a full meal, then off you fly with a good beak-full too

"Have you a granary there to fill? or do you hate me sore?
I ask it you, come tell me true--where do you put your store?

On hearing this, the parrot king answered, repeating in a human voice sweet as honey the seventh stanza:

[280] "I hate thee not, O Kosiya! no granary I own;
Once in my wood I pay a debt, and also grant a loan,
And there I store a treasure up: so be my answer known."

Then the brahmin asked him:

"What is that loan the which you grant? what is the debt you pay?
Tell me the treasure you store up, and then fly free away."

To this request of the brahmin the parrot king made reply, explaining his intent in four stanzas:

"My callow chicks, my tender brood, whose wings are still ungrown,
Who shall support me by and bye: to them I grant the loan.

"Then my old ancient parents, who far from youth's bounds are set,
With that within my beak I bring, to them I pay my debt.

"And other birds of helpless wing, and weak full many more,
To these I give in charity: this sages call my store.

"This is that loan the which I grant, this is the debt I pay,
And this the treasure I store up: now I have said my say."