ANCIENT historians have related, that in past times, owing to the vicissi­tudes of fortune and the revolutions of the skies, in a wilderness on the confines of Geelaun, a Mouse being seated on the throne of empire, extended the shade of his command over all the wild beasts and reptiles of the vicinity. A fox being entrusted with the important office of his prime minister, exerted the utmost activity in conducting and regulating the affairs of his kingdom.

By chance, a caravan passing through the wilderness, a camel belonging to the cafilla sallar,* through fatigue and weak­ness being exhausted, sunk under his heavy burden, and was left behind in the desart. When he had forgotten the strokes of his driver, and the painfulness of his pack-saddle, having grazed on the verdant forage of divine mercy, in a short time he grew fat, and began to look sleek. The fox having obtained intelligence of his situation, represented it to the monarch mouse, saying,

“In the dominions of your majesty, a camel of broken mahar,* delivered from the burden of the pack-saddle, has taken up his abode; and in that part of the wood particularly appro­priated to the royal use, commits depredations on the trees and fruits of which your majesty delights to eat. Whatever pleases his taste, without fear or dread, he devours. Without your majesty’s permission, his estab­lishment in these dominions cannot accord with the dictates of policy; because, if such a strong and bulky animal should long roam thus at his pleasure, in process of time he will grow powerful, and, the fumes of self-conceit and vanity curling in his brain, he may entertain the design of wrest­ing the empire from your majesty’s possession, and extend the hand of rebellion on the royal domains. At such a time, to repress him will be arduous; for when contention has once opened her eyelids, to plunge her again into slumber is exceedingly difficult. It is therefore adviseable that your majesty summon him to the presence, that in person being threat­ened with the royal displeasure, he may be terrified from such unbecom­ing conduct. If, by the direction of his lucky stars, he should bow his head in humility and submission to authority, your majesty having linked him in the chain of your dependants, may distinguish him by favour; for, to draw over such a powerful animal to the royal service is highly beneficial to your interests, and may prove the cause of respect and awe for your authority. If, from foolish pride and empty conceit, he should look with a vaunting eye upon his bulk and strength, and deviate from the right path of submission and liege obedience, now (as he has not acquired much power, or conspired with the factious) it will be proper for the royal wisdom to plan the extinction of rebellious flame, and by degrees to overturn the basis of his existence by stratagem; in order that it may be apparent to the world, that opposition to superiors, and placing the feet in the path of enmity to princes, is to court self-de­struction, and plunge into the gulph of ruin.

The king mouse, approving his pru­dent vizier’s advice, commanded the attendance of the camel; and the fox undertaking the business himself, by art and cunning having drawn the mahar of obedience through the nose of the camel, conducted him to the imperial court. The camel, when he saw only a mouse, was not impressed with his dignity, and paced off again without notice; upon which the little king, feeling this affront as a cause of degradation in the eyes of his courtiers and dependants, thus addressed the fox:

“O loyal vizier, although thy advice is doubtless always founded on fidelity and attachment, yet notwithstanding thy wisdom and sage policy, this affair has turned out contrary to the laws of propriety. As the form of our gra­cious person is somewhat diminutive, though the penetrative of mind and judges of intrinsic worth may conceive the dignity of our nature, yet the wor­shippers of appearance, judging only from outward objects, are not endowed with such happiness. The stupid camel was not worthy of the honour of admission to our presence, and the bringing of him to our court was departing from the circle of prudence. Perhaps he might unseeing have had some dread of us in his mind, but now it has vanished in an instant, pride is encreased in his bosom, and the unreflecting partizans of faction have now the means of disturbance and rebellion.”

The fox replied, “Let not the heart of your majesty admit alarm from this unlucky accident, for though this beast is strong, and from his crooked nature has strength in his neck, yet, agreeably to the axiom that every overgrown body is a fool, he is unendowed by wisdom. Hence it is that an infant, putting the mahar through his nostrils, leads him where he pleases. With all his strength, his heart is cowardly. By God’s will, I will speedily subject him to your majesty’s authority, and seat him on the knee of submission in the class of your dependants.”

In short, the camel with content of mind roamed through the wilderness, and lived in perfect ease and satisfaction, while the fox was daily stretching the cords of deceit, and laying snares to entangle him. At length, the camel one day out of greediness, the vilest of all faults, lifting up his head, brouzed the branches of a tree, and, the string of his mahar entangling in them, his head remained hanging. The unfortunate beast began to cry out; when the fox, learning his condition, acquainted the monarch mouse, who, rising from his throne, advanced with joyful exultation. Ascending the tree, and sitting on the branch near the camel, he vauntingly addressed him, saying; “Happy beast! that feastest thus on delicious fruits.” The fox next exclaimed, “Ignorant wretch, such is the consequence of thy disobe­dience. Hadst thou bowed thy head in submission to his majesty, and sought an asylum under the shade of his protection, thou hadst not this day, with such disgrace and helpless­ness, been taken captive in the snare of adversity. There is now no other alternative but to lay thyself resigned on the dust of annihilation.”

The camel now, from his great folly and cowardice, began to cry out, and said, “Though great crimes have been committed by me, yet I now ask pardon for my faults. With inward fidelity, I prostrate myself at his majesty’s throne, and seek refuge under the shade of your lordship’s bounty. If, covering my offences and errors with the mantle of forgiveness, they will deliver me from this calamity, and receive me under the shadow of their mercy, it will not be deviating from their august virtues.”

The mouse, having honoured the request of the camel with assent, tore in pieces with his teeth the rope of the mahar entangled among the branches, and relieved him from his distress. The stupid long-necked animal, having returned proper thanks, bowed his head to the authority of the little long-tailed, short-necked sovereign, and, with all his bulk and superior size, submitted to the mouse; who, from swelling exultation, could scarcely contain himself in his hole. He ordered the camel to graze all day at his pleasure, and, at night attending at the presence, to guard the royal apartments.

Some time after this, the woodcutters of the prince of Geelaun, seeing the camel in the forest without an owner, seized and conducted him to the prince’s stables; of which the fox being informed, repre­sented the affair to the sublime audience. The little hero of the field of vicissitude was enraged at the occurrence, and the next day, when the woodcutters returned to work, addressed them from his hole, saying, “Without any cause of dispute, to lay the foundation of enmity and contention is unbecoming a noble mind, and generosity of soul. Wisdom dictates, that your master return me the camel, and avoid shed­ding the blood of the innocent. If this is not done, regarding himself as insecure from my vengeance, let him prepare for war, for I will not by any means depart from my claim.” The woodcutters were overwhelmed with astonishment at this terrific address from the mouse, which had not the least accordance with his nature; and, as a miracle, represented it to the prince; who laughed at it as ridiculous, and forbad his courtiers to talk of it.