And the king said to the goblin: "O magic creature, King Shudraka
was the most noble of them all."

But the goblin said: "Why not Hero, the like of whom as a servant
is not to be found in the whole world? Or why should not his wife
receive the most praise, who did not waver when she saw her son
killed like a beast before her eyes? Or why is not the boy Trusty
the most worthy, who showed such wonderful manhood when only
a little boy? Why do you say that King Shudraka was the best
among them?"

Then the king answered the goblin: "Not Hero. He was a
gentleman born, so it was his duty to save his king at the cost of
life, wife and children. And his wife was a lady, a faithful wife
who only did what was right in following her husband. And Trusty
was their son, and like them. For the cloth is always like the
threads. But the king has aright to use his subjects' lives to save his
own. So when Shudraka gave his life for them, he proved himself
the best of all."

When the goblin heard this, he jumped from the king's shoulder
and went back to his home without being seen. And the king was
not disturbed by this magic, but started back through the night to
catch him.


FIFTH GOBLIN

The Brave Man, the Wise Man, and the Clever Man. To which
should the girl be given?