SEVENTH GOBLIN

The Mutual Services of King Fierce-lion and Prince Good. Which
is the more deserving?

Then the king went back to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on his
shoulder as before, and started. And as he walked along, the goblin
said: "O King, I will tell you a story to amuse your weariness.
Listen."


On the shore of the Eastern Ocean is Copper City. There a king
named Fierce-lion lived. He turned his back to other men's wives,
but not to fighting men. He destroyed his enemies, but not other
men's wealth.

One day a popular prince named Good came from the south to the
king's gate. He introduced himself, but did not get what he wanted
from the king. And he thought: "If I am born a prince, why am I so
poor? And if I am to be poor, why did God give me so many
desires? For this king pays no attention to me, though I wait upon
him and grow weary and faint with hunger."

While he was thinking, the king went hunting. He went with many
horsemen and footmen, and the prince ran along in the dress of a
pilgrim with a club in his hand. And during the hunt the king
chased a great boar a long distance, and so came into another
forest. There he lost sight of the boar, for the trail was covered
with leaves and grass. And the king was tired and lost his way in
the forest. Only the pilgrim-prince thought nothing of his life, and