There is a city called Ayodhya, which was once the capital of
Rama the exterminator of giants. In this city lived a
strong-armed king named Hero-banner who protected the world as
a wall protects a city. During his reign a great merchant named
Jewel lived in the city. His wife was named Pleasing, and a
daughter named Pearl was given to her prayers.

As the girl grew up in her father's house, her natural virtues grew
too: beauty, charm, and modesty. And thus she became a young
woman. Now in her young womanhood she was asked in marriage
not only by great merchants, but even by kings. But she was
prudent and did not like men. She would not have loved a god if he
had been her husband. She was ready to die at merely hearing talk
of her marriage. So her father was silent on the subject, though his
tender love for her made him sad. And the story was known
everywhere in Ayodhya.

At this time all the citizens were being plundered by thieves, and
they petitioned King Hero-banner in these words: "O King, we are
plundered every night by thieves, and cannot catch them. Your
Majesty must decide what to do." So the king stationed
night-watchmen in hiding about the city, to search out the thieves.

When the watchmen failed to catch the thieves for all their
searching, the king himself took his sword, and wandered about
alone at night. And he saw a man creeping along a wall with
noiseless steps, often casting a fearful glance behind him. The king
concluded that this was the thief who all alone robbed the city, and
went up to him. And the thief asked him who he was. The king
replied: "I am a thief."