When the goblin had told this story, he reminded the king of the
curse, and said: "O king, when the thief on the stake saw the
merchant's daughter approaching with her father, did he weep or
laugh? Tell me."

And the king answered: "He thought: I can make no return to this
merchant for his unselfish friendship.' Therefore he wept from
grief. And he also thought: Why does this girl reject kings and fall
in love with a thief like me? How strange women are!' Therefore
he laughed from astonishment."

When the goblin heard this, he immediately slipped from the
king's shoulder and escaped to his home. But the king was not
discouraged. He followed him to the sissoo tree.


FOURTEENTH GOBLIN

The Man who changed into a Woman at Will. Was his wife his or
the other man's?

So the king went back as before under the sissoo tree, put the
goblin on his shoulder, and started toward the monk. And as he
walked along, the goblin told the king a story.


There was a city called Shivapur in Nepal. Long ago a king named
Glory-banner lived there, and he deserved the name. He laid the
burden of government on his counsellor named Ocean-
of-Wisdom, and devoted himself to a life of pleasure with his wife