'
'Sire,' broke in a Parrot, 'this Camphor-isle and the rest are poor
places, and belong to Jambudwipa. Your Majesty has but to plant the
royal foot upon them.'
'Oh! of course,' said the King.
'Nay,' said I, 'if talking makes your Majesty King of Camphor-island, my
Liege may be lord of Jambudwipa by a better title.'
'And that?' said the Parrot.
'Is fighting!' I responded.
'Good!' said the King, with a smile; 'bid your people prepare for war.'
'Not so,' I replied; 'but send your own ambassador.'
'Who will bear the message?' asked the Rajah. 'He should be loyal,
dexterous, and bold.'
'And virtuous,' said the Vulture, 'and therefore a Brahman:--
'Better Virtue marked a herald than that noble blood should deck;
Shiva reigns forever Shiva while the sea-wave stains his neck.'
'Then let the Parrot be appointed,' said the Rajah.
'I am your Majesty's humble servant,' replied the Parrot; 'but this
Crane is a bad character, and with the bad I never like to travel. The
ten-headed Ravana carried off the wife of Ramchundra! It does not do,
'With evil people neither stay nor go;
The Heron died for being with the Crow.
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