Chapter VI: Part 6

On his return to his home the home-bred Boy found that he was now famous far and wide for his supposed magical powers, and he was constantly consulted by people of all classes, who wanted his assistance in their various affairs.

It happened not long afterwards that a war broke out with a neighbouring country, and the King sent for the Boy, and asked him whether he would be able to give any assistance in the campaign against the enemy. The Boy was rather alarmed at this request of the King’s, for he did not in the least know how he should set about defeating the foe, but he allowed no sign of hesitation to appear in his manner, and he answered boldly that he was prepared to undertake the job; whereupon the King presented him with a magnificent charger and begged him to do his best.

Now as it happened, the Boy was in reality a very bad rider, and did not at all fancy the idea of riding about on a spirited horse, but for very shame he could not refuse the King’s gift. So early next morning, when he mounted his horse with the intention of riding out and reconnoitring the enemy’s camp, in order to see what could be done, he made his servant tie his feet together with a rope under the horse’s belly, so that he should not fall off if it ran away or played any pranks with him. Having ridden for some distance he reached the top of a hill, whence he could obtain a clear view of the enemy’s camp, and as he was sitting on his horse watching the scene below a trumpet suddenly sounded. The noise of the trumpet frightened the horse, which, after giving one or two preliminary plunges, dashed off down the hill at full gallop straight towards the enemy’s camp.

The poor Boy was much terrified at this untoward event, and did all he could to stop his horse by pulling the bridle and speaking to it, but with no avail. Just before reaching the camp the horse carried him under a dead tree, and the Boy, raising his arms, seized one of the branches with both hands in the hope of checking the horse’s mad career; but the rotten bough broke in his grasp, and the horse continued its gallop right into the camp, with the Boy holding in his hands a huge branch of the tree.

Hither and thither rushed the horse amongst the tents of the enemy, trampling the frightened soldiers underfoot, whilst the Boy in his struggles to maintain his balance, swept his great branch to and fro with equally disastrous effect. During his gallop his hair had become loosened, and was now flying wildly in the air, and his shouts and adjurations to his horse increased the terror of his appearance. The enemy’s soldiers had never seen such a terrific-looking object before, and one and all came to the conclusion that he must undoubtedly be a demon that was attacking them, and that he would soon compass their entire destruction. So instead of opposing him they tried to soothe and conciliate him, offering him silken scarfs and other presents as he galloped to and fro. But he made no reply to them, and continued to shout fiercely at his horse.

These shouts were taken by the soldiers to be threats of vengeance against themselves, [11] and, finally, the General and all the principal officers, coming out in a body with scarfs, begged him to make peace and to allow them to go away quietly. The Boy, who heard what they said, was quite willing to agree, but was totally unable to control his horse, so he shouted to them that he accepted their submission on condition that they were able to stop his horse. So running on either side of him, they seized the bridle and soon brought the animal to a standstill, when the Boy formally accepted their surrender, and dictated to them terms of peace; and they on their part were only too thankful to have escaped from such a danger, and gladly consented to withdraw at once to their own country.

When the King heard what had happened, he sent for the Boy and thanked him very heartily for his services; and as a reward for what he had done, he raised him to the highest rank, and presented him with lands and gold, and the young Man and his Mother lived happily ever afterwards.

SOME VERSES FROM TIBETAN LOVE-SONGS.

A woman sings to a man whose affection for her is waning:

“As a great mountain, with its cooling streams,
Nourishes the little fields far down below,
Do you, my lover, with a stream of love,
Nourish the heart of her who loves you so.”

The man replies to the woman:

“When autumn chills destroy the honeyed flowers,
The bees must do without their favourite food;
So when my passion cools, and dies my love,
You should submit to this my changéd mood.”

A man sings to a woman:

“Up every rocky cliff some path exists,
If one can find a guide to show the way;
So to your heart some avenue must lead,
Teach me, forthwith, that path of love, I pray.”

The woman replies:

“Were I inclined to grant this fruit [12] to you,
The gift were thine at once—to-day, to-morrow.
But oh! I fear that lurking at your back,
Are demons red [13] to bring me endless sorrow.”

LOVE SONG.

Could I but win the maiden
For whom my heart doth pine,
I’d prize her as a jewel
From depths of ocean brine.

I’d guard her fragrant body,
Like white turquoise so rare.
My wanderings all behind me,
I’d know no earthly care.

As luscious fruit well ripened,
Hangs tempting on the tree;
So is thy beauty, maiden,
Temptation sore to me.

From longing for thy beauty,
How can I sleep at night?
By day I seek thee vainly,
My heart is tired quite.

NOTES

[1] Compare, for example, “Tibetan Tales derived from Indian Sources,” translated from the Tibetan of the Kah Gyur into German by F. Anton von Schiefner. Done into English from the German by R. W. S. Ralston.

[2] But I am preserving such of these as appear to me to possess any scientific interest.

[3] Such a locality is described in the Tibetan language by a single word—a monosyllable.

[4] The Kyang is the wild ass of Tibet.

[5] This story is also told of a Sheep and a Goat, instead of a Sheep and a Lamb. See accompanying illustration.

[6] Known as “La” in the Tibetan tongue. It is difficult to find an equivalent word in the English language, but the Princess describes its meaning. See also the story of “Room Bacha and Baki,” where the same superstition occurs.

[7] This is in accordance with Tibetan custom, whereby a scarf is invariably presented upon all occasions of ceremony.

[8] Another version of the story says cakes of dried yaks’ dung instead of sticks—see accompanying illustration.

[9] The Monkey’s actual words, I regret to say, cannot be reported verbatim.

[10] In Tibetan “chu-ba,” the outer garment, like a dressing-gown, worn by all Tibetans.

[11] There is a play on the words of the Tibetan original here which explains this point, but which is incapable of adequate translation into English.

[12] I.e., her heart. She compares her heart ripe with love to a ripe fruit.

[13] Presumably she means the man’s passions. She compares them to the terrific demons (red is the angry colour) of Tibetan Lamaist mythology.